Pleasant View Equestrian

Puddles’n’Mud … now you see it, now you don’t thanks to DM Bobcats Ltd 😊

🐴 Riding Lessons 🐴

Join Nicky Hallen for a lesson either on one of our wonderful school horses or bring your own horse. Whether you're a complete beginner taking your first ride or an experienced rider looking to refine your skills, Nicky has the experience and qualifications to help you achieve your riding goals.

🐴 British Horse Society Qualified Instructor
🐴 Level B NZ Dressage Judge
🐴 Many years of experience teaching riders of all levels
🐴 Well-schooled horses to suit your individual needs
🐴 Covered arena with mirrors for year-round riding
🐴 Relaxed, unhurried lessons with plenty of time to meet and get to know your horse before your ride, and to untack and spend time with them afterwards if you wish (🥕 or 🍎 are always a favourite).

Whether your goal is to gain confidence, improve your skills, or simply enjoy time in the saddle, we'd love to welcome you to Pleasant View.

Bookings can be made online https://app.greminders.com/c/pleasantview/lessons

This pony has to be hands down the cleverest pony we have. An all round chunky monkey, Arthur was popped into the chook run to eat the grass down but no, what does he do ? Works out how to get the lid off the feed bin. Busted 🤣

🦠Strangles Update🦠

As there are still no cases of Strangles in sport horses the advice from our vets is that it’s almost as safe as usual so the closed signs will be coming down from the yards and washbay. If you want to Hitch a Ride with a friends horse you can do that too from this weekend on.

Good biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility so please, before using our facilities, we ask that you continue to monitor your horses. If in doubt, STAY HOME.

If we see any horses with purulent nasal discharge we reserve the right to ask you to leave so please don’t be offended.

Don’t share gear: buckets, feed bins, grooming kit, tack and halters all carry it.

A reminder of what to watch for
1. A high temperature is usually the first sign — often before anything else — so take your horse's temperature regularly after travel, events, or contact with new horses.
2. lethargy
3. going off feed
4. thick yellow nasal discharge
5. a cough
6. swollen lymph nodes under the jaw that may abscess and burst.

Simple rule: fever and a snotty nose after travel or mixing with unfamiliar horses? Treat it as strangles until your vet says otherwise.

SOLD

Tommy is a 15’3HH 15yr old Clyde/TB cross gelding who is up to date with dental, trims and worming.

He would be the ultimate allrounder for a confident teen or adult returning to riding. He is a real character, first to greet you at the gate and is happy to be bought in and ridden after weeks off. Tommy does have a big, bold personality to match his size so needs someone who won’t be pushed around. He sometimes needs to be reminded of his manners but nothing a firm hand can’t handle.

Tommy has a lovely snaffle mouth and big floaty movements that feel like riding an armchair. He schools Level 1 dressage beautifully with potential for more in the right hands. If there is one thing he loves to do being a former 2* eventer, it's jumping schooling 95cm confidently in SJ and cross country. He is as bold as brass and very sure footed. He could do with a stronger bit for jumping because he gets strong. He is not suitable for heavy schooling or jumping due to an old stifle injury. He has been known to jump full tape fences if they’re not hot and the grass is greener on the other side! Whilst at Pleasant View he has shown no lameness or aftereffects of this injury. Tommy took part in the King Country overnight trek where he behaved amazingly, quickly settling in with over 100 horses after an initial period of jig-jogging.

All our horses are barefoot, so Tommy is not shod and has lovely strong hooves. He is ridden in Size 9 Scoot Boots. Tommy is good to paddock in a group or alone, travels well, very easy keeper, no kick, bolt or rear, and is a very sweet boy once he knows his place. Tommy also hates being drenched with a passion so has it in his feed. He is also terrified of clippers so needs to be sedated if this is something you wanted to do. Tommy also has an opinion about the sprinklers on the farm, and he thinks they are out to get him. Tommy has a small lump on his offside shoulder. This has been examined by our vet and doesn't appear to be causing him discomfort.

Before coming to us Tommy was a therapy horse at Hope Rising Farm where he was much loved but after a while he made it quite clear he was over just being brushed and needed to have a job to do. Just like the Molenberg ad on TV, Tommy has made it quite clear to us that he wants a life with more variety. His Cylde stubbornness comes to the fore when being ridden as part of the Hitch a Ride team. He is easily pushed through it with a firm leg and hacks out on the buckle once he’s got through the initial stubborn phase.

We could see Tommy excelling as a confident teen’s first hack, a horse to enjoy trekking on, or a general allrounder for someone to get out and have some fun on. If you can offer him a life filled with variety, Tommy would love you to get in contact.

$8K

As you may be aware a Strangles outbreak has been reported in the Waikato. It is confined to racing stables with no cases confirmed in the sport horse or recreational equine community but given the cross over it’s not an unlikely situation.

So, what is Strangles?

Strangles is a highly contagious disease of equids including horses, donkeys and ponies. It is the most prevalent infectious respiratory disease in horses worldwide. It is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus equi. It is called "strangles" because of the strangled breathing sounds the very ill horse may make as a result of profuse nasal discharge and the swellings that form in the head and neck region. Keep an eye out for fever, nasal discharge, swollen lymph nodes and loss of appetite, and contact your vet if you have any concerns.

A horse is considered to have a fever when its temperature exceeds 38.6 °C Temperatures of 39.2 °C or higher, or readings that continue to rise, are red flags and should prompt same-day veterinary consultation. The most accurate method is re**al measurement using a digital or mercury thermometer. Lubricate the thermometer with petroleum jelly, gently insert it into the re**um while standing beside the horse’s hind end, and hold it in place until the reading is complete. Digital thermometers often beep when ready, while mercury thermometers require 2–3 minutes. It is recommended to take multiple readings, especially if the horse has been exercising or is stressed, to establish a reliable baseline.

Most animals fully recover from strangles in two to four weeks. Although enduring immunity against re-infection is variable, in some equids it can last for years. However, not all horses develop a protective immunity upon recovery. Some horses, although they appear healthy, shed the bacteria in nasal secretions for a prolonged period and can infect nearby horses. Vaccination is available and may help reduce the severity of disease (with the caveat that prior to vaccination horses are tested because it can be deadly if administered to a horse with an active Strangles infection).

Because Strangles is already in New Zealand it is called an ENDEMIC disease. Currently there is no formal control programme for the disease but almost all of the formal equestrian sporting bodies have rules preventing strangles infected animals from attending events. Horse owners are being encouraged to stay vigilant, particularly if horses are travelling to events, competitions or mixing with other horses.

The New Zealand Equine Research Foundation and Rodmor Charitable Trust have sponsored an informative video on strangles presented by equine veterinarian Dr Paul Fraser.

Because Strangles is a highly contagious bacterial disease that can spread quickly through direct contact, shared equipment and contaminated water sources we will be closing access to all the yards and wash bays to protect our team of horses. We ask that visiting riders check the temperature of your horse(s) before coming to ride. If your horse has any nasal discharge PLEASE stay home. Until the outbreak is under control, we will not be allowing our horses to ride out with visiting horses.

Points to note:
* Streptococcus equi can survive in water for 4-6 weeks.
* Streptococcus equi can survive on fencing and in soil for 1-3 days.
* Physical distancing between infected/uninfected horses should be no less than 5 metres.
* It may be 4 weeks until this outbreak is under control.
* Vets will be providing ongoing advice around when we can relax precautionary measures.

Another thing to consider is although cases of Streptococcus. equi causing disease in humans are rare, is that when reported, they typically involve individuals who are severely immunocompromised like Daniel. I think we can all agree he has been through enough without getting an infection he cannot fight.

So, let's work together to strangle Strangles. Happy healthy horses everyone 🙂

Learn about Strangles. (New Zealand Equine Research Foundation)) This video is produced for educational purposes by the New Zealand ...

You’ve barked your last bark,
a deep husky croak,
a trusty sheep dog
who loved water troughs

You’ve run many miles
up hill and down dale
or hitching a ride
on the ATV tray

A farmers companion
until age slowed you down
your hearing grew muffled
and your bright eyes grew dim

So lay your head down Chas
In fields of rich green
The Shepherd has called you
To him you will run.

RIP 14.7.2013-24.6.2026

We have a couple of new big and beautiful horses to introduce who will be joining the Hitch a Ride team when they have completed saddle fits, dentals, vet checks and passed the peacock and turkey familiarisation test.

The first is Troy who is tall, dark and handsome. He is about 11 years old and 17hh. He has competed at Grand Prix Showjumping and his owners Daniel and Chrissy Webb bred him, his dam, and grand-dam.

Although Troy is no longer able to jump, he was too good a horse to have hanging around in Hunterville getting bored. When he was offered to us as a long term lease I thought how lucky are we !!

The second horse (and possibly Arthur’s slightly taller cousin) is Darci.

Darci is a 6 year old 16.2hh Warmblood Gelding from excellent bloodlines and a goofy personality to match. He’s been hacked, attended lessons, and lightly competed at riding and pony club days in Wellington. Darci is sensible and enjoyable to ride out in open spaces, happy cantering through paddocks with elastic paces and a soft contact. He eats anything but his favourite food is bananas 🤣

After a mammoth 290 days away in Starship we are finally home.

To celebrate we’re putting on a BBQ. All money raised from farm rides will be donated to Ronald McDonald House and Starship Hospital.

I’m incredibly grateful to Ronald McDonald House for the accommodation provided, 145 loads of laundry, and their Family Room in Starship for countless coffees 🤣☕️🥪🍽️ The medical team caring for Daniel are a dedicated bunch working extremely hard, juggling training and exams on top of long shifts while the nurses on 24A have been simply the best 🥰

Book your ride here https://app.greminders.com/c/pleasantview/farmrides