Our Story
Alida grew up on Tabba Tabba, a cattle station in the Pilbara,
Most of the stock work was done on horseback, and it was here that she
developed her love and appreciation for horses.
Alida aged 11 with the stockmen and her horse Clementine.
Peter, who as a young man raced Kawasaki and BMW road bikes, was a member of the WA Police Force for 7 years. He spent 18 months in the Mounted Section.
Here he is 4th from the left, as a guard of honour for Queen Elizabeth II at the Perth Royal Show 1981.
After meeting in Perth, Peter & Alida moved to South Hedland where they joined Barbara Greenfield and established Bosna Lodge Equestrian Centre.
Together with Alida’s mum Barbara (and everyone's Grandma), they successfully ran a riding school at Bosna for 15 years.
They also competed endurance horses and trained racehorses,
(Left) Alida and their daughters, Lyndall, Justine & Sorrell after winning the Marble Bar Cup with Able Monarch in 1989.
(Right) The riding school having a swim at Coolianah Pool
Sorrell grew up riding ponies, racehorses and then showjumpers.
In 2009, she purchased Southern Cross Malley Boy ‘BOB’ for her newly founded business Charming Carriages. Bob and Sorrell have now attended nearly 200 weddings.
Charming Carriages and Swan Valley Wagon Tours are now sister companies.
Sorrell & Bob at Kwinana horse beach 2015.
How lucky are we that we get to combine our family, our hobby and our passion with our livelihood
OUR MISSION
We are committed to showcasing the Swan Valley in a unique and relaxed way to locals and travellers alike.
Our aim is provide you with an experience that cannot be matched anywhere else in WA. Sit back and enjoy the ambience of the Swan Valley in a Horse Drawn Wagon.
Swan Valley Wagon Tours high level of quality service and professionalism has been recognised and rewarded with Tourism Accreditation by Tourism Council Australia. In addition, our tours have been finalists in the Western Australian Tourism Awards multiple times.
THE TEAM
Our team is a little different to your run of the mill working team. You see, over half of our team are horses.
Get to know the rest of our team below...
Toffee
Toffee is our most treasured mare.
She is a roan Clydesdale. She is 16hh (162cm) and will be 11 years old on
22nd November 2018.
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Toffee is the daughter of Rocky Road who was the head horse at Swan Valley Wagon Trails for many year with the previous owner. ​Toffee was born in the Swan Valley WA. She is a wonderful girl and is our number 1 horse for big horse hugs.
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She also looks absolutely stunning in a flower crown at weddings.
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#welovetoffee #toffeetheclydesdale
Major
Major is our very handsome Clydesdale gelding. He is 16hh (162cm) and will be 9 years old in August 2019. Major was purchased in 2017 specifically to join the Swan Valley Wagon Tours team.
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Majors previous owners competed him at a range of harness shows across Australia including Wooback Yass 2016, where a new Australian record of 62 working horses ploughing a field was set.
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Major has settled in beautifully to our team and makes the perfect pair for Toffee.
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#welovemajor #majortheclydesdale
Johnny
Johnny is our beautiful white Percheron gelding.
He is 16hh (162cm) and will be 11 years old on 7th Oct 2018.
He started his harness career in Melbourne Victoria. Seeking the good life out of the hustle bustle of the city Johnny moved to the stunning Swan Valley.
Johnny is a keen worker and will often take extra work to let his partner relax.
#welovejohnny #johnnythepercheron
Percy
Percy is the newest and youngest member to our team. He is a black and white Clydesdale gelding.
He currently stands 16.3hh (165cm) and will be 4 years old on 24th July 2018.
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We have in our plans for Percy to be a pair for Bob in his future and cannot wait to have them working together.
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Percy has a thick curly mane and a very kind face. We look forward to getting to know our new boy more as we work with him over the coming months and years.
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#welovepercy #percytheclydesdale
Bob
RIP 19 October 2003 - 07 July 2018
♥ Eulogy to Bob ♥
Bob was our famous Wedding Horse.
He was a black and white Shire gelding standing 17.1hh (175cm) and weighing in at a whopping 920kg.
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Bob would have turned 15 years old on 19th Oct 2018.
Shire horses are now an at risk breed with less than 1500 registered in the world.
Bob was the perfect gentleman who bought something very special to any occasion. Bob loved a scratch on the neck and also loved to eat fresh bouquets.​
Our commitment to our horses' welfare
is our utmost priority.
