Our Horses
We have over twenty horses of various breeds and backgrounds. We try to keep them as natural as possible. They live out in fields around Montusi Mountain Lodge and have a strong herd structure. It is very interesting to watch the dynamics between each horse and the relationships that have developed. When new horses are introduced one can observe the implementation of the pecking order as the horses decide where this new creature belongs. Anyone who has followed the work of Monty Roberts or Pat Parelli will be able to identify the methods the horses use to communicate with each other. Those who have followed the writings of Mark Rashid will also see the Passive Leader (the steady influence that the herd chooses to follow) and the Alpha Horse (the assertive individual that exerts his/her leadership on the others) figures in the herd.
We have had a successful breeding program in the last few years, which has resulted in about 30 foals. We find that horses that are born and bred in the area tend to manage the steep terrain, rocky ground, dry winters and diseases much better than those introduced to the area. Through a long history of this breeding we have a herd of strong, sure-footed trail horses. Most of our foals have grown into wonderful trail horses and have remained with us, or in this area. When training our babies we use the methods of the Horse Gentlers (Parelli, Roberts etc) as our basis. Thus the stress and trauma involved in training the horse are lessened, making a happier, calmer horse. We also only start training the babies in their third year and begin proper trails when the horses are four.
Koos
Origin: Bought from the Tower of Pizza in 2001
Born: +-1996
Breed: Boereperd
Height: 15.3 Hands / 161 cm
Personality: Koos is a steady, reliable worker, who suits all kinds of rider. He is an easy ride: with beginners he is content to stay in line at a walk; and with the experienced rider, he has it in himself to do some good running. Among the other horses he considers himself very important and always has to be second in line on the trails. He is a perfect trail horse as he does not like to go off alone.
Malfoy
Origin: Bought as a stallion from the AmaZizi tribal area in 2002
Born: Unknown, probably 1997-ish
Breed: Mix
Height: 14.3 Hands / 151 cm
Personality: Malfoy arrived as a rough young stallion ready to make his presence known and his dominance accepted. He fought constantly with the other strong males and covered all the mares. Under saddle and with humans it was a completely different story: he was quiet as a lamb, easy to catch and perfect for beginners. He was left as a stallion for 1 year before we decided that the fighting and performing had to stop: his nips to the withers of the mares to get them into season caused many to be unfit for riding. So we had him castrated. He calmed down a little, but remains the Alpha horse in the herd.
Ophelia
Origin: Acquired from the Cavern in 2003
Born: 1996
Breed: Thoroughbred cross
Height: 15 Hands / 153 cm
Personality: Ophelia, unlike her Shakespearean namesake, is not quite the epitome of innocence, but rather a bit of a fiend. She is not afraid of putting the other horses in line, and occasionally doing the same to her humans. Once on her back she is a delight for the experienced rider, who is keen for excitement non-stop. She is strong, perennially fit and produces good foals. She is very self-confident, which makes her the perfect lead horse.
Lollipop
Origin: Bought as a wild filly from a farmer in Estcourt in 2001
Born: Unknown, probably 1999
Breed: Mix
Height: 15 Hands / 154 cm
Personality: Lollipop is a sweet little mare that came to us after running wild for almost her whole life. It took over a year to get her suited to trail, and even then we reserved her for experienced riders. After the birth of her foal she calmed dramatically, so much so that she is regularly used for beginners. She’s not easily caught and keeps us on our toes as she can jump the food-stalls from a standstill and often ends up with her head in the feed storage room!
Chinook
Origin: Acquired from the Cavern in 2004
Born: 2001
Breed: Anglo Arab cross
Height: 15.2 Hands / 158 cm
Personality: Chinook is the fastest horse in the stable. She is amazingly strong, but likes to stick with the herd. In the paddock she goes with the flow and doesn’t cause any trouble. Under saddle she continues to conform: When the rest of the riders are placidly walking on the trail so does she, but if we up the pace, even slightly, she gets very excited and keen to race. She makes a fun ride for the competent rider on experienced rides, but is also good for the beginners on an all-walking ride.
Jikijela
Origin: Bought as a stallion from the AmaZizi Tribal Area in 2007
Born: Unknown, probably 2002
Breed: Mix, with a hint of Friesian
Height: 15.1 Hands / 156 cm
Personality: Jikijela is an interesting young horse. He arrived at the stables very full of himself, nickering at every passing female. He had several fights with Koos and Malfoy until he crowned himself king. This didn’t last long as we soon had him castrated and he settled with being one of the Main Boys, if not the Alpha (who remains Malfoy). Under saddle Jikijela has become one of our best trail horses: he is strong and reliable with beginners, but is an enjoyable ride for the more experienced rider.
Katrina
Origin: Ophelia’s daughter
Born: 2001
Breed: Thoroughbred cross
Height: 15 Hands / 153 cm
Personality: Katrina is a brat. She hassles the other horses at feeding time and generally bullies all and sundry. Under saddle she will tolerate her rider and stay in line for a gentle walk, as long as everyone else is walking too. When it’s time to run she gives it her all. She has a very soft mouth and therefore does not enjoy being told to stop, or even slow down! For the experienced rider wanting an exciting ride, she’s mind-blowing.
Lady
Origin: Acquired from the Cavern in 2005
Born: Unknown
Breed: Mix
Height: 14.2 Hands / 148 cm
Personality: Lady is as steady as a rock. She is a great trail horse as she seldom does anything untoward and is very easy-going. She takes on mountains like they’re mole-hills and never seems to complain. She is definitely one of our most valuable horses as she’s so strong and good for both beginner rides and faster trails.
Popsy
Origin: Lollipop’s daughter
Born: 2004
Breed: Mix
Height: 14.1 Hands / 146 cm
Personality: Popsy is a sweet little thing. Placid and kind and a lovely ride. She is perfect for kids and small beginners as her preferred pace is the walk, but she is not opposed to taking a comfortable canter through the fields.
Cayman
Origin: Chinook’s son
Born: 2004
Breed: Anglo Arab cross
Height:
Personality: Cayman is warily willing. He has become a lovely trail horse, with a penchant for speed. This makes him rather exciting on experienced outings. If the ride stays quiet so does he.
Geronimo
Origin: Born to Eclipse, a mare at these stables
Born: 2004
Breed: Thoroughbred cross
Height: 13.3 Hands / 140 cm
Personality: This cheeky little pony is affectionate and naughty. His mum had a serious case of billary when he was a very young foal, which has stunted his growth. The son of an ex-show-jumping thoroughbred, he is unusually small. We had hoped that he would become a quiet school pony for kids, but he remains a little feisty and so Vusi Zondo, his trainer, remains his only rider!
Nece
Origin: Katrina’s daughter
Born: 2004
Breed: Thoroughbred cross
Height: 14 Hands / 144 cm
Personality: This girl can jump! Even as a yearling she was jumping the feed stalls from a standstill to capitalize on the meal fed to the hard-working adults. She has matured into a quiet, easy-going mare that makes for a really lovely ride.
Lambert
Origin: Born to Thora, a Northern Mare.
Born: 2005
Breed: Mix
Height: 13.3 Hands / 141 cm
Personality: Lambert’s dopey looks belie a sneakily cheeky nature. He often sidles up to the grooms while they are busily preparing for a ride and nibbles on anything from a sleeve to an arm! He hasn’t quite grasped the concept of personal space and thinks nothing of walking into people. He has turned out to be a really good trail horse, except for his annoying kicking habit – if the horse at his rear gets too close, he lets them know!