Up in the rolling hills of the Illawarra region, there are many families who will be taking a moment to reflect on the significance of the horse's birthday.

The horse's birthday or August 1 to many is just another day, but to some, like standardbred and show horse breeders Trevor and Julie Swan of Jamberoo, it means so much more.

“In the racing industry it signifies the commencement of a fresh new season of excitement, hopes, and dreams,” Trevor said.

Trevor and Julie met at Menangle trots in 1974 and married in 1976.

“Julie had grown up with horses at pony club and competed at local shows and I was hooked on harness racing,” Trevor said.

“I spent every spare moment training horses at Richard and Brian Hancock’s training property at Albion Park.

“Harness racing has been my passion and I have been fortunate to have experienced some highlight moments in the sport.”

The Swan’s farm in Jamberoo was the birthplace of many champions.

“My family and I bred many winners, the best two being Australian Horse of the Year and Inter Dominion winner Weona Warrior and Australian 3YO Horse of the Year Sushi Sushi,” he said.

Trevor was also one of the first involved in Artificial Insemination (AI) in Australia which commenced in the early 1990’s.

“I was sort of one of the early ones when that [AI] first kicked in,” Trevor said.

“I remember driving to Sydney and hopping on a plane and flying to Albury, driving to Shepparton, and then coming back home again and the vet was waiting at 6 o’clock at night to serve the mare.

“So that’s how it [AI] started. It all got easier and now it just goes out in a box in freight.

“Then frozen semen was allowed, and I was sort of at the front end of that too. I think I was the first to import semen from America.

“And then they decided you could do embryo transfer.”

Trevor occasionally got the gig when Brian Hancock was unavailable jumping into the sulky, with nearly 50 winners to his name.

“My highlights were two successive Newcastle Miles and a feature at Mooney Valley,” he said.

These were all behind his favourite horse Sabilize, which Trevor had a great affiliation with.

“Yeah, she pretty much consumed me for the years that she was racing,” Trevor said.

“She was difficult at times, but good to drive in track work and that.

“But racing nights, as soon as the mobile would come out, she just wouldn’t relax.”

Julie explained that it was Trevor’s demeanour and approach which solidified the relationship.

“Brian said she relaxed better for Trevor than him, for some reason,” Julie said.

“Trevor has a very quiet, gentle, way with horses.”

Not only is the love of horses clearly evident when talking to Trevor and Julie, their humility also shines through.

Julie bred a Welsh pony and named him Bilbo Baggins, and little did the Swans know that this horse would provide the first of many significant horse related achievements for his new rider.

“In the late 70’s I bred a liver chestnut pony which I subsequently leased to a young boy and his family who lived in Canberra and was moving to Moss Vale,” Julie said.

The young boy was Hall of Fame and champion jockey Darren Beadman.

A young Darren Beadman and Bilbo Baggins with Julie Swan. Photo: Supplied

Beadman won the Champion Boy Rider at the Royal Easter Show at the old Sydney Showground in Moore Park with Bilbo Baggins among a flurry of other ribbons on the show circuit.

Beadman then began his apprenticeship with Theo Green who was considered the Wayne Bennett or Craig Bellamy of apprentice masters, joining greats Ron Quinton and Malcom Johnston and forged a successful career in and out of the saddle.

The significance of August 1 for those involved in the horse industry is fostered by the dedication and generosity to not only the horse and industry, but to others; just as the Swan family has shown.