The Myers Family
Established in the late 1970’s, Lynway Stud has played an integral part of the AAA history and the Appaloosa Breed in Australia.
Owned and managed by Wanye and Lyn along with their 3 sons Nigel, Simon and Justin, the Myers family had a constant vision to grow and establish the Appaloosa horse as the leading western equine breed in Australia and Lynway Stud became a headline for many of their promotion and breeding endeavours.
A passion for our breed was evident by the volunteer work of the family, led by Wayne who served on the AAA board for 12 years and honoured with a Life Membership for his service.
During the early 1980’s, there were a proportion of members who lobbied for the inclusion of solid colour Appaloosas to be allowed registration. At this time however, the majority of members were against it. After years of debate Wayne proposed and instigated the AB registry for the solid colour horses, this was the start to the way full recognition of solid coloured horses.
Wayne and Lyn were part of many other AAA ventures including moving the AAA Office to Tahmoor, where his wife Lyn was the AAA Office Manager.
Wayne, along with Johnno Johnson ran some of the largest AAA National Shows from the 1981 National through to the 1985 National Show where the number of entries exceeded well over 450 horses. He also re instigated the use of International judges for the western performance classes at the National Shows and also the use of EFA judges for the non-traditional English events.
Wayne and Lyn were the founding members of regional affiliates including South Coast Regional Appaloosa Club, the Canberra Regional Appaloosa Club, and the Sydney Western Riding Club.
In his capacity as a director, Through discussions with the then ApHC director, Jean Klamforth in 1985, Wayne instigated the sending of first Australian Appaloosa youth team to the United States in 1986 to compete at Opportunity ’86 in Columbus, Ohio. .
Lyn and Wayne were inaugural HSAA judges and AAA judges
Lyn prepared horses for their owners such as Jumping Rock Stud to go through western horse auctions. Numerous horses prepared by Lyn received the highest prices at these open western sales.
As exhibitors of many numerous appaloosa horses over many years, Lynway Stud would have earned thousands of points (were they recorded in full) in open and youth events, from halter and showmanship classes, Bridle Path Hack, Western Pleasure, Trail, Reining, Western Riding, Dressage, Hacking to Cow Horse and Sporting events.
They owned, trained and showed 3 of the top 10 AAA Superior All Round Performance Horses, No.3 – Darling Sun Pride, No.8 – Cayuse Sunday Bonnet and No.9 – Joker Be A Saint. Darling Sun Pride and Joker Be A Saint are AAA Hall of Fame inductees and Cayuse Sunday Bonnet is aHonour Roll inductee.
Simon, Justin and Nigel Myers were prolific youth competitors also winning at major shows in showmanship to performance and sporting events. They also competed successfully in the Youth Challenge which was held for all youth in western breeds by the County of Cumberland Quarter Horse Association.Simon and Justin along with Michael Gilpin and John Mitchell were winners of the inaugural Regional Clubs youth challenge at the 1983 AAA National Show.
As a show team, Lynway won many National and State Championship awards in all events as well as High Point awards. This culminated in AAA End of Year High Point Awards in open and youth categories over many years. For example in the 1982/1983 AAA End of Year Awards Lynway Stud were awarded 20 High Point Awards including Overall High Point Performance Horse (Darling Sun Pride) and Overall High Point Youth (Simon Myers).
Other notable horses that were owned, trained or shown by the Myers Family to National and State show levels were:
LYNWAY CHANTILLY LACE, PAY DAYS PEPE, J ROCK COLIDAS GOLD, LYNWAY SASSY SAINT, SPANISH LACE, SUPER SAINT, LYNWAY TE KO SUN, LYNWAY BLUE CHIFFON and SON OF A SAINT -AAA honour role inductee and LYNWAY MODEL T this mare went onto produce the first and only appaloosa to win the prestigious NPHA 2 year old Western Pleasure Futurity – Middle L Not Impressed.
As breeders, Lynway Stud owned and stood some of the most influential Appaloosa Stallions in the History of Appaloosa’s in Australia. These being UNAKA SUN (imp) and JOKER BE A SAINT (imp), offspring of these two sires dominated the highest placings at all the major shows across Australia in all events and their bloodlines are still found in many great breeding and show horses today 30 plus years later.
Other stallions they stood were:
LUCKY L BREEZE BOY who sired the National and State champions Lynway Chantilly Lace and Lynway Indian Breeze.
DARLING SUN SHADOW who sired the High Point Halter Mare and Horse of Australia and National champion Navashad, also Kildara Silver Shadow.
SHHOKKEE DRIFT sire of champion halter mare Lynway Sweet Georgia.
The Lynway prefix was synonymous with good looking, trainable athletes that had quiet demeanours that could be used for youth and open horses.
Lynway Stud’s breeding still features in champions today such as SELF OBSESSED and TALL DARK N SAINTLY.
Through the extensive showing of their appaloosa horses in youth and open events, Lynway Stud encouraged many new people to buy appaloosa’s and become active members of local affiliates and the Australian Appaloosa Association
