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GOOD BYE 2013 by Gerti Kusseler
I hope you all had a wonderful Christams and a great start into the New Year. Yes, another year has passed and when reflecting on 2013 then it was one of the best years Wait A Little ever had. We really had wonderful guests with the most amazing sightings. We have always been blessed with lot’s of bookings but 2013 has definitley hit the bench mark. We certaily cannot accommodate any more safaris although so many more people want to come. How nice is that? Sadly we actually really have to cut down a litte. Philip and I have never been sick so often as in 2013. Whenever we went on a little break, we came back sick (so yes, rather not having a break then, ha ha!!). We can feel the pressure of the responsibility over the years and are really in the need to take more breaks more regular to stay fit and healthy, but I guess that is everybody’s problem or resolution for 2014???
So please have fun reading this Newsletter, it has been ages since the last one. This Newsletter is mainly a reflection of 2013 with a selection of pictures from the great sightings we had and about all the new horses that have arrived.
Thanks to you all, in particular the wonderful people that have come to visit us in the past, in 2013 and may we make many many more people happy in 2014!!! |
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COLLECTION OF SIGHTINGS IN 2013
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A FAMILY OF 4 CHEETAH
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We were blessed that a female cheetah had given birth to four cubs this year and three are still around. Our cheetah population has been a little low, so we are super excited about this family.
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On our Christmas morning ride we saw the cubs playing in front of the horses and Philip managed to video the whole game with his iPhone.
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In our last Newsletter we introduced you to Budwiser, our new Frisian Cross from Cristo and Leon from Kaapsehoop. After we had him for a while I said to Leon that if he ever has a similar horse, I would definitley buy him. And look at this, a perfect copy of Bud, so we called him Bod, ha ha. Philip already stole him as a lead horse!!! Wonderful guy and so brave already!
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Here is Nugget already over his first jump, he is such a sweet heart, totally relaxed and does everything you asked him. Alex, our volunteer took over from Beli, who broke him in. She really enjoys him and already showed him some animals. |
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Now this is Beli on one of our first outrides with Nugget. Beli did an amazing job backing him, never scared, just jumped on and got on with it. That’s why Nugget turned out such a nice boy!! Thank you so much Beli! |
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We also have two new Shire cross geldings – Zambezi and Guinness. They are wonderful horses from our friend Leon, both about 16hh and solidly built. Their fitness needs to be
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worked on and we will need some extra-large bridles for them, but they are gentle giants who have settled in very well. We have taken them on some outrides and trails, and they
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were not fazed at all by Giraffe or plains game – or the Lions! But I think Craig, our farrier, might have something to say about the size of their feet!!
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Another new addition is Schneider, a lovely bright bay gelding about 15hh. Belli and I have been lunging him a fair amount as he has only been sat on the once and we want to take things slowly with him as he is rather
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nervous. This has paid off so far, as he is now going on outrides and also has already been on his first real safari! He is turning into a very sweet little horse as he becomes more trusting of us.
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Gerti was in the right place at the right time when she acquired Caballero. He came back with her from the SA Dressage champs and he is a wonderful horse. Already schooled to Medium Level, he is a pleasure to handle and ride –in fact, watching him practicing a musical Kur this morning brought tears to my eyes!
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Having been a bit of a challenge to back, Alloa is now going great. I have always enjoyed riding her and she is now going with guests – I have yet to hear from any guest who doesn’t like her, they all want to take her home!
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Lui and Eliott and joined Tenacity and Yakima at African Dream Horse Safari’s in Hoedspruit – owned by our great friend Traci. They will have a much quieter life there whilst still going on out rides and in the arena to keep them in shape – but we miss them all here! In return, Traci gave
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us Solar Flare. He is a lovely roan gelding about 16hh and he thrives on the work here. He went to boot camp for a few months when he arrived – to learn some manners as he didn’t have the best social skills!! Now he is a lovely trail horse and really enjoys his work.
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THE NEW SWIMMING POOL
We certainly have worked our way through renovating the camp and finally the swimming pool also got it’s face lift. It was bl…. time, as the design of the old pool was there when we got here, which was in 1998. So yes, I think it looks amazing. The only little problem was the time it took to complete - 6 month instead of 6 weeks! African time… that’s all I can say!!
So 2014 we can start again from the beginning!
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EKTOR AT THE SA CHAMPS; GOOD BYE LIEBLING AND WELCOME CABALLERO
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At just four years old I took Ektor to the SA Champs in Johannesburg. I was very upset when I saw that there wasn’t a young horse class for him, so I had to enter him at novice. Definitely too much for him I thought, but the clever man learned rein back and simple changes in three days. What a horse! We were then placed fourth in the consolation class, very very happy!!!
The not so happy times were with Liebling, I rode one test with her to notice that she was not sound. She had already been a bit funny at home, so I had given her the week off before the champs hoping it would come right. We couldn't give her any bute, which didn’t help. After Rissa, my vet, had examined her it was clear that her competition days were over. At the age of 20 she just told me she had enough.
And then the most amazing thing happend: I bumped into Castello’s former owner Melinda and after a while Candice joins the conversation asking about Caballero. Melinda said she didn’t ride him any more and wanted to sell him just keeping her mare and looking for a companion. Candice and I looked at each other and Candice said: well, then I have got the right person here. So this was the deal, I bought Caballero, a 9 year old Hannovarian imported from Germany, by Competent who is by Calypso II out of Akzent II.
So here we go, now I have a new dressage horse ready for Medium level and found a wonderful retirement home for my good old Liebling!
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WONDERFUL GUESTS ON WONDERFUL HORSES
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We always write about our new horses, what about our good old hacks? Here are some pictures of our lovely guests on a few of our hard working, amazing, great, fantastic, brave, honest horses. They have worked so hard this year and carried everyone around the block, stood steady and brave in front of the wildest beasts, galloped over hills, waded through rivers, climbed over mountains and always came home for supper! We love you guys and without you it wouldn’t be possible. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!
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Copyright © 2013 Wait A LIttle Horse Safaris, designed by Gerti Kusseler. All Rights Reserved. |
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WAIT A LITTLE horse safaris |
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