Dwarka’s bridle
The following photos have been shared with me (and with permission to share) by Virginia Pope, the granddaughter of Arthur Hurn. Among other things, Arthur Hurn was the stud manager for HRH the Prince of Wales (Prince Edward)’s Tor Royal Stud in Dartmoor from the years 1918-1931, meaning he was present when the stallion *Aldebar was born in 1919, and knew/cared for Dwarka up until his death in in 1921 at the advanced age of 29 years old.
Virginia Pope has just published a book about her grandfather’s time at Tor Royal, which reportedly includes an account of Dwarka’s journey from the desert to India and then to the UK – which I will hopefully be reading and perhaps obtaining permission to share with the more global audience on DOTW, since the book itself is currently only really available for shipping in the UK (I was very fortunate that Virginia and her assistant were willing to personally work with me to get a copy shipped Stateside.) Until then, these are several pictures of Dwarka’s personal bridle! I may be wrong, but I think this bridle may have come with him from India.
I think you are right about where that bridle came from. Excited to hear more about Dwarka’s history!
Me, too! Thanks Moira!
If any readers has information on this type of bridle, I’d be curious to know more about it.
Dwarka,s owner when he came to England, Eliza Atkinson lived her last few years in our cottage in Northlew Devon. I have a copy of Virginias book.
Colin, that is fascinating to hear. I’ve been trying to track down what happened to Eliza in her old age, and you’ve helped put together another tidbit of it. Is there any chance I could email you and ask you a few questions? -Moira
Moira, you are going to be able to write a book on this boy before you are done. Such good work, about a good horse that we knew so little about.
We still don’t know his strain or his breeder..
No, but look how much we have learned in the last two months, since Moira took on this project! Glass half full!
Yes! Mrs. Atkinson may have left papers. If not, perhaps Maj-Gen Ralph Broome had something. There may also have been records in India.
I recall reading a post on this blog from someone about the records available from Pakistan, but I haven’t been able to find the post again.
I am at present trying to track down what might remain of Eliza’s estate. Slow going, but it’s a work in progress. If anyone here is a wizard at genealogy, I wouldn’t turn down your expertise 😛
I hadn’t been able to find anything on Maj-Gen. Ralph Broome, and that ended up being a dead end for me, but I may endeavor to revive that avenue of research after I get some more information on Eliza, since he was the person that took Dwarka out of the desert in the first place.
I also have inquiries out to several military archives. The article written by Mrs. Atkinson for the 1921 issue of The Polo Monthly – the year he died – says that the then-Captain Ralph Broome was seconded from the Bengal Lancers to do remount work. She was at the time stationed with her husband in Peshawar. The wire she received in spring of 1897 reportedly said something like “Have bought you an Anazeh, a real plum, leaving today.” It’s possible that he might have a record of Dwarka in with the rest of his remount paperwork.
Wow!