Over the last 20 past years we have had the privilege to have many horses come and share their lives with us. For some it was the last resort and a new begining, for others a kind of retirement from competion and others, one step along their journey of life.
Fella, pony gelding, 35 years
Fella, a very unique pony, found it's way to North river as another "problem horse". Being very grumpy when you wanted to put the saddle on and attacking horses behind him were just the milder "issues". He was definately a character and would enjoy being the last horse on the trekks. If the was another horse behind him the rider had to be really aware, otherwise Fela would turn around and attack the horse behind him with wide open mouth. Except of that he was a real Dude and dearly loved by anyone. One other thing really stood out: his trot. The most amazing gentle trot we have ever experienced on a horse, it was just like floating. Fella also was the chosen horse for Ian and us others when really little children came along we had to ride with them, as he was such a dream to ride bareback. By Fella's gentle movements many kids have fallen asleep while being carried through the bush over the years and still heaps of people and children ask after him. Dearly missed he is also by Kerstin our friend from Germany who spend half a year with her family here in 2007. Fella got sick a few years ago, his Cushings became worse even on medication, the cancer took over and the winter 2010 was also too hard for him. So we had to make the decision to let him go with some grace. He is burried now on the farm, the paddock where his grave is, is named after him.
Found new homes:
Finky, Welsh Mountain Pony gelding, 13 years
Finky (Gundagai Finkee) was privately owned by Sarah and her parents for seven years.To keep him busy was the most important otherwise he got bored.When he arrived here at North River it wasn't easy to keep in a paddock, even hot tape didn't stop him, he was an asbolute escape artist;-). He needed a diet paddock otherwise he would develope a six pack on his back. Sarah loved him dearly and learned a lot, especially being determined. So did Katie who reguraly rode him as Sarah had outgrown him. He could be an absolute angel on the trails...as long as the rider didn't let him eat, one mouthful of grass and he would reach into his trick box: doing just enough, little pig jumps, little rears and bucks, lying down to have a roll, just enough to be able to eat again. If you managed not to let him eat you could ride him everywhere, river, steep hills, going over jumps also in a rope halter. Finky got sold this summer 2011 to two wonderful families, where there are enough kids around to love him to pieces and keep him busy.
Bryan, Standardbred gelding, 11 years
We got given Bryan (racing name Affair Star) in 2009. The former owner got him from the race track, parked him at a farm. One day the farm owner got a phone call, that she could keep him. She sat on him once and Bryan sat in a paddock for 3 years not doing anything before she gave him to us. He became Anke's project and she worked with him a lot on the ground, also bringing his confidence back to find the canter under saddle. Ian took him over when Anke realized it needed a more experienced rider, with clear and soft communication otherwise he started to buck. Ian worked him through that and later on both uf us enjoyed riding him out on the trails. He turned into such a cool dude, could ride hime anywhere on the trekks in a halter. We wanted to keep him but unfortunately he didn't fit into the herd. Making up to his name Bryan always wanted to be the boss without having a clue and sometimes having "really blonde moments;-)" . Watching him was sometimes rather entertaining ( a few stories to tell there).. In the paddock he was always the first coming up but pushing the other horses in all directions which seemd to be a bit unsafe in our non-skilled EAL/EAP programmes. So we decided to sell him to an experienced home where he would have another horse for company but not a big herd. He found a wonderful loving home now up north.
Tui
Tui is a stunning and sensitive, special horse with a very special history and present.
A horseman up north rescued her from a home where she got taught to lead by being tied behind a tractor. But even he could hardly get near, couldn't catch her in teh paddock so he handed Tui over as project to a working student of his from Norway: Synnove. The first time Synnove went into the paddock Tui looked at her and went straight to her...much to be said about that and a turning point in Synnove's and Tui's life which Synnove didn't know at that stage. So Synnove started her and then came to North River as a working student. Years later when Synnove was back in Norway she couldn't get Tui out of her head so she called Ian to find out what happened to Tui. One phone call to the place up north and Ian found out that Tui was for sale. Another phone call and Synnove bought her and kept her here at North River for 6 years.
A horseman up north rescued her from a home where she got taught to lead by being tied behind a tractor. But even he could hardly get near, couldn't catch her in teh paddock so he handed Tui over as project to a working student of his from Norway: Synnove. The first time Synnove went into the paddock Tui looked at her and went straight to her...much to be said about that and a turning point in Synnove's and Tui's life which Synnove didn't know at that stage. So Synnove started her and then came to North River as a working student. Years later when Synnove was back in Norway she couldn't get Tui out of her head so she called Ian to find out what happened to Tui. One phone call to the place up north and Ian found out that Tui was for sale. Another phone call and Synnove bought her and kept her here at North River for 6 years.
Major, Standardbred gelding, 20 years
.Major arrived at North River from the race track (former name: "Island Scott") with a head flick. Over the few years Ian had him he became a great horse, not a beginners one though. Sometimes his head flicking would start, he got checked from ear to neck by vets and osteopath, nothing would explain it, it got less over the years. Major often was Ian's lead horse on the trekks the last few years and a great demonstration horse for rhythm. While increasing the speed of his talking Ian could get him into a trot or even talk him into a stop. Major even would respond to that change in rhythm even if Ian would actually sit on another horse much to the suprise of the rider sitting on Major:-). A real sensitive and fit dude he is and if he got too excited about galopping he could do the odd rodeo on the spot....just for joy, nothing major though. His new owner Jackie loves him to bits and really enjoys the rides.
Aussie, Standardbred gelding, 18 years
Ian got Aussie from a racing breeder at 4 years old.
The trainer gave him his paddock name as Aussie was very relaxed one day and the outline of the australian map was discovered on a patircular part of his body;-).
Well, during the trekking especially Aussie tourists thought it was quite hilarious to ride a Kiwi Standardbred with such a name. Aussie became famous as the "Man with 1001 trotts", somewhere there was a comfortable one you could actually sit to. But he had the most comfortable canter ever. Aussie used to be the lead gelding together with Coach, a rather tough and bossy team on the rest of the herd. On the trails he could have the rider on big time: Every time he thought he would be in charge he would literally poke his tongue, always a crack up for everybody else on the ride:-).
Major & Aussie being best buddies got sold together to a wonderful home in 2009.
The trainer gave him his paddock name as Aussie was very relaxed one day and the outline of the australian map was discovered on a patircular part of his body;-).
Well, during the trekking especially Aussie tourists thought it was quite hilarious to ride a Kiwi Standardbred with such a name. Aussie became famous as the "Man with 1001 trotts", somewhere there was a comfortable one you could actually sit to. But he had the most comfortable canter ever. Aussie used to be the lead gelding together with Coach, a rather tough and bossy team on the rest of the herd. On the trails he could have the rider on big time: Every time he thought he would be in charge he would literally poke his tongue, always a crack up for everybody else on the ride:-).
Major & Aussie being best buddies got sold together to a wonderful home in 2009.
