Tonto: 

Tonto was mustered in from zone 20 with a band of bachelors. There is no other information on him apart from that he had been mustered and then escaped from the 2021 muster. Tonto was named after the Lone Rangers best friend and companion. The Lone Ranger often refers to Tonto as Khemosabi (meaning friend and was also the name of my stallion who recently passed away). 

Tonto arrived with a mare and spent the first few days always making sure he was behind her when I entered the yards. He is gaining more and more confidence in his new domestic life and is now waiting for me at the gate each morning. He has a very quiet nature, and he loves his face to be scratched, particularly behind his ears. I really enjoy working with Tonto and look forward to the many adventures that lie ahead of us. 

Shannon: 

I live on my family’s 350 acre farm in Coroglen with my almost 5yr old son Denny. My family have always had horses and up until 3 years ago my family owned and operated Rangihau Ranch Horse Treks. I attended Mercury Bay pony Club from 7yrs old and competed in showjumping as a teenager. 

I am currently teaching riding lessons, have a small number of home bred horses (by HR Khemosabi), I teach the practical aspects of the Mercury Bay Area Schools Equine programme, I take on client horses for schooling and starting under saddle, and during the summer months facilitate camps. 

My work background started in Exercise prescription and personal training which later moved on to Outdoor instruction. I worked as an Adventure Cave guide in Waitomo for much of my 20s at ‘The Legendary Blackwater Rafting CO.’ I then wanted to pursue and further my skills in training young horses which from a very young age has been my passion. I began work on an East Coast Station not far from Tokomaru Bay in 2014 handling, starting and selling what is now the MJK Sport-horses for Kirsty Maclean.  From there my work led me to America for the following 3 NZ winters where I worked in various stables as a groom and rider, at a summer camp (Birch Hill in New Hampshire) as the horse-riding camp director and volunteered at a wild horse sanctuary.  

I am now back studying and furthering my Outdoor Education and Facilitation skills and qualification with AdventureWorks LTD and working towards becoming an Equine Assisted learning practitioner and researching Adventure therapy.