Other Services

Toni is available to help you with all aspects of horse ownership and career advice.

Toni is a qualified Equine ITP Tutor with a Diploma in Horse Business Management, with more than 20 years of practical hands on experience.

Work Experience & Assessments

As a qualified Equestrian Sports New Zealand (ESNZ) Coach Educator and registered Workplace Assessor for the Equine Industry Training Organisation (EqITO), Toni is able to provide work experience and assess unit standards related to the National Certificates offered by Equine Elearning and assess coaches studying for their Community Coach and Introductory Coach Qualifications.

Assessments cost $35 per unit standard.

Laura Rutten

Laura started her interest in horses at The Green Barn with Angela Dickie. She came to Toni to get work experience and be assessed for Equine Units she was studying through Equine E-Learning. With regular lessons she progressed quickly and started competing one of Toni's horses successfully.

Laura went on to exercise and school horses for local owners in the area and then headed to the Waikato to work for upcoming top eventor Lizzie Brown. She now rides “Kaitawa Eve”, owned by Trish Moore and has been competing very successfully at Pre Novice Horse Trials and 1.10m-1.15m SJ in her first season out.

Read Laura's testimonial.

Emma Solakof

Emma has come to Toni recently for work experience and to get assessed for her Equine E-Learning units. She has done a bit of hacking and trekking on her aunt's station down south, but never ridden in an arena, competed or had any formal training. Emma is currently learning to ride Toni's retired superstar gelding Pepper and they are hoping she will be out competing him next season. Emma’s riding is coming along so well that Toni is able to send her up the hills by herself on her new 4 year old, so she is sure she will really enjoy learning to compete next season!

Horse Management & Nutrition Advice

As owners of our best friends that cannot talk to us, we often find ourselves in situations where we feel something is just not quite right but it is not anything we would consider serious enough to pay a visit to the vet.

Things such as energy levels and attitude to work need to be constantly monitored, and where you may notice changes such as a bit of lethargy, unusual spookiness and suddenly not jumping, there is often some simple changes that can be made to help with the problem.

All horse management and nutrition advice is free.

Please look at other areas on this website as helpful documents are added from time to time.

Assessing Suitability of a Potential Purchase

Are you looking to purchase or lease a new horse but do not have anyone experienced to come along and cast an eye over your selection? For the same cost as a lesson, Toni can come and help you assess the suitability of a horse you are interested in. She can observe you riding and provide some pointers, ride the horse for you to get a feel for his paces and level of training, look at his conformation and attitude for what you are wanting to do with him and provide you with an independent opinion.

In any case Toni strongly advises that you should be able to ride a strong canter confidently in an open paddock and feel quite safe, and it is always advisable to get a vet check on any horse you are looking to purchase.

Help with Selling Your Horse

Toni is happy to ride your horse and observe it at competitions and then provide an assessment from an independent point of view that can then be advertised along with the horse here on my website.

The only cost associated with coming to ride/observe the horse is the same cost as a lesson.

If you need to get your horse out and about competing, or just need to get some good photos taken, Toni can recommend riders and photographers.

Re-schooling Horses

Do you ever feel like the blind is leading the blind? Or you would just like to have your horse more responsive to what you are asking him or her? Sometimes it can help to have your horse schooled for a short while.

Toni can help clarify the aids and get your horse more responsive and going kindly, and with a few follow-up lessons you can quickly be on your way to a new level of partnership.

Re-schooling may only take a couple of weeks and can have remarkable results.

Re-schooling which includes grazing starts at $170 per week. The odd day of schooling is the same cost as a lesson plus any mileage or arena fees.