Max, Clydesdale-Quarterhorse Cross, 13 years
Maximus, the latest addition to our herd, is definately a horse with an extraordinary background: From a former TV Star starring in " Legend of the Seeker" (http://www.equinefilms.co/index.php?page=equine-team) to being recommended to be put down as he is blind in his left eye. Gratefully his lovely former owner Yasmine didn't listen to these recommendations. Two weeks before we left for Germany in June 2011 we got a phone call from Yasmine, if we wanted a Clydie-Cross. With us leaving overseas soon we weren't really keen before the winter but when Yasmine told us Max's story we knew we would take him on. At that time Yasmine has been told to get him off a property where he was grazing, she had 4 days. She loved him dearly but had nowhere to put him really and she had lost confidence with him due to a bad accident when he was turning bling due to uveitis. As Ian has worked with quite a few horses being blind on one eye in Europe (absolutely nothing wrong with them you just need to understand that they sometimes cope differently and have to know how to handle that) we had absolutely no worries what so ever. He arrived here at the property and after 10 minutes he had his first roll in the arena looking very settled. Two days after that Ian rode him out on the trails. Max was amazing, with long enough reins to be able to scan his environment with his right eye he was even happily walking in front after a short space of time. That gave me, Anke enough "courage" to ride a few days later, and me as well fell in love with that dude, especially with that kind of dream trot, it's feels like floating. We are glad to offer him a forever home now and he is an absolute asset to our North River Crew. His Share-Rider Denise absolutely adores him and they have lots of fun together out on Bush & River adventures.
JayJay, Crossbred, 21 years (privately owned)
This very expressive black mare is a former rescue horse and privately owned by Michelle, who basically got her off the ramp of a trailer heading to the lion park.
Very wary of humans, especially men at the beginning, Michelle turned Jay into a more trusting and lovely 4 legged friend. She settled into the herd surprisingly well, after Michelle had been told that she is very dominant and she used to be the lead mare. Well here at North River she isn't. She cannot get any other horse to move, gets even moved by Jameela unless Vic, her man, helps her. Jay is very expressive when she is a bit p... off with any of the other horses, usually makes a big song and dance but that just gets ignored by the others. She has taught us a lot about herd dynamics and how even in the human's eye a horse "at the bottom of the heap" as a very responsable role: to lead the herd, from one paddock into the next or out to the bush. It looks that she takes that role on proudly and the herd only follows calmly and easily if JayJay is in front.
Very wary of humans, especially men at the beginning, Michelle turned Jay into a more trusting and lovely 4 legged friend. She settled into the herd surprisingly well, after Michelle had been told that she is very dominant and she used to be the lead mare. Well here at North River she isn't. She cannot get any other horse to move, gets even moved by Jameela unless Vic, her man, helps her. Jay is very expressive when she is a bit p... off with any of the other horses, usually makes a big song and dance but that just gets ignored by the others. She has taught us a lot about herd dynamics and how even in the human's eye a horse "at the bottom of the heap" as a very responsable role: to lead the herd, from one paddock into the next or out to the bush. It looks that she takes that role on proudly and the herd only follows calmly and easily if JayJay is in front.
