From Kate

Welcome to all who have joined us here at the weblog. As Walter has said this is an interactive medium for us to connect up in. It also give easy access to our websites, and to each other.

I would like to share with you all my recent experience the horse trekking is giving to me. I seem propelled by my love of the horse/human relationship along a growing edge. This has taken me into a new place where my work trek guiding, and serving the staff is giving me more and more fullness in my own life. I am less stressed, more rested, feel very supported by everyone and I do not feel alone. I seem presented by opportunity after opportunity to love more of what I do, what I see in others, and what is possible.

I look forward to meeting with you and hearing about your ride with us.

Kate Tapley

Rasberry Cafe

Imagine! You tie your horse up to the hitching rail at the Raspberry Cafe on a sunny afternoon for a bowl of raspberries and cream and a latte? The horses enjoy the break in the shade of the poplars and the riders-Well!!! We all seem to struggle that little bit harder to climb back into the saddle for the obvious reason-We are all full of rasberries.

Try this for yourself on one of our rides.

Staff

I seem to be attracting the best people to work with. Let me give you a guided tour into the staff structure and the culture we are cocreating.

Trek Support-This is an essential role which sets the trek guide up to focus solely on the riders. This is achieved by managing the preparation of the horses, their gear and safety equipment for each ride. Penny Harrison has been with us as our first official Trek Support Person since May this year. Penny is just as solid as a rock in her role. She teaches new trek Support people. More recently Abbie Ricketts, and Sarah Gorman have joined us.

There exists a natural progression through the ranks to Trek Guide then Chief Trek Guide. Each staff member has learning objectives and timelines for progressing. Annette Smith and Heather Hood are trek guides. Kristine Wilson is the Chief Trek Guide at Otahuna, and Cathy Johns is the Chief Trek Guide at Mt Lyford. This role involves coordinating the rides, chosing horses, and trails, and leading the treks.

Our staff philosophy is that employees are built up in their own lives by the work they do, and what they learn in the horse treks. Horses insist on many qualities from us that enable us to become more whole as people. Some of these qualities include being real, honest, respectful, fair, discerning, sensitive, safe and couragous. So we put these ingredients to good use by encouraging a staff culture that supports this development in us all. Every Wednesday morning is devoted to staff meetings and training.

Staff at Otahuna
Staff at Mt. Lyford

Group Rides

At Otahuna and Mt. Lyford we provide group rides. Our group ride times are 10.00am, 1.30pm, and 5.00pm from October to the end of daylight saving. This gives you a two-hour horse ride in a group of no more than six riders.
Our usual partnering up session is included as always at the beginning of your ride.

Transport is available for all these rides from the Christchurch square and inner city to Otahuna.

You may wish to ride for a longer time so you can combine two rides - as we generally follow different trails. Ask about the gourmet lunch options! We take digital photos on most rides free of charge to capture you on your ride.

Bookings at Otahuna
Bookings at Mt. Lyford

Ken Faulkner Clinics

Five Day Residential Natural Horsemanship Clinic at Otahuna Lodge with Ken Faulkner. March 16-20 2005
What an opportunity! Five days horsing with Ken Faulkner in the sumptuous surroundings at award winning Otahuna Lodge. All inclusive package including accommodation, gourmet food and horse hire.

This event is designed to appeal to those who intend to travel from other parts of New Zealand or from overseas to combine training with excellent accommodation and food, plus the option to swim in the pool and relax in the spa.

Ken Faulkner at Otahuna

The Otahuna clinic follows the non-residential:

Five Day Natural Horsemanship Clinic. March 6-10 2005
This clinic at the Western Riding Centre, Manderville Sports Centre is organised by Diane Newton +643 312 6211. It is intended to suit local riders who can travel by the day.

Ken Faulkner

Ken Faulkner has been involved with horses in one form or another from a very early age and began starting horses for the public from the age of fifteen. He has been involved in various aspects of horsemanship, ranging from rodeo, breeding, training and showing horses for the past twenty-eight years.

More... Australian Natural Horsemanship





Clinics at Otahuna

KTHT Ethos

Kate Tapley Horse Treks Ethos
Whenever you ride with one of our guides you will experience the KTHT ethos, Building rapport beyond belief. 'Natural Horsemanship' is used to increase knowledge and understanding of your horse. During our partnering up session we teach you how horses think and achieve a greater understanding of the horse’s own ‘language’, and how to speak it with them. This encourages successful communication between horse and rider. We do games on the ground and in the saddle that develop rapport with the horse and establish rider's leadership. This gives your riding experience more depth while making your ride safer and more fun.

We allow time at the beginning of the ride to achieve this relationship. This time is included in the fee. It varies according to the needs of the riders. Establishing this connection in rider and horse allows people the chance to get comfortable with their chosen horse and other riders. It builds confidence in an individual’s riding ability and provides time for the horse to become acquainted with his/her rider.

Care and attention to detail for you and your horse on our rides is very important. In addition to doing all we can to ensure a safe and fulfilling ride we provide refreshments on all day rides, long riding coats, warm clothing and gloves for colder Canterbury days, chaps and some riding boots. Horses and ponies of different styles and sizes are chosen by the guides to suit individual preference and ability.
Prey Animal To Partner
Natural Horsemanship, Otahuna

Otahuna Horse Riding

A lot has changed with KTHT since many of you first rode at Mt. Lyford. For many reasons I moved back to Christchurch towards the end of 2003. Cathy very ably continues to manage the treks there and I go up to Mt Lyford frequently. It is with satisfaction that I can now say:

Hello from the magnificent Otahuna Lodge!



Riding from the historic Otahuna Lodge is taking off as more and more people from the Lodge itself and the surrounding Christchurch region come to ride and explore what is on offer in Tai Tapu. Having opened just before Christmas 2003, Otahuna Horse Riding is a secluded horsey getaway providing an extension of the Natural Horsemanship philosophy established at Mt Lyford Horse Treks since April 2001.


Riding and Relaxing
At Otahuna we offer exceptional riding in the breathtaking countryside surrounding Christchurch. Best thing is - it is only twenty kilometers away from the city! We can arrange gourmet lunches from Otahuna Lodge to be enjoyed on the lawn or during a longer ride. Riders can indulge by combining riding with a hydrotherapy massage treatment at the day spa, which is now up and running with Sarah Johnstone as the resident therapist. She has a tingling array of luxurious treatments also on offer. I had a massage last week and am still enjoying the benefits!

Special welcome to Kristina Wilson who is the Chief Trek Guide at Otahuna Horse Riding.

Kate

Riding Weekends

Riding Weekends - Mt. Lyford Horse Treks
We run riding weekends for women and adults every six weeks among the stunning scenery surrounding Mt.Lyford Horse Treks. These are proving popular for riders who want to develop their natural horsemanship and indulge themselves with 2 solid days of riding. This format is enlivening and builds confidence for riders whose abilities span many different levels. We stay in the horse treks log house among native beech forest. Everything is provided. All you need to bring is your own horse clothes, swimwear for the spa, sturdy shoes, your breakfasts and something to share for Saturday night dinner. Groups are small, six riders at a time.

These groups fill rapidly so enquire now! It is a great opportunity taken up by many of our riders and a first-class idea as a special gift for horse enthusiasts. We will provide more weekends like this if demand increases. Check the Mt. Lyford website for dates, programs and details.

Programme Women's Weekends
Adult riding
Events Calendar

Welcome

Opening the Kate Tapley Horse Treks weblog, Kate's News!

Walter Logeman here, I do the IT for KTHT (Kate Tapley Horse Treks Ltd.) and I have come up with this weblog. This way we can send out nice short emails for the Newsletter and there is scope here for pictures and discussion - see the comments button below!

The focus here is horses, natural horsemanship and the riders!! To book rides and learn more about the three venues for KTHT, Otahuna, Mt. Lyford and Sherwood see the links to the Venues at the top of the page.

Welcome to our now bit of technology. I know, it is just trivial compared to being on a horse! But please do send Kate material for this site, we will publish it here - and add comments! Happy Riding, and stay in touch!