Altair Kaimanawa Horses

Never underestimate the power of an obstacle. ❤️

I think sometimes people look at the work I do with horses and think… does she do anything other than obstacles? 😂

But there’s a reason I use them so much.

For me, an obstacle isn’t really about the obstacle at all.

It’s about teaching a horse to think instead of react.

To stop, assess something, work out where their feet are, try again when they’re unsure, and discover that they’re actually capable of figuring things out.

That builds confidence.
It builds body awareness.
It builds resilience, courage and curiosity.

And perhaps most importantly, it teaches a horse that when something feels difficult or unfamiliar, they don’t necessarily have to escape from it.

They can think their way through it.

Maggie is a 12 year old Gypsy Cob × Welsh who has come to me for some retraining and to fill in a few gaps in her foundation. She’s a lovely example of why this work isn’t just for wild horses or young horses.

As we’ve introduced different obstacles and questions, I’ve watched her becoming progressively braver and more willing to have a go.

And that matters enormously to me, particularly with horses we eventually intend to ride.

Because one day the “obstacle” won’t be a pole, a bridge, a tarp or something strange in the arena.

It might be something unexpected out on a ride.

The obstacle itself doesn’t really matter.

The thinking horse we’re creating because of it does. ❤️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dc44qDUThZ-/?igsi=NjY0OThseWJvMDJ2

Never underestimate the power of an obstacle. ❤️ I think sometimes people look at the work I do with horses and think… does she do anything other than obstacles? 😂 But there’s a reason I use them so much. For me, an obstacle isn’t really about the obstacle at all. It’s about teaching a horse to think instead of react. To stop, assess something, work out where their feet are, try again when they’re unsure, and discover that they’re actually capable of figuring things out. That builds confidence. It builds body awareness. It builds resilience, courage and curiosity. And perhaps most importantly, it teaches a horse that when something feels difficult or unfamiliar, they don’t necessarily have to escape from it. They can think their way through it. Maggie is a 12 year old Gypsy Cob × Welsh who has come to me for some retraining and to fill in a few gaps in her foundation. She’s a lovely example of why this work isn’t just for wild horses or young horses. As we’ve introduced different obstacles and questions, I’ve watched her becoming progressively braver and more willing to have a go. And that matters enormously to me, particularly with horses we eventually intend to ride. Because one day the “obstacle” won’t be a pole, a bridge, a tarp or something strange in the arena. It might be something unexpected out on a ride. The obstacle itself doesn’t really matter. The thinking horse we’re creating because of it does. ❤️ #kaimanawalegacyfoundation #wildhorsesofnewzealand #lovehorses #nzhorses #nzequestrian

GRAZING AVAILABLE – ARDMORE!

We currently have grazing available at our Ardmore property!

If you’re looking for a super chilled, friendly and fun environment where you and your horse can enjoy great facilities and a relaxed atmosphere, we’d love to hear from you.

Facilities include:
• 20m x 60m dressage arena
• 50m x 80m all-weather jumping arena
• Large Round pen
• Warm-water wash bays
• Undercover tie-ups and yards
• Riding track
• Plenty of space to enjoy your horse

We also regularly hold clinics with amazing, experienced trainers, giving you the opportunity to learn and develop without having to travel far.

Upcoming Clinics:
• Amanda Wilson – 2-Day Horsemanship
• Ellie Harrison – 2-Day Bridleless
• Tyson Miller – 2-Day Horsemanship
• Tyson Miller – 1-Day One-on-One

Grazing options:

$80 per week – Full facility use

$60 per week – General grazing + use of tie-ups

Have more than one horse? We’re happy to discuss a multiple-horse discount.

Whether you’re looking for somewhere relaxed to keep your horse, somewhere to get some training done, or simply want access to great facilities and a like-minded horsey community, come and check us out!

Please message for more details.

Well done to these two ex wild ponies and their young riders!

Introducing Legacy & Promise (Northland Wild Horses)

There are some horses who arrive in your life and you know almost immediately that they are going to matter.

These two took a little longer to find their names.

Legacy and her filly came to me through Wild Horse Project after Chloe collected a group of them shortly before the April 2025 Kaimanawa muster. Chloe collected them in far from ideal condition, and when I first saw a photo of the mare, something about her stayed with me.

I knew I needed to go and meet her.

I spent two days with her, getting to know this beautiful mare and trying to understand the horse behind the eyes. A couple of months later, I made the drive north to collect her and, in the end, her little filly came too. She was simply too young to leave her mother, so there was never really a question of taking one without the other.

And somehow, that was the beginning of their story with me.

They have now been here for over a year.

I've had names for them sitting quietly in the background for much of that time. Names I liked, names that sounded pretty, names that seemed like they should fit.

But somehow, none of them ever quite did.

Until now.

**Legacy.**

For the mare who carries with her a history that began before she came to me. A history of being wild, of survival, of motherhood, and of a life that we can only know a small part of. She is a reminder of something precious that existed before us, and something worth remembering.

And her daughter…

**Promise.**

Because she is everything that comes next.

The continuation of her mother's story. A little piece of that wild history carried forward into a different life. A reminder that what we protect today can become something for tomorrow.

For much of the time I've had them, they have quietly sat in the background while my attention has been pulled elsewhere ... particularly with **17 wild Kaimanawa horses arriving since I brought these two home**. There have been foals to tame, horses to help, and all the beautiful chaos that comes with taking on that responsibility.

And while Legacy and Promise have never been forgotten, they haven't always had the time and attention I would have loved to give them.

That is about to change.

I can't wait to finally give these two the time they deserve. To get to know them properly, to see who they become, and to discover everything that has been quietly waiting underneath those wild beginnings.

They have been waiting patiently.

And perhaps, in some way, so have their names.

**Legacy & Promise.**

One carries what came before.
The other carries what comes next.

It feels like they've been waiting for these names all along. 🤍

Feeling pretty proud to be part of the Kaimanawa Legacy Foundation team organsing this event. ❤️

There are always a few very proud tears shed every year… proud of these incredible horses, but especially proud watching the dedicated trainers who have achieved so much in such a short space of time with a once wild horse.

It’s such a beautiful way to showcase just how intelligent, trainable and incredibly special our Kaimanawa horses are.

But for me, one of the most meaningful parts is hearing about the journeys these horses and their trainers have shared over the past six months… the highs, the lows, the breakthroughs, the challenges, and all those little moments in between that nobody else gets to see.

Because these aren’t just horses.

They are teachers.

And I truly believe a wild horse can teach you things about patience, trust, humility and yourself that no domestic horse ever could.

Very proud to be a small part of celebrating them. ❤️🐴

Huge well done to everyone involved! Especially those people who donated and put themselves forward to give these ponies a forever home!