LONGTIME show committee member and dedicated horse and pony breeder Sharyn Mangan will be honoured with a memorial award at this week’s Swan Hill Show.
The memorial award will be presented to the Supreme Led Palomino and Champion ridden Palomino in recognition of Mrs Mangan’s involvement with the Swan Hill Show and Horse committees and the Murraygold Palominos she bred with husband Neville at Beverford.
Mrs Mangan died last year after a long battle with the autoimmune condition lupus. She is survived by Neville and their sons Michael, Robert, Ashley and Thomas.
Swan Hill Show Committee Horse Section members Nerida Morrish and Tricia Whitney said Mrs Mangan had been a tireless worker, organising programs, sashes, awards, sponsors and “doing whatever was required to make the show a success”.
The Mangans started Murraygold Stud in Mildura, before moving to Beverford.
They began with a part Arabian Stallion and had many golden palomino Quarter Horses, moving to ponies in later years.
Mrs Morrish and Mrs Witney said Mrs Mangan’s love of the golden palomino began through her uncle, Roy Stirrat, who led her to the Australian Palomino Horsebreeders Association (APHA).
“Sharyn and Neville bred and showed many beautiful palominos and gained the highest of achievements and awards over many years,” they said.
“She held many positions with the APHA, including President, Vice President, Hi-Point Co-ordinator, judge, web co-ordinator, social media co-ordinator and classifier and was awarded a life membership.”
The Mangans’ breeding program emphasised golden ponies, but Mrs Mangan also bred for temperament, ensuring they were safe for children to ride.
Palomino mare Murraygold Jassmyn, mainly shown by Maddy, Zoe, Ally and Taylor Lloyd, won numerous awards for the Mangans, including many Supreme sashes at the Swan Hill show.
