An Earley Start

13/03/2022

We have sand!...and a few rocks to go with it but SAND yay!
It arrived just in time for my fiance to use while I'm coaching him through the starting process with his 3year old QH filly.

15/02/2022

If you are a fan of Oki and I pleaseeee go into this post and like the picture of Oki and I so we can try and win fan Favorite!
Let's see if we can beat the ones with the bigger platforms 🤞🤞🤞

!!FAN FAVOURITE VOTING OPEN!!

The judging for the 2021 Ultra-Mox Freedom to Friendship competition is now complete, with the final results being revealed on our page over the coming days.

To maximise the exposure for our sponsors and trainers, and not overwhelm everyone’s newsfeed, we have made the decision to announce one class per day, sharing the videos submissions of the top placegetters for your enjoyment.

During this virtual Prize Giving we invite you all to vote for your 2021 Fan Favourite! Simply like the photo of your favourite/s Kaimanawa and Trainer, in this album, anytime over the next few days, with the winner being the photo with the most likes/reactions.

If you've been particularly inspired by any of the combinations we'd also love you to leave a comment to give our trainers some love. They have been on a huge journey with their once-wild-stallions over the past 9-months and we are incredibly proud of them, as we know you are too.

Voting closes at 5pm on Saturday, so you have the chance to watch everyone's videos on the KHH website (https://kaimanawaheritagehorses.org/) as they are uploaded before you cast your votes. The Fan Favourite winner will be our final award presented, being announced Saturday evening.

15/02/2022

Well I guess 4th is better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick!
A little disappointed actually, I thought our pattern was smooth and reasonably faultless but I guess I'm biased 🤷‍♀️
Fingers crossed we get on better with obstacles and freestyle.
Big congrats to 1st,2nd and 3rd getters 👏👏👏

05/02/2022

Well it is finally over! The last 9 months have been full of some major ups and downs like the postponement then cancelation of Equifest but we made it through and submitted our online videos for the KHH Freedom to Friendship Stallion Challenge.
I couldn't be more proud of this little pony and how far he has come.
Entries for the challenge officially close midnight tomorrow then we find out the results on the 15th of February!
Here are our conditioning portion photos I took today, unfortunately it was a bit overcast so you don't get to see the effects of the half bottle of showsheen I showered him with 😂... and do you think I could get him to look remotely interested... these were as good as it got 🤦‍♀️
Also a quick pic from our freestyle ❤

29/10/2021

Oki has really started to take liberties with his time off.
The last 3 days he's decided there isn't enough grass on the 'right' side of the tape and has managed to escape to greener pastures with little to no regard for his 2 cell mates who are left to apparently 'starve'. An investigation is under way to prevent future security breeches.

His tummy has grown quite a bit 😬

03/10/2021

Oki has pretty much recovered from his gate incident now.
He's had 2 'flinch lock' body work treatments by Anna from 'Otamatea Contact Care' and will have another one next week.
Anna also invited us to her place today for a play and to introduce Oki to a small crowd and a little bit of controlled chaos 😂
He handled it really well and hardly even blinked at our clapping excercise.
He also got some pats and scratches from kids and mums who couldn't resist his cuteness.

I'm still hopeful for Equifest this month but after today's news it's hard to remain optimistic ... I will continue to keep everything crossed though🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

14/09/2021

Oki's first encounter with the hose yesterday... he isn't an outwardly playful horse at all so it's nice to see it come out every now and then... even if he is trying to drown himself 🤦‍♀️

13/09/2021

So today we had an Oki vs Steel gate incident. Long story short he tried to jump it and got his back leg stuck between the top 2 bars.
We managed to get the gate down and him freed up... not sure if Oki or the gate won this one!
He is banged up but luckily it seems to be a lot of minor scraps and cuts, some swelling, and I'm sure some intense bruising.

With some hosing and bute hopefully he'll be feeling better soon!

12/09/2021

What a stunner of a day! 🌞🌞🌞
I had to make the most of it, so I took Oki for a trip to the beach down our road. It was his first solo trip in the float to somewhere other than home (he's travelled around the block at least 4 times on his own but always loading and unloading at home).

Almost as soon as we arrived the neighbour magically turned up with her horse so we decided set off together.
Oki wasn't fazed by much, just a couple of sideways looks at some rocks and logs but seemed to enjoy the stroll. We finished off with a roll in the sand and a munch on some grass before we headed for home.

After lunch I put my builders belt on and went to work making a bridge/seesaw...the dogs helped 😂😂😂

I'd love some thoughts on other obstacles I should make so we can be prepared for Equifest!

10/09/2021

Yay for level 2!
Yesterday Oki and I were lucky enough to be invited over to Tori Banta's from Tori Lee Equestrian for a play in her arena. Tori is also competing in the 'freedom to friendship' stallion challege. It was a great safe place to take Oki for his 1st big trip in the float, and 1st time off the property.
We spent more time talking than anything else but we still had a play with some obstacles like a bridge and seesaw.
He even relaxed enough to have 2 nice rolls in the sand.

07/09/2021

How could you not love this face ❤❤❤

23/08/2021

Oki can add professional gate opener to his CV now.
We've been working on gates for the last week and he has really picked up on the pattern.
He isn't a big fan of the gates where there is a hot wire on the latch side though. Electric fences are always a cause for concern for him, I guess he doesn't trust that it won't jump out and bite him.

20/08/2021

Oki has been a proper little work horse lately.
Today we went to gather and sort some cows.

We've been riding about 4 days a week and working on our trailer loading and going on short trips down the drive to build his confidence.

06/08/2021

🐴🐴Oki update🐴🐴
Oki had last week and the previous off as he had a bit of a sore eye and then Tim and I were away, he had no human contact last week.
I was intersted to see how he would be once I got back, thinking he might be a bit cautious to start off with.
He wasn't at all, the time off has really done him good!
He's always been very obedient and a quick learner but still had a tendency to 'shut down' and withhold outward emotions.
This week he has really started to open up, he has been quicker to release tension and is starting to interact with me and his surroundings in a more relaxed and inquisitive manner. He now outwardly shows he's enjoying scratches with a goofy face and has started rubbing his face on me after I take the bosal off (I allow it as I always initiate it with a scratch first and it's not allowed to be rough). I even caught him trying to untie himself the other day!
I rode him 4 days this week and today he was officially on the pay roll when we helped to move some cows.

15/07/2021

Look who made it onto the cover of the new issue of Kaimanawa Heritage Horses magazine!
I haven't seen pictures of Oki from the muster so it was pretty cool to see this one of him and his little family making their way to the yards.
Also a pretty cool reminder that he was only mustered 11 weeks ago and has adapted to domestication so well!