Born to Run Adventure Racing

22/09/2024

Don’t forget the minis are on TV tonight. Check our Hyundai Country Calendar at 7pm to capture the Great Northern Gallop action. Also check out the website to sign up for our October Virtual Race month that you can take part with any horse anywhere in the world!

17/09/2024

Did you see the exciting news? The minis have made it to national TV and will be on Hyundai Country Calendar this Sunday at 7pm. Who is going to be watching?

16/09/2024

The virtual event is back! Mark your calendars this October we will be holding our second ever online challenge. The format is easy, we'll have entries up on our website soon and then all you have to do enter, download Strava and record the miles/kilometres that you run, hike, walk or crawl with your horse between October 1st to 31st.

You can enter from anywhere in the world with any kind of equine. The aim is to encourage people to get out there moving and having fun with their horses. In a way that promotes good equine welfare and helps prevent laminitis and obesity in our equines.

Things to know
Any size horse can now enter. There will be a category for under 10hh and over 10hh
Donkeys are eligible too and we'll have our own category for them if we get enough entries.
Special prizes for best transformation over the month
Juniors category for humans under 18years old.

Born to Run is on Strava and once your part of the challenge you can follow the live leaderboard, upload photos of you and your horse out on adventures and so much more.

15/09/2024

Did you hear the exciting news? The best ponies are going to be on tv next week. Make sure you’re watching Hyundai Country Calendar to catch all the race action and pony running!

Don’t let Ernie see it though, he may find out I called him a ‘hot cross bun on legs’.

12/09/2024

Oh no too often we hear these stories. Part of Born To Run’s missions is to raise awareness and promote better welfare for our smallest and most often overlooked equines. Because they are ‘cute’ they too often end up in unsuitable homes or aren’t treated as real horses. While we don’t know what happened with this story we hope we can continued to be a positive voice for our smallest horses.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/hawkes-bay-spca-finds-miniature-horses-left-in-overgrown-paddock-without-enough-water-for-months/SF23COLO45AUDIKT6LNK3XABUM/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3I3LRc6nGIxYtTkVimzMOxVxEogIeezuLXSKdKj8dEUAqqvNh7pQn1mwk_aem_zdgB33yctmPiHs-DF7muMA

Two women who owned them are now banned from owning horses for five years.

08/09/2024

Lucky the Born to Run Adventure Racing ponies were on hand to supervise the birthing process. There was a healthy and happy little filly born in the night. The ponies supervising and offering emotional support from across the fence through the entire process.

05/09/2024

Omg pony spring cleaning is about to commence. Our team looks a bit wild and woolly at the moment! There’s going to be some serious washing, brushing and polishing over the next few weeks to get them ready for their next big public outing. More to be announced watch this space.

Lucky we got lots of lovely shampoos and soaps from Vetpro just in time. Especially with all itchy flaky ponies we seem to have at the moment.

📸 Maija Jespersen Fine Art

02/09/2024

So excited to get a great box of goodies from Vetpro this week. An equine first aid kit (everyone with a horse should have this on hand in your tack room or horse truck). Some fungal shampoo to help with all the itchy ponies we seem to have at the moment. A great range of feed supplements to help with a few of the issues we deal with in our little team of horses and some whitening soap to help get some little rug rats absolutely glowing.

Vetpro have some amazing products to help your horses of all shapes and sizes and we are so lucky to have them on board as sponsors. Make sure you check them out.

26/08/2024

Laminitis season is upon us 😬 🐎

The reason we created our events and started taking on miniature horses was to highlight the importance movement in not only preventing horrible conditions like laminitis in horses but to improve their lives and yours as well.

As we hit the danger months for laminitis in New Zealand here’s some advice we’ve learned from caring, rehabbing and training the ultimate endurance miniature horses.

Getting a horse fit, and making sure it gets its heart rate up and a good run at least once a week is a great preventative tool for reducing the risk of laminitis. This can either be lunging, track systems, free work in a round pen or arena or heading out for a run with them yourselves. Just slow walks are not enough. But fitness work can be fun. We have fitness plans we can help you with!

Herds help. Horses that live in groups move significantly more than a horse grazing alone. It stops horses standing and gorging all day and reduces the risk of obesity which makes your horse far more high risk for laminitis

Stay away from severe hoof trims. While this is the only solution in some cases we find less is more. To often we see foot sore horses with extreme trims that are to sore to really move. The less they move the more you have to restrict feed and the more prone they become to obesity and laminitis. Allowing a little bit more hoof even if it looks a bit messy short term will get a horse moving around more and with movement we find new hoof growth start to correct itself. Our priority is getting a horse comfortable and it’s amazing what they’ll recover from. Even shoeing temporarily we find helpful in some cases because it means they can move about and again and interact with horses. Horses that don’t feel comfortable to move only stand and eat. Horses in chronic pain just seem so much more susceptible to a whole range of complications as well.

We find ad lib hay and not restricting feed better and easier to manage than restricting what they get. Even having a track around the outside of their paddock so they have to walk back and forth from water to hay with only a little grass is better than no grass and yard lock up. Other options are slow feeders so that the horse can eat all day long but only tiny bits at a time.

Long rank old grass is better than rationed short grass

Swimming is amazing if you have access to the beach, rivers or horse pools great exercise, and for ones already laminitic you can get them moving pain free.

Feed and love is not the same thing. If you’ve got horses prone to laminitis and you are the person that just loves to feed them and equates feed to affection with your horses, at least keep to great feeds like Prydes EasiFeed NZ Easi Keeper. Fibre and a source of vitamins and minerals is your friend not sweet feeds and grains.

Un-educated and unwilling are two different things. Lots of horses actually love to exercise and get out and about and the fitter they get the more they love it. However people misunderstand a horse that doesn’t know how to lead, lunge or trot up as one that doesn’t want to move. If you’re pulling on the rope and the horse is stubbornly not moving it probably just doesn’t know what you want. Take the time to educate them then you can have fun together!

For most horses prevention is key remember they are born to move vast distances. So super rich pasture and lack of movement is doubly dangerous. However if you have a horse that’s already in the throws of laminitis don’t despair there’s hope on the horizon and they can get through it and go back to amazing healthy and happy lifestyles.

Check out Vetpro and their Chromium slim products to help you get through and find fun ways to get out and about with your horse.

13/07/2024

Lawrence rocking his new look....

What do you think?

06/07/2024

Such a wonderful winter's day for the BTR team to have their rugs off and a good old scratch with their buddies!

25/02/2024

Live from the beauty salon today, pedicures for all. A nice side by side comparison of trimmed vs non trimmed hoof.

25/02/2024

Last week was a big week for some of the ponies. We had some routine veterinary maintenance work done on a few team members with blood tests etc. While others like Peaches here had x-rays. As a charity the care of our ponies is paramount and with many coming to us as rescues and can have complex issues to manage and rehab from. Peaches is one of those, morbidly obese, unhandled and with terrible feet when she arrived. With such a long history of neglect it was no surprise her X-rays showed some rotation of the pedal bone in her front feet.

Here she is standing patiently (sedated) on blocks for the X-rays.

Don’t forget it’s running events like the Great Northern Gallop and the 24hour challenge that not only help promote a better life for these horses but also is our way of fundraising to provide special care for little horses like this.

22/02/2024

The race team is tucking in to their post work out feed this afternoon!

Feeding miniature horses can be a bit tricky and daunting for those managing obesity and laminitis but still wanting to make sure their horses get the right nutrition.

For us with our horses getting lots of daily exercise, they always have access to a salt block and the race team gets Pryde's EasiFeed EasiSport, low sugar and low grain being key here while still keeping fibre intake high.

For those of ours not in work or a little on the porky side we tend to feed something like EasiSport balancer. Nutrition in with fibre not calories.

While we love the Prydes range and feed it to all ours, their are similar products on the market. The big thing for minis is staying away from sweet or high grain feeds but still making sure they get adequate nutrition and minerals in. Of course lots of fibre is super important, to keep their guts happy and ulcer free!

21/02/2024

We are officially sold out!

From a crazy dream of setting up an adventure race with miniature horses to three years down the track and we are now officially sold out for the Great Northern Gallop 2024 over a month out. You can still send you entries in but for now you'll be on the wait list.

This is the biggest small horse race in the world and certainly the coolest adventure race around. We are pretty excited to have all our horses back out on track once more and to meet new pony and people faces at this years event as well.

Six weeks to go and the countdown is on

20/02/2024

Laminitis is such an incredibly painful and debilitating disease. It’s so much more than your horse eating a bit to much or getting a little ouchy on his feet. Today’s X-rays show the painful end results of years of suffering due to chronic incurable laminitis and neglect. The first photo shows the pony’s hoof today and the second photo is what it should look like. The X-ray of a healthy hoof is radically different. For this horse it marks the end of the road for him despite our best efforts and love.

The pedal bone is so rotated is ground away to nothing. Read that again he got such bad laminitis the bone rotated and was crushed slowly as he tried to walk over many years. This is unbelievably painful for them. It’s also robbed him of so many good years of life.

It’s why we are so passionate about keeping ponies fit, healthy and active so that we can prevent cases like this. If you think giving your pony that little bit of extra feed you know isn’t good for it, or fresh spring grass think of these images. Obesity and lack of activity isn’t cute and can be deadly and lead to so much suffering.

Plus if there’s anything to be learned from what we do is that the horses and humans both love getting out on adventures. It’s good for their health, fun and can help prevent cases like this.

13/02/2024

Thanks for all the suggestions we had to go for the name Piccolo for this little guy as it just suited him so well. As when he neighs it does sound like a high pitched flute!

11/02/2024

Isn’t this little guy handsome? He’s a little young to be on the racing team this year but he’ll definitely be making his debut next season. For now though he needs a name. He’s absolutely golden, solid but handsome build. Has all the good looks and brains to match. What could be a good name for him?

07/02/2024

This is one of our new additions to the team. What should his racing name be? He’s very pretty and dainty but a cool fun attitude with plenty of enthusiasm for his new job. He’s one of the smaller ones on the team but has a big personality and confidence without being super bold or pushy.

29/01/2024

Lawrence and Hugo enjoying the last the evening's sunshine...

28/01/2024

How exciting is this!!

Aaron at Find Your Feet Films has been putting together a little documentary about our little guys and girls, highlighting their rescue journeys.

Have a watch, share, and spread the word about these little superstars and the events we run to help bring awareness to the welfare issues so many of them face.

This is just a small taster of more to come as he follows us on the Great Northern Gallop 2024!

An inspiring trail running documentary about a unique running event. As cute as can be, miniature horses all too often end up with no purpose and not living ...

25/01/2024

And just to jazz up their training, we are off on our farm runs. The hardest part is keeping up with their enthusiasm!

23/01/2024

The team are just a little bit excited to be back in training for the Great Northern Gallop 2024!

I did have to have a quiet word afterwards to say there is a walking category!!

14/01/2024

This gorgeous little stallion is also joining the team. He’s already looking like he might be a Great Northern Gallop contender. Also I can see him joining Opi, Ernie & Tango as part of the Black & White mini team at Equifest this year.

14/01/2024

Look at this gorgeous little sunbeam who’s just arrived. He’s a little young to be part of the race team but maybe in a year or two we’ll see him out clocking up some miles. For now we are enjoying his friendly attitude and presence in the paddock. Such a cool little guy and good looking too

11/01/2024

Very excited to have some new faces joining the race team! Watch this space there’s about to be a lot of new introductions.

10/01/2024

Why overthink when you can over jump?

No scope no hope?

If in doubt go all out?

Not sure which saying most applies here, but look how amazing these horses are out on a farm walk learning how to navigate logs.

1, Bolt
2, Surfie
3, Lady Red
4, Mr Potato

07/01/2024

Don’t forget if you have taken on a rescue Mini or an unhandled one in the past 6 months you are eligible for our first ever Rescue to Racehorse award. Get your entries in for the Great Northern Gallop now!

From Rescue to Racehorse

We have been doing some thinking, the reason Born to Run exists is to help create events the promote good equine welfare and inspire people to get involved with miniature horses. At the moment there seems to be an endless amount of miniature horses in New Zealand needing homes or coming out of testing situations.

If you adopt, purchase or take on a lightly handled, unhandled or problem miniature horse in need of a home between September 1st 2023 and January 31st 2024 and make it to our Great Northern Gallop event March 28- April 1st 2024 you are in to win a special award. We are going to call it from "Rescue to Racehorse" award. You just have to nominate yourself on the entry form for the award and provide some proof of the backstory and when you got you horse.

We can provide handling, training and care tips as well as fitness programs to help you get ready for the event if you need them We are here to help and encourage and so many of our own horses came to us as rescue and rehabs so we love to see more success stories

To take part in the Great Northern Gallop your horse must be 110cm and under, as well as 3years and over and unfortunately no stallions at eh actual race. There is both a walking and running category so remember you don't need to be a super athlete to take part!

Pictured here one of our lovely horses that came as an unhandled older stallion from the South Island, Maverick, now a reformed and wonderful gentle gelding.

Know someone who might be inspired to take on a miniature horse? Maybe you know a group, person or organisation needing to rehome some miniature horses tag them in the comments section below and lets see if we can find some lovely horses a new home and a new event to take part in.

16/12/2023

From Rescue to Racehorse

We have been doing some thinking, the reason Born to Run exists is to help create events the promote good equine welfare and inspire people to get involved with miniature horses. At the moment there seems to be an endless amount of miniature horses in New Zealand needing homes or coming out of testing situations.

If you adopt, purchase or take on a lightly handled, unhandled or problem miniature horse in need of a home between September 1st 2023 and January 31st 2024 and make it to our Great Northern Gallop event March 28- April 1st 2024 you are in to win a special award. We are going to call it from "Rescue to Racehorse" award. You just have to nominate yourself on the entry form for the award and provide some proof of the backstory and when you got you horse.

We can provide handling, training and care tips as well as fitness programs to help you get ready for the event if you need them We are here to help and encourage and so many of our own horses came to us as rescue and rehabs so we love to see more success stories

To take part in the Great Northern Gallop your horse must be 110cm and under, as well as 3years and over and unfortunately no stallions at eh actual race. There is both a walking and running category so remember you don't need to be a super athlete to take part!

Pictured here one of our lovely horses that came as an unhandled older stallion from the South Island, Maverick, now a reformed and wonderful gentle gelding.

Know someone who might be inspired to take on a miniature horse? Maybe you know a group, person or organisation needing to rehome some miniature horses tag them in the comments section below and lets see if we can find some lovely horses a new home and a new event to take part in.

14/12/2023

It's time to start thinking about the 2024 Great North Gallop! Mark easter weekend in your calendars. The biggest small horse race in the world. Wether you are an extreme runner or you've never even jogged a mile in your life, this event is for you. There's a walking and a running category, you can even bring a support person along with you. You can be a horse enthusiast or never been near one in your life and we'll show you what to do.

How does the event work?
It's 4 days and 100km
25km a day
You are paired with a pony or two ponies depending on the category you enter. If you already have your own miniature horses you can bring that as part of your entry.
There a simple vet check at the start, half way and finish point of each day.

It's a fun atmosphere, beautiful scenery running along 90mile beach and the forest in the Far North and an event like nothing else in the world.

Even better it's all for horse welfare, the proceeds from the event go to caring for the miniature horses most in need. Providing farrier, veterinary and dental care to the many rescue ponies that come to us for care. We are a registered charity and our mission is to make better lives for miniature horses !

Enter or find out more info here

https://www.borntorunadventureracing.org/enter-now