Craig Stables

Craig Stables Craigs Stables is a purpose based facility in Tauranga, Bay of Plenty.
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We offer a number of services at our stables including; horse schooling, sales on behalf, riding lessons, livery, arena hire and Centurion Transpirator therapy.

This weeks gorgeous lot here for livery while their owners are away, one gone today and more arriving next week! We are ...
20/06/2025

This weeks gorgeous lot here for livery while their owners are away, one gone today and more arriving next week! We are fully booked until end of August ๐Ÿคฉ๐Ÿฆ„๐Ÿก

Draw is up for tomorrows training day STARTING AT 11am, gates open at 10am ๐Ÿ”“Due to the heavy rain this week, parking is ...
30/05/2025

Draw is up for tomorrows training day STARTING AT 11am, gates open at 10am ๐Ÿ”“

Due to the heavy rain this week, parking is on the gravel by the stables or on the grass by the round arena ๐Ÿš›

Please NO hay on the gravel ๐Ÿšซ
Park considerately ๐Ÿ˜€
With reduced numbers the day may run slightly earlier so please be ready to go ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿผ
Dress code is smart causal ๐Ÿ’ƒ
No dogs ๐Ÿถ

See you tomorrow for a great day of jumping!

Mark your calendarsโ€ฆtraining day next Saturday ๐Ÿคฉ Entries open via main events soonโ€ฆ
20/05/2025

Mark your calendarsโ€ฆtraining day next Saturday ๐Ÿคฉ

Entries open via main events soonโ€ฆ

20/05/2025

The Winter Shows are coming...

First up: 6 โ€“ 7 June, starting from 9am both days.

Riders โ€“ entries open this Friday!

Spectating is free, so bring your friends and family for a great day out at Takapoto Estate.

Event info has just launched โ€“ check out all the details below.

Photo by Cornege Photography

Just love these two ! Gorgeous Cruz and Indy captured beautifully by  ๐Ÿ˜ Looking forward to brining them in from their wi...
11/05/2025

Just love these two ! Gorgeous Cruz and Indy captured beautifully by ๐Ÿ˜

Looking forward to brining them in from their winter break and getting back into it ๐Ÿ‘Œ๐Ÿผ

Unicorn hunting ๐Ÿฆ„On the look out for clientsโ€ฆ1. Full size or 15.2hh max 7-16All rounder, results upto 1.10m, eventing a ...
08/05/2025

Unicorn hunting ๐Ÿฆ„

On the look out for clientsโ€ฆ

1. Full size or 15.2hh max
7-16
All rounder, results upto 1.10m, eventing a bonus
No vices, easy to do everything with
Must straight load
Healthy budget for the right horse

2. Mini Prix with potential or PGP pony
Honest and rideable
Results up to 1.20m
Great budget

3. Full size pony with jumping potential
No real vices

My gorgeous boy William winning all three of his Show Hunter classes this morning with  โญ๏ธ they are just the best team! ...
26/04/2025

My gorgeous boy William winning all three of his Show Hunter classes this morning with โญ๏ธ they are just the best team!

This boy is so special coming all the way from Scotland nearly 10 years ago as my first Showjumping pony, he is now teaching Molly the ropes and has never felt better! ๐Ÿฅฐ

23/03/2025

๐—˜๐—พ๐˜‚๐—ถ๐—ป๐—ฒ ๐—ช๐—ฒ๐—น๐—ณ๐—ฎ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ ๐—ถ๐—ป ๐—ฌ๐—ผ๐˜‚๐—ป๐—ด ๐—›๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜€๐—ฒ ๐—–๐—ผ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ฒ๐˜๐—ถ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป๐˜€:

While the allure of young horses competing in high-profile events like the Sunshine Tour is undeniable, itโ€™s crucial to acknowledge the potential harm that early competition can cause. Horses, particularly those between the ages of 5 and 8, are still developing their physical strength, coordination, and emotional maturity.

Young horses are not just mini versions of adult horses, they have different physical needs. Their bones and joints are still growing, and intense work at a young age can lead to chronic injuries, especially in disciplines that involve jumping or tight maneuvers. The repetitive nature of these movements in competition can cause stress on the body, leading to conditions such as soft tissue injuries, tendon strain, and joint issues. When these injuries arenโ€™t given proper time to heal, they can lead to long-term problems that might cut a horseโ€™s career short.

Mentally, young horses may not be equipped to deal with the stresses of competition, especially when they are exposed to the noise, crowds, and pressure to perform. For many horses, this early exposure to high-pressure situations can lead to anxiety, fear, and stress. Horses may also develop behavioral issues, such as refusals, resistance, or disinterest in working. This can create a cycle of frustration, leading to even more stress for both horse and rider.

๐—ง๐—ต๐—ฒ ๐—œ๐—บ๐—ฝ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฐ๐—ฒ ๐—ผ๐—ณ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐˜€๐˜ ๐—ฎ๐—ป๐—ฑ ๐—ฅ๐—ฒ๐—ฐ๐—ผ๐˜ƒ๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐˜†

Rest and recovery are as crucial as training in any equine sport, particularly for young horses. Swedenโ€™s regulation of a minimum two-week break between competitions for 4-year-old horses is a step in the right direction, ensuring horses have enough time to recover physically and mentally between competitions. This rest period allows young horses to rest their bodies and minds, promoting long-term health and well-being.

In addition to breaks between competitions, Sweden has also implemented measures like optional nosebands in dressage competitions, showing that welfare comes first. These regulations focus on giving horses the time they need to grow physically and mentally without the strain of continuous competition.

Rest is essential for muscle recovery, bone growth, and mental clarity. Just like human athletes, horses need time to recover from the physical exertion of training and competition. Without adequate rest, they are more likely to experience injuries and burnout, which can end a promising career prematurely. Swedenโ€™s regulations emphasize this, recognizing that time off between competitions is not only good for the horseโ€™s body but also helps maintain their enthusiasm and enjoyment of the sport.

๐ƒ๐ž๐ฏ๐ž๐ฅ๐จ๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐  ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐  ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฌ ๐š๐ญ ๐š ๐’๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐š๐ข๐ง๐š๐›๐ฅ๐ž ๐๐š๐œ๐ž

Instead of rushing young horses into high-stress competition environments, we should aim to develop them at a sustainable pace that aligns with their physical and mental maturity. This means giving them time to grow, allowing for regular breaks, and ensuring that their training is progressive and suited to their developmental stage.

Proper groundwork for young horses is essential. Instead of jumping straight into high-level competitions, young horses should be gradually introduced to the experience of shows and competitions. Training should focus on building a solid foundation, with a focus on fitness, stamina, and relaxation rather than pushing for immediate results. Time spent on groundwork, long-lining, and desensitizing can help young horses build confidence and learn to cope with new environments in a non-stressful manner.

In fact, many experienced equestrians and trainers recommend that young horses should not be asked to compete at full intensity until they are fully mature, which typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 8. By this age, the horses are better physically equipped to handle the demands of competitive equestrian sports. Horses who are given a slower, more thoughtful start often have longer, more successful careers, and are less likely to suffer from injuries or burnout.

๐€ ๐†๐ฅ๐จ๐›๐š๐ฅ ๐’๐ก๐ข๐Ÿ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐€๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ฎ๐๐ž๐ฌ ๐“๐จ๐ฐ๐š๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐  ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ž๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ

While events like the Sunshine Tour are still incredibly popular and attract top competitors, there is growing recognition of the need to rethink the way we treat young horses in competitive environments. Countries like Sweden have taken a stand for equine welfare by implementing rules that prevent overworking young horses, but the rest of the equestrian world needs to follow suit.

In recent years, there has been an increasing movement within the equestrian community to prioritize the well-being of horses. Many trainers and owners are beginning to place a higher value on longevity and health, choosing not to rush their young horses into the spotlight too early. This shift in attitude is critical for the future of the sport, as it ensures that horses can have healthy, fulfilling careers that last for many years.

๐“๐ก๐ž ๐’๐ฎ๐ง๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ž ๐“๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ: ๐€ ๐’๐ฉ๐จ๐ญ๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ญ ๐จ๐ง ๐˜๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐  ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฌ

The Sunshine Tour is a major event that takes place annually in Spain, attracting competitors from all over the world. Among the eventโ€™s many divisions are the young horse classes for horses between the ages of 5 and 8. These classes offer young horses the opportunity to showcase their talent and begin their competitive careers. However, the demands of these competitions raise concerns about whether they are too much for horses that are still developing.

โ€ข5-Year-Old Final: Held on Wednesdays during Weeks 3 and 7, featuring courses at 1.20 meters in height and a speed of 350 meters per minute.

โ€ข6-Year-Old Final: Also on Wednesdays in Weeks 3 and 7, with courses at 1.30 meters and the same speed.

โ€ข7-Year-Old Final: Scheduled for Wednesdays in Weeks 3 and 7, featuring courses at 1.40 meters and a speed of 375 meters per minute.

โ€ข8-Year-Old Final: Taking place on Thursdays in Weeks 3 and 7, with courses at 1.45 meters and the same speed.

These events are designed to evaluate the ability and potential of young horses, but they can be physically demanding. At just 5 years old, horses are still growing, and their bodies may not be fully prepared for the stresses of jumping high fences and navigating complex courses. Requiring them to do this year after year can result in injuries, burnout, and even early retirement.

๐–๐ก๐ฒ ๐–๐ž ๐๐ž๐ž๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐‘๐ž๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐„๐š๐ซ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐‚๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ž๐ญ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง

The debate over young horses competing at a high level is ongoing, but itโ€™s clear that the welfare of these horses should always be a top priority. While competitions like the Sunshine Tour offer great exposure and experience, we must remember that young horses are still in their formative years. They may be talented, but their bodies and minds are not fully mature, and pushing them too hard can cause irreversible damage.

๐‹๐ž๐ญโ€™๐ฌ ๐’๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ƒ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ ๐“๐ก๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐€๐›๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐‡๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ž๐ฌ

The competitive world of young horse classes, like those at the Sunshine Tour, will always attract attention and enthusiasm. But as a community, we must remember that young horses need time to develop and mature at their own pace. Pushing them too hard too soon can result in injury, burnout, and lost potential.

Swedenโ€™s regulations serve as an excellent example of how we can balance the excitement of competition with the reality of equine development. By allowing young horses adequate rest and time to grow, we give them the best chance to succeed in the long run. We should take these lessons to heart, ensuring that our competitive practices prioritize the health, happiness, and future of the horses involved.

As the equestrian community continues to evolve, letโ€™s focus on sustainability, not just for the horses but for the sport itself. By slowing down and giving young horses the time they need

Below sunshine tour, 6 year old class, 1.15m

April training day, mark those calendars ๐Ÿ“… These days are much anticipated all your round in a very professional but fri...
22/03/2025

April training day, mark those calendars ๐Ÿ“…

These days are much anticipated all your round in a very professional but friendly environment !

Want to win a free entry to our training day for yourself and a friend? (One horse each)

All you have to do isโ€ฆ

1๏ธโƒฃTag a friend who you want to bring along
2๏ธโƒฃLike/follow Craig Stables on instagram and Facebook

Some lovely pictures of Indy  dressed in her gorgeous Dada set from  ๐Ÿฆ„I feel very lucky to have a partnership with such ...
17/03/2025

Some lovely pictures of Indy dressed in her gorgeous Dada set from ๐Ÿฆ„

I feel very lucky to have a partnership with such a special mare who makes me smile every time I sit on her. She really is one for the future and Iโ€™m so excited to train over winter and tick off some more goals as she steps into her 9 year old season ๐Ÿ˜‡

Take a look at our services and get in touch for more information ๐Ÿฆ„
28/02/2025

Take a look at our services and get in touch for more information ๐Ÿฆ„

Gorgeous picture of Cruz on the weekend snapped by  ๐Ÿคฉ The horses jumped super at the Eastern Bay Showjumping and Show Hu...
05/02/2025

Gorgeous picture of Cruz on the weekend snapped by ๐Ÿคฉ

The horses jumped super at the Eastern Bay Showjumping and Show Hunter. Cruz placed 1st in the Open 1.20m and Indy 2nd in the Horse Mini Prix. Just love my team mates๐Ÿฆ„

Address

Pyes Pa
Tauranga
3173

Telephone

+64275776842

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