HISTORY OF PAYWIT
The Byrnes Family est. 1954
(Nicholas, Dorothy, Stacey and Craig Byrnes)
The name “Paywit” comes from Bellarine Peninsula in Victoria where Dorothy’s family (nee Ward) settled in the 1800s. It was the early name for the Point Lonsdale area and still appears upon property titles to this day. Paywit was the name of Ward farm over many generations, sadly it now is the name of a subdivision of a new housing estate of Grandpa’s farm, progress not always being kind. We became “Paywit” in 1988, when Remembrance joined the Stud and a new joint membership applied between Nick and Dorothy. Dorothy came to part own Remembrance and Nick part owned all of Dorothy’s horses. Paywit is a memory of some excellent horseman in Dorothy’s family, and particularly of her Dad who’s devotion knew no bounds.
It was the joining of two old studs that had lovingly enjoyed the talents and beauty of Arabian horses for some decades. Two ladies who met through a mutual love of horses.
The Late Mrs. Helen Byrnes fell in love with Arabian horses when living close to Gordon Cain “up the laneway” - Cain’s Bakery in Kingsville, Melbourne. (Near Footscray). Gordon Cain had the baby filly “Silusuf” and within a few weeks of meeting her, this beautiful filly was installed at the Byrnes’ property. She was an exquisite mare, milk white from a young age and would become one of the most decorated Arab mares of her era. Mrs. Helen Byrnes presented this mare in amazing condition, and she ensured Silusuf was fully educated under saddle, with the mare becoming one of the first top quality Arabian mares to be shown successfully under saddle. Silusuf won her ridden class at Royal Melbourne more than once, she was finally Champion at Royal Melbourne (Lady Wentworth Memorial Sash) in 1963 carrying the famous mare Santarabia Alusuf and with the Sindh* filly Siandra at foot. It was at Melbourne where Silusuf was spotted by Leo Campbell of Santarabia Stud and he offered Mrs. Byrnes a price for Silusuf that she could not refuse. We think she wanted to refuse it, but after many sleepless nights, Silusuf was sold. Silusuf died not long after producing Santarabia Alusuf, Alusuf went on to literally found Santarabia, and she herself was Champion at Royal Melbourne as a mature mare. Bred by the late Helen Byrnes.
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Mrs Helen Byrnes with her filly Silusuf at Royal Melbourne in 1956 |
Silusuf left with Mrs. Byrnes, Silandra by Flash Boy, Moonlight Mist by Shafreyn*. Moonlight Mist was purchased by Mrs. Maclean of Fenwick and spent her whole life there as an outstanding broodmare. She had won her filly class at Melbourne, prepared by Mrs. Byrnes. Silandra also won at Melbourne, she sadly died at Fenwick very early, when visiting Shafreyn*. Mrs. Byrnes had great plans for her and she was a huge loss.
Mrs. Helen Byrnes purchased Remembrance as a baby in 1963. He wasn’t for sale, but was sold to the Byrnes because Mrs. Maclean appreciated the fact that the horse would be expertly prepared and presented, as Silusuf had been. The Late Mrs. Byrnes had also exhibited the famed black Thoroughbred Galloway hack, Moomba, for back to back Championships at Royal Melbourne in 1960 and 1961. Mrs. Maclean felt Remembrance may well become an ambassador for the new sire at Fenwick, the great Sindh*. an investment so to speak. Mrs. Maclean’s well known canniness certainly came to fruition. Remembrance would become the finest of his time; he would win close to 300 Supremes and Championships. Superbly educated under saddle, he would win his ridden class at Royal Melbourne three times, the open Galloway at Melbourne. He would bring visitors to “Sunninghill” almost relentlessly, from all over Australia and internationally. From the second crop of Sindh* he represented and promoted his sire, to perfection.
The younger Mrs. Byrnes began her own stud in 1964. Dorothy had always ridden Arabian bred horses, and was particularly renown for her very beautiful Anglo Arabians. She had been influenced by Erica and Hank Wilkens who rode beautiful examples of these horses, mostly by the Arabian, Rami. Books from England enthused Dorothy with the exploits of Naseel in Ireland. This stallion produced progeny for all purposes, including some stunning children’s ponies. Dorothy had been a visitor to Fenwick Stud since she was a small child and managed to get there two or three times a year, since perhaps 1960. Mrs. Maclean had superb Anglo Arabs, some interesting Clydesdale Arab crosses, and some ever interesting Shetland pony Arabian crosses. Mrs. Maclean was a charming lady, everinterested and helpful.
In the early sixties, Dorothy was exhibiting a 14 stone hack for his owners, “Gawain” by Shafreyn* out of Valuable Lady. Gawain was a glorious Anglo Arab bred by Mrs. Maclean. A beautiful woman came up to Dorothy and asked who the horse was. Most specifically “what horse is that”. This lovely person was the Late Helen Byrnes and it became a regular occurrence for her to admire Gawain at various shows. One day a couple of years later, at Berwick when Dorothy was again riding Gawain, Mrs. Byrnes said “come along and see my horse”. This horse was the baby Remembrance, aged just two years. A life long deep friendship evolved.
Sadly we lost Mrs. Helen Byrnes in 1980 when she was just 65. We miss her very much. Since our house fire of 1994, we have lost so many of our photographs of this lady and her horses.
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Illowra Sylk, bred by Dorothy Byrnes out of Lucinda by Pop's Brandy.
Nigel Berry riding her in the Advanced Section at Oakbank SA.
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Dorothy has bred a host of excellent riding horses, using Silver Spot, Fabulous, High Falutin, and of course Remembrance. Perhaps her most famed horses have been Vanderford Rhain, by High Falutin, who won his turn out class at Royal Shows in three states. Reserve Pony of the year at Brisbane, winner of literally countless Championships. Vanderford Siffari by Fabulous out of the Rami mare, Sarami, also won at Melbourne. Vanderford Rendance by Remembrance was a little stallion famed in the Geelong District for many years. Vanderford Silver Sheik was most accomplished in Endurance. The eventing mare, Illowra Sylk took all before her in her stellar career, and her owners received huge international offers for her. Sylk was the daughter of Dorothy’s great mare, the 14 stone hack Lucinda, by Greylight out of Valuable Lady. Dorothy purchased Lucinda from Mrs. Maclean in 1965, as a young teenager. Dorothy had a long distinguished career riding. She has been very involved in Pony Club movement, has judged and instructed at most levels. Involved in Administration, she has managed many equestrian events. She purchased her beloved stallion Tenby from Mrs. Maclean as a very young woman and spent some years in Townsville with this fellow, he became a multi supreme champion in both Queensland and Victoria, in hand and under saddle. A gentle and versatile fellow, Dorothy and Tenby were pioneering foundation members of many clubs in Townsville, including the Trail Riding Club which was a passion for both of them.
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Dorothy Byrnes and Rasifa |
As an adult, Dorothy has bred and collected a remarkable array of beautiful Crabbet Arabian mares. All combined now in the Stud “Paywit”. The combination of Sunninghill of the Late Mr. and Mrs. Byrnes which began in 1954, and Vanderford of 1964. Dorothy still has a love for the Anglos, maintains a family of these that she has had since the sixties, Paywit also owns several Thoroughbred mares to hopefully breed more of these. And, perhaps, the occasional would be racehorse, for Nick. We also breed the occasional Arabian pony, these having been a passion of both the Mrs. Byrnes.
The late Mr. Byrnes, father of Nick - hails from many generations of family involved in the bloodstock industry. He was a Federal Judge of Arabian horses, and an early Board Member. He was a renown judge of ridden horses, ponies and hacks. The family bred successful racehorses for many years. Nick Jnr is in fact, a third generation blacksmith, his grandfather and uncles having managed a forge at Flemington, shoeing some legendary Australian racehorses.
Nick Jnr was involved in his parents Stud since the early days of Silusuf, when the horses were at Kingsville. “Sunninghill” began in Narre Warren, Victoria, in 1964 and Remembrance stood at stud there when he came of age. Nick and his father did all the Stud work, and hence Nick has handled such immortal Arabian mares as Kai, Moonoura, Moonsprite, Anita - and the infant filly Peninsula Lass when she accompanied her dam in 1969, to again visit Remembrance. Whilst living in Kingsville, Nick regularly assisted with Electrimel, Electra Moon and My Fair Lady, owned by Gordon Cain. Nick was heavily involved in the Thoroughbred breeding side of the stud, working and preparing yearlings to be sold at the Selected Sales, including presenting these youngsters in the Sale Ring during auction. Nick was annually in high demand to present other breeders’ Thoroughbred yearlings at Auction during the Selected Sales at Wright Stephens, and then later Dalgetys
Paywit hence, has had the stallions Remembrance, Tenby, Ukurrie Csaba, Fenwick Rasindh. We purchased the exquisite Fenwick Silver Star from Vicki Johnson when he was a foal in 1997 to use over Rasindh’s daughters. We have been absolutely amazed and full of pride at how very beautiful this stallion has become. We lost Rasindh suddenly and prematurely when he was but 17 years of age, he left a huge void. We are pleased to stand his lovely son, Paywit Raining Diamonds, who was Junior Champion at the Victorian Crabbet Show the year of the Crabbet Convention. Diamonds, along with Musk Valley Cazz, won the Sire’s Progeny award that year, too - for our glorious late Fenwick Rasindh.
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Nick Byrnes jr and Fenwick Rasindh |
The Shetlands have long been a passion that has been on the sidelines, the early love of these coming from childhood visits to Fenwick. We now own an obscene numbers of these beautiful ponies, and enjoy these very much.
Paywit is situated on 100 acres in Trafalgar, part of Gippsland in Victoria, Australia. We hope to enjoy our horses for many more years to come.
