CELEBRITY Kangaroo Valley horse Cedars Archibold, known as Archie, celebrated his 23rd birthday on Saturday.
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Archie is best known for his height.
He comes from a long line of tall horses. His grandfather, Ladbrook Invader, was in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s tallest horse. His nephew, Luscombe Nodrum, is also in the Guinness Book of Records, reaching a mighty 20.1 hands.
While Archie might be a little shorter at 19 hands (190cm), he has a big personality and has been winning the hearts of horse lovers for 23 years.
Until recently, Archie held the honour of being Australia’s tallest horse.
However to people interested in horse breeds he holds a more important title.
Archie was Australia’s first purebred Shire since the early 1900s.
The breed had died out in Australia until Archie’s father, Ladbrook Edward, arrived on a specially converted passenger jet in 1981 and mother, Peplow Princess, by sea in 1985 to get the breed re-established in Australia.
He was born at 3am on the morning of January 23, 1987 at his home in Kangaroo Valley, where he still lives.
Archie has worked on street patrols for the Mounted Police Academy at Redfern as well as being the drum horse.
He has also featured in several children’s television programs as well as appearing on Burke’s Backyard, The Great Outdoors, Getaway, Totally Wild and Horse Tales on the Disney Channel.
He has now retired from public life but still delights guests at The Cedars Cottages in Kangaroo Valley and will be putting in an appearance at the Kangaroo Valley Show.