4 Sure, Crossbred mare, 15 years
4 Sure is Texas's and Luca's girlfriend and is now the lead mare of our herd: A real black beauty with a interesting name and a strong personality. She is out of one of Ian's favourite horses and was supposed to be his personal horse, "that's for sure". Well, when she was born she developed more and more this Roman nose and she wasn't going to be Ian's personal horse anymore: That's 4 sure.
The first time she was going to be saddled she took the saddle blanket out of the working student's hand and flicked it out of the roundpen. One year when Ian was overseas a self-declared "horseman" had some sessions with her in the roundpen without Ian's knowledge (he found out later). Afterwards 4Sure would attack people in the roundpen. So there were alot of things to undo and regain her trust again after that. Synnove, a good friend and working student took 4Sure over as her project. With Ian's help, a lot of patience, persistence and time Synnove turned 4Sure into a horse which trusts and respects humans again, also in the roundpen. When you ride 4Sure it feels like going into battle, she crashes through everything and never afraid to express her opinion :), an amazing horse with lots of personality and attitude.
The first time she was going to be saddled she took the saddle blanket out of the working student's hand and flicked it out of the roundpen. One year when Ian was overseas a self-declared "horseman" had some sessions with her in the roundpen without Ian's knowledge (he found out later). Afterwards 4Sure would attack people in the roundpen. So there were alot of things to undo and regain her trust again after that. Synnove, a good friend and working student took 4Sure over as her project. With Ian's help, a lot of patience, persistence and time Synnove turned 4Sure into a horse which trusts and respects humans again, also in the roundpen. When you ride 4Sure it feels like going into battle, she crashes through everything and never afraid to express her opinion :), an amazing horse with lots of personality and attitude.
Luca, Kiwi Sport Horse Gelding, 11 years
Luca, son of Thunder & Jaffa, full brother to Jameela and Merlin: A horse with PERSONALITY PLUS. When he was born our good friend and former working student Jo dreamed of him being named Luca and so it was:-).
An absolute clown with other horses as well as with people. He gets every gelding in the herd to play. When humans entered the paddock he usually was the first one to say hello. If you were wearing a hat it was gone soon. He loves kids, and he definately has a lot of humor. At a EAP presentation he was looking over the presentors shoulder "reading" her notes and then as the presentation went on, lay down between her and the audience and fell asleep.
When he was two years old he had a paddock accident and we thought we would never be able to ride him. But he became a groundwork master, Nadja , a friend and Horsemanship trainer from Germany even taught him the Spanish walk. After that whenever you asked him something he wasn't immediately sure what you wanted he would offer the Spanish walk, even in the paddock. The last two years he developed physically and the scar tissue of the accident doesn't bother him anymore. So he became Anke's project to start, a first for her. What a joy to work with him and so easy and hungry for learning more. In the arena Luca is chewing almost the whole time taking everything in, he enjoys jumping and we are playing with foundations in dressage. Luca is very soft, breathing out and sitting deep is enough to stop him. His canter is a dream, his trot he inherited from his Mum...we're working on it;-). The second rider ever on him, Nina from Germany, who took him further in his "riding education"(thanks again for your input:-)), absolutely enjoyed this boy, so did our friend Matina and Miriam, their opinion: Luca conquers your heart and you get addicted to him:-)....his fanclub is growing and includes now also Gunnar, our good friend from Germany and specialist in natural hoof care whose opinion we dearly value and of course Corina: Trainee and friend from Switzerland, who absolutely has fallen in love with Luca and would love to take him back to Switzerland with her amongst a growing list of Trainees, who love him to bits.
An absolute clown with other horses as well as with people. He gets every gelding in the herd to play. When humans entered the paddock he usually was the first one to say hello. If you were wearing a hat it was gone soon. He loves kids, and he definately has a lot of humor. At a EAP presentation he was looking over the presentors shoulder "reading" her notes and then as the presentation went on, lay down between her and the audience and fell asleep.
When he was two years old he had a paddock accident and we thought we would never be able to ride him. But he became a groundwork master, Nadja , a friend and Horsemanship trainer from Germany even taught him the Spanish walk. After that whenever you asked him something he wasn't immediately sure what you wanted he would offer the Spanish walk, even in the paddock. The last two years he developed physically and the scar tissue of the accident doesn't bother him anymore. So he became Anke's project to start, a first for her. What a joy to work with him and so easy and hungry for learning more. In the arena Luca is chewing almost the whole time taking everything in, he enjoys jumping and we are playing with foundations in dressage. Luca is very soft, breathing out and sitting deep is enough to stop him. His canter is a dream, his trot he inherited from his Mum...we're working on it;-). The second rider ever on him, Nina from Germany, who took him further in his "riding education"(thanks again for your input:-)), absolutely enjoyed this boy, so did our friend Matina and Miriam, their opinion: Luca conquers your heart and you get addicted to him:-)....his fanclub is growing and includes now also Gunnar, our good friend from Germany and specialist in natural hoof care whose opinion we dearly value and of course Corina: Trainee and friend from Switzerland, who absolutely has fallen in love with Luca and would love to take him back to Switzerland with her amongst a growing list of Trainees, who love him to bits.
Kola, Clydesdale Cross mare, 9 years, privately owned
Kola, native american for 4legged friend is another stunning foal by Thunder out of our beloved Clydesdale Kimmie.
She has been is Ian's daughter's horse, then belonged to William, his son. They were starting her themselves with her Dad's help. When Annalese and Kola had a play in the roundpen even some our working students could not believe how easy it all looked. As Kola is a very confident horse, you need to be very clear in your communication, and Annalese and William are, with impecible timing. A wonderful journey to witness between them.
Kola is Bodyguard for the foals in the herd by the look of the herd dynamics. For Kola no fence is too high and no drains too wide to jump, so she ends up in a different paddock than the rest of the herd quite regularly, just because she can:-). Since February 2016 Kola is prodly owned by Ariana our friend and Max share horse person. We are very happy for both of them and happy that Kola still stays at North River. We think Kola has found an amazing caring human companian and Ariana a great 4legged friend. We wish them all the best on their journey together :).
She has been is Ian's daughter's horse, then belonged to William, his son. They were starting her themselves with her Dad's help. When Annalese and Kola had a play in the roundpen even some our working students could not believe how easy it all looked. As Kola is a very confident horse, you need to be very clear in your communication, and Annalese and William are, with impecible timing. A wonderful journey to witness between them.
Kola is Bodyguard for the foals in the herd by the look of the herd dynamics. For Kola no fence is too high and no drains too wide to jump, so she ends up in a different paddock than the rest of the herd quite regularly, just because she can:-). Since February 2016 Kola is prodly owned by Ariana our friend and Max share horse person. We are very happy for both of them and happy that Kola still stays at North River. We think Kola has found an amazing caring human companian and Ariana a great 4legged friend. We wish them all the best on their journey together :).
