Featured Provider
They start happy and finish happy which is our priority .
Hi Elina, please tell us what you do?
We host Pony Play Time sessions for young children and Horse Skills sessions for older children, up to around 10 years old. We also host groups of elderly guests from rest-homes to come out for lunch and spend time with our bigger retired horses. We are in Loburn, Canterbury.
What's a Pony Play Time session and how does that differ from a Horse Skills session?
Pony Play Time is where small children meet and brush the ponies, then they ride in the arena on a lead and we play games that help them with their balance and confidence. Horse Skills is for older children who want to learn how to ride independently.
They start happy and finish happy which is our priority .
What's something special about Oko's Place?
We don't use bit's, whips or encourage hard kicks in our sessions, and at the start and end of each session the ponies do some clicker training tricks with/for the children, we find this keeps the ponies happy in their work. After the first month of operation we found the ponies were getting grumpy and nappy but now we have brought the clicker training into every session they start happy and finish happy which is our priority .
What is clicker training?
Clicker training is positive reinforcement for behaviours we want to encourage. We have a few simple tricks they have been taught to do. We ask for a behaviour and make a kiss sound when the pony does the behaviour. when they hear the kiss they know they have done well and get a food reward. They really enjoy it. They're cheeky wee welshies so it's their absolute favourite thing.
Is there much interest in the style of horsemanship you practice at Oko's Place?
Yes, we cater to people who don't feel like traditional methods suit them - surpisingly we have regular customers who drive for over an hour to bring their children for Pony Play Time. People like learning different methods and the fact that the ponies are interactive, fun and safe.
If you could say one thing to the horse world what would it be?
Dangerous behaviour often starts in the mouth with unsuitable contact or the wrong bit. It seems like this is often overlooked.
How do we learn more about Oko's Place?
Our facebook page :
www.facebook.com/Okosplace
