The Team
Jemima
Age: 13
Breed: Mini
Height: Approx 30 inches
Her Story: We have Jemima on loan from a local acquaintance who had Jemima for her children, who have long out grown her. She may be the smallest pony on the property, but do not be fooled, she has the biggest attitude, 2nd from the top in the pecking order of the ponies most days! She is a real sweetie to handle on the ground though and loves to be brushed and pampered. She is the pony my daughter Willow rides and she is pony obsessed! Everything is somehow turned into pony play and it is her 'Mimey", from balloons to couches and toy horse figurines!
Aura
Age: 12
Breed: Timor
Height: Approx 12hh
Her Story: I got her from a family in Marton, but was bred by Claire of West Wind Equestrian! She is very quiet and children can ride her by themselves if they know how to ride. She always looks a bit grumpy, maybe less so these days, even though she enjoys the attention. She had quite a few homes in her life before us, so I think now she knows this is her forever how she has lightened up! She is our main lead rein pony at the moment! She has been with us for around 7 years now, she was the first pony we purchased when we started the pony rides side of the business and she is now the perfect pony for my kids too!
Worf (said wharf)
Age: 8 years old
Breed: Kunukune pig
Worf's Story: Asked around the local FB pages looking for a pig to rejoin our petting zoo (had Whiskey a few years back) and Fiona offered Worf. Unfortunately he had needed to be paddocked with his father and they could not sort out the pecking order and kept fighting. He knows how to sit and loves a good belly scratch, will lay down and roll over more more scratches!! He looks a big fearsome, but he is the sweetest guy!
Molly
Age: 6 years old
Breed: Kaimanawa
Height: 13.2hh
Molly's Story: Her name while she was wild in the Kaimanawa Ranges was Matau, we renamed her Molly. She came in from the muster in 2021 and went straight to Kaimanawa Krazy for initial handling. She was in foal when she came in, but unfortunately slipped. I purchased Molly with the intention of training her up and selling her, but she is far too good for that and is now an essential part of the team!! I cannot wait to see her teach my kids the next step up in their riding!
Stella Mango
Age: 2
Breed: Chocolate lab
Stella's Story: Her name is a mixture of what I wanted and what the kids wanted! Got her from a local in Taranaki where I grew up. Unfortunately our dog Bree died, we got a pound dog named Riley after that, but he wasn't suitable for us, so Stella is our new forever doggy. We hope to breed her to have puppies in the future, but for now we are just making the most of having her and enjoying her.
Chickens
Age: Born end of 2021
Breed: Red shaver
Chicken's Story: When we purchased this new property it already had a chicken house on it! So I found some chickens for sale from a Levin breeder and they delivered them to us in Hunterville! They are by far the most friendly chickens we have ever had. We are lucky too because they produce 5 eggs a day. Elliot has named the chickens I am told .... but cannot remember their names! We also got 5 more chickens in 2023 and they are great layers too!
Spot
Age: Born in 2021
Breed: Unsure
Spot's Story: Pet lamb from the children's Dad's farm due to being mis-mothered. Quirky lil thing, likes to tease the dog and tries to initiate play with the other sheep (they are not interested!). When she was a baby lamb she was always quite sickly looking, but now she is nearly fully grown she is happy and thriving!
Bonnie
Age: 7 (born in 2016)
Breed: Poll Dorset x Romney
Bonnie's Story: Bonnie was an orphan lamb, who was pretty much friendly from the day she came home! Early on I discovered that she loved sheep pellets and this certainly helped to keep her tame. She is a VERY big sheep and looks even bigger when she has her full fleece of wool on. She is a confident sheep, who likes scratches!!
Goatie or Grape
Age: born Sept 2023
Breed: saanen x
Goatie's Story: We got 2 goats, but quickly realised 2 goats was like having 5 children! :O Goatie is sooo friendly and has come on a couple of road trips with us to Taranaki. At this stage he lives a lot of time on a very long lead, but the plan is to electric fence a paddock for him so he can be free. At the moment he cannot be as he destroys the garden, sleeps in the lounge and poohs everywhere!
Hunter
Age: born May 2023
Breed: Mini foxy x Jack Russel
Hunter's Story: We got Hunter from a friend, she had a litter and was struggling to rehome the pups, so the plan was to bring one here and advertise in this area. What a joke that was lol, she came here and we all fell in love with her!
Batman
Age: born approx Dec 2023
Breed: feral cats
Batman's Story: We got Batman off a friend who had rescued a litter of dumped kittens. He was so tiny and skinny when we got him, I was worried he may not make it - but he is a survivor and has found a forever home here. He is such a special cat, loves people and when we have bookings here, he spends the whole time being snuggled by people.
Rambo
Age: 9 (will be 10 on Aug 2024)
Breed: Thoroughbred
Rambo's Story: I was gifted Rambo mid-2023. He is an ex racehorse, but never really did any good, so he sat in a paddock for a while until I got him. He is a great jumper and the plan is to train him up and hunt him this season. He has gotten mcuh more quiet now I have had him awhile and the plan is that he will also be a part of the animal days, he has done some days leading beginners and was so good!
Sprite
Age: was born end of 2023
Breed: house cat
Sprite's Story: We had Sprite's uncle (who was called Coca-Cola), but unfortunately he was hit by a car, so we were very pleased when we saw Coca-Cola's sister had had kittens!! Sprite is very confident and friendly and loves hopping in other people's cars!!
Slippers
Age: no idea... around 3
Breed: also no idea....
Slipper's Story: We were gifted Slippers from a friend in my son's class. She is a lovely bunny, but not so friendly when animal days are on (she gets overwhelmed). The plan is to find out her gender and then get the opposite gender and make rabbit babies!!!
Jack, the kids and I
I, Cheryl, am blessed to be a mum to 3 amazing kids! Elliot is 7, Paisley is 5 and Willow is 3. Jack is from Belgium and we are so lucky to have him as part of our lives.
We are all social butterflies and love having people come to stay at our house. We are very proud of our lifestyle and the animals, and we are super blessed to be in a position to share this with others!
We hope you enjoy your visit with us!
Past Members of the Team
Jewel
Age: 15 years
Breed: Warmblood Pinto X Thoroughbred
Height: 15.2hh
Jewel's Story: I got Jewel from a friend when she was a wild 18 month old filly. She has taught me more than any other horse. We did so much together, but unfortunately was PTS in September of 2022.
Piper
Age: 12
Breed: Pinto Miniature Pony
Height: 36 inches
Piper's Story: Piper is the perfect pony for little kids to ride and even for older children to do the obstacle course with. She is a very clever girl, can pull a cart and learns new tricks very quickly. She is very gentle and sweet natured. Piper has been returned to her owner because we stopped the biz.
Girlfriend
Age: unknown
Breed: unknown
Girlfriend's Story: When I purchased this property, Girlfriend came with the deal. She is a bit of a stand offish girl, but does like to interact with humans. Before moving here she had no other animal company, so loves Bonnie the sheep. Girlfriend sadly passed of old age at the end of the 2019 summer. She is buried on our old property, in a place where she spent much of her time in her last few days.
Bree
Age: 4 (born in 2015)
Breed: Huntaway
Bree's Story: I got Bree from some good friends and mostly trained her up myself. Elliot's dad is a Shepherd, so he finished the training and used to use her as his mainstay huntaway working dog. Unfortunately she shattered her front leg and had to have surgery, so cannot work full time. A local man comes and uses her every now and then though and she is still sharp as ever. She is very friendly and the most amazing dog you have ever seen with kids. Unfortunately Bree passed away in 2021 after being hit by a truck :(
Woolly
Age: less than 1
Breed: composite
Woolly's Story: Woolly was a mis-mothered lamb from 2018's lambing. He grew up in the chicken paddock so still kind of thinks he is a chicken. When he was smaller he slept in their nesting boxes! Woolly went to a new home to be boyfriend to all the ewes.
Harry
Age: 20
Breed: Crossbred riding pony
Height: 12.1hh (approx)
Harry's Story: Harry is actually owned by my friend Andrea and we are allowed to use him when ever we wish. Out of all the horses and ponies he has the sweetest nature and is very trustworthy. He is honest and loves kids and is perfect for doing pony rides on at events/fairs/galas etc. Harry now live with another local family.
Elle
Age: 7
Breed: Thoroughbred
Height: 15.2hh
Elle's Story: I rescued Elle last year. She is a very sweet horse who is perfect for leading kids around on and teaching them the basics of riding on their own. She used to be a race horse, but was way too slow! Elle is now being used as a riding horse at a riding school in Whanganui, her name now is her race one - Chilli Milli.
Spirit
Age: 10 years old
Breed: Kaimanawa (came in from the 2010 muster)
Height: 14.1hh
Spirit's Story: I bought Spirit off a local girl Daisy when I realised the business was getting busy. He has done quite a bit of showing and jumping in his past. He is a lovely quiet, gentle boy who has fitted in instantly with our family. He was purchased by a friend and still lives close by.
Oscar
Age: 8 years old
Breed: Kaimanawa (came in from the 2012 muster as a bubba)
Height: 13.3hh
Oscar's Story: Oscar is such a lovely, gentle and kind pony. He is so quiet that anyone can ride him and handle him. He is VERY confident and is a champ at going around our obstacle course. He likes the obstacles because he knows when he stands on one or plays with it, he gets to have a rest, which he loves! He was on loan to us from a very generous friend! He has now been sold to a horse mad girl down Otaki way.
Chickens
Age: 2 - 4
Breed: Red Shaver and who knows what!
Their Story: I got the shavers from Kairanga Poultry Farm. Like the rest of the animals, they are very quiet! We have just got 2 new baby chickens, not sure if they are male or female yet. They came from a person I know in Mangaweka! They make the cutest chirping noises. All of these chickens were rehomed, they kept getting on the road!
Gordie
Age: 12
Height: 13hh
Breed: Welsh, riding pony cross bred
His Story: Gordie is an absolute honey and great for people to learn to ride on. He actually belongs to a young friend of mine, she had a scare riding so is still getting her confidence back. When she does he will return to her, he will be very much missed! Gordie was sold to a new family.
Goats - Freddie and Romeo
Age: 2 years (DOB 2017)
Breed: Saneen
Their Story: I got the boys through a friend. They are neutered males. If they were females they would have remained in their herd as milking nannies. The boys though are the PERFECT pets, so sweet and friendly, love to nibble peoples' ears :P They look almost alike, except Romeo has a beard. We rehomed the goats due to stopping the petting zoo biz.
Whisky
Age: Less than a year (Born 17 November 2018)
Breed: Kune Kune Pig
Whisky's Story: I saw 2 kune pigs for rehoming online, sadly we missed out on them, but really wanted a kune. I looked on trademe and saw a whole lot for sale! We got Whisky from a road called Whisky Way out the back of Palmerston North. She was just 9 weeks old when we got her and the runt of the litter. At the moment we are taming her, she loves her tummy being scratched. We have a harness which we want to train her to go in! Whiskey wasn't quite fitting in with our lives and was rehomed.
Avan
Age: 4
Breed: Kaimanawa
Height: 15.1hh
Avan's Story: He was a wild horse on the Kaimanawa Ranges, but was mustered as a 2 year old. I bought him off a lady who had done some initial handling. I have since started him under saddle, but he is not yet quiet enough for others to ride. He LOVES people though and is a real gentleman on the ground. He has now been sold to an old school friend of mine and is a top station hack!
Nicky
Age: 24
Breed: Miniature Pony
Height: 36 inches
Nicky's Story: I got Nicky from a friend in Taranaki. Previously she had been owned by two boys and she supported them with their development, as she is such a great pet. She can be a bit cheeky, but is safe for kids to handle and play with on the ground. We have rehomed Nicky to a friend in Marton.
Brozie
Age: 9
Breed: Domestic house cat
Brozie's Story: I got Brozie off TradeMe of all places when she was 2 years old. The people who had her thought she was a boy at the start, hence the name... They needed to find a new home for her because the other cats at their place kept beating her up! She is a very cool cat and easy to have around. She often disappears when guests come, but loves to come back inside at night time. Unfortuantely she got old and had to be put down.
The other sheep
When we purchased this new property we inherited some sheep and these are the 2 we have left, Marshmallow and Lolly! No idea how old they are, or what breed they are. Like our 2 pets though, they love the sheep pellets!
At the end of 2023 we sold these sheep and their lambs.
Spirit
Age: 12
Breed: Welsh x riding pony
Height: 11.1hh approx
Her Story: I got Spirit from someone selling her and her sister on behalf. They hadn't done a lot, just been pulled out of the paddock (or chased in by motorbike!) when grandies came from what I understand. She was very stoic and seemed not too crazy when we first got her, but as she settled in we saw a different side of her. Separating from her sister did not help her anxiety. I was 10 days off having Willow when we got her (what was I thinking!!), so didn't have a lot of time. This time though was good for her to settle in. Nearly 2 years on now and she is like a different pony, the change in her is amazing. She truly wants to be with people now and is actually a real sweetie!
Gypsy
Age: Mid 20's
Breed: Welshy
Height. 10.2hh approx
Her Story: I was looking for another pony to join the team and for the kids to ride and we can across Gypsy. We got her from Waipuk, from a family who had purchased her 18 months earlier and it hadn't worked out. After we made the purchase, new information came to light of her history that even her previous owner wasn't aware of. If our research is correct she has bred about 5 very lovely foals and is likely 25 years old. Her colour is Black Roan, which is why she has a lot of grey/white hair through her coat. We got Gypsy in May of 2022, she is a shy girl and it has taken her a bit to settle in, but she too is now part of the team.
