Ian Benson
Ian
I have been on this property at the head of the North River Valley in Waipu since 1981. Having travelled extensively through Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe I returned home with the realisation that there was more to life than farming in general and milking cows in particular. I have an immense love of the land and of New Zealand, so moving from this special property was not an option. I particularly noticed the solitary lifestyle I had been leading, and realised that I needed to do something that involved people.
About that time a friend invited me to go trail riding with her at a local riding center. I don't mind admitting that a didn't enjoy a single minute of it. Having been 17 years since I had ridden a horse I was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the one thing that it did do was to reignite my childhood passion for horses and riding. Two years later, and no formal riding or horsemanship training, I had 10 horses and was open for business. Over the preceding 6 months before opening for business I rode all the horses that I acquired, for many, many hours, and to be absolutely truthful, the learning curve was very steep indeed.
That was back in 1992, the horses are still training me in being a better person and I still look forward to each day with the enthusiasm of an adventurous child. For my life has turned into an adventure, the adventure of self discovery with 40 plus gurus out in the fields showing me the way. Now, having worked with over 25,000 people riding, it is time to use this experience for the betterment of horses and of people.
Now, with closing down of the trekking business, the time has come to use the property for the benefit of others. As well as offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning and run Humanship workshops and seminars worldwide, I work with the volunteers and horses at a local therapeutic riding center.
All of which is a far cry from even my wildest dreams when I purchased the property. For I believe that horses and nature can show us a better way of life, and teach us the life skills of communication, harmony and balance; thereby helping to create a better place for us all to live.
About that time a friend invited me to go trail riding with her at a local riding center. I don't mind admitting that a didn't enjoy a single minute of it. Having been 17 years since I had ridden a horse I was definitely out of my comfort zone. However, the one thing that it did do was to reignite my childhood passion for horses and riding. Two years later, and no formal riding or horsemanship training, I had 10 horses and was open for business. Over the preceding 6 months before opening for business I rode all the horses that I acquired, for many, many hours, and to be absolutely truthful, the learning curve was very steep indeed.
That was back in 1992, the horses are still training me in being a better person and I still look forward to each day with the enthusiasm of an adventurous child. For my life has turned into an adventure, the adventure of self discovery with 40 plus gurus out in the fields showing me the way. Now, having worked with over 25,000 people riding, it is time to use this experience for the betterment of horses and of people.
Now, with closing down of the trekking business, the time has come to use the property for the benefit of others. As well as offering Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning and run Humanship workshops and seminars worldwide, I work with the volunteers and horses at a local therapeutic riding center.
All of which is a far cry from even my wildest dreams when I purchased the property. For I believe that horses and nature can show us a better way of life, and teach us the life skills of communication, harmony and balance; thereby helping to create a better place for us all to live.
