29th November 2009 - Kara reports on latest trip
Last Updated: 29/11/2009
Last week I did a presentation to the Ayr Riding Club AGM at the Kirkton Inn about my recent trip to Papua New Guinea and thought I would report to everyone that couldnt make the AGM.
I went to PNG on an agricultural tour in conjunction with the Royal Highland and Agricultural Show Society and the Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth. 11 Next Generation delegates travelled to PNG on an Understanding and Assistance Mission to attend the Morobe Agricultural Show and to travel around PNG visiting small scale subsistence farms and large commercial farms. Unfortunately we arrived to the news that the agricultural show was cancelled due to a cholera outbreak...welcome to PNG!
We saw pretty much everything including small hillside vegetable gardens growing the most amazing vegetables you've ever seen and tasted, pigs, goats, feedlot cattle, sugar cane and palm oil plantations, a large timber mill, and a crocodile farm.
On one of the cattle farms we had an entire day to work with the stockmen and with local farmers who all use horses to tend to their livestock. Before I left home I had gathered a lot of tack, grooming equipment, books and rope to make halters. I was very grateful to everyone that responded to my website post. I couldnt take it all as I only had 20kg baggage allowance and also had to take some clothes to wear!
On this day I was part of 5 people that were going to help these stockmen and their horses. We asked all the men to tack their horses up and ride them away. This allowed us to see what level of ability everyone had. Almost like a RC rally! The farmers were mostly riding in stocksaddles which are big and heavy like western saddles. The horses had simple bridles with a rusty bit, cheek pieces and a brow band. Some had throat lashes, some didnt. The horses didnt where boots and the tack hadnt seen soap, ever! And the saddle blankets hadnt been washed recently...! The horses were lean and had no top line but they were relaxed and willing to work. We assessed the level of riding in the group of 10 or so riders after which we helped to adjust stirrups and pointed out classic riding faults such as legs too far forward, heels up, leaning hands on the wither, and looking down. Nothing more than we have all probably done at one stage in our lives...the difference being we go to RC rallies and private lessons, whereas these guys were all self taught with no fancy magazines, books or videos to watch and learn from. So, at this stage my friend, John, got on one of the horses and did a show and then showed the stockmen how to jump. I was teaching and once John had jumped a cross pole and upright I started my rally of stockmen over a trotting pole and worked up to an upright. They were all so good and game for it. The main thing was telling them to give with their hands and look up and look at the distance when appraoching the fences. Otherwise everyone did great! 
After our jumping lesson we held barrel race competition which was timed. This is a competition that has been designed for stockmen who use the skills seen in a barrel race for when they are working with cattle in the yards. It was so much fun and I even had a go. At the end we had a prize giving using some very smart looking tartan Ayr RC rosettes. Each stockman also got a prize even if they werent in the top 6. Each prize was something that that particular stockman needed for his horse whether it was a bit, reins, girth etc. After we untacked the horses or let them graze still tacked up, we all gathered and had a workshop where we showed the stockmen how to make rope halters and bridles, gave them riding tips and had a general informal chat on how to care for their horses. We also demonstrated hoof care and trimming.
I would like to thank all the people that donated their old horsey items to me. The look on the faces of the stockmen when they received the tack and bits was amazing. Thank you so much also to the RC for donating the rosettes.
