Sunnybrae Pony Club

We now have A permanent memorial to our Life Member the late Lesley Russell-Bowering.

We are on the lookout for Volunteers to assist in maintaining the grounds and gardens at our lovely facility! If you know anyone who loves spending time outdoors where they can watch beautiful horses happily grazing as they contribute to their community - please invite them to get in touch!

[email protected]

Today we said goodbye to Lesley. I placed a wreath with our club colours on the coffin and we thanked her for her contribution to our club
Great that lots of former club members were there to pay their respects.
Hookey has a new mumma and is settling into a new home
🐴🐴❤️❤️😭🐴

Ride Forever Free

The Celebration of Life for our Life Member Lesley will take place at Harrison Funerals, 63 Golden Grove Road, Ridgehaven at 10am on TUESDAY 13 JANUARY 2026.

Many of the services are live streamed with video available on the Harrison Funerals website after the service for those who are unable to attend.

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Lesley Russell-Bowering 27/2/1956 - 1/1/2026
With deep sadness I email you all this morning to let you know that Lesley passed away yesterday morning.

Lesley was woven into the fabric of Sunnybrae Pony Club. She joined the Club in 1985 and served on the Club Committee for many years - probably 30+ years if you add all the terms together - and was President at least 3 times from my memory - but likely more.

In 2019, I was publishing an email Newsletter for Pony Club Association of South Australia and wrote an article on Lesley. In that article Lesley spoke of her health challenges which were ongoing. To end that article, I had some words from Lesley's husband Tony, which I'd like to share with you here:

Tony recently wrote his memories of Lesley's
involvement in Pony Club : “it’s has been 35 years of riding with the one pony club and it is something Lesley is proud and passionate about. Through those years there have been some very tough times, nobody can be with a club for 35 years and have it perfect all of the time. However, the pure joy and excitement that Pony club can provide far outweighs any negatives Lesley’s passion for the club and her horse is a most astonishing and beautiful thing to see and I wish to see it for many years to come”.

Information will be provided to members about funeral arrangements - it would be great to see those of you who do attend to do so in Sunnybrae uniform as a mark of respect for the contribution, passion and love Lesley had for Sunnybrae. We will also be organising a Memorial event of some sort at Club over the coming months to honour her appropriately.

“THE DREAM THAT MANY WILL NOT UNDERSTAND:
My horses are my personal dream.
One day when I am very old and when I can not walk anymore, it will be in my heart as a trophy of my memories.
I met people who taught me something and have the same spirit and I met others that I'm glad I forgot.
I got wet,
I felt cold,
And I felt warm;
I was afraid,
I fell,
And I stood up.
I even hurt myself, I have been broken,
But also, I laughed out loud inside.
I spoke a thousand times with myself.
I sang and shouted with joy like a madman,
And yes ... sometimes I cried.
I have seen wonderful places and lived unforgettable experiences.
I climbed on horses that made me feel brave and excited...and then there were ones that terrified me......
I stopped a thousand times to see a landscape.
I spoke with perfect strangers, and I forgot people I see every day.
I went out with my demons inside and returned home with a feeling of absolute peace in my heart.
I always thought how dangerous it is, knowing that the meaning of courage is to advance even feeling fear.
Every time I go out to my horses I think about how wonderful they are.
I stopped talking about it to those who do not understand, and I learned to communicate with other riders.
I have met some amazing people I now call friends because of my horses.
I spent money that I did not have, giving up many things, but all these things are not worth even one special moment with my horse.
They are not a means of transport or a piece of iron with wheels, they are the lost part of my soul and my spirit.
And when someone says to me: "You have to sell the horses and you have to be more sensible", ... I do not answer. I just swing my head and smile.
A horse..... only the person who loves them understands it.
May God bless my friends and all their horses...
And the adventure continues...”
Author unknown

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Sometimes all you need is a good run around!

Everyone we are registered with the Peoples Choice Lottery all tickets sold under Sunnybrae will go directly to Sunnybrae. This a great fund raiser - please copy link and send to your family and friends prizes include Cars, Vouchers, gift cards and more tickers are only $2 see link to tickets below

Sunnybrae Pony Club Support local community groups in the People’s Choice Community Lottery. 100% of proceeds from every $2 ticket sold goes to your chosen group. Buy tickets!

Sunnybrae is hosting the Metro Zone Show Jump Day this Sunday and we'd love to welcome anyone along who enjoys horses (and surely that's you!!!)

Come and have some lunch - watch some ponies - cheer on the brave riders and enjoy the sunshine!

Visit our website to download the flyer with all the Open Day Information.
www.sunnybraeponyclub.com.au