From fairy wings to saddle skills

Decking her miniature party pony out as a fairy was the first step that led Sara Giles-Palmer to launch a new equine education and entertainment show at the revamped Lindale Tourist Centre on the Kapiti Coast.

Ms Giles-Palmer decided to turn her love of horses into a career about seven years ago.

She has about 20 years' experience in the equine world, ranging from mucking out stables to breaking in horses and training them, including a stint at the former Woodleigh Stud Farm in Waikanae. She also received classical training in horsemanship and dressage from former New Zealand Commonwealth Games representative and international instructor, Sara Margaret Harris.

The launch of her miniature horse Angel-Rose as a star performer at birthday parties and kindergarten visits around the region sparked her ambition to establish an equestrian business.

Tutoring for the People Pony Progress programme at El Rancho, aimed at helping children from a wide variety of backgrounds, reinforced Ms Giles- Palmer's belief that building relationships with horses boosted children's confidence, fitness and health and improved their communication skills.

"You have to gain a horse's trust, be a leader and give them direction because they are pack, social, herd animals."

With the help of two bank loans, she launched her Equine Entertainment and Education show at Lindale three months ago, where she also rehabilitates retired race horses for rehoming.

She has six horses, including a Kaimanawa named "Fire" she rescued from the last Conservation Department roundup, two former race horses she is training for resale, a white Arab she has taught to count his age with his feet and play football, and star performer Angel- Rose who entertains crowds with a wide variety of tricks and is learning to pull a cart.

Training Fire, who climbed fences and was very "feral", was a challenge, she says. But after a lot of time and effort she managed to get a bridle on the wild horse, then a saddle.

Now Fire works well with children and "stands like a statue".

Ms Giles-Palmer refers to her work as "horse healing" rather than "horse whispering", and stresses that her major role is rehabilitating horses that have been neglected or developed behavioural problems.

Saving retiring thoroughbred race horses from slaughter, retraining and rehoming them was especially rewarding.

"They are on their last chance and have to be completely resocialised to become well-mannered, disciplined mounts for resale. They can be trained to be pets or athletes used for dressage."

She uses a wide variety of methods and psychological techniques including desensitising the horses to loud noises, touch and general handling.

Her Equine Entertainment and Education show at Lindale is a type of educational circus, she says. The show includes demonstrations of training - jumping and walking over obstacles, kicking balls, opening gates, bowing, counting and liberty (free-style) work.

"They love fun and games. They are athletic animals.

"Games release pent-up energy and frustration and teaches them balance, rhythm and physical alignment."

Lindale complex, once the main tourist attraction on the Coast, experienced an exodus of shopkeepers over the past two years but is now being resurrected as new businesses open their doors including a new cafe, retail outlets, art gallery and a new farm-animal attraction.

- © Fairfax NZ News