Willow & Mane

05/05/2026

🐴 **Willow & Mane – Yard Support Role (Part-Time)**

We’re looking for a reliable, experienced horse person to join us at Willow & Mane, a boutique equine experience based near Lake Hayes.

This is a hands-on support role helping keep the yard running smoothly, including:
• Feeding, rugging, and general horse care
• Mucking out and paddock maintenance
• Cleaning and caring for tack and gear
• Providing cover and support when we are away

**About you:**
You’ll be confident and capable around a wide range of horses, including young stock, and understand that horse care happens in all weather. You bring a practical, can-do attitude, a sense of humour, and take pride in doing things properly. You’ll also be comfortable working on a busy, working beef farm and interacting appropriately with clients and visitors.

**Details:**
• 3–5 hours per week (flexible)
• Must have your own vehicle
• Experience with horses is essential (farm experience an advantage)

**Arrangement:**
This is a flexible, mutually beneficial arrangement that can include riding opportunities and/or a combination of benefits to suit.

If you’re dependable, experienced, and enjoy being part of a small, positive equine environment, we’d love to hear from you.

📩 Message us directly to express interest or find out more.

24/04/2026

And that’s a wrap on a busy first week of term 2 - after a quiet break over the school holidays.

First decent frosts setting in and the days are noticeably shorter, lots of new clients with interesting backgrounds in and out of the saddle, roping clients in to do casting videos for our pet sheep for possible TVC jobs. It’s nothing if not varied around here.

Our new facilities are racing along with electrical work and interior lining starting - watch this space 💗💗

22/04/2026

I really like this - it’s what we look for, train for and help develop in all our horses.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Be7Y5bP13/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Can your horse pass a Warrant of Fitness?
Not just on a good day… but in real life.
Can they: ✔ stand quietly for the farrier
✔ lead calmly beside you
✔ load when asked
✔ cope with clipping, hosing, and handling
✔ stand still to be mounted
Because this is where things really matter.
Not in perfect training sessions…
but in everyday situations.
This is the checklist I use with every horse I work with.

And what I’ve found, over and over again, is this: Most “problem” horse aren’t actually problems. They’re horses with gaps in their training.

So instead of chasing behaviours,
we need to go back and fill in the foundation.
That’s exactly what this checklist is designed to highlight.

👉 How many boxes can your horse tick?
Drop your score below if you’re brave 😄
This forms a big part of my course:
Educated – From the Ground Up
Where I show you exactly how to train these basics properly,
and use them to solve real-world issues.
👇 Link in comments

04/04/2026

04/04/2026

Good Friday - good vibes - mum and daughter rides 💗💗

02/04/2026

What a magnificent way to conclude a short and messy week, a stunning Autumnal day here as Queenstown always delivers, a couple of fantastic clients in for rides - and the old boy Jandal requesting his customary post ride scratch from yours truly.

Happy Easter everyone - may you thoroughly enjoy the long weekend - hopefully you get to do something that nourishes your soul.

24/03/2026

Show Circuit Magazine delivers a dynamic digital publication for riders and horse owners who live and breathe the equestrian lifestyle. Covering all disciplines, it offers expert training insights, practical advice, and inspiring stories to support every step of your journey.

20/03/2026

There’s something about photos that stop you in your tracks.

These ones… me on Jandal and my youngest daughter.

Back when she was still on ponies, and I was muddling my way through with two daughters riding.

So much has changed.

She’s a young woman now — strong, capable, riding horses with confidence I admire every day.
And my beautiful boy Jandal… he’s in semi-retirement now. This was our last competition together. He was an absolute superstar — cheeky, generous, full of his usual character. He gave me everything (outside of the dressage arena :-).)

I remember that day so differently though.
I was nervous. In my head. Picking myself apart for what I thought I lacked — skill, polish, technique.

But looking back now?

Goddamn… that was awesome.

We showed up. We did it together. We had a crack. And that matters so much more than I gave it credit for at the time.

It’s funny how perspective shifts. How what once felt not-quite-enough becomes something you’d give anything to step back into, just for a moment.

A reminder, I think, to be here. To notice it while it’s happening. To appreciate the messy, imperfect, beautiful middle of it all.

Because perfect never comes.

So get into it.
Do the thing.
Have the go.

You might just look back one day and realise it was far more extraordinary than you ever knew 🤍

18/03/2026

Cracking company, cracking views - fabulous mounts - what else could a couple of ladies want on a Thursday morning

09/03/2026

We are thrilled to support Get Fab, Rex and Em to Adelaide this year. Three fabulous South Island riders selected to represent NZ at the Adelaide 3 day Event - check out their auction items and get in behind these fantastic riders.

All the very best ladies - go well - we’ll be following every step of the way!