Flint, Crossbred gelding, 22 years
"The Man", Ian's personal horse and the leader of the herd, a very calm one who is friends with everybody in the herd but can move anybody by the flick of his ear. He is Texas's halfbrother out of Sparkle, a Maori-Bush Pony mare. As a young colt Flint was early matured. Up the hill in the young horses' paddock boundering on the neighbour's horse paddock a young mare jumped into Flint's territory.....so there is an offspring around of Flint's decent. He was a colty colt and even after he was gelded he still is "the man". Ian started him at a Ray Hunt workshop and then didn't ride him for 5 years. Ian didn't want to use him for trekking and the time was lacking for pleasure riding in those full on trekking times. Then a few years ago some working students told Ian :" It is about bloody time that you ride Flint again". After all that time Flint didn't forget, he stood there totally calm and Ian rode took the halter off and rode him without anything on his head. He is the least trained horse of the ridden ones here but Ian can do everything with him. Out on the trails he absolutey loves the water, quite often he aimes for the deep bits and takes Ian into the river up to his waist:-). That's why Anke gave him the nick name "Hippo", in German "Flusspferd" (riverhorse) makes it even more suitable...the other reason for the nick name is his apple bottom he inherited from his Mum Sparkle.
Being the boss of the herd and leading in a quiet and friendly way, Ian consideres Flint the leader "he aspires to be": a truly integrated leader.
Being the boss of the herd and leading in a quiet and friendly way, Ian consideres Flint the leader "he aspires to be": a truly integrated leader.
Vic, Standardbred gelding, 21 years
Vic came to us from the race track as a 4 year old. He is amongst the Standardbreds at North River the most sucessful ever;-):
came 3rd ....once.
He is Flint's best buddy and second in command in the herd. Very loyal also to his girlfriends JayJay and Harmony.
In the trekking times he often was Ian's lead horse and up until today Vic is happiest when takes him out for a trek.
A tall bay dude with lots of personality and our most talkative horse. His "mmmpf" and snot showers when he is pleased with himself and life is great (going from one paddock to the other, while out riding being in front, eating, and continously when Ian rides him) are legendary ;). A friend of ours from Germany, Alice, gave him finally the long deserved nick name: the talking horse. Yes, you can have long conversations with him and he "mmmpfes" back;-). A great teacher for awareness, focus and meaning what you say, otherwise he just does it his way (which means eating along the trails, going to the right when the rider wants him to go left). Vic is also one of our fastest not only in a trot. But when he first arrived and got started he was known for a few years as the "Great Dane Puppy" , four legs going in four different directions. Now he is an absolutely surefooted and reliable horse..with a focused, aware and assertive rider:-). Vic was very much enjoyed by his Share Rider Marcus and is also great with our pony girls now in his older days.
came 3rd ....once.
He is Flint's best buddy and second in command in the herd. Very loyal also to his girlfriends JayJay and Harmony.
In the trekking times he often was Ian's lead horse and up until today Vic is happiest when takes him out for a trek.
A tall bay dude with lots of personality and our most talkative horse. His "mmmpf" and snot showers when he is pleased with himself and life is great (going from one paddock to the other, while out riding being in front, eating, and continously when Ian rides him) are legendary ;). A friend of ours from Germany, Alice, gave him finally the long deserved nick name: the talking horse. Yes, you can have long conversations with him and he "mmmpfes" back;-). A great teacher for awareness, focus and meaning what you say, otherwise he just does it his way (which means eating along the trails, going to the right when the rider wants him to go left). Vic is also one of our fastest not only in a trot. But when he first arrived and got started he was known for a few years as the "Great Dane Puppy" , four legs going in four different directions. Now he is an absolutely surefooted and reliable horse..with a focused, aware and assertive rider:-). Vic was very much enjoyed by his Share Rider Marcus and is also great with our pony girls now in his older days.
