Old Friends, No Longer With Us Here
High Country Horse Treks has been galloping along for nearly seventeen years. It wouldn't be fair to let everyone know all about us were I not to mention some of the original horses, dogs and cats that have all played a huge role in making this whole place a success.
As time goes on I will add to this page with animals sold or retired or gone to Animal Heaven so that they might take their rightful place along side their modern counterparts.
As time goes on I will add to this page with animals sold or retired or gone to Animal Heaven so that they might take their rightful place along side their modern counterparts.
BRANDY - [ Registered Purebred Arab ]
Also known as Muscle Sprout or Pipsqueak. He does have a fancy Arab name but I cannot pronounce it. Brandy, quite a few years later, came from the same home as Sandy, which is why I have put him next. His owner had always had a horse, common or garden variety, but she had always wanted an Arab and jumped at the chance when she got it. By the time she got him she was too frail herself to look after him properly and she asked us to have him before she died.. Brandy has had tough times in his life and gets very stressed about things, particularly veterinary procedures. He needs twice as much love and understanding as any other horse on the property, and that is why we were asked to have him, because his owner knew we had cared greatly for Sandy and we would understand Brandy's needs, weaknesses and peculiarities.
Wednesday 2nd May 2012. The vet came today to see Blueprint and her boyfriend Brandy. After extensive checks we came to the conclusion, the vet, Rod and I, plus best friend Tina, that Brandy was not going to get through the approaching winter. He is 19 and over the last few months has lost a lot of weight, and has a hacking cough.
Wednesday 2nd May 2012. The vet came today to see Blueprint and her boyfriend Brandy. After extensive checks we came to the conclusion, the vet, Rod and I, plus best friend Tina, that Brandy was not going to get through the approaching winter. He is 19 and over the last few months has lost a lot of weight, and has a hacking cough.
BLUEPRINT
Blueprint - Blooey ooey - Blueberry-Oobry is my lovely Molesworth mare, bought for me when she was three and now 15. Having been almost completely wild when she was shovelled off the cattle truck, after a very long drive, with her head covered in blood, she has settled down amazingly and become one of our quietest horses. She is the herd's maternal soul and has raised two foals for their reluctant mothers. New and frightened horses also tack on to Blooey Ooey and she tucks them under her wing and keeps more bossy horses away. Having being halter broken the old fashioned way, in her youth, and probably had her legs tied up, she was permanently damaged, and has had a chequered career up here with lots of off time with injuries. She also has a not curable liver and digestion problem which is kept at bay with steroid injections. Bluey will have to be terribly sore or irretrievably thin for me to be able to put her in the ground. We just take it a day at a time
Wednesday 2nd May 2012. Blooey, along with Brandy, went to Horse Heaven today, side by side in death as they have always been in life. It has been the most horrible day, one I shall not forget in a long, long time. I can't say any more. Be pain free Blooey and Brandy!!
Wednesday 2nd May 2012. Blooey, along with Brandy, went to Horse Heaven today, side by side in death as they have always been in life. It has been the most horrible day, one I shall not forget in a long, long time. I can't say any more. Be pain free Blooey and Brandy!!
SANDY - [ FANCY MAN ]
Our most aptly named horse !! Sandy is now 18. He is a very pugnacious little bantam rooster and a VERY IMPORTANT HORSE. He is cute and cuddly with very small children and easy to look after, BUT - a monster with the other horses and a good way up in the pecking order, though not at the top, yet. Before we bought him he was living as a garden ornament with an elderly family, and he was SO fat that asking him to trot produced furious bucks and kicks. It took some months to sweat off most of the fat and get his muscles in working order again. Since then he hasn't looked back, and is as much fun to ride as when he first graced us with his prescence. His forte these days is just to slde into neutral and do the job.
Update 10-12-11 Sandy has retired to Takaka to be the best friend of eight year old Emilee. Emilee's mother, Michelle, was one of our original good riding Volunteers and when Sandy started getting really grumpy with customers, we knew it was time for a change. He is now much loved and much spoiled and has a good ten years of life left in perfect surroundings.
Update 10-12-11 Sandy has retired to Takaka to be the best friend of eight year old Emilee. Emilee's mother, Michelle, was one of our original good riding Volunteers and when Sandy started getting really grumpy with customers, we knew it was time for a change. He is now much loved and much spoiled and has a good ten years of life left in perfect surroundings.
Sandy Trying Hard To Be Good I Will NOT Put My Ears Up!!
Sparky [Snow Fille ]
The very first horse we purchased, and therefore the start of High Country Horse Treks. We went out to the local track to see a three year old Standardbred mare known as Girlie, racing name Snow Fille. It had been twenty years since I had been that close to a horse and I was a tad rusty at things equine. We took her cover off and inspected her for obvious faults like a wooden leg or no teeth. The elderly trainer didn't seem terribly interested and just let us get on with it. We led Girlie out of her bare pen and walked her up and down which was fine. As I had recently hurt my shoulder I offered her lead rope to Rod to trot her up for soundness. .She launched into a fairly robust trot, but was still under control, when a builders van drove past with rattling pipes and timbers. The young mare positively leapt and took off into a race winning bolt, with my not insignificant husband hanging on for dear life behind her, as they disappeared round the corner of a building and out of sight! The trainer said morosely, " I bet he drops her". We followed round the building and I said " I don't think so - Rod never lets go"
Round the corner we found Rod lying on the ground, still hanging on to the rope and the mare looking down at him with some surprise. He said he reckoned she couldn't tow dead weight so he had flung himself down to act as an anchor, and she had pulled up short and stopped. I am quite sure I had seen sparks coming off his boots as they had departed so we had found the name for our first horse - Sparky. " Seems pretty sound then Rod?" "Yep - just fine!"
Round the corner we found Rod lying on the ground, still hanging on to the rope and the mare looking down at him with some surprise. He said he reckoned she couldn't tow dead weight so he had flung himself down to act as an anchor, and she had pulled up short and stopped. I am quite sure I had seen sparks coming off his boots as they had departed so we had found the name for our first horse - Sparky. " Seems pretty sound then Rod?" "Yep - just fine!"
Candy
Candy, the Blond Bombshell. Candy was one of the first ponies we were lucky enough to be able to purchase in 1995. We first met her way up the Awatere Valley, where she was being kept in sheepyards to control her permanent weight problem. When she first arrived here she had only two speeds - dead stop or full steam ahead. Her teenage owner wanted to be a jockey and would come home from boarding school, leap aboard and set Candy alight to win a race. Candy was a supersmart pony and everyone loved to ride her. She taught our first few Standardbreds how to cross the river and how to climb a hill, as the poor spoilt softies had not a clue how to get away from the eaten out riverside. In short, Candy was so special to so many people that when she finally had to be put to sleep, suffering from a not responding to treatment colic, I put a notice in the local paper to let everyone know that a very much loved friend had gone to a better place. We still talk about her a lot. Most of us managed to fall off her at one time or another. A favourite trick was to whip round just as someone was trying to mount bareback, and off one would fly like a frisby. I swear you could see her giggle!
Ned
Naughty Ned or Neddles. Ned was Rex's baby brother from the litter born the following year. He was unique as being the only dog, ever, that preferred me to Rod! Wherever I went, Ned went. In the old days we used the dogs to get the horses down off the top of the hill and I could send Ned from by the house, all the way to the top, and then left or right to steer him on to the horses, and then to chivvy them on down. He was very good at it and he never harried the horses, he'd back off and let them come down the steep bits safely. As the years went by and Ned got older and stiffer he occasionally would catch a boot from a grumpy horse that was too fast for him. A couple of years ago we had to have the poor old boy put to sleep as he was just too arthriticky to get around,although his enthusiastic bark was never quietened! Rod reckons he liked me best because he didn't have much in the brain department, but I think it was because he knew how much I loved HIM.
Bessie
Rex With Baby Sister Bessie
Rex was NOT impressed when his baby half sister Bessie turned up!! She was only four and a half weeks old, the runt of the litter of nine pups, and the owner said I was her only chance of survival. Bessie still had blue, non seeing eyes when she arrived, but boy she was noisy and very agressive. Poor Rex left the caravan and started sleeping in the garage as this pint sized dynamo tried to boss him around. Bessie was the litter sister of the afore mentioned Ned, but we didn't get offered Ned until a couple of years later.Bessie lived in the caravan with us and then moved into the house, as soon as the nice builders built steps up to the house so that she could reach! As you can see in the next photo - Bessie liked her comfort. She is the noisiest dog that has ever lived here and she always had the last word, and Annie would approve of her attitude to life, right after they had finished having a pavement discussion about it! All the original horses were very familiar with Bessie, and knew better than to dawdle along when she was on the job. She would aim a nip at recalcitrant heels and then duck when the hoof came pistoning out. Nobody ever got the better of Bess.
Bessie adored her bean bag bed. This is quite an unusual photo as she is lying squarely on the bed. Her preferred position was to one side with her head hanging over the edge.
Bessie adored her bean bag bed. This is quite an unusual photo as she is lying squarely on the bed. Her preferred position was to one side with her head hanging over the edge.
Possum
Possum was one of the three huge mares we bought from the Molesworth Station in 1998. She was part Station Bred, part Cleveland Bay and she was enormous!! They arrived here in February 1998 and Possum just got bigger and bigger. We knew the mares were kept separately up at the Molesworth so we phoned there rather tentatively to ask if she could possibly be in foal, to be told that some of the mares had escaped their paddock after a gate was left open and Possum was found by the fence near the stallions. We started feeding her in earnest and got her used to being in our stable in case there were foaling problems. Finally, in October, she gave birth to a bouncing filly foal which we called Sunrise as that was when she was born. Possum was Rod's favourite lead horse, along with her sister Roo, but Possum just got to his heart, deeply. She was so wild when she arrived, so distrusting of humans, and she had come so far and trusted us. Rod used to say she was the only horse that could carry HIS considerable bulk up a hill without effort.
Desperately sadly, Possum went missing one day as we were mustering horses for a big ride. When the horses were down and being got ready for the trek, Rod quad biked up the hill again to look for his best friend Possum, and returned before the ride left to say he had found her dead up the hill! You can't imagine how hard it was to be bright for the customers with such an awful loss to bear. Later on the vet said he thought she had ruptured her aorta and death would have been very rapid, but this didn't help us feel any better. It was impossible to dig a hole where she lay, so the digger covered her up, and she stays there, watching over all we do, while her sister Roo remains the Boss Mare of the herd.
Gemini and Stirling
Baby Brother and Big Baby Brother. These two lovely natured ponies came from the West Coast in 1996. They were two years old and three years old, Hackney pony/Clydesdale cross, which must have been quite an interesting mating! Apart from Stirling having been gelded they had never been touched other than being loaded on a cattle truck. These photos show them at their best but they looked like sick donkeys when they arrived - manes tangled beyond repair, full of lice and had never been wormed. In fact, when we wormed them, they pooped nothing but solid worms for three days!
But having started off here very wild they actually tamed very quickly and discovered they had landed in a cushy billet. They were full of curiosity and into absolutely everything like a pair of bumptious puppies. Stirling I decided to make one of my guide horses and he was settling down to become very useful, as he was totally not bothered by older, more bossy horses on a ride.. Gemini, quite a lot smaller, was the herd tease. He would wander up to Spindle or Halliday and nibble their hocks. Of course they would swat him away like an annoying fly, but he would saunter up again and again to have another go. Gemini is also one of the two horses I have been thrown from, - so far!! - in sixteen years.
Alas, Stirling ended up with severe breathing problems, the vet thought their neglect as babies had played a part, and he had to be put to sleep when he couldn't get his breath. Wee Gemini lived on and even went to the races but fell foul of a bad kick which broke his knee. This place still feels empty without them, their naughtiness and sense of fun.
But having started off here very wild they actually tamed very quickly and discovered they had landed in a cushy billet. They were full of curiosity and into absolutely everything like a pair of bumptious puppies. Stirling I decided to make one of my guide horses and he was settling down to become very useful, as he was totally not bothered by older, more bossy horses on a ride.. Gemini, quite a lot smaller, was the herd tease. He would wander up to Spindle or Halliday and nibble their hocks. Of course they would swat him away like an annoying fly, but he would saunter up again and again to have another go. Gemini is also one of the two horses I have been thrown from, - so far!! - in sixteen years.
Alas, Stirling ended up with severe breathing problems, the vet thought their neglect as babies had played a part, and he had to be put to sleep when he couldn't get his breath. Wee Gemini lived on and even went to the races but fell foul of a bad kick which broke his knee. This place still feels empty without them, their naughtiness and sense of fun.
TRIGGER [ Steel Raider ]
Trigger. Old Trig Trig. Toss's 2nd in command. He arrived in 1995 as payment
for a day's tailing, he was just standing, loose, in the back of a huge cattle
truck, and stepped off as if he had been travelling that way all his life!
Trigger wouldn't say Boo to a goose and is probably our nicest natured horse,
but he hates leading the trek and is the only horse we can't take a trek on. He
would have driven his trainer to drink because he does occasionally GET to the
front, but then it is brakes on and anchor up, not a good attribute for a
racehorse you would agree. Trigger only goes on a ride these days if we are
stuck, and then only with children or tiny people. At 27 he is entitled to put
his feet up..
Update. 12-11-11 Dear Old Trigger was finally put to sleep on 8-6-11. He was a very, very old and arthriticky horse and was having difficulty moving at all. As we have just endured a miserable winter complete with lots of snow, we were very relieved that Trigger went to Horse Heaven before the weather got too cold.. Five months later I still miss him every day - a true gentleman.
for a day's tailing, he was just standing, loose, in the back of a huge cattle
truck, and stepped off as if he had been travelling that way all his life!
Trigger wouldn't say Boo to a goose and is probably our nicest natured horse,
but he hates leading the trek and is the only horse we can't take a trek on. He
would have driven his trainer to drink because he does occasionally GET to the
front, but then it is brakes on and anchor up, not a good attribute for a
racehorse you would agree. Trigger only goes on a ride these days if we are
stuck, and then only with children or tiny people. At 27 he is entitled to put
his feet up..
Update. 12-11-11 Dear Old Trigger was finally put to sleep on 8-6-11. He was a very, very old and arthriticky horse and was having difficulty moving at all. As we have just endured a miserable winter complete with lots of snow, we were very relieved that Trigger went to Horse Heaven before the weather got too cold.. Five months later I still miss him every day - a true gentleman.
SPINDLE
Spindle. Spindly Dimbly. I am The Greatest!! Spindle is one of the aristocrats
of the family. He arrived here in 1996 as a five yesr old dressage reject. He
is a Trakehner/Thoroughbred cross and FRIGHTFULLY well to do, and always
presents his best profile when cameras are out. He was Rod's guide horse for a
few years. These days he has arthritis in his right knee so lives with Toss and
Trigger on the Bottom Flat. He has to have regular attention and spoiling or he
gets very miffed.
Update 12-11-11 The Great I Am also went to Horse Heaven on the same day as Trigger as they were the bestest mates for many years, and both old boys were crippled and losing weight. The digger dug the most enormous hole and Trigger and Spindle are buried together, side by side in death as they were in life. There is a huge gap in the herd that other horses will find difficult to fill. We all have our memories of the two friends to keep us going.
of the family. He arrived here in 1996 as a five yesr old dressage reject. He
is a Trakehner/Thoroughbred cross and FRIGHTFULLY well to do, and always
presents his best profile when cameras are out. He was Rod's guide horse for a
few years. These days he has arthritis in his right knee so lives with Toss and
Trigger on the Bottom Flat. He has to have regular attention and spoiling or he
gets very miffed.
Update 12-11-11 The Great I Am also went to Horse Heaven on the same day as Trigger as they were the bestest mates for many years, and both old boys were crippled and losing weight. The digger dug the most enormous hole and Trigger and Spindle are buried together, side by side in death as they were in life. There is a huge gap in the herd that other horses will find difficult to fill. We all have our memories of the two friends to keep us going.
COLESHILL [Snow Gun ]
Coleshill was purchased in 1995 and was one of the first horses up here. He was
also the baby brother of the very first horse we bought - Sparky,
unfortunately now gone to the big Stable in the Sky. Coleshill is a very
complex character. Because he is inclined to boot or otherwise try to kill any
lesser horse behind him on a trek, we have sold him on, - several times!
Each time, and for different reasons, he has come back to us and is obviously
meant to be here. Finally we sold him to our best friend Nancy, a lovely
American lady who loves ALL animals, but he lives here with his family, whilst
she has to be in the North Island now. Nancy's Pet Communicator said he would
travel well but miss his family so he lives on in the herd. We still use him
but preferably not when there are lesser horses on the ride. He is very easy to
look after, and has basically been problem free for 15 years. Nancy would just
about rather have left her husband behind than Coleshill, but she wanted her
lovely horse to be happy. She is coming to stay in January to renew her love
affair with her big handsome boy! 28-1-11 Update. Nancy has been staying
for nearly a week and, as we have been very busy, Nancy has had lots of chances
to ride Coleshill, who in Nancy's company, is a reformed character. Nobody's
backside has been bitten all week! but there are two rides tomorrow so give him
time!
Update 12-11-11 Coleshill has found a really good retirement home! He didn't have a very good winter up here. He wasn't used much and stayed on top of the hill a lot of the time, so he missed out on vital hay and Spring found the old boy looking rather ribby and elderly. By one of those fluke chances we heard of a local American lady who was looking for a really quiet horse to ride with her daughter and keep her pony company. I phoned American Nancy, his current owner, and explained the situation and she gave her blessing for the new lady, Stacey, to meet and greet Coleshill. Well - it was love at first sight, both ways. Coleshill obviously had very fond memories of things American and was soft and soppy and well behaved as I have ever seen him. To cut a long story short he has now moved home and no longer has to put up with heavy customers sitting badly and pushing and pulling him. Enjoy your retirement Coleshill!
also the baby brother of the very first horse we bought - Sparky,
unfortunately now gone to the big Stable in the Sky. Coleshill is a very
complex character. Because he is inclined to boot or otherwise try to kill any
lesser horse behind him on a trek, we have sold him on, - several times!
Each time, and for different reasons, he has come back to us and is obviously
meant to be here. Finally we sold him to our best friend Nancy, a lovely
American lady who loves ALL animals, but he lives here with his family, whilst
she has to be in the North Island now. Nancy's Pet Communicator said he would
travel well but miss his family so he lives on in the herd. We still use him
but preferably not when there are lesser horses on the ride. He is very easy to
look after, and has basically been problem free for 15 years. Nancy would just
about rather have left her husband behind than Coleshill, but she wanted her
lovely horse to be happy. She is coming to stay in January to renew her love
affair with her big handsome boy! 28-1-11 Update. Nancy has been staying
for nearly a week and, as we have been very busy, Nancy has had lots of chances
to ride Coleshill, who in Nancy's company, is a reformed character. Nobody's
backside has been bitten all week! but there are two rides tomorrow so give him
time!
Update 12-11-11 Coleshill has found a really good retirement home! He didn't have a very good winter up here. He wasn't used much and stayed on top of the hill a lot of the time, so he missed out on vital hay and Spring found the old boy looking rather ribby and elderly. By one of those fluke chances we heard of a local American lady who was looking for a really quiet horse to ride with her daughter and keep her pony company. I phoned American Nancy, his current owner, and explained the situation and she gave her blessing for the new lady, Stacey, to meet and greet Coleshill. Well - it was love at first sight, both ways. Coleshill obviously had very fond memories of things American and was soft and soppy and well behaved as I have ever seen him. To cut a long story short he has now moved home and no longer has to put up with heavy customers sitting badly and pushing and pulling him. Enjoy your retirement Coleshill!
