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Mctavish Horsemanship

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Mctavish Horsemanship

Here at MC horses Rory and Kerry McTavish focus primarily on starting horses. We are now launching our residential horsemanship weeks!
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Rory also works in the film industry as a stuntman - mainly in horse related action. This site is to give you information and updates about our business and to help promote our new venture! We are now offering week long residential courses in horsemanship unlike anything else available! Come and stay upstairs in our fantastic barn accommodation with your horses below in our ultra-safe pens. During

your stay you will see Rory working with horses at different stages of training, from Week 1 where they have never been saddled to their final week preparing to go home. You will also receive a daily lesson, have access to our facilities and accompany us on your horse as we ride down the forest and beach. If you're interested in working cattle from your horse or learning to throw a rope we can customise your stay. Helping us a little with daily chores will help you feel like part of the team and make for a good nights sleep !

29/08/2024

20/08/2024

Well here it is folks - the info on Jeff’s Canterbury clinic!
The Wanaka one filled in about 2 days so best not too dither 😆

13/08/2024

Well folks - it’s on!!
Jeff is headed to NZ for another visit, North Island clinic and 2 down south here (I’ll be getting to both 🤞)
This is THE guy to learn more of the Vaquero style of horsemanship and will be of particular interest to industry professionals and people interested in dressage or working equitation.
The spaces on the clinic are very limited so don’t fluff round!

25/07/2024

A nice appy cross, looking rather sporting in western this fine afternoon 🤠

17/07/2024

First time for this 4yr old wb filly packing round the saddle, she’s been interesting to get to this point as she has a strong nature and it could have been easy for her to see me as the bad guy if there had been a confrontation but I picked up at the start with her that she was very good at moving peoples feet around by coming a bit too close or pulling faces or some type of threatening movement which can lead people into a confrontation, so over this week I’ve been working on that and she’s improved daily but even I was surprised by her today, there will still be negotiations but she’s pretty much on my side now 🙂

08/07/2024

Catch this in TV tonight, they are featuring my friend Dayna and the 🎥🎬
Film - is where I get to see the practical application of my horsemanship, I don’t compete in any sport but I’ve worked on countless productions over about 25 years, I remember a friend telling me back at the start that the horse is never acting and how true that has proven to be! Film can demand a lot of the horse so preparation is key, once the horse understands - then we can make magic.
As much as I enjoy doing my own thing I love being part of this film family, you’ll probably be able to see why on this ep. 🙂

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/Ff2TonJoMx7uQoHT/?mibextid=xCPwDs

06/07/2024

Hey all, I have a space atm for starting or what have you, msg me if your interested 🙂

26/06/2024

The Nelson trips going well, hosted by BellaGrove Equine again, remember float training this filly from last trip?

23/06/2024

My long promised trip to Nelson will start tomorrow, looks like the weather gods will play their part 🤞
I have some stops at a couple of studs and agistment places and return visits for further handling/lessons - I know the short notice is a pain but so is trying to load a horse in the rain! anyway flick me a msg if you need a hand with anything and are in the vague vicinity of this map.
I really enjoyed last weeks trip to Hokitika, the 4 horses that were part of the private c**t starting school provided an excellent spectrum of horses to apply and teach the technique's used to handle a 2 yr old, which are then added to with the starting of the 3.5yr old, then added to again with freeing up the competition horse and finally one more time with teaching the troubled horses about forward again.
Horsemanship is a very broad term, we learn it through experience (good and bad), we learn it from watching a better hand or riding a more advanced horse, there are many ways we better ourselves including chance happenings.
I was visiting friends in Vancouver Canada many years ago and we visited a garage sale where I found an already ancient Hackamore for $20, later that trip visiting Alberta I found a book on the Hackamore by Edd Connell in some saddlery in the middle of nowhere.
From the start I was drawn to this bit of kit, intrigued I guess - so I started riding in it, later moving to Christchurch I saw a poster up in a saddlery about a clinic, didn't know what that was but the guy had a cowboy hat on in the picture!
Turned out that it was the man who was destined to spend much of his life on the road teaching the world about horsemanship and bridle horses, a very timely intervention for me! I have had other teachers since but man, that first look behind the door really changed my life and set me on a course that I am still following.
Every horse Ive started or restarted has learned from the Hackamore I brought that day in Canada ( unless their head is to big, like shoes its not one size fits all ), its not flash, it looks ancient but its the best tool I have because it gets a horse soft and forward while it teaches the hand that in no way is force of any use.
I would say that riding in a hackamore is as much a perspective as it is an ability, so as much as I was trying to teach the use of this tool last week it was really the perspective that I was a trying to pass along - its a gift I want to share just as it being shared with me.

19/06/2024

A cracker day over Hokitika for the last day of a private c**t starting - what fun 🕺

03/06/2024

Hi all, I’m doing a day trip to Ashburton tomorrow and have space for another client - if interested please msg, cheers.

22/05/2024

I like big butts

10/05/2024

Got to keep an eye on these country kids when they get to the big town of Waikuku..

28/03/2024

I’m currently in Auckland as one of the instructors for the New Zealand Stunt School lvl 1/2 horse stunt course running this Easter, here is a small clip of the kind of hijinks we get up to from a lvl 2 course run in January - it was also filmed by the Hoiho tv show which has yet to be aired.
The school is a great way into an exciting industry that is on the build in NZ 🕺

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1485085132078812?fs=e&s=TIeQ9V&mibextid=xCPwDs

14/03/2024

This will be fun, I get to be one of the instructors 😉

We are running a stunt horse course on 30th, 31st March & 1st April at their ranch in Hunua, Auckland.

This course is suitable for proficient riders looking to take their riding to another level!

Topics covered include horsemanship, safety on horses, rearing, trick riding, mounted archery and more!

If you or someone you know is interested then contact us for more info and registration

www.nzstuntschool.com

Dayna Grant

10/03/2024

An updated map of next weeks ‘travelling horseman’ route, msg if you’d like to be added to the list - 😎

06/03/2024

Nelson - your next in the list and I will have a date in the next week or so 👍

06/03/2024

While I’m at it - I’ll be in Twizel the following weekend 23-24 march, loading, lessons, youngsters - anything required then click the msg button 🙂

06/03/2024

Alright folks, I will be down in Dunedin for an appointment on the 18th of this month, msg me if you need a hand with anything - I guess by now you all know what I’m about on these trips 🤠cheers!

13/02/2024

A line I’ve been dropping lately and is very relevant to a horse here atm, ‘A troubled horse is never helped by pulling two reins’

05/02/2024

This is a lot of fun and could be just the thing to jump start a new career path 😉

01/02/2024

Blackberry season has kicked off at Waikuku horse tracks 🤤

26/01/2024

Hey does anyone know where to get ranch ropes in NZ??

17/01/2024

This is for all of you that look out the window and see that horse that’s not getting rode enough and makes you wonder why, maybe you even feel a little guilty? ‘It’s a good horse out there going to waste’ you’ve caught yourself thinking from time to time..
Well I have 2 friends looking for those horses right now, one in the north and one here in the south.
We aren’t looking for any ‘project’ horses, a good solid citizen that should be a main horse but isn’t - I know they are out there!
Both homes will provide all any horse could want, top class care and regular riding with an experienced hand 🤷🏻‍♂️
I’m going to be as involved as I need to be with this as it’s a favour to a couple of friends and that what friends do.
Open to any age or breed and there’s the right money for the right horse - let’s see what you’ve got people 🙂

09/01/2024

Hey I really enjoyed the Demo last Friday, I’m keen to run something similar again.
I can see the need for the c**t handling so could just get another bunch of youngsters and do that again, those of you who have been following this page for a while know about my Hackamore obsession - the catalyst that sent me down the bridlehorse path, any interest in how to get a horse going in one of these?
Tell you what - let’s try and kick a few ideas around, let’s hear some of what your what your interested in?

Address

57 Waikuku Beach Road
Christchurch
7402

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Videos

Nice to feel some warmth in that sun ☀️

Saddled

So yesterday day 2 we took Lion out for his first adventure- he was kind and confident during the whole ride, very much a credit to his previous handling and his breeding, I believe that like people they are 50% nature, 50% nurture - for better or worse! I really didn’t see Lion battle with anything these last few days, credit to - Westie Welsh Cobs

Got to keep an eye on these country kids when they get to the big town of Waikuku..

YOUNG HORSE HANDLING DEMO

I will be doing a demo next Friday the 5th jan @ 9.30, location is 57 Waikuku beach Rd and cost is $50 per person. There will be 2 yearlings and 1 two year old that I will work with - come and see what’s required to make good citizens out of young horses, there will also be a bodywork demo by a local person who’s just started a buisness so it should be a really interesting morning. Please msg the page for cost and location - that way I’ll also have an idea how many will be coming 😉

Well I got into a few wild places yesterday!

Dead horse plateau

Loading her, what a lovely wee filly!

Nelson days

Halter breaking in Nelson

A loading lesson..

I made this clip as a private thing for a customer, she’s sent it to me and suggested I post it - so I thought what the hell, this horse took to the process very well and seemed very relieved by the end of the session.