Dublin Gold

12/01/2023

11/01/2023

22/07/2022

Take the Halters OFF.

This has been said before, but it is so important that it needs being said again.

In regards to your horses, one of the most dangerous ( and deadly ) things that can happen is leaving the halter on your horse. This is because it is easy for the halter to get caught on something like a tree branch, T-Post, gate latch, getting a back foot caught in it, etc . When it does, the horse will panic and could very easily break it's neck trying to get loose. I understand that many of you will say that your horse has worn it's halter for years and never gotten hurt. You have been luck "so far". There are many horses that wore their halter for years until the time that they got it caught on something and broke their neck.

I also understand that many of you will say that you can't catch your horse without it wearing the halter. "Yes" you can. If you can get close enough to catch the halter you are close enough to catch the horse without it. Also, for those that say that you board and that it is a rule that every horse wears a halter, then I would be moving your horse. You should care as much about your horse's safety as you do your children's safety. It is depending on you to take care of it. So Take the Halters off

Last, NO using a "breakaway" halter isn't an excuse. They don't always break , so the horse still breaks it's neck, or if it does break, it teaches the horse that if it pulls back that it can break any halter.

You need to remember that your horse is depending on you to do your best to keep it safe, the same as you do for your children. Therefore, their is NO excuse to leave the halter on so, don't try to make one.

01/06/2022

Video by Pink Geramium - Louise Collier

25/04/2022

You are personally responsible for becoming more ethical than the society that you grew up in.

Let that sink in for a moment.

YOU, alone, are responsible for becoming more ethical than the very environment you grew up in, in all areas of your life.
Kindness breeds kindness, ethical actions and treatment of our horses breeds the same as well.

That means taking the time to learn more about the sport you love, and the various facets of equine care that mean the difference between a happy, comfortable life or one of pain, learned helplessness and misery.

We live in an age where the information of the world is at your fingertips, and while nonsensical BS floats around in the mix, critical thinking is really all you need to help w**d through the misinformation. Ask the RIGHT questions of anything you read.

Who does this benefit - financially or otherwise?
Does this make logical sense?
Who funded the research?

Also asking yourself not what you can do to immediately "fix" a behavior, but why that behavior is present to begin with.
Why does your horse shy away?
Why does he "like" or "dislike" a certain direction?
Why does the horse NEED a flash?
Why does the horse NEED to be ridden in spurs?
Why do you need to lunge your horse for 20 min before you get on?
Why do you feel you need to "teach the horse who is boss"?

Once you start taking an active role in the wellbeing of your horse, and really being present you will start to have actual 2-way communication and a true partnership.

Ethical doesn't mean having the reins hang loose and never nudging your horse forward, it means LISTENING.

Listen.
Understand.
Communicate.

That is ethical riding, training, saddle fitting, and more.

15/04/2022

Typical!!!

11/04/2022

Reliability Trials at Cape Hunt Club happened on the 10 April this year.

It was hot, but cooler than last year!

Team Hunters Grimm consisted of - Shaun on Chester and Mariska on Coco. My knee was not well enough to join this year 😞 But I had lots of fun making the costumes.

The horses were fabulously brave sporting clanking plastic chains, flapping fabric, cardboard dummy face plates and their riders encased in black fabric!

Riders had to figure out how to mount and dismount whilst holding meters of black fabric under armpits.

And then the scythe (the grim reapers tool of the trade) - holding reins and scythe - without wacking the horses rump….. hats off to the brave riders and horses!!

My poor Syrah was the horse dummy for every bit of sizing and design!!!

What I know is that my sewing skills suck! But grim reapers need tatty, not pristine needlework!

Loved the spray job of the chains - looked so cool!! Had fun with the face plates too.

Ladies and gentlemen….. Hunters Grimm won best dresses!! They looked fabulous!!! Super proud!!

17/01/2022

12/01/2022

Dublin tried hound exercise today! Phew….he was stressed. He is an anxious boy without adding wolves, lions, sabre tooth tortoises.

We have to figure out how to reduce his anxiousness. All in progress. Baby steps (or rather fast paced electric marchy steps).

11/01/2022

Syrah’s first solo ride
He did very well.

10/01/2022

Lekker beach ride with Mishje! Thanks for the great time.

Perfect weather.

Ouskip beach - Melkbosstrand

10/01/2022

Hound exercise

29/09/2021

So all the amazing Sundays came to an end - What a season - thanks to everyone for your support !

21/09/2021

Solms Delta video footage. Enjoy. Cape Hunt Club

17/09/2021

Each leg is around 6-7minutes. Cape Hunt Club

12/09/2021

Last Sunday Hunt report :) Cape Hunt Club

10/09/2021

Wednesday Hound Exercise

Whoop whoop!! Kaleidascope’s Syrah went in his first hound exercise. He was fabulous! He did get a huge fright when the hounds exploded out of the kennels! But a few snorts, then all was forgiven.

He still trips a little - but he really did very well. Super proud of my Syrah.

10/09/2021

Hunt memoirs from Allée Bleue Wine Estate - apologies for late entry. My day job kept me busy 🤪 Cape Hunt Club

17/08/2021

Hunt blog from Sunday. Come and join the hunt!

06/08/2021

Friday Hound Exercise