Dear New Rider of Cosy Dell Arabians
15 februari 2016 - Gore, Nieuw-Zeeland
Translated blog; I apologize for the grammar/spelling errors:)
Dear new rider,
Welcome to paradise! You arrived at horse heaven on earth. As the chosen one you are now allowed to ride amazing horses. As being one of the other chosen ones i'd like to give you a manual coming from my experience at this place.
The first day you can relax! No worries, we all did this so its a obligation to do so. Arriving at Trevors cosy dell means that he wants you to quickly feel relaxed and at home. So yeah, relax!
Make sure you'll pay attention during tea time. As soon as someone places their thumb on their forehead: do the same! The last one? He or most likley she makes the dessert. Which is always a lovely icecream.
Make sure you realise your going to gain some weight.. We all did that.
If you're going to ride Coruba, you've won the winning ticket from the lottery. It is the best horse from the stable! Okay.. Maybe they are all great, but to me he is really special. He means a lot to me and I am sure you will quickly find out how amazing this beautifull horse is.
Coruba is named after a Rum brand. I know, maybe nog that suitable. But in the past season he was called Crazy Bay. So I guess Coruba is still better! With Sambucka and Smirnoff, I guess it still fits!
In October it is Labour weekend. If your there, you will join Trevor and his family/friends to Manapouri/Shallow Bay to drink some rum! Some jetboating, waterskiing, campfire,fishing or hiking too. But aspecially the Rum makes the weekend. You'll get lots, saying no is not an option. So prepare yourself for Rum, even before you had breakfast. Lots of Rum, but lots of fun:-) so after this weekend we named Coruba, Coruba. And if you'll call him Coru, it is almost like Koru. One of the national (silver fern) symbols of NZ.
Coruba started to have a rider on his back in November 2015. His first 2 rides where with Ingrid. After that i have been the lucky one riding him untill now. He learned so quick! As a train, like we say in Dutch. A few problems with the saddle and the bit, but this was an easy fix. Besides that he was just: perfect!
If you are riding him, be calm and relaxed. He worries (a little like me..) a lot. He stresses quick, so be calm. Catching him in the paddock now is easy. He'll take a few steps towards you and after he'll wait patience untill you come, give him a pet and put on the halter. Leading is easy, he is really gentle. He wont escape in the yard like Hama or Arrow. He likes being brushed (just not his manes a lot..). Picking the feet is easy, just ask him on his upper leg with the touch of your hand or pull soft on his foot. He might wait but just to make sure hes balanced. Without pressure he'll deff give them to you. And he'll give them like a gentleman!
Be gentle with the saddle, i always give him the oppertunity to sniff or just look before i put it on. Okay... Maybe a little tooo much, but yeah thats me! He is my best buddy who i respect a huge amount. I really love that horse! So im a little too gentle sometimes.
Ask Trevor about the bit, he has a different way of putting in the bit as the others. This way youll be able to put in the bit without touching his teeth.
Now you are reading to ride! When you start: you'll know that he is the best! A little "tuttut" sound and he'll walk. Click with your tongue and he'll trot. Steering goes almost entirely with your body instead of the rains. If you want to go back from a canter to a trot you will just need a tiny little bit of pressure and he will go back to trot for you. He is really soft in pressure, so nice!
Will you please pet him a lot? He is used to it now!
He can shy sometimes (which arrab doesnt;)) but he wont do crazy stuff. Maybe a quick sideways jump or a small canter; keeps it interesting! He doesnt do it too much. He likes riding and when he's upfront he watches everything. When he is hesitating, just comfort him and he'll continue walking. He can ride with almost every other horse, and he's quite fast. If not just ask him for a walk race: he knows what to do.
If you canter he will ask you if it is okay to go a little faster. A little bit of pressure with your legs is enough to awnser his question.
O and he doesnt like water too much, but with a cute jump you will still get across.
After riding: when you clip off the bit pet him with your finger behind the clip. Then he knows youll take out the bit and he'll open his mouth for you. This way, you wont touch his theeth too! Before you put he halter back on: let him Yawn! He almost always does that about 2 or 3 times. Really cute!
He sweats real quick on the left side of his neck. When it's warm or when he is worried. If he is really concernd about something he likes to stop and have a look at it. Give him a few seconds, give him a pet and ask him to continue. He will deff go and walk past it! When he trusts you, i am sure he will go through fire for you! (dutch saying).
His nickname is Piggy Coruba: he snorts a lot when he is worried or curious of something.
The beach: his very first beachride he did an 40 km ride in 2 hours and 25 min. He is Amazing on the beach! Still easy and soft, but very happy and fast! So relax and enjoy the ride!
Enough about Coru. He's just amazing so i can go on and on for hours.. If your riding Jay: enjoy! He is fun:) he's fast and can turn really fast too.. Smart horse with lots of humor. And really friendly. 48km per hour on the beach and i still felt like he could go faster. So cool! Shorter story compared to Coruba, but youll find out quick enough how cool JayJay is!
At Trevors you can always be yourself. Just mind that plans chance quick! Dont stick to a plan, it can always chance. Which i became to appriciate so much, the flexibility is addictive. First you think that your coming to the beach for photos, next thing you'll be on your young pony riding at the beach. You'll see lots of new faces come and go, everyday is different. Feel free to mention your ideas, whishes or plans cause there is almost always a way to make it happen!
Is there a empty bed in the workshop? Go for it!! Sounds crazy, first night is strange but you are going to love that place as a bedroom! Walking towards it and see the stars... Yeah, thats beautifull.
Ive got so much more to say about this amazing and flippin fantastic place! It feels like home.. The stars are gorgeous, clear skies at night is worth staying up late for. Every pony has their own personality, they all are respected for who they are. So i could tell you so much more about the ponies. But im sure Trevor will tell you lots about them! You'll have the oppertunity to learn so much about horses. Trevor is a great teacher and a great horseman.
Make sure youll ride Picksy once! He is everyones favorite and the famous lotr horse.
Dont forget about the cats too! Scooter the cuddely clumpsy one. And tiger... The cool cat (can be really cuddely) who likes feet... And clothes.. Pack your stuff every day. I already lost my jacket and bra for a few days. Lucky someone found them in the paddocks. I dont even want to know how many socks i lost thanks to this awesome and clothesfetish cat.
Anyways, as you can read: this place is special. New Zealand is awesome but if you arrive here you dont want to leave anymore. Lots of the girls wanted to stay for 2 weeks or a month and ended up staying for much longer. Just like me..
9 weeks, 25 march untill 1st of june 2015. 17 september 2015 untill 8th of march 2016. And i still feel like i am not finished here. I reached my goal; beachride on Coru. But I want more.. Its so addictive and amazing. It doesnt feel like i am done yet.
So please, love every day and enjoy all the minutes you'll spend here. Even when the weather is shit, everyday is flippin fantastic.
Homesick to Cosy Dell, even when i am still here.
Appriciate your new home, cause its a special place. Youll only understeand once youve been here.
Enjoy
I'll miss all of you at Cosy Dell.
Thanks for making my dreams come true. And giving me some much more than my dreams.
Love Lieke
Dear new rider,
Welcome to paradise! You arrived at horse heaven on earth. As the chosen one you are now allowed to ride amazing horses. As being one of the other chosen ones i'd like to give you a manual coming from my experience at this place.
The first day you can relax! No worries, we all did this so its a obligation to do so. Arriving at Trevors cosy dell means that he wants you to quickly feel relaxed and at home. So yeah, relax!
Make sure you'll pay attention during tea time. As soon as someone places their thumb on their forehead: do the same! The last one? He or most likley she makes the dessert. Which is always a lovely icecream.
Make sure you realise your going to gain some weight.. We all did that.
If you're going to ride Coruba, you've won the winning ticket from the lottery. It is the best horse from the stable! Okay.. Maybe they are all great, but to me he is really special. He means a lot to me and I am sure you will quickly find out how amazing this beautifull horse is.
Coruba is named after a Rum brand. I know, maybe nog that suitable. But in the past season he was called Crazy Bay. So I guess Coruba is still better! With Sambucka and Smirnoff, I guess it still fits!
In October it is Labour weekend. If your there, you will join Trevor and his family/friends to Manapouri/Shallow Bay to drink some rum! Some jetboating, waterskiing, campfire,fishing or hiking too. But aspecially the Rum makes the weekend. You'll get lots, saying no is not an option. So prepare yourself for Rum, even before you had breakfast. Lots of Rum, but lots of fun:-) so after this weekend we named Coruba, Coruba. And if you'll call him Coru, it is almost like Koru. One of the national (silver fern) symbols of NZ.
Coruba started to have a rider on his back in November 2015. His first 2 rides where with Ingrid. After that i have been the lucky one riding him untill now. He learned so quick! As a train, like we say in Dutch. A few problems with the saddle and the bit, but this was an easy fix. Besides that he was just: perfect!
If you are riding him, be calm and relaxed. He worries (a little like me..) a lot. He stresses quick, so be calm. Catching him in the paddock now is easy. He'll take a few steps towards you and after he'll wait patience untill you come, give him a pet and put on the halter. Leading is easy, he is really gentle. He wont escape in the yard like Hama or Arrow. He likes being brushed (just not his manes a lot..). Picking the feet is easy, just ask him on his upper leg with the touch of your hand or pull soft on his foot. He might wait but just to make sure hes balanced. Without pressure he'll deff give them to you. And he'll give them like a gentleman!
Be gentle with the saddle, i always give him the oppertunity to sniff or just look before i put it on. Okay... Maybe a little tooo much, but yeah thats me! He is my best buddy who i respect a huge amount. I really love that horse! So im a little too gentle sometimes.
Ask Trevor about the bit, he has a different way of putting in the bit as the others. This way youll be able to put in the bit without touching his teeth.
Now you are reading to ride! When you start: you'll know that he is the best! A little "tuttut" sound and he'll walk. Click with your tongue and he'll trot. Steering goes almost entirely with your body instead of the rains. If you want to go back from a canter to a trot you will just need a tiny little bit of pressure and he will go back to trot for you. He is really soft in pressure, so nice!
Will you please pet him a lot? He is used to it now!
He can shy sometimes (which arrab doesnt;)) but he wont do crazy stuff. Maybe a quick sideways jump or a small canter; keeps it interesting! He doesnt do it too much. He likes riding and when he's upfront he watches everything. When he is hesitating, just comfort him and he'll continue walking. He can ride with almost every other horse, and he's quite fast. If not just ask him for a walk race: he knows what to do.
If you canter he will ask you if it is okay to go a little faster. A little bit of pressure with your legs is enough to awnser his question.
O and he doesnt like water too much, but with a cute jump you will still get across.
After riding: when you clip off the bit pet him with your finger behind the clip. Then he knows youll take out the bit and he'll open his mouth for you. This way, you wont touch his theeth too! Before you put he halter back on: let him Yawn! He almost always does that about 2 or 3 times. Really cute!
He sweats real quick on the left side of his neck. When it's warm or when he is worried. If he is really concernd about something he likes to stop and have a look at it. Give him a few seconds, give him a pet and ask him to continue. He will deff go and walk past it! When he trusts you, i am sure he will go through fire for you! (dutch saying).
His nickname is Piggy Coruba: he snorts a lot when he is worried or curious of something.
The beach: his very first beachride he did an 40 km ride in 2 hours and 25 min. He is Amazing on the beach! Still easy and soft, but very happy and fast! So relax and enjoy the ride!
Enough about Coru. He's just amazing so i can go on and on for hours.. If your riding Jay: enjoy! He is fun:) he's fast and can turn really fast too.. Smart horse with lots of humor. And really friendly. 48km per hour on the beach and i still felt like he could go faster. So cool! Shorter story compared to Coruba, but youll find out quick enough how cool JayJay is!
At Trevors you can always be yourself. Just mind that plans chance quick! Dont stick to a plan, it can always chance. Which i became to appriciate so much, the flexibility is addictive. First you think that your coming to the beach for photos, next thing you'll be on your young pony riding at the beach. You'll see lots of new faces come and go, everyday is different. Feel free to mention your ideas, whishes or plans cause there is almost always a way to make it happen!
Is there a empty bed in the workshop? Go for it!! Sounds crazy, first night is strange but you are going to love that place as a bedroom! Walking towards it and see the stars... Yeah, thats beautifull.
Ive got so much more to say about this amazing and flippin fantastic place! It feels like home.. The stars are gorgeous, clear skies at night is worth staying up late for. Every pony has their own personality, they all are respected for who they are. So i could tell you so much more about the ponies. But im sure Trevor will tell you lots about them! You'll have the oppertunity to learn so much about horses. Trevor is a great teacher and a great horseman.
Make sure youll ride Picksy once! He is everyones favorite and the famous lotr horse.
Dont forget about the cats too! Scooter the cuddely clumpsy one. And tiger... The cool cat (can be really cuddely) who likes feet... And clothes.. Pack your stuff every day. I already lost my jacket and bra for a few days. Lucky someone found them in the paddocks. I dont even want to know how many socks i lost thanks to this awesome and clothesfetish cat.
Anyways, as you can read: this place is special. New Zealand is awesome but if you arrive here you dont want to leave anymore. Lots of the girls wanted to stay for 2 weeks or a month and ended up staying for much longer. Just like me..
9 weeks, 25 march untill 1st of june 2015. 17 september 2015 untill 8th of march 2016. And i still feel like i am not finished here. I reached my goal; beachride on Coru. But I want more.. Its so addictive and amazing. It doesnt feel like i am done yet.
So please, love every day and enjoy all the minutes you'll spend here. Even when the weather is shit, everyday is flippin fantastic.
Homesick to Cosy Dell, even when i am still here.
Appriciate your new home, cause its a special place. Youll only understeand once youve been here.
Enjoy
I'll miss all of you at Cosy Dell.
Thanks for making my dreams come true. And giving me some much more than my dreams.
Love Lieke
