Our half hour radio show

Here is the latest, from 31 January.

"Ride a horse and come to life"

KTHW 0004

Summer Newsletter

Hi Everyone

I have been thinking about this Summer's riding a great deal. A lot of amazing things seem to keep happening, and I think everyone should know about this. Firstly I have been crystallizing the words that describe what we really do at Kate Tapley Horse Treks. Somehow it is more than riding a horse. These words may well tell us how it is that we are consistently getting these rewarding results that our riders keep describing to us.

All of us who work in the horse treks understand this and are committed to offering the unexpected magic that occurs when a human, predatory by nature communicates with a horse, prey animal by nature. This connection through the horses own language produces adventure, knowledge, overcomes fears and seems to fulfil some innate hunger and thirst for more life in riders. This fulfillment is experienced by children, by frightened people, by brave people, by older people, overseas people, by experienced or inexperienced riders. In other words it crosses barriers of age, experience, race, gender, and builds on what people already bring. This phenomenon is not new. We have writers and horsemen and horsewoman telling us this from history. We need only watch Mark Todd and Charisma to feel this magic. And the thing I am so excited about is that this is so accessible to all of us. We offer it, and we are not yet fully subscribed so get to it horse lovers phone us now, 3290160 Otahuna and 3668155 Mt Lyford.

Anyone can ride with us and experience this phenomenon.

Rob's Country I had a very good time recently doing some T.V. with Rob Cope- Williams for Rob's Country on CTV. Rob captured it in one. "Kate has promised me she can teach me the secrets of horse whispering, and help me overcome my fear of horses in a day" Rob was an excellent person to demonstrate this with as he was very frightened and like so many people he carried the history of "bad" experiences of horses with him. So we started from the beginning-Knowledge. How do horses think, how can we keep them safe around us. Yes How do we keep THEM safe around us. Because if we can do that then we are safe around them. How do we relax our horse, get them to listen. What motivates them. How are they kept safe. What builds respect and trust. All this knowledge is imparted, and in an article for riders to take away so they can re read the essence of this very important first step-knowledge.

Then Rob and I talked about horse language. They like us to focus, to breath, to begin with feel, and stay with this feel, firm enough for it to matter and soft enough for them to follow it.

We did some games with our horses on the ground to build rapport and develop trust and connection. Very simple games like move away from me, then come towards me. I have seen our very tiny riders move a pony off their space with focus and breath. You really have to see it to believe it. O.K. so then we got on our horses, Rob and I in our paddock we call the partnering up paddock. Rob, very anxious, and very open to a new experience, which is his forte. The antidote to fear is openness to something new, while being frightened. This time on the horse, the relationship just the same, the formula just the same, focus, breath, feel. Leadership, trust and respect. Well Rob got it all in one. He was great. I was impressed and respectful of his courage and openness. Patch, his horse, was just happy to have a rider who was easy to follow. We had a lovely short ride, and you can see it all on Robs Country. Rob was tested, and passed with flying colours. He got his promise fulfilled.

Our Promise to You

We got talking about the promise we make to our riders at our last staff meeting and we came up with these wordWalter and these phrases:

"communing and taking the relationship with your horse to a deeper level"

"Guaranteed to put a smile on your face and soften your heart"

"horses are a bridge to your heart"

"learn to work with an emotional language and not work with them physically"

"Learn how to communicate with your horse and grow to a deeper understanding of yourself and your horse"

"Learn the secrets of horse whispering"

Some things our riders are saying: "I learned so much in a short time. When can I come back to do some more?"

"Awesome I didn't think that was possible with a horse. I loved it"

"I have returned home and just got your photos. Thank you. I am reminded my time with you at Mt Lyford was real and not a dream"

New Events

We are beginning a new programme for horse crazy children. Yes I know you have one or two. We understand. This programme is being launched soon. It aims to build skills, confidence and knowledge for children around horses. We will have these young people adopt their own horse, learn how to care for their horse, and maintain gear. We will offer natural horsemanship sessions and trekking over our fabulous trails. Keep an eye out for this.

Our riding weekends are beginning again at Mt Lyford this month, 26th, 27th February, then fortnightly thereafter, except during statuary and school holidays. Don't miss out be in. All details on the website www.lyfordtreks.co.nz. These weekends are very comprehensive, and do wonders for the soul and your riding.

Walter and I have been podcasting a show called Kate Tapley Horse whisperer. What in Gods name is a pod cast?? It is a broadcast on the Internet that you can listen to. See, simple. You get to it by going to the previous items below and right click on the podcast you want and download. Contact Walter if you have trouble. We have been having fun with this I can tell you.

This is long enough I can tell. I always have more to say, so be tuned.

"May the horse be with you"

Kate Tapley