Blue (61241)

Blue was accepted into the AERA Hall of Fame on 8 October 2023 on nomination by WAERA.

Blue was owned and ridden by Ken Hobday, based in Western Australia, from 1994 to 2007. Ken did not start riding until he was 70 years old. Just prior to this being written, he celebrated his 100th birthday.

Blue was a fifteen hand, part Arab gelding, born in 1986. He was eight years old when he and Ken began their endurance career together.

Blue completed 10 800.5 kilometres in an endurance career which saw him well travelled over vast distances to achieve some amazing accomplishments.

Among those achievements are:

• 16 Marathon Buckles including:
  • 4 x 400km Shahzada Buckles, 2000, 1999, 1998 and 1997
  • 5 x 320 km Marathons 2002, 2001, 2000, 1998 and 1996
  • 2x 240 km Marathons 2007 and 2006
• As well as:
  • 5 x 160 km Quilty Buckles 2004, 2000, 1999, 1996 and 1995
  • 2 x 160 km Multi Day Rides 1998 and 1997
  • 2 x 160 km Rides 2002 and 1997

In the year 2000, Blue completed the 320 kilometre, Easter Marathon in April, in WA. In June, he travelled to Boonah in Queensland to complete the 160 kilometre Tom Quilty, followed by the Shahzada 400 kilometre Marathon in August in NSW, and then back to WA to complete the 160 kilometre, WA State Championships in October. The year 2000 saw Blue complete 1362 km whilst travelling over 9000 kilometres to participate in some of the
country’s most prestigious events. An amazing achievement for an amazing horse.