The Sullivan Stables

27/08/2024

Our first theory morning was a great success and we are very excited to bring you more!

'Learn about your Pony days' / weekend Theory classes.

🦄 Sunday 8th September - Tack: what we use, why we use it. How to tack up correctly. How to ensure our tack is fitting correctly etc

🦄 Sunday 15th September - Feeding: feeding requirements of horses, understanding your ponies basic needs, hands on feeding out. Learning about hardfeeding, grazing, supplements etc.

Most suitable for ages 7-18yrs. Open to all current students AND anyone else interested in learning more. 9am-11:30am morning tea provided.

Email [email protected] to book
Alyce A Photography

24/08/2024

Such a nice morning with some great kids completing the first of our Saturday morning theory/ horsemanship classes.
Really loving this new idea! 😊

19/08/2024

Because being a riding coach is so much more than just 'being a riding coach' 🥰

18/08/2024

WEEKLY LESSON SPOT AVAILABLE
We have a spot available starting from this week or next week. Wednesdays 6pm. Suitable for a rider aged 12-16yrs, already confident in canter and jumping small jumps, on one of our horses or your own😊 email [email protected]

18/08/2024

SATURDAY THEORY CLASS
We still have a couple of spots available for our first weekend morning theory class this Saturday 24th 9am-11:30am. Most suitable for ages 7-18yrs. Email [email protected] to book 😊

18/08/2024

Bree at Takapoto last week 🫶

18/08/2024

Brilliant morning for our team🩷🩷

17/08/2024

Some of our young riders/ young ponies nailing it this morning 🩷

11/08/2024

When a horse walks, trots and canters its body throws off waves of motion. Some riders get flung around by these concussive forces, some can pretty well be in rhythm with the horse, while the best riders have become so integrated into the motion of the horse that they become almost one flowing entity, like the Centaur of myth and fable.

Having this blending seat and body more than any other skill defines the better riders, so much so that the former multi-gold medal winning USET 3-day coach Jack LeGoff phrased it like this---

“What are the three things that you must have in order to become a good rider?”
1. A good seat
2. A good seat
3. A good seat

Jack wasn’t big on listening to riders in self-praise mode. I have heard him say more than once, “Don’t tell us how good you are. Get on that horse and show us.”

Almost instantly he could spot the fakes from the real deals just by whether or not they were part of the motion or apart from the motion. The seat doesn’t lie. You either bounce or you don’t bounce.

If your body isn’t supple enough and trained enough to merge with those waves of motion thrown off by the moving horse, you are not, by LeGoff’s high standards, a good rider, nor will you be until or unless you learn to blend.

If this seems harsh, too demanding, that’s not LeGoff’s intent. He wasn’t a coddler, rather he was telling a truth as he saw it. You either can sit the gaits or you can’t sit the gaits. Pretty basic and simple as he saw it.

11/08/2024

FULLY BOOKED - LOOKING INTO ANOTHER DATE😊
Beach/ trail ride Sunday September 1st - 2 spaces available. Regular students or experienced riders only 😊🩷 email [email protected] to book

06/08/2024

All we can do is try… 🪽

06/08/2024

Well timed with our new theory lessons announced in our last post 🤠

Make Them Carry Their Saddle

A father of a darling girl and I were talking last week and he said that he wanted his daughter to ride more and not have to do the work part of the catching, grooming, and saddling. I smiled as I explained.

Riding horses is a combination of strength, timing, and balance. Kids in this country are physically weak (unless they are actively involved with weight training and physical conditioning 4+ times a week.)

When you walk out to the field, you are clearing your stress from being under fluorescent lights all day; feeling the sun soak into your bones. As your body moves on uneven surfaces, it strengthens your legs and core.

When you groom your horse (especially currying), you are toning your arms and stabilizing your core.

When you carry your saddle, your arms, chest, and back are doing isolated strengthening work.

Being near horses, calms and makes you tune into the splendor of these empathetic animals.

When you ride at a posting trot, it’s equivalent to a slow jog calorie burn wise.

After a lesson, the riders are physically tired and mentally quiet and balanced.

Horses feel your heart beat and mirror your emotions back.

Riding large and somewhat unpredictable animals makes you resilient and pushes your expectations.

Working with horses is so much more than learning how to ride.

So parents, make your children carry their saddles. Don’t do the hard parts for them, as long term it actually hurts them. To advance with their riding, they must get stronger. You can help by doing the high parts.

I love having you all at the farm, and am so grateful to get to share these fascinating animals with you.

Hannah Campbell Zapletal

06/08/2024

🐴 INTRODUCING🐴

Weekend morning equine theory classes @ The Sullivan Stables.

First date: Saturday 24th August
Topics: understanding your pony, reading horses body language, ground work.

Does your child ride but want to learn more/ lack general knowledge and understanding of our equine friends?

Is your child interested in riding and would like to spend some time around horses before jumping in to lessons?

We strongly believe that learning good horsemanship and being knowledgeable of your ponies necessitates and care as well as understanding their body language and how we work with them - is very important for anyone wanting to learn to ride.
These weekend morning sessions will run from 9am-11:30am with morning tea provided. We will cover fresh topics each time, there's endless things to learn from the ground. The sessions will be split into an hour outside around the horses and an hour inside the clubroom. No riding involved but we will still be interacting with the horses. Dates and topics will be advertised in advance and spots filled first in, first served. Open to all current students AND anyone else interested in learning more (most suitable for ages 7-18yrs).
We will be introducing a new requirement for beginner riders on our waitlist to complete at least 3 of these theory mornings before starting ridden lessons to ensure both safety of new riders and welfare of our horses.

$50 incl gst per person😊

Email [email protected] to book🩷

05/08/2024

🩷

Great words 🥰
credits: Pinterest

02/08/2024

As at the 1st of August Pippi officially turned 30yrs old. I have loved her all of my life. My darling little Pippi Long Stockings🩷
I am going to dig up her birth certificate so that we can throw a proper celebration for her actual birthday🩷

01/08/2024

The promise keeper…

31/07/2024

How cool🩷

31/07/2024

𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗖𝗨𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 | 𝗡𝗲𝘄 "𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱-𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻" 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝘂𝗴 𝟭
UPDATED 5.8.24 A new concussion 21-day stand down policy is likely to be a game changer for community sport according to ACC. From 1 August, ESNZ is introducing its new policy in time for the new competition season. The key changes are that a concussed rider must have a minimum period of 21 days away from full competition, and 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱 they get a medical clearance prior to returning to compete. The policy is in keeping with ACC guidelines recently introduced that are designed to improve the health outcomes and wellbeing by introducing a standardised approach to managing concussion. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗯𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝘁:https://www.nzequestrian.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/ESNZ-Concussion-Policy-V3-2024.pdf Please note that our Disciplines are currently updating their competition rules and regulations, effective when the season starts at the end of this week. Photo: Horse and Hound Andrew Sydenham for Future Publishing.
Dressage NZ ESNZ Jumping & Show Hunter ESNZ Eventing ESNZ Endurance ESNZ Para-Equestrian

31/07/2024

The moment you read 'PETA' the claims loose all credibility.. however it is a great read!

https://amp.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/31/the-horses-dont-choose-to-take-part-should-equestrian-sports-be-removed-from-the-olympics?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1lsNLVyfGvC5xiOXlG76La42skUm2vV0JLdYLS8sPpaMG3FbjuTF371fE_aem_B4-C-UGeWubRNdio3-2SNQ

A video of dressage champion Charlotte Dujardin whipping a horse caused shockwaves last week - and it wasn’t an isolated incident in the sport

30/07/2024

Filling a spot on your feed with some pony love 🩷🩷🩷

28/07/2024

Please, instead of sharing anything negative to do with our sport over the next couple weeks, share only the positvie things.
We are on the edge of losing equestrian all together at the Olympics so let’s show our support for our sport and make sure the world sees how great it is.

People make mistakes, we all have. Let’s come together as a horse community and support all the hard working athletes and horses that have made it to Paris and not let someone’s mistakes (not condoning them) over shadow the most amazing sport you will see!!

Good luck to everyone competing!!

Our sport needs positivity and time to heal and grow!!

28/07/2024

BEACH / TRAIL RIDE this Saturday 3rd of August 12pm. Our regular to students only. Email [email protected] to book 😊

25/07/2024

Ok I am sticking my neck out and opening a can of worms by saying what I feel strongly that needs to be said.

We are living at a time where there is no privacy and everything that happens behind closed doors is spoken about and shown in public. Some of this is good and some is not.

I feel very strongly about horse welfare because we as riders and trainers have the power over horses wellbeing as well as over the misuse of horses. It is our obligation to look after them and care for them.

Saying that, we as humans learn to do the right things by often making mistakes first. When I look back on my career as a rider and a coach there have been many times that I would now say I have done the wrong thing by my standards today.
I have done the wrong thing by horses in my past, riding and training in a way that I would NOT accept today, because today I know better.

I have many times looked back at horses in my past and apologised to them, feeling bad about my actions, knowing that they came from a lack of knowledge, pressure, frustration and my own ego at the time wanting to prove myself.

All these experiences have made me the rider, coach and person I am today. I have learned, grown and have become more knowledgable and compassionate as a result of my past.

What is the point of my confession and this post?

The point is that we have a current situation where a rider/trainer is punished and dragged through social media which might threaten her career not to mention the personal trauma inflicted on Charlotte herself.

We have a whistle blower who is crucified and haunted by supporters and fans, I can not imagine how he/she must be feeling right now.

We have a horse who is no better off.

All of what is happening right now, with the time that has passed has no benefit for anyone. It is only causing pain. I beg you to put yourself in the shoes of both people involved. How terrible must they feel right now.

But we can learn from mistakes so lets learn.

Riders, if you are in a lesson where something happens that you are not comfortable with, that you feel is doing wrong by you or your horse, speak up! You can only help your horse if you speak up there and then.

Parents, friends, families, if you are witnessing a lesson where the rider is not able to speak up, support them and speak for them! Stop the lesson, pay and walk away.

I know how hard it can be, I have been there myself as a rider and as a parent where I felt I had to speak up and end a lesson. Not because the horse was abused, but because I felt it was not the right way to train. Why did I know that and why could I speak up for the horse?? Because I have learned from my mistakes in the past.

Coaches and trainers, I know how hard it is to combine your love and passion for horses with the need to create an income to be able to have a sustainable business that pays the bills.
I know how difficult it can be to fulfil riders expectations and help them to achieve the sometimes unachievable.
Be courageous enough to be honest to your riders and make them understand the importance of time! It is the shortcuts that harm our horses and they are taken because we don't allow the time it takes.
Horses are in no hurry, it is us who have to learn to be patient.

I don't know the details of what has happened but I wish that we can find a way back to having conversations. Speaking to each other even if we disagree. Taking videos, slandering each other on social media and suing people who we once admired is not who we are as a horse community. Lets do better.

Lets, learn to say YES when you mean yes and learn to say NO when you mean no. Lets have discussions, disagreements and even arguments but behind closed doors and in small circles.
This is something that we all can do better so that we protect our horses at the time when they need our protection, not years later.

25/07/2024

Louder for the people in the back!

24/07/2024

Sharing this gorgeous photo of little Zoe completely thrilled by getting to sit on Howie last week during camp to put some light into peoples feeds vs the darkness surrounding our sport following yesterday.

I don't feel the need to comment in length on the situation, but I'm incredibly sad for our sport, and everybody involved.

There are big changes needed for equestrian sport in order for it to remain in existence. We need to do better. It starts with us... I'll be the first to say I know it's not always easy to control your emotions or your ego, as a rider and a coach, but we need to if this if our future generations are going to get the chance to experience the pure joy of getting to ride a horse. All eyes are on us.

20/07/2024

15/07/2024

Bree at Takapoto on the weekend! Gorgeous pics by Amy C Photography 🩷

08/12/2023

Road cones out on the edge of the driveway so everyone knows where to come in today 😄

01/12/2023

I’ve been putting so much time into making sure our end of year competition is the best it can be for our students. Couldn’t be more excited!
Please note this is a closed competition open only to our riders and unfortunately not open for public viewing but friends and family of riders, as well as any sponsors are welcome❤️

01/12/2023

It’s that time again, emails are rolling in requesting our pony day dates for the January school holidays.
Dates as follows:
9th, 11th, 16th, 18th, 23rd, 25th.
Make up lessons and private lessons available on the 17th and 24th.. possibly extra days for private lessons.

Pony day info:
9am-3pm
$115 per child
All ages and levels welcome.

Please email [email protected] to book. 😊 Payment required upon booking. These days fill up fast.