Serene
Serene
came off the ranges when she was four years old, and in foal. Her foal
was born soon after she came into captivity. Serene lived with her
owner for two years, and learnt all about being ridden, and what it was
like to be with people. When Serene was six, her owner no longer could
keep her so she was for sale. We saw Serene for sale, and went to look
at her. I remember the first time I saw Serene she was standing in a
pen with her ears pricked towards us and her cover on. I also remember
that she really loved her salt lick and it was very worn down. We went
to see Serene twice and then we decided we would buy her. The first
season we had Serene, we realised it was a lot more work than we had
realised. Serene was my first pony and she was still very green, as
were we. Serene was very very naughty and she ran rings around us. She
also was very scared of the hose. The first winter, we went to stay
with Theunis and Sally Wedzinger and they helped to us to sort Serene
out. Over that winter we achieved a lot. We got Serene to be okay with
the hose and to respect me. So next pony club season I went back with a
lot lot more control. I have done games, and ODE’s, show jumping, derby
days, gone to the beach, pony club camp, swimming and generally had so
much fun on Serene. We really became a team and she just loves to have
fun. One of our games that we play is to chase the dog. Serene thought
this was a really good idea, and so one time when I was away, my dad
took our dog for a walk and went to pony club to go and check on her.
Our dog ran into her paddock, and so Serene decided to have some fun
and chase him around the paddock at a gallop. Our poor dog ran out of
the paddock and hid behind my dad. Serene is also really gentle, and
she wouldn’t try to hurt anyone unless they hurt her, or she felt she
was being threatened. After my third pony club season on Serene, I felt
that it was time to move on so we leased her out to another girl, where
Serene is now too giving her lots of fun, I’m really pleased that
Serene can give other people as great a time as she gave me.
Bridget Mcauley - May 06
Prada
Prada is a Black Kaimanawa. She is very pretty and I have heaps of fun with her!
I
have been riding Prada for about six months and have loved every minute
of it! I had never ridden properly before riding Prada, I had been led
around on my sisters horses but never had my own pony to look after.
Prada is so much fun, when it is raining I just bring her up and groom her. Sometimes I don't ride her, I just lead her around in the paddocks or stand with her when she eats grass.
Prada is my bestest-best pony friend in the world and I love her lots!!
My Favourite Kaimanawa
I
am Bobo's new rider and carer at Marilyn and Elder Jenks' home. I
have been riding Bobo for about nine months and we have had heaps of
fun together. I ride with four other girls who are really friendly
and great to ride with!
When I go down to the paddock Bobo usually canters up to me. I place his halter on him and we trot up to the stables where we get ready to ride. He sometimes gets a bit cheeky while I'm putting the saddle on and tries to nibble me.
I rode him for 6 months without a saddle, as it did not fit him. This really helped me to get confident with my balance. I have riding lessons on him and we are both doing really well. Bobo loves to be scratched between his front legs, and when I do this he pulls a face and looks like a camel!
In November 2005, Bobo and I were playing a game bareback, called Cowboys and Indians with another girl and her horse (Oscar). While herding Oscar into the arena Bobo did a “Yehaah Buck”. I lost my balance and crashed to the ground hurting my wrist. I screamed at the top of my lungs and ran to the gate with Bobo following behind looking very sad and sorry for what he had done. Elder took me home and my step dad took me to my mum. Then it was off to the doctors… and you guessed it, a broken wrist. ("Oh no! No riding for a while!") When I got my fibreglass cast on, no one could stop me from getting back on Bobo and going for a ride. I just had be careful not to play fast games while I was in plaster, which really SUCKED!
We go up to ride the horses nearly everyday and sometimes we stay there all day and ride, have lunch and just hang out around with the horses. Marilyn has said that Bobo is looking very happy since I started riding him and I know that I have a smile on my face whenever I am around him!
By Gemma Parsons age 12
Misty
Hi there. My name is Dane Cowley, I am 12 years old and I live in Australia. Recently I was staying with a friend in Glenbrook, New Zealand. My friend ride out at a friends place and one day I decided that I would tag along and have a look round. Although my older sister rode and had horses back in Australia I hadn't had much experience with horses. I settled in pretty quickly and was soon helping catch and groom horses and went for the odd ride. I met Misty the 5th day I was out there, something about her just caught my eye and I fell in love with her right then.
Misty is a seven-year-old unbroken Kaimanawa pony. She does a lot of in-hand shows and wins a lot of ribbons. She is a bit hard to keep clean, because she is a dapple gray and gets muddy easily.
I went out there almost everyday and brought her up from the paddocks whenever I was there. I groomed her, fed her and sometimes I would lead her out while the other girls were riding. This was good for her as she was a bit stiff and it was good to get her moving around.
Also while I was there Misty had to have a lump removed from one of her hind legs. This involved knocking her out using a general anaesthetic. When she came around from the general, she panicked and started rolling around on wobbly legs and trying to get up. She soon calmed down and was able to stand again. Marilyn and Elder took good care of her and had her stabled for a week.
I think Misty is a truly gorgeous pony. My time with her was amazing and i can't wait to come back to NZ and visit her again! She is a very special little horse and I adore her.
Dane Cowley, 2005
- Jazz
I don't know much about Jazz's history, but what i do know amazes me. First let me tell you a bit about Jazz. Her formal name is Shiraz, she is currently six years old, 14.2hh and is a bay with a Roman nose and a beautiful star.
Anyway what I know is the Jazz was taken from the muster by a grandmother who brought her for her granddaughter. After a scare Jazz gave her, the granddaughter didn't like her anymore and would throw stones at her to watch her run in the paddock. The Kaimanawa Wild Horse Welfare Trust Inc. was contacted and Jazz was rescued and taken in by a lady I know, who sold her to my riding instructor. When I sold my first pony on it was suggested I take Jazz. I rode her once at my instructor's and enjoyed her so much that I gladly accepted her offer of a free lease.
I have now had her for almost three months and she is so loyal, loving, brave, willing and funny. I love her to bits!! She has a great personality – really friendly and curious – and will give anything a go!! Recently we cleared a 1.05m joker in a show jumping round! I'm very proud of Jazz and she has taught me to forgive. She is my baby.
Justine Kennedy
July 2005