Starlight Farm

27/01/2025

On our large property in the hills of the Waikato we are able to offer services for handling, starting, schooling/early education and milage undersaddle. Want a solid foundation for your horse to get out more, hacked out in a varied environment, confidently ridden with others and independently on its own and create a better partner and well rounded youngster ready for what ever discipline life has intended. Or if you have a young horse you would like us to bring back into work. Send me a message or call 0274 900 775

05/01/2025

We have room for horses for handling, starting, schooling/early education and milage undersaddle. Want a solid foundation for your horse to get out more, be hacked out, work with others or on its own and create a better partner and well rounded youngster ready for what ever discipline life has intended. Or if you have a young horse you would like us to bring back into work. Send me a message or call 0274 900 775

03/01/2025

Sit tall…..make it your habit

There are probably quite a few riders who consistently have great posture every ride, every time, but if so, I have never been one of them.

I have to actively think about staying upright, chin up, shoulders back and down. Now, for sure, I could drag out a litany of excuses, that I spend long hours hacking, that I’ve had various injuries, lots of wear and tear over many decades, you know the drill.

But nobody cares about the Excuse Train, because that’s a train to Nowhere Land.

If you/I/we/they want good posture, the Sit-Up-Tall fairy doesn’t generally come floating down from the sky with her magic wand, one tap on our slouched shoulders and we are transformed.

Being tall and open and looking up is a habit, just as having rounded shoulders and looking down is a habit. So maybe try to make THIS effort---When you are actually schooling, and where your balance counts more, make a special effort that for those minutes you’ll temporarily hop off the Excuse Train.

It can’t do any harm to try----.

29/11/2024

The hard working international team at Starlight Farm doing amazing things together and always looking out for each other and our clients. Sam, Shimon, Ella and Alisha.

27/11/2024

A story on repeat, a perfect horse almost nearly never exists, inside and out, betting’s should not be there to rule a horse out, sometimes it just helps you to know how to manage a very good horse.

How as a horse community can we get back to being more realistic in vettings? School master types are going to require maintenance. Sport Horses gain miles with wear and tear. Flexions at a 1 or a 2 are usually VERY manageable with a bit of help. You do an oil change every 3000 miles on your car. We change the brakes when they wear diwn, we don't throw out the whole car. I can't promise safe and reliable horses that have only been kept in a glass box. I understand when there are GLARING issues, but generally the seller realizes that too and the price reflects the gamble.

Picture of an imperfect vetting that went on to do some incredible things and taught a lot of people invaluable lessons.

24/11/2024

True for all disciplines of riding

15/11/2024

I’ve been holding out. Nearly all foals born at Starlight Farm….even this unlikely but very cute mischievous pair of twin fillies. More updates coming soon 🥰

12/11/2024

One of the scariest posts, a reminder of the divide between town and country, or what people really understand about the world and what makes it go round.

We’ve been getting hay from our Brook Road neighboring farm for years, and one day David Brown told me the following little story.
He had just finished haying one big field, and as he was driving by he saw two women riding on the field. He called them over and asked them if they could ride along the dirt road instead of on the hay field, and this is when the conversation became a little whacky.

One of the riders looked down at where her horse was standing on the grass and said---this is NOT a joke---“THAT’S baby hay?”

She literally didn’t know where hay came from. It would be like thinking milk comes from the refrigerator at the grocery store, or meat from the meat counter, but there it was.

I am aware that there’s a growing modern divide between country living and suburban life, but “baby hay?”

22/10/2024

Wade has always built famously awesome horse trucks for us to dream about driving our horses around in. Thank you for Wade’s generous sponsorship at Equifest and who doesn’t like chocolate 😂🍫

At only 12 years old, Hannah Ashwell did exceptionally well to win the under-17 Speed Jumping, scoring herself $750 cash at last friday's Equifest Wade Equine Festival of Speed. We thought we'd throw in a couple of Toblerone to sweeten the deal! Well done Hannah for your excellent performance 👍 🙌 👏

22/10/2024

There was amazing sponsors at Equifest, we just love the leather care kits that Hannah and Heidi won from NSC. Thank you!

Heidi Clotworthy and Hannah Ashwell came to our stand to thank us for sponsoring their prizes – both won Deluxe Leathercare Kits. We really appreciated the time they took to come see us personally 🩷

Hannah won the 1.05–1.10 Pony Speed round at the Festival of Speed Nightshow and Heidi won Overall Novice Working Equitation. Well done girls!

11/09/2024

A great message to all our aspiring young riders. Worth sharing again.

08/09/2024

Always thinking about your horses welfare and the jobs we expect them to do. Many of the horses in our area have wintered exceptionally well, too well.

07/09/2024

A good coach plays multiple crucial roles that directly impact the growth and success of their riders. Some of these key roles include:

Mentor – Beyond just sport, a coach helps riders grow personally, sharing valuable advice and wisdom from their own experiences.
Motivator – They inspire and push riders to reach their full potential, fostering a mindset of positivity and determination to meet their goals.
Teacher – Coaches educate riders on techniques, strategies, and the rules of the sport, enhancing both their skills and understanding.
Strategist – Developing effective game plans, coaches leverage riders’ strengths while working on areas of improvement.
Communicator – Clear and effective communication is vital. A coach provides clear instructions, feedback, and support, ensuring riders fully understand their roles.
Disciplinarian – By enforcing rules and maintaining high standards, they promote discipline, respect, and structure within the team.
Supporter – Coaches offer emotional and moral support, helping riders handle pressure, setbacks, and success with resilience.
Evaluator – Regularly assessing riders’ performances, they set goals for improvement and help riders recognize areas for growth.
Role Model – Coaches lead by example, demonstrating sportsmanship, integrity, and a strong work ethic, shaping the attitudes and behavior of their riders.
Team Builder – By fostering camaraderie and teamwork, coaches create an environment where riders feel connected, valued, and supported.
Each of these roles plays an essential part in shaping athletes both in sport and in life.

However, one of the most critical traits of a great coach is the ability to handle the unexpected. Things rarely go as planned, and managing unforeseen challenges in a calm, efficient manner—especially around horses—is, in my view, the most vital quality a coach can possess

07/09/2024

Bert Rutten tells us:
“I have to be able to bring my hand forward and he stays where he is, that’s called self-carriage.
Then when I push him, he must have the desire to follow the bit, forward, downwards, then I have contact, and contact is not determined by the weight you have in your hand, that’s a mistake a lot of riders make, they think contact is weight. Contact is that the horse has the desire to follow the bit at all times.
https://www.horsemagazine.com/thm/2024/09/bert-rutten-beautiful-riding-is-simple/

02/09/2024

Two more spots available now for young horse starting and schooling. Give me a call on 0274900775 Starlight Farm

19/08/2024

With the technical tracks we have in showjumping today, one of the biggest differences between a good rider and a great rider is good and correct foundation/flatwork (and horse power 😉)

Wise words below borrowed from Elsa Berggren 👌

4 things I learnt from working with different 160 riders around the world that I will always bring with me…

* Your hand can move forward, sideways & upwards but if you pull backwards you ride the horse backwards. (You also shut down their engine and their jump)

* Ride with one hand or hold the reins in a "bridge" is the most effective method to prevent an unsteady contact. (This is useful in all disciplines)

* If you cannot do all your proper flatwork (transitions, collection, lateral movements) in a light seat you're probably using your seat to push the horse forward instead of making sure the horse is in front of the leg. (Again true in all disciplines)

After all flatwork, which starts with ground work, and manners on the ground is how you communicate with your horse whilst jumping a track. Give it some thought.