Troop to debut on Remembrance Day

THIS year’s Remembrance Day service in Ballan will have a new feature, with the Ballan Light Horse Troop scheduled to make its first official public outing.

The troop has formed on the initiative of enthusiast Chase Day and consists of four riders on horseback and Ms Day with a donkey called Susannah, with members drawn from medieval re-enactment group The Kings Horses, Military Equitation Australia and the Ballan RSL.

Ms Day, a former member of the now-defunct Creswick Light Horse Troop and the current Ballan RSL treasurer, raised the idea with the RSL of having some form of light horse representation at parades and similar events.

The RSL responded positively and others connected with The Kings Horses and Military Equitation Australia expressed interest – and the troop is the result.

The Moorabool Shire helped to outfit the troop by providing a grant, and now everything is in readiness. But a major difference to other light horse troops is the inclusion of donkey Susannah, who Ms Day looks after at her Mount Egerton property.

Susannah has already appeared informally at events like Anzac Day and Remembrance Day services and has proven to be particularly popular, acting as a talking point and an attraction for children.

“You can ride this donkey through the gates of hell. Nothing bothers her,” she said.

Ms Day said the presence of Susannah in a light horse troop was not unique – her research had revealed that it was not unheard of in the past for light horsemen to be given a donkey if there was no horse available.

“Plus there is the connection to Simpson and his donkey, which is well known to many Australians,” she said.

Of the Remembrance Day debut, Ms Day said the presence of the troop would add another ingredient to the event.

“It’s just a nice thing that people enjoy, seeing the horses there. It provides a bit of a spectacle, a conversation starter,” she said.

The troop will form up to one side of the service as an unofficial honour guard, after which the members and the animals would socialise.

Ms Day is also a member of The Kings Horses, and is the founder of Military Equitation Australia.