Texas, "Haflinger Donkey Cross;-)" gelding, 25 years
Texas is Anke's personal horse, an incredible teacher, very sensitive, has very expressive facial expressions and unique way of "dealing with humans". Ian got Texas as a 4 months old colt. What a handfull, spoilt rotten and cutesed around: the result, a young colt which absolutely hated humans, didn't respect them at all. Even at that young age he was attacking every human who wanted to get near him, ears back, showing teeth. Ian was the first human who set him a boundary. Texas wasn't impressed and groundwork with him was even an interesting experience for Ian.
In the herd he is a gentle, soft and loyal friend and halfbrother to the boss "Flint". They have the same voice (very high pitched) and they are also known as the "Sopranos". Texas has been together with 4Sure since she was a little filly. With every new horse he is the first one who integrates them, around horses his ears hardly ever go back but he can move most of the others.
But towards humans it's a whole different story. After Ian had done a lot of work with him, Texas trusted and respected him but no other. With every new person, either clients or working students he would run a whole Test battery, every time: Anke named it "Texas Assessment Centre": minimum of one hour to catch in the paddock (didn't matter if you did the right "thing" in approaching), then when the halter was on: he would grow roots and wouldn't move if you made the slightest mistake in leaving before him and not with him, brushing: pretending to bite you (never does) but his head would turn around and his teeth clonged together with the attempt, getting the person to jump back gave him the most pleased look with himself on his face. When the person got finally in the saddle, Texas would turn into a donkey again, you couldn't get one single step if you didn't do EVERYTHING correctly (focus, slight touch with the leg, breathing and being present). Then the journey began on the trail: The first two gates, a test of the riders leadership qualities with every step, or hours of circles with one reins if the release would come just a tiny bit too late or you weren't focused where you wanted to go. After the first two gates you were sitting on a horse which followed your focus and could be incredible soft. As he was hardly suitable for trekking Ian tried to sell Texas as a 1 person horse. But even a very experienced riding instructor couldn't get this "donkey" to move (slaps on the butt just got answered with a little buck) and that was on the way home!!!.
Texas has been an incredible teacher for most of our working students. Everyone has ended up in tears with him, me (Anke) included: either out of frustration, fear or sadness.... he would find the ego button and still does. Even Nadja, one of our dear friends in Germany and horsemanship trainer, never scared of a horse in her life, ended up in tears on his back too scared to get off because Texas tried to bit her legs and feet as soon as she moved. SO WHY DOES HE DO IT? He wants you to LISTEN and he only shows this behaviour when the person doesn't listen to him, the person's ego or ambition gets in the way or the human doesn't respect him. If you want his respect you need give it first (like with all horses but Texas shows it in a harsh way and doesn't forgive).
In Equine Assisted Therapy Sessions he is a great mirror and interactor.
In Humanship Horsemanship sessions he has helped a lot of people to learn a lot more about themselves.
I knew he would be my best teacher, although his behaviour intimidated me. It wasn't easy to watch sometimes that with Ian, Texas just didn't show this behaviour anymore because he gained his trust and respect. Quite a journey lies behind us two now. What have I learned so far?: not to take things too personal, reflecting on my intention and being present. He also taught me what a partnership of 100% equality means between a human and a horse and if you are with him in the moment and listen to him he absolutely gives you the world. I have passed his assessment centre, and I'm grateful for every moment we share. But if my ego takes over, my ambitiion gets too big or I forget about him and not keeping the relationship in balance with the tasks, Texas reminds me again very clearly that I can't do it without him. For me Texas is one in a million.
In the herd he is a gentle, soft and loyal friend and halfbrother to the boss "Flint". They have the same voice (very high pitched) and they are also known as the "Sopranos". Texas has been together with 4Sure since she was a little filly. With every new horse he is the first one who integrates them, around horses his ears hardly ever go back but he can move most of the others.
But towards humans it's a whole different story. After Ian had done a lot of work with him, Texas trusted and respected him but no other. With every new person, either clients or working students he would run a whole Test battery, every time: Anke named it "Texas Assessment Centre": minimum of one hour to catch in the paddock (didn't matter if you did the right "thing" in approaching), then when the halter was on: he would grow roots and wouldn't move if you made the slightest mistake in leaving before him and not with him, brushing: pretending to bite you (never does) but his head would turn around and his teeth clonged together with the attempt, getting the person to jump back gave him the most pleased look with himself on his face. When the person got finally in the saddle, Texas would turn into a donkey again, you couldn't get one single step if you didn't do EVERYTHING correctly (focus, slight touch with the leg, breathing and being present). Then the journey began on the trail: The first two gates, a test of the riders leadership qualities with every step, or hours of circles with one reins if the release would come just a tiny bit too late or you weren't focused where you wanted to go. After the first two gates you were sitting on a horse which followed your focus and could be incredible soft. As he was hardly suitable for trekking Ian tried to sell Texas as a 1 person horse. But even a very experienced riding instructor couldn't get this "donkey" to move (slaps on the butt just got answered with a little buck) and that was on the way home!!!.
Texas has been an incredible teacher for most of our working students. Everyone has ended up in tears with him, me (Anke) included: either out of frustration, fear or sadness.... he would find the ego button and still does. Even Nadja, one of our dear friends in Germany and horsemanship trainer, never scared of a horse in her life, ended up in tears on his back too scared to get off because Texas tried to bit her legs and feet as soon as she moved. SO WHY DOES HE DO IT? He wants you to LISTEN and he only shows this behaviour when the person doesn't listen to him, the person's ego or ambition gets in the way or the human doesn't respect him. If you want his respect you need give it first (like with all horses but Texas shows it in a harsh way and doesn't forgive).
In Equine Assisted Therapy Sessions he is a great mirror and interactor.
In Humanship Horsemanship sessions he has helped a lot of people to learn a lot more about themselves.
I knew he would be my best teacher, although his behaviour intimidated me. It wasn't easy to watch sometimes that with Ian, Texas just didn't show this behaviour anymore because he gained his trust and respect. Quite a journey lies behind us two now. What have I learned so far?: not to take things too personal, reflecting on my intention and being present. He also taught me what a partnership of 100% equality means between a human and a horse and if you are with him in the moment and listen to him he absolutely gives you the world. I have passed his assessment centre, and I'm grateful for every moment we share. But if my ego takes over, my ambitiion gets too big or I forget about him and not keeping the relationship in balance with the tasks, Texas reminds me again very clearly that I can't do it without him. For me Texas is one in a million.
Oscar, Thouroughbred gelding, 25 years
Oscar, one of our two Thouroughbreds 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 summer 2010 we have owned him again and our friend and working student Tine has fallen in love with him. 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;-). 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;-). Oscar definately is happiest when he has a regular person around. The summer 2011/2012 my niece Lea from Germany 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:-). Over the last few years he has lost his grouchy behaviour and Oscar gets refrered to as a real gentleman.
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 summer 2010 we have owned him again and our friend and working student Tine has fallen in love with him. 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;-). 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;-). Oscar definately is happiest when he has a regular person around. The summer 2011/2012 my niece Lea from Germany 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:-). Over the last few years he has lost his grouchy behaviour and Oscar gets refrered to as a real gentleman.
Pepper, Stationbred, 10 years (privately owned)
This handsome roan gelding arrived as a project to be restarted. Owned by a friend of ours who got him from a stud, where he was bred to jump as a 3 year old already "broken in" and staarted to be jumped. Pepper was a nervous wreck at teh beginning, when you walked into th epaddock he would run into the furtherst corner and snort at you..wheelbarrows or any other out of the order would often mean "the end of the world" for him. In the roundpen it became quite obvious that his survival strategy was to run away in a trot, head up high showing his incredible underneck. He was scared of whips, sudden movements from humans and expected pain in the mouth even just putting a rope halter on.....to be continued
