mumomonty

Hi there,
Am contemplating move from Oz to NZ. What's the horse life like for:
Riding in general - out of the front gate - not by floating. I haven't the time each day.
Veterinary Care.
Farriery.
I'm not worried about competitions.

What's the Dog life like for:
Walking your dog (are there restrictions due to sheep being everywhere?)

I am a simple soul and life is hunky dory if I can get out on me horse or walk me dog.

What are your thoughts?

Are you an English horse / dog person who didn't favour Oz for their animals (like me).

I'd like some help. Thanks.

Love Mumomonty :scared:

koala_mac

hi there
afraid i don't know anything about the NZ situation but would be interested to hear about the horsey life in Oz. What are the problems you've encountered? Is there a riding club / riding school culture like in the UK?

cheers

K_M

Surfer Chick

We're going to New Zealand and planning to have our own horses. Not found out a great deal yet, but New Zealand do well on the world stage. Also I have read a little about what wonderful breeds they have in the South Island, where we're heading. When I find our more I'll let you know. I think its popular over there though.

Roger

Don't know much about horses. However with the Kiwi fast driving habits I wouldn't fancy riding on the roads.

However the 'dog life' depends on where you go. Some areas seem anti-dog whereas where I live (Hawkes Bay) everyone seems to have a dog (unleashed) trotting by them when out walking. Great walking on the beaches and local reserves. However National Parks are no goes I believe - shame as I really fancied long treks but couldn't contemplate them without my Lab.

NZ has gone a bit anti-dog with some attacks. However you do see lots of dogs walking themselves and breeds banned in the UK (Pit Bulls are common).

My dog arrives in a fortnight. It's costing about £2K. How many dogs are you bringing.

Roger

janeyray

I told you before... Stay put!!! (only joking but you know my views!) lol

Copperben

Try looking at these forums www.nzhorses.co.nz or www.horsetalk.co.nz they are very good for advice on anything horsey in New Zealand.

deedee

we muster with horses and other things,but its really horse friendly down in the south of the south.Loads of grass,miles of empty gravel roads and treks.Just by our own farm alone there is emptyness of hundreds of square miles you can trek on.There is also the huge cavalcade in the south which usually involves about 50 or so riders riding for a week,with escorts right over the high country....went past of house last year Most folks here are more friendly to people on horses than on bicycles.
Also,you can search for the wild horses on the high country,on horse of course

Bed Of Roses

I too would be interested in what the horse world is like in oz we Event at novice level here and wondered how it is in OZ

mumomonty

Hi Ya'all, Here's my experience on horse life in Oz. I don't know about NZ.

It's a word doc.

mumomonty

Hey JaneyRay, I'm sorry but I might HAVE to go to NZ. Long story andwe've all got em us Expats. Take care, appreciate your info.

koala_mac

Mumomonty - wow, that's really depressing. Thanks for being so honest. Whereabouts are/were you based, out of interest?

mumomonty

I lived on the Central Coast north of Sydney. Don't think it is going to be the same asa here. It is not. I'm sorrybut I know how much we love our horses and that England has such 'tradition' with their horses. If you can let that go then go for it. If not, perhas you 'd be better selling them to loving homes. I only emigrated to get a place with my horse and it took us 13 years and 4 applications but we did it. Hate to do the 'age thing' but I am now 40 and if I coudl have gone when I was in my 20's as planned!!!!!!!!! then I think I would have coped a bit better with it and not known any better in some cases.

We just don't know how lucky we are here in the UK in that respect (can think of better things over there not to do with our four legged friends). I'm in the UK at the mo.

koala_mac

Sorry you've had such a rotten time of it. Horses/riding is not the main reason we're thinking of moving, but it's interesting to learn that there is more of a "beasts of the field / animals are for working" attitude to horses than the "adored family members" attitude you see so often in the UK (with the resultant supporting industries such as excellent/caring vets and farriers).

I don't have my own horse here in the UK so there isn't that wrench for us. We're in our early 30s so perhaps we are in the middle - not quite gung-ho, but with lower expectations

downunderpom

I think it also depends on the individual(s). My neighbours run horses (about 8 of them) and they do whatever is necessary for them. One of their horses fell over against something hard - cracked her skull. They've spent a lot of money with the vet saving this horse, who has lost an eye due to the fall and is now paralysed down one side of her face, but seems to be coping. She's been retired - has her own section of paddock (an acre or so) and is kept segregated from the other horses in case of high jinks, which could finish her off. She's checked several times a day to make sure she's alright. And these neighbours are Aussies, before you ask.

janeyray

Western Australia has loads of horses and livery/aggistment yards but you would have to have a good look around to find a decent one. I kept my horse on a livery yard back in the UK and it was nothing like the yards here.

If you are coming here to carry on where you left off in the UK as far as Novice eventing goes, think again! I competed in Affiliated dressage at Elementary level and it's a world apart here.

The Australians have a different attitude to 'working animals' than the British and a far lower standard of riding/animal care.

Events are so far apart that a friend of mine thinks a 6 hour journey with her horse in a trailer/float is a short journey!!!

The majority of events are held though the winter because as the warmer weather draws in it is far to hot to compete. The flies are a constant battle and when it's in the 30's riding is no longer a pleasure. Bush riding is very limited as horses aren't allowed on many trails, and no-one rides out on the roads!!!

The 'hard feed' is very different to that in the UK and expensive. They have hay shortages and it can be very pricey! the majority of horses I see are skinny due to the lack of grazing as you can imagine, further south the grazing is better.

As mentioned before the farrier care is some what hit and miss too! A lot of the methods are behind the UK.
Most of the horses are expensive warmblood imports or TB's from the race track, which for you would be great!!

The vets are ok but you have to wonder why most of them go to the UK for training and experience. I don't know many British vets that train in Oz!!! They seem to be less concerned than the large animal vets in the UK.

Have an open mind and learn Western riding, they love that here!!