Harmony, Standardbred cross, 9 years
The most sensitive wee soul in our herd and privately owned by our friend Kerstin in Germany. With Harmony you really have to watch what you think about. Out of Ian's former Standardbred stallion "In a Frenzy" she inherited the ability to amble. She often hangs around with the ponies, her girlfriend is definately JayJay.
Harmony being such a sensitive horse, she was another one who got started in Ian's absence and we have started to work on some of her fears, especially in the roundpen, again. As she is a 1 Person horse Ian gave her to our friend Kerstin on her stay in New Zealand with the prospect of her and her family immigrating. The journey is continuing and we are hopefull that Harmony will turn into a fully trusting horse again:-).
Harmony being such a sensitive horse, she was another one who got started in Ian's absence and we have started to work on some of her fears, especially in the roundpen, again. As she is a 1 Person horse Ian gave her to our friend Kerstin on her stay in New Zealand with the prospect of her and her family immigrating. The journey is continuing and we are hopefull that Harmony will turn into a fully trusting horse again:-).
Oscar, Thouroughbred gelding, 18 years
Oscar, our now one and only Thouroughbred in the herd is Texas's best friend.
He used to be privately owned by Caroline for the last 7 years but now he is ours again as she is lacking time but wanted him to stay with us, we are happy to keep him here. Oscar has a bit of a history and we sure Caroline could add the odd story about him from the years of their journey together;-). Bu t lets'start from the beginning: One of Ian's clients got offered a horse, a "problem one" and she agreed to take him on saying:" Either I'll manage or I'll give him to Ian" her friend responded: "Well, give him to Ian then." So Ian got a phone call to go and get Oscar. Arriving at the place those two women and the owner were chatting, so Ian just asked where the horse was and went to get him. When he came walking around the corner with Oscar on the lead, the owner just said: "How did you do that? We cannot lead him out of his paddock as he starts to go nuts and rears when you try to lead him through the gate....". Apparently that wasn't his only trick. Oscar had never been raced, started under saddle and then sucessfully found ways to stop people asking anything of him, including chasing people out of his paddock. After Ian had taken him home and worked with him he turned out to be a very ridable, respecting horse but definately another 1 Person horse. So Caroline, a young girl from Auckland who came for riding lessons at North River, got him and Oscar tried out all of his tricks again. With Ian's help she learned to set boundaries and stand her ground and as she says today: "Oscar has taught me how to be me". As Caroline got busier with university she had less time but they definately enjoyed their rides out in the bush, going everywhere:-).
Since last summer 2010 we own him again and our friend and working student Tine has fallen in love with him. Now Oscar is getting asked a few more things again, the old coping mechanisms appeared back. Pretty mild compared how it used to be, but the handsome Grouch still knows how to test people and it's still about standing in your own power. Oscar is simply looking for a good leader, a kind but confident person who isn't impressed by his "Gremlin behaviour". He is an absolute wonderful horse, a joy to ride (especially fast;-)..we are working on the slowness). His ability to jump makes him the favourite of our "pony girls", even if he jumps over small jumps as they are over a meter high;-). On the long run we are hoping he becomes a privately owned horse again, hopefully by Tine who is preparing her immigration. Oscar definately is happiest when he has a regular person around. This summer 2011/2012 it is my niece Lea from Germany, who learned a lot with him and from him. Under Ian's and my supervision those two have made amazing changes, Oscar's strangely curved neck has disappeared, he has built up some decent muscles, Lea has learned to jump with him and Oscar's gremlin behaviour gets less and less even to other people. Lea has done a great job with him:-).
One thing is for sure: He has found his forever home here at North River.
He used to be privately owned by Caroline for the last 7 years but now he is ours again as she is lacking time but wanted him to stay with us, we are happy to keep him here. Oscar has a bit of a history and we sure Caroline could add the odd story about him from the years of their journey together;-). Bu t lets'start from the beginning: One of Ian's clients got offered a horse, a "problem one" and she agreed to take him on saying:" Either I'll manage or I'll give him to Ian" her friend responded: "Well, give him to Ian then." So Ian got a phone call to go and get Oscar. Arriving at the place those two women and the owner were chatting, so Ian just asked where the horse was and went to get him. When he came walking around the corner with Oscar on the lead, the owner just said: "How did you do that? We cannot lead him out of his paddock as he starts to go nuts and rears when you try to lead him through the gate....". Apparently that wasn't his only trick. Oscar had never been raced, started under saddle and then sucessfully found ways to stop people asking anything of him, including chasing people out of his paddock. After Ian had taken him home and worked with him he turned out to be a very ridable, respecting horse but definately another 1 Person horse. So Caroline, a young girl from Auckland who came for riding lessons at North River, got him and Oscar tried out all of his tricks again. With Ian's help she learned to set boundaries and stand her ground and as she says today: "Oscar has taught me how to be me". As Caroline got busier with university she had less time but they definately enjoyed their rides out in the bush, going everywhere:-).
Since last summer 2010 we own him again and our friend and working student Tine has fallen in love with him. Now Oscar is getting asked a few more things again, the old coping mechanisms appeared back. Pretty mild compared how it used to be, but the handsome Grouch still knows how to test people and it's still about standing in your own power. Oscar is simply looking for a good leader, a kind but confident person who isn't impressed by his "Gremlin behaviour". He is an absolute wonderful horse, a joy to ride (especially fast;-)..we are working on the slowness). His ability to jump makes him the favourite of our "pony girls", even if he jumps over small jumps as they are over a meter high;-). On the long run we are hoping he becomes a privately owned horse again, hopefully by Tine who is preparing her immigration. Oscar definately is happiest when he has a regular person around. This summer 2011/2012 it is my niece Lea from Germany, who learned a lot with him and from him. Under Ian's and my supervision those two have made amazing changes, Oscar's strangely curved neck has disappeared, he has built up some decent muscles, Lea has learned to jump with him and Oscar's gremlin behaviour gets less and less even to other people. Lea has done a great job with him:-).
One thing is for sure: He has found his forever home here at North River.
