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- Nathan Searle - Process Improvement Manager - FONTERRA"
I had hoped to get my team away to relax and to do something different as a group. They, like me, had been through the trips to Waiheke and been up and down ropes on numerous occasions in the name of team building - enough is enough!!!
Dune Lakes Lodge offered an equine experience that was completely different - having a group of 'townies' out there interacting with - relating to and moving around 600kg animals was an amazing experience for the group - descriptors such as 'wow', 'fantastic', 'lovely' can still be heard in their conversations with their peers.
I personally appreciated your flexibility when trying to tailor the day to what I had hoped for, and being able to cater to different levels of confidence and adventure. I think this was reflected in the feedback form we completed that came back as a 9/10 experience!!!
As their manager, I'm really glad to have taken the time to find an exciting new adventure for the team, and thank you again for your professionalism and warmth that created a great experience for all. I think you have a gem here for others to tap into and I'm happy to talk with them if they wish to hear firsthand of our corporate experience."
One task involves entering a round-pen with an unknown horse and leaving with one that has connected with you. An awareness of the implications of body language between you and the horse, invokes a realisation that subtle energies - combined with focus and the timing of interactions - apply to relationships in your everyday working world. The experience may prove deeply thought provoking.
Take for example a team that has problems working together. When the group is not successfully working together to accomplish a task with the horse, the horse will respond in ways that might thwart the group’s efforts and clearly display areas for improvement. The facilitator will interpret the actions of the horse as indicators to the participants that they are not in control of the situation and are not working together as a team - with the horse being the integral team member.
The behaviour of the participants is reflected in the behaviour of the horse. A positive change in participant behaviour brings positive changes in equine behaviour.
We usually find that the way in which our clients interact and react with the horses is very similar to the way they interact and react with their customers, peers, or other work groups as well as their own families!
... Joy
Who would have thought that a horse could teach me so much! I never expected to be seeing myself so clearly in the NZ-HALO programme. I learned and was able to challenge myself to accept and express my strength. To see this part of my personality as a positive and essential thing. I realised that I have a habit of giving up easily and if i just persevere I can achieve my goals. Finally I learned that reward is a vital part of healthy life and this is something I need in my life- Pausing to say well done to myself and my horse taught me that getting to my goal is made up of lots of small steps which are worth celebrating.
Thank you NZ-HALO for changing my life in such a gentle and receivable way.
... Nadine
"Last weekend I attend a Natural Horsemanship weekend at Dune Lakes Lodge. I have not had any experience with Natural Horsemanship before this. After the weekend clinic, you wouldn’t believe the change in my ... Nadineboy and ME! The level of respect he now has for me, the gentle kind way I can now get him to do what I want and MOST IMPORTANTLY “NO HEAD FLICKING”. He didn’t head flick once the whole weekend! I just wanted to share my experience with you as maybe an option for you to try. I’m not saying that it will work for you, but so far it has definitely made a difference for me and I was able to enjoy my baby again in a calm, non-head flicking way. I still have lots of work to do as the skills Rosemary and Dave showed us are not a one-off fix but an on-going way of life for you and your horse to enjoy. I’m hooked!"
... Olwyn
"I will never be the same again! Thanks so much for sending me across the other side. Rata and I love you for it. p.s. Food FAB"
... Alison (Cambridgeshire, England)
"What a treat! So lucky to share this all with you for a few weeks. Thanks for everything"
… Kathy
"Until a couple of months ago, I believed my riding days were well & truly over. My horse had not been ridden for well over 5 years & I had lost my confidence & couldn't bring myself to get on a horse even though I dearly wanted to. Then I was lucky enough to meet Dave & Rosemary. They took my TB Jack to their place & worked on him, whilst getting me on their horses to gain confidence. Now Jack & I are together & hacking out as well has having classical dressage lessons. We are having fun! They have armed me with the tools & confidence to handle any situation. I am so grateful to these wonderful people & their horses for giving me back my hobby I thought I had lost long ago. They succeeded where many people have tried & failed. I sincerely recommend their kind & knowledgeable approach to anyone who would dearly love to ride again but have lost confidence."
... Jackie & Jodie
"Wonderful calming & relaxing weekend for horses & 2 legged horses!!! Thank you so much."
... Helen
"I recently had the privilege of staying at your lodge & wanted to thank you for your help & advice. I was with the group of Adult riders from Totara Park - my horse was the Chestnut thoroughbred that played up. You kindly loaned me a saddle & rope halter to ride the three hour trek & gave me techniques to use when he was misbehaving. As an update I have continued with the natural horsemanship in conjunction with the Adult ride and have even got the Riding for the disabled using it. We have started working with the ponies we use for the Riding for the disabled & the changes in them is really great. I have also not ridden in a bridle since my visit & am looking to purchase a torsion saddle or something equally as good. I learnt a lot from the weekend at your lodge & the horse & I have a new enthusiasm for riding. Thanks."
... Dorothy (Isle of Wight, England)
"Great house, great food, great host & hostess, great everything – will come again – soon."
... Betty (Isle of Wight, England)
"Lovely house, beautiful views, very comfortable, super food – must come again."
... Luidmila
"Wonderful house and lovely people. Beautiful views, warm atomosphere. Thank you very much."
... Karen
"My young horse, Praise, turned a big corner with her education and training during the Natural Horsemanship weekend at Dune Lakes Lodge. This was our first experience of riding 'bitless'. Praise seemed happy and relaxed without a bridle - and I certainly didn't have any difficulties with my communication with her. Day two we did some more advanced ground work - lateral work and float training etc. Our two main highlights were when I asked Praise to walk into the float whilst I sat on the mudguard! And the ultimate 'squeeze' - asking her to walk between the two trunks of a gum tree."
…Vanessa
" Prior to attending this course my horses walked all over me. I've had tonnes of lessons both here and in Australia and in a short number of hours Rosemary and Dave taught me the most valuable lessons. I felt safe and in control of the relationship with my horse, a first for me!"
...Olwyn & Nadine
"OUR WEEKEND GETAWAY - DUNE LAKES LODGE: We unloaded horses and found ourselves a bunk bed in the large American style barn, and were greeted by Rosemary and Dave and got straight into our Natural Horsemanship clinic. Rosemary and Dave’s skillfully showed us through the seven effective games of Natural Horsemanship explaining the advantages of having complete ‘calm’ control of your horse in a very safe, gentle, respectful way. We all had a turn at trying some of the games with Rosemary’s beautiful 17’ hand chestnut mare, ‘Mary’. It was amazing to see Mary’s reaction to different people’s energy while they were just standing next to her. My own energy was very high (as normal!!) and poor Mary just about jumped out of her skin. This gave Rosemary a perfect example of how by just using your energy you can affect your horses’ ideas or movements. We then turned our new learnt skills to our own horses, which soon showed us how must they had been having us on. In my case, the lack of respect and attention span reared its ugly head immediately. However with Rosemary’s guidance we soon started to get his attention.
After a lovely lunch on the deck of their stunning old villa, we set off for a leisure ride around the neighboring farms and headed to one of the beautiful surrounding lakes. It was time to put our new ground skills into action while on our handsome stead’s. Some of us got it quicker than others, but the scenery made up for any lack of communication between owner and horse. Once back at the homestead there was some R&R time before dinner.
After a very pleasant sleep in the barn, we were awoken by the aroma of breakfast. Our next lesson with Rosemary showed us through some different ways of using the seven games and results you could achieve. Once again it was our turn, which brought tears to some eyes as we watched a 12 year old girl achieve in getting Mary to step up onto a box and moving Mary, so the box went between her legs. Dave then took us thru the procedures of Joining Up with your horse in the round pen, nicknamed the elephant’s pen!! (previous owners had build this pen with 12’ sides). I took the option of trying out the round pen, while others played in the arena. This turned out to be a good idea, as one of my problems is the strong bond my horse has with his paddock mate, which causes him to not listen to me. As I tried to put the skills into place, my boy was very interested in calling out to his mate. With the help from Rosemary and Dave I had the full attention from him within about 20mins. I was beaming!!!!!
We then rode to the beach. The scenery was awesome and it really made you feel like you were in another world or at least another country. On our return we packed up ready for our trip back to reality.
In summary our weekend getaway was incredible….!!! We had fantastic friendly hosts, learnt amazing new skills, made new friends, all on a beautiful relaxed property in a totally unspoiled part of the New Zealand less than an hour from Auckland. I’m sure if our horses could talk, they would say what happened to those softies we took away for the weekend. who are these focused inspired people. We totally recommend Rosemary and Dave at Dune Lakes Lodge for a relaxed weekend getaway or a weekend to extend your horse skills. They would love to hear from you, check out their website www.dunelakeslodge.co.nz for their contact details and information regarding their fabulous property and facilities. Cheers."
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