THE HORSES PART III
DELLA - - [ DELMAS LASS ]
Della came up here supposedly owned by a young lad who was meant to pay rent for her and come up here to look after her. The reality was we saw neither he nor the colour of his money. To cut a long story short we eventually tracked down her real owner who was very happy for us to keep her. Della has been treated several times by our chiropractor, and each time we have had to wait for his visits so she hasn't been ridden while she is waiting. Della is a sweet, gentle little horse, currently being ridden regularly by our young Volunteer Emma, who is also learning, so they gain experience together. Della HAS been ridden by customers but not often yet as she still has issues around being mounted, expecting this procedure to hurt. We also have to select the right customer to appreciate Della's charms - someone light, gentle and a good rider.
DAVEY - [ GIMMETHEBALL ]
Davey looks so nice now he has put on weight. He arrived here five years ago, from private ownership, a refugee in an awful, rubbish strewn paddock on a dairy farm. When the owner did the girth up it was so tight it sunk into his flesh. He didn't think much of the Human Race! Our young Volunteer Rachael has been solely responsible for getting his trust, backing him again, riding him on, teaching him we aren't all bad and loving him - a lot.. Rachael has often been away at University the last few years but Davey always knows when it is his special person who is home again. He now takes light, good riders on the treks and has proved very trustworthy with children. He just slots into neutral, looks after his precious cargo and does the job. His girlfriend is Millie, the SPCA rescue horse.
BEEBY - [ BE BE GUN ] 2013 WITH GERMAN MARIE.
BEEBY SUMMER 2016. UNDER NICKY' S CARE NOW.
Beeby was thin when he arrived, was apparently thin whilst racing and has only just started to settle in and put on weight. He was passed around from trainer to trainer like a hot potato with nobody getting to grips with how he liked to be handled. Time will settle him down and hopefully bad memories of the racetrack and his past life will fade. He has needed chiropractor treatment several times since he has been here. Spring 2013 Beeby is being ridden out and seems to be enjoying his new career. Both last year's Nici and this year's Marie, both German, adore him grumps and all and he is looking fabulous this year.
Update 2016. Beeby is unlikely, ever, to make the list of horses suitable for non riding customers. Volunteer Nicky has fallen for his not inconsiderable charms, when he chooses to display them, and she pays a lot of his expenses to have sole use of him. They are reaching an agreement about whether they are both singing from the same hymn sheet
Update 2016. Beeby is unlikely, ever, to make the list of horses suitable for non riding customers. Volunteer Nicky has fallen for his not inconsiderable charms, when he chooses to display them, and she pays a lot of his expenses to have sole use of him. They are reaching an agreement about whether they are both singing from the same hymn sheet
CAT - [ COPY CAT LAVRA ] 2013 WITH GERMAN LUISA.
PUSSY CAT WITH ROD 2015.
Pussy Cat was very traumatised when she first arrived here five years ago and was deeply suspicious of all things human and us in particular. It was important to give her time to adjust and plenty of un-invaded personal space until she could find her way around and start to realise that we weren't going to hurt or frighten her. I didn't like the name the previous owner had given her so we started calling her just plain Cat, summoning her by calling Puss, Puss, Puss. It didn't take her long to realise that Puss, Puss, Puss meant good things - feed or hay or apples and nowadays she whickers when we call . She is another Never a Customer Horse and is now Rod's main guide mare. Her boyfriend Is Mr Bowie, the rescued Thoroughbred who she bosses around something rotten but she whinges if he rides out without her.
BOWIE - [ Mr BOWIE ] THOROUGHBRED.
Bowie is our worst rescue case. He is a beautiful, very nice natured Thoroughbred who had fallen on hard times. Although still owned by his original North Island trainer he was leased out and then given away in error and contracted a very bad case of rye grass staggers, during which time he injured his leg severely. Where he was being kept, in a fly ridden, full of muck cattle yard, they were getting ready to take him out the back and shoot him. Friends and the PC alerted us to his existence and we managed to get him at the end of January 2012. Since then he has lived in a rye grass and hay free zone, in fact he has a totally different hay source to the rest of the herd.. He was very easy to re-back and start and is the perfect gentleman to look after and ride. We contacted his original owner, tracing him by Bowie's brand, and he was surprised at what had happened to him but delighted that he had ended up in good hands. Bowie's feet were in a shocking state and he needed front shoes for being ridden for a couple of years. These days he is barefoot, but still with typical TB hooves so has trendy boots on for riding out. The leg wound was treated every day with cod liver oil, but it is the active manuka honey that has finished off the job properly and reduced the scar to a wee bald patch. Bowie's soul mate is Cat.
Update 2016. Bowie has become the special friend of our new friend Jill who now lives on our Bottom Flat in Hare Hut. Bowie is so quiet Jill is having trouble keeping him out of her kitchen.
Update 2016. Bowie has become the special friend of our new friend Jill who now lives on our Bottom Flat in Hare Hut. Bowie is so quiet Jill is having trouble keeping him out of her kitchen.
OUCH !! POOR MR BOWIE.
RE-BACKING BOWIE.
KADEY - [ KADES ICON ]
IM BACK !! And you'd better believe it. Kadey is what you call an alpha mare and will never be content to be at the bottom of the heap. Over the past five years or so she was backed and ridden, mostly by the Woofers and never trustworthy enough for a customer. Eventually a chance came for her to have an experienced home with a good rider so we sold her on, knowing she was causing ructions here in the herd. She actually moved quite close by so we were able to see her occasionally but didn't hear much about her progress or otherwise.
A few months back, after two years away, we were asked if we would have her back. The owner was having to leave his job and that farm and was worried Kadey would be dog tuckered if he couldn't find her another good home. So, Kadey is back, and yes the horses have noticed her re-arrival. Recently I watched her in the paddock bossing poor old Ellie about - and winning. I think she may now be Boss Mare in the herd, although several of the geldings still push her around.
A few months back, after two years away, we were asked if we would have her back. The owner was having to leave his job and that farm and was worried Kadey would be dog tuckered if he couldn't find her another good home. So, Kadey is back, and yes the horses have noticed her re-arrival. Recently I watched her in the paddock bossing poor old Ellie about - and winning. I think she may now be Boss Mare in the herd, although several of the geldings still push her around.
