A keenly anticipated trip to Kenya to catch
up with old friends, human and horsey, make some new ones, and to watch some
heavenly wildlife. First stop was Monica's, deep in Manzoni, where she has
horses of her own and liveries. Monica follows IH principles and in time hopes
to become an RA but in the meantime she is used to bringing horses back from
the brink, particularly in their ridden work. Ex-racehorses, Warmbloods and a
Somali pony all grace her yard plus a two year old Irish Draft cross Somali
pony called Xani who is living the life of Riley. We did some groundwork with
her, Tatonka and Warren, Monica's eventing horse and had our first ride out in the bush.
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| Xani, first introduction to groundwork |
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| Tatonka, a very splendid looking horse - one of Monica's horses in for training. |
"Xani, the little two year old, has become an angel since you worked with her!!!
So I am keeping it up. Tatonka's owner is very chuffed that you did him too." MC 15th June, 2014
After a couple of days it was off to see
Debbie next to Naivasha lake and to meet her new horses, Thoroughbred Skuba,
Arab Avalon and Somali pony Da Vince, so called because his scars looks like
code. All appear to be absolutely thriving.
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| Skuba has now started eventing, prompting Debbie to replace her 1970's riding cap with a real one! |
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| Skuba shows us why he has such a shiny coat |
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| Avalon is starting to jump |
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| Da Vinci has scars on his nose and back probably caused by rope or burns. |
Following a five hour journey and one car
crash we made it up to Loisaba Wilderness to be reunited with Adam and all the
horses and ponies he looks after for Jo and Tom, the managers there. Five years
ago there were a few waifs and strays, all coming from Ethiopia or from the
race track but with a lot of care and an abundance of grass, thanks to the
rains, the horses all look fantastic now. The stallion, Yamaha, (just a
reminded not to let a man name your horse), has sired three decent foals which
are just coming up for starting. There has been a real shortage of proper
ponies in Africa and those imported from Ethiopia and Somalia are often quite
traumatised as a result of the abuse they experience there. I am proud to have
made a real difference to the way that un-handled horses are handled at Loisaba
and to be told that as a result the ponies are much easier to train in the long
term. However, I must not take away from the real skill and love that Adam has for
the horses. He has a real feel for them which is missing in some of the
mechanical handling of horses taught to grooms by rote.
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| Adam and just two of the horses |
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| Riding out in the morning on Bold Deed, a horse I rode here five years ago. |
I have high hopes for Monica's 'syce school'
where she is eager to introduce a good dose of horse psychology onto the
syllabus but it is the owners of the horses that need to be convinced that
building up a relationship of trust with a horse does not start and finish with
their own handling and training; the grooms need to be able to do it and do it
with love – not an easy subject to broach in the rather un-level employer/
employee relationship sometimes found in Kenya. I can't delve into a political
and class system that makes me rather uncomfortable – particularly when I don't
live there, can't influence anything, and probably don't know what I am talking
about. It is especially so when the other aspect of our holiday was reveling in
the luxury of Loisaba Cottage where
every meal is gorgeous and our bedroom is not only open plan but open air with
just a mosquito net between us and the sky. I had to balance enjoying food with
a real need not to squash my horses when I got back.
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| Maasai, one of Yamaha's three sons |
Loisaba Wilderness is such a special place.
Privately owned there is just one huge cottage with its own staff where you are
waited on hand, foot and finger. When we came last time the rains had failed
for four years in succession but this time everywhere was lush and green. As
well as gazing at all the beautiful wild animals, I earthed myself every day by
visiting Adam and the horses, riding out on Bold Deed and doing a little work.
It's hard to decide whether my favourite African animal is the elephant, the
giraffe or the Grevy's zebra with their 'Minnie Mouse' ears. In the end I think
the Klipspringer wins. Perhaps the restless night we had when one elephant kept
trying to break in to the grounds will influence my decision. Of course
elephants are incapable of being naughty – he just wanted to eat the flowers
and drain the swimming pool!
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| Bally, another of Yamaha's sons |
