I have been asked to write a small bio about my journey through life thus far with horses. It is quite hard to condense 60 odd years into a few paragraphs, but here goes.

 

I can not remember a time without horses in my life. From a very young age, I am mounted behind my Pappy doing stock work, I progress to riding the plough horses, Kate and Stall, for miles up the Wekaweka Valley, Hokianga, pretending that I am off to a show. (No saddle).

 

I finally get my first very own horse, at the age of 10, a 15.2hh TB black gelding called Little Joe. This is when my P.C. life began at Chelsea P.C. My mum became a coach. My Dad, the President. From there, we moved to Greenhithe, my parents and myself, with Little Joe, were the original group and founding members. Years later, I began my coaching qualifications with Greenhithe. I had a beautiful horse called Mack, originally my mums hunter, plus a lovely eventing TB, and a big Standard breb.

 

Moving forward in time, we move to Matakana, and I start coaching. There I stayed for 30 years. With 5 of our 6 kids going through the p.c system, representing the Branch and Area in S/J, dressage and games. I also had my own yard, under the name Huakitanga for Horse's. I bred, broke in, and had a small private Riding School, plus I was the first Adult Ride coach for the area. I carried on educating myself, riding, training, and competing. My passion is dressage and coaching.

 

My learning journey was majorly enhanced when I was introduced to Equitation Science by Jody Hartstone. This took my whole style of coaching to a new and extremely interesting level. My language changed, and my understanding of how horses learn was clear. I am very interested in horse behaviour and attended many clinics with Andrew McLean and Manuela McLean.

 

Dressage, in hand, along with the bio mechanics of horse and rider, is the main focus of my coaching. I am a qualified ESNZ Dressage Judge. To watch horses and riders come together in balance, harmony, and lightness is my goal. Knowledge is the key to the welfare of our horses. Happy and Safe riding. Toni :)