Autumn – 2009
Build a Bond Beyond Belief
This newsletter contains:
- Livery
- Come Riding Evening
- Blog
- Babs at the Ken Faulkner Clinic
- Isaac and Bandit
- Spaces in Womens Riding Weekend 6-7 June
- Becoming a Horsey Parent Course
- Your horse Programme
- New Rides at Mt Lyford
- Office Data Entry Person – Position available
Hello Everyone
Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter. We are now settling into our new home and with the warm weather earlier on we have had a good Autumn with a very successful Ken Faulkner Clinic (See Bab’s article down further) and lots of slow but sure improvements to our new home getting things functional and ship shape. Much appreciation goes to Mike Southworth who seems to be able to make anything from nothing. My mission is to not work in mud any more and so far I have achieved that at Mt Lyford with some fancy landscaping, but not yet at Otahuna!!
Livery
We now offer full livery for those of you who have your own horse, or wish to purchase one, and haven’t the lifestyle to be out tending to your horse each day.
At both Mt Lyford and Otahuna Horse Riding we have spaces for 6 more livery horses. We offer daily checks, hay, natural hoof care, worming, exercising if you wish, cover care, and annual dentistry for $80.00 per week. Daily hard feeding $20.00 extra. You pay for any vet bills.
Your horse is kept with the main herd in a free range environment with creeks, native forest, grassy open areas and hillside.
You have the advantage of joining our treks and activities, taking advantage of our support and instruction, knowledge and equipment and using our trails where we are able to offer unguided riding. Both our operations are off road, sheltered and have access to rides right from the base. There is room to park a horse float and store gear in a locked container.
We can help you find the right horse for you as well.
Call us on 3290160 if you or someone you know of is interested in this offer.
Come riding evenings
What:
A Come Riding Evening is a presentation that I give with a stunning slide show that teaches about the horse human interaction using natural horsemanship and how it effects us as people in many aspects of our lives, for example with busy lives or changes in our lives, children, work and families. I talk from one to one half hours about the definition of NH, how it effects horses and people, what we do in our business to enhance this. The effects on some of our riders and what we offer to those interested in riding with us. The function of the session is both interest and promotional. It is non profit, no obligation, but if people want to buy rides on the night they are $10.00 cheaper and the host or hostess gets 10% of what we sell on the night.
Who:
Any interest group or club you are associated with, sports clubs, rotary, lions, womens groups, work places, schools etc. Riders can have their own evening with their friends and family, especially the ones they want to come riding with them! I have successfully presented this session to rotary and lions, pony clubs, public sessions at the Arts Center, businesses and groups of friends.
When:
Now is a very good time!
How:
Call Kate on 3290160 or email kate@katetapley.co.nz I require a DVD player and TV in a warm room that is all. I come free!
So see what you can all do to make a Come Riding Evening happen, and I look forward to sharing with you the magic of horses.
New Revamped Blog
Walter is working on the
www.katetapley.co.nz/blog site. It is now the Build a Bond Beyond Belief blog. Have a look! We have just made some videos of horses talking to each other at Mt lyford and if the rain ever stops I am going to make more on me talking to the horses and seeing if I do as well as them. So watch for it. There is a very funny video of Spooy our dog lunging horses too!
Please make comments on the blog, and send in your stories, thoughts, achievements to Kate by e mail kate@katetapley.co.nz for inclusion.
Ken Faulkner Clinic
The Ken Faulkner Clinic was a great success. Many thanks to Andy Nicholsen who offered his beautiful property, Colina, at the end of Landsdown Valley and Babs and Abi for supporting the clinic with all their generous work.
Bab’s insights from The Ken Faulkner Clinic March 2009
At the recent Ken Faulkner clinic I got something very important for me. Something that comes before all the clever techniques and nifty horse handling skills. Something that reaches much further than the perimeters of the paddock into all areas of my life:
EXPECTATIONS
I’ve been letting myself and my horses down at times, because I either didn’t expected enough of them or expected them to behave in a certain (undesirable) way; as in “he always gets upset when I tighten the girth” – and sure enough he does.
When we make excuses for our horses (or allow our horses excuses) we are lowering our expectations of what they could achieve, taking away their chance to become braver and more confident.
How often have I let my horses get away with things, because “she is only young”, “he is so worried”, “he is just a lazy horse”, “he was never able to do that” or as he pulls the reins out of my hands “oh well, let him eat, he must be hungry”?
Now, I’ve been playing with this concept of raising my expectations and my horses have stepped up to the mark …and seem to be more content for it. It’s not that I improved my technique all of a sudden, it’s just that I realistically expect more of them and me. Well, I’ve personally got a few things done that I used to tell myself: “I just can’t do that” and if these guys feel half as proud and a sense of achievement as I did when I “just did it” they must be very happy horses.
I think it was Henry Ford who once said: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t you’re probably right”.
Babs
Ken is coming again in March 2010
Latest stories
There are so many latest stories I don’t know where to begin. I will tell this one I think. It is a story about Isaac and Bandit.
Isaac is a small boy with a great heart and a great love for his pony, Bandit. Isaac was first introduced to Bandit at a kidsfest programme in 2007. He was really shy and timid, but his face gradually lit up as the pair got to know each other. Isaac joined the saddle club after this and has been going to saddle club ever since. I happened to take a group of adults out for a half day ride on the weekend, and decided to invite Isaac as his Dad, Mike, was coming over to do some fencing for us that afternoon. Actually one of my riders was a 68 year old man who was riding for the first time and he was very impressed by Isaac who, at the other end of the age spectrum, could show him the ropes, and show him the ropes is what Isaac did. He showed us how to back, and bend and stop and go and honestly Bandit and Isaac were one. I couldnt tell who began the moves first. I was so amazed, as it had been some months since I had seen Isaac and Bandit together, and for those of you who know Bandit he isnt the easiest of ponies. Well you wouldnt have known that from watching this pair. The concentration on Bandit’s face was evident. I had a tear on the inside I can tell you. Well done Isaac and Bandit.
Riding to do
There are two places left in the next Womens Riding Weekend at Mt Lyford on 6th and 7th June. Do you deserve to be there? Then go for it.
Half day and all day rides can be enjoyed by everyone at any time.
The Over the Top Ride at Otahuna is running all year round. This is remote and spectacular right on your back door!! (if you live in Christchurch that is.) And with the snow on the Alps it is views, birdsong and horse’s rythm all the way. Please someone book this so I can guide it and do it again soon! $320.00pp Min two riders
Sherwood Huts – Mt Lyford
This ride has been a pearler. We have taken 13 groups this Summer over to the huts and all of them have just loved it, and no, none of them are lying. I saw it in their faces and their horse’s faces! It opens again in November, and makes for a perfect family ride for those of you who are getting experienced in saddle club and with your regular riding and need to spread your wings. Book now as I already have bookings coming in for this Summer. $395.00pp includes food, accommodation, transfers, horses and guiding. Upgrades for linen and alcohol are available from Sherwood Lodge.
Mt Lyford to Hanmer Springs – Rustic Adventure
We Had two groups go through to Hanmer Springs over the Summer and again no dissapointments here > There are 4 spaces on a ride to Hanmer that is booked for 5,6,7th January. Go for it everyone! Straight forward trails and just stunning views of the Amuri Range, Hanmer Springs, Mason, Waiau and Hurunui River Valleys all the way. Cost $895.00pp for everything.
Becoming a Confident Horsey Parent
Again these courses are proving to be very effective. Babs takes these groups and with two horse crazy girls of her own she knows the story. These courses are simple, short, and enable parents to equip themselves to be involved in their children’s riding activities. There is a special emphasis on safe handling. Take a look at the flyer on the Otahuna website. Cost $145.00pp
Office Data Entry Person – Position available
Could this be you?
You are keen to ride and keen to learn some accounting skills? You have some basic computer skills. You have about 6 hours a week available? You would enjoy learning to enter data into our accounting software: MoneyWorks. We are a very systematised company – there is a manual for each step and we will teach you everything. You would initially do this in exchange for horse riding hours for you and your friends. You would be part of a group of people who work with the horses. You may be interested in a paid position as the company expands and you take on more responsibility.
If this is you email Kate!
From the team at Kate Tapley Horse Treks
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