SKS Showjumping

02/11/2024

Awesome day today! Well done to all riders! All went home with personal achievements and big happy smiles.

I am available for jumping lessons or flatwork/ground work lessons too. Get them booked in before Xmas!

Also taking bookings for the January 2025
🐴schooling
🐴young horse starting
🐴groundwork
🐴handling
🐴lessons

01/11/2024

The Draw + estimated times for tomorrow
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQ_PihMF3fqSZjXbWY7bEBNqIflX1QrxvMsWr9LfvzxN6KBuyiG5LAN1VvBumRyjVn_ZT3V84-r5ZYT/pub?gid=1879058911&single=true&output=pdf

29/10/2024

Hillfields Elizabeth made her debut doing her first couple of 1m tracks at the Grand Prix show! Also a big Thanks to for the sponsorship of the 75-80cm class which we were the proud winners of on the Saturday.

17/10/2024

Come join us this Sunday!

Practice showjumping this Sunday, all heights available, starting from 40 cm up wards.

Great opportunity for the young horses, riders starting out in show jumping or just to get another practice in on grass.

Can turn up on the day or pre book and pay online.

16/10/2024

12 October 2024 - mini circuit round 2

$4 each

couple photos of

ring 1 - horse 80-85cm and horse 90-95cm class.

02/10/2024

This lady is your go to for any property selling or buying! She is so dedicated to the equestrian scene. So give her some support in return!

Specialising in the marketing and sales of rural & lifestyle properties in Northland

30/08/2024

It’s all worth it in the end ✨💞

Working with young horses is tough.

And not just in the "hold on and hope you stay in the saddle" kind of way.

No one warns you how challenging it truly is. How often you'll doubt yourself, wondering: Am I doing this right? Am I moving too fast? Too slow? Is this too much? Not enough? You'll constantly be questioning your approach, trying to figure out the best way forward while tuning out the opinions of the trainer down the road or the livery next door, who throws judgmental glances every time you do groundwork.

No one tells you how, on some days, you'll feel like you're failing. You'll question if this horse would be better off with someone else, convincing yourself you're either wasting their potential or outright ruining them. After all, there are four-year-olds excelling in young horse classes while yours is still struggling to trot in a straight line.

No one tells you how attached you'll become. This horse is your baby, maybe one you helped bring into the world. Every setback feels personal, like a wound to your heart. You care so deeply about their well-being that it physically hurts when things go wrong. You’ll also become fiercely protective—God help anyone who dares to criticize your horse.

No one tells you how humbling, even brutal, these horses can be. They'll expose every weakness you have and practically shout it from the rooftops. While they are forgiving, they have a way of knocking you down a peg, reminding you there's always more work to be done.

No one tells you how these horses will change you. They'll force you to look inwards, to question everything you thought you knew. If you thought you had everything figured out, this horse will quickly show you that you don't. But they'll also ignite in you a fierce determination to prove everyone wrong and show them what you saw in this horse from the very beginning.

No one quite tells you how difficult young horses can be, but anyone who's been through it knows...

As tough as they are, they’re absolutely worth it.

28/04/2024

Good, better, best.
Never let it rest.
‘Til your good is better and your better is best💪💕

🐴 Lessons available each week Tuesday - Friday at
11 am , 1pm and 4pm.

🐴Saturdays 9am and 11am

Pm to book.
Other times possible, just let me know. Private or group lessons of max 3 riders.

All levels welcome. Dressage, pole and jumping lessons.

Others services:
🐴 schooling and starting horses
🐴 clipping
🐴 equine treatments
🐴Activo-Med sessions
🐴 arena hire

Having experience in the competition scene, worked and rode overseas at a breeding/jumping stable and available to ride your horse at competitions or keep them in work whilst you are away or just don’t have the time !

25/02/2024

This week we had a new face join me on the eventing circuit of what is left of this season.

We welcome “Rushmoor Jezebel” a spunky wee mare with a heart of gold. (Bravado Ego Z, Voltaire bloodlines)
She had her first start at eventing at Maunu ODE in the 80 NZPCA under 25’s. “Bel” came home on her dressage score and scored 2nd overall in the class!

Owners sent “Bel” to me as a rising 4 year old to be started under saddle. She then went on and spent the last two seasons in the show jumping ring up to 1.05m. Now aged 6, shes having a taste of the eventing world while she looks for her new rider!

If your looking for your next superstar, look no further! She does it all! And bred to perform.

02/01/2024

What’s happening at SKS this month…

🐴Jump training days every Thursday + Friday, $25 per horse (max 3 rounds)

🐴We have lessons spots available, PM to book.

🐴We also have a space available for a schooler/groundwork/handling or pre-start handling

🐴Also watch out for another Dressage/SJ Fundraiser for the Whangarei Pony Club Timberlands team.

30/12/2023

The results of the dressage & SJ fundraiser day!

Thank you to those that came and supported the Dressage team it was a good turnout!. Awesome riding and all seemed to have had a great day! Sun was shining !

0B dressage group.
Dressage overall
🥇Jenny Gordon on “Ebony N Ice”
🥈Briar Hart on “Joey”
🥉Ashley Johnston on “Whistle”
4th Alison on “Beau”

Overall placings (after SJ)
🥇Jenny Gordon
🥈Ashley Johnston
🥉Briar Hart
4th Alison

0D dressage group
Dressage overall
🥇Rachel Wood on “Nacho”
🥈Geraldine Butler on “Currently Overcast”
🥉Sophie Bell on “Gem Star”
4th Aliy King on “Midge”

Overall placings (after SJ)
🥇Geraldine Butler
🥈Rachel Wood
🥉Sophie Bell

1B dressage group
Dressage overall
🥇Claire Topzand on “Arlo”
🥈Nicole Collier on “Romeo”
🥉Paula Savage on “Paddy’s Song”
4th= Clare Pirret on “Caveman” & Renee Boykett on “Ty Gwyn Fine Art”

Overall placings (after SJ)
🥇Claire Topzand
🥈Paula Savage
🥉= Clare Pirret & Renee Boykett
5th Javahna Barrowman

2B dressage group
Dressage overall
🥇Charlotte van der Zwan on “Astek Galeno”
🥈Charlotte van der Zwan on “Edgewater Grace”
🥉Rachel Wood on “Vito”

Overall Placing (after SJ)
🥇Charlotte van der Zwan on Edgewater Grace
🥈Charlotte van der Zwan on Astek Galeno
🥉Rachel Wood on Vito

24/12/2023

Merry Christmas and happy new year from SKS Sporthorses!

We would like to say a big thank you to those past and present who have trusted me with their fellow 4 legged friend to learn new skills and of course I’ve had great joy getting rider and horse combinations achieving their goals this year. I look forward to a bright 2024 filled with many more goals achieved and milestones reached.

Also a big thank you to my supporters starting with the ones closest to me.. mum, Jannette and dad, Patrick ❤️
Then my sponsors Saddlery Direct and Northland Saddlery Services- Sylvie Webby for getting the horses comfortable and as free in their bodies with correct fitting gear.

28/11/2023

Bravour SKS at Taupō HT flying over his first start at CCN105 🧡

02/10/2023

Sometimes it's important to go back to basics...I've been working with a lot of different young horses over the past couple of years and just trying to improve my connection and feel and being aware of my body language. It's a simple concept but it sure ain't easy! One thing I always find with riding younger and greener horses is they find the hole in your riding immediately! I just try to keep them confident with supportive rides and work always on my own skills too, which I can then translate into more consistent rides on the more experienced horses at bigger fences or movements.

What basic skills are your go to ? For me it is definitely the importance of my leg aids and clear aids overall to improve communication.

25/09/2023

That’s a wrap on the first show of the season!

Bravour SKS (Rio) kicking it off super with a 6th placing in the 95cm open class. Felt so bold on his first run back on XC so bring on the rest of the season!

Hillfields Elizabeth (Lizzie) owned by Paula McInnes had a big weekend taking in a lot of firsts things like overnighting, the atmosphere the warm up spaces. Gave her all the confidence and encouragement for lovely clear run in the XC in the 80cm to finish off the weekend.

Weekend was made possible thanks to my awesome groom, Lizzie’s owners and mum back at home! And the support of and Northland Saddlery Services- Sylvie Webby

23/09/2023

Dressage and show jumping done and dusted. Bravour SKS sitting 8th overnight on his dressage score of 67.25% roll on tomorrow!

Hillfields Elizabeth (Lizzie) taking everything in her stride for her first Horse trails. Lots of areas to improve for the dressage but overall happy with her performance and one light rail down in the show jumping.

horses dressed in stretch-tec girths and dressage saddle pad!

Myself in my favourite Chantilly lace shirt and DW Endura competition whites 😍

Thank you to my awesome Mum back at home for looking after the rest of the horses.

21/09/2023

I am beyond excited to be part of this super team! The horses are feeling much freer through the shoulder when ridden in the total saddle fit shoulder relief stretch-TEC girths! 🤩

Bring on the season ahead!

03/09/2023

Despite the not so nice weather today, the main horses of my team this season danced their way around the arena supporting a local pony club with their dressage day.

Bravour SKS (Rio) started off a little fresh in first test but well and truely settled for his second test to score 71.67% 🎉

Lizzie had her first official outing amongst other horses (comp environment), and settled in well to produce two decent tests with things to work on before her first eventing start in 3 weeks.

The Brave Pants Company not sure if I would of survived without this jacket today… the wind and rain gushing in sideways was certainly a challenge for the horses but I was kept nice and toasty! Teal vibe chasers have the right amount of stick-ability for those fresh moments too!

Thanks One Tree Point Pony Club for holding this day!