09/10/2026
End of an era. Holy Cow ( Tess) passed away yesterday aged 34. She was a full sister to Meersbrooke Ambassador, Meersbrooke Amethyst & Meersbrooke Red Admiral.
They were all out of a little bay TB mare called Abode who we bought for $300 after the 1987 financial crash. She was in a paddock at Grasslands Stud with 20+ other mare who's owners never came back for them.
Abode had an older TB foal exported to the UK as a jumper. She was by Habitation & went back to good jumping lines through Dogger Bank.
Holy Cow & her siblings were all by our original Clydesdale stallion Guilford Duke. He didn't sire many foals, but most had very well performed careers to a high level.
Holy Cow started out as Meersbrooke Arabella. Her original paddock name was Slash after she jumped over a yard gate as a 3yo, & came down on it. She had a huge wound between her chest & front leg. I had to wait for half an hour for the vet to arrive with my fist jammed in the hole to stem the bleeding.
She then headed to our friend Joan Fox to be brought on & sold. Joan already had Amethyst.
I was told Arabella became Holy Cow when Catriona Williams ( nee McLeod) saw her jump out of the yards. She went to Catriona & jumped as NRM Holy Cow.
After Catriona's accident Tess went to Honor Carter (nee Dillon) & was sometimes ridden by Greg Best. Her last competition home was with Tasha Hart ( nee Brown) showjumping to top level.
Tess enjoyed a wonderful retirement with Victoria Beveridge & I know she'll be sadly missed by many.
