HORSES HAWKES BAY
Horses Hawkes Bay back in the saddle again!!!
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GIMA Korea’s horse riding school for youngsters.
I arrived in Korea in February 2006 and started my new life as an English teacher.
Yes, that’s right me, a guy who used to get up at 4am every morning to pull tits on the farm.
I had just finished a Bachelor of Arts at Massey in Palmy, where I had stayed with friends out near Linton. My friends had during my time there 1 horse, 2 ponies, a Shetland pony and a yearling. So every weekend I would saddle up Chocolate a big 17 hand dark brown Arab. And, when he was sold I moved onto Blue a smallish white pony, or Tuckey who was on the larger side of being a pony. Both ponies were champions in their time, but now living their retirement, with my friends kids using them for pony club during the season.
I used to love going out for a gallop down the wide open paddocks, in the weekends. I had been with them for 2 years, and it was here that I learnt or remembered how to ride. Mum and dad had horses when we were kids, but they were all sold when we sold the farm during the stock market crash back around 86. However my family still retained an interest in horses with the local Polo club, pony clubs and the local A & P show. And, my grandfather was very well known within Hawkes Bay and beyond for his long service and commitment to both the local pony club and A & P association.
Anyway, in February 2006 I was 27 and fresh out of Massey. So, I went to Korea to begin my new career in English teaching. After years on the farm I had decided it was time for a change and I left little old Waipukuruau with a population of around 7,000 and went to a small city named Uijeonbu on the outskirts of Seoul (Uijeonbu has a population of about 1 million!) And you know what the old saying runs true, you can take the farm boy away from the farm, but you can’t take the farm away from the boy! And it wasn’t long before I was hankering for those days under the long white cloud, galloping along on one of my horses while hanging on for dear life.
So I made some enquiries about where to ride horses, and I found the Seoul racecourse. But, at the time they only offered riding for kids. However, they were able to tell me about other places in the countryside where I could ride. Unfortunately due to the distance and my lack of Korean language ability, it just proved too hard to get out to these places. So, I had to give up the idea of doing any serious riding again.
Two years went past, and I moved two more times, finally on the last move in March 2008, I moved to a suburb named Hoegi, which is pretty much in the centre of Seoul, and the very last place you would expect to find anything farm like, especially horses, right? Wrong! I had been living in Hoegi for 2 weeks, and my good kiwi mate Craig had come up for a beer at the local bars. The results were depressing and he left that night with instructions for me to find a good bar the next day.
So that day I got up out of bed, it was a Saturday, and thought at least the walk will do me good. I began identifying good places for us to drink at, although when they are closed it’s pretty hard to know what they will be like. So after a while I decided to head back home. I think it was just after lunch and I was exploring the side streets of what was to be my new home for the next two years.
I was enjoying a smoke, playing with it as I kicked the stones with my jandals walking past an elementary school. When I noticed them, in the middle of Seoul on a playground at an elementary school, there were bloody horses!
Now I know there are forces that makes metal attract each other, and one of which to be called a magnet. Well that is exactly what happened to me that day (like any good horse person I suppose). The smoke crashed to the ground and the last stone rolled away from my toes. And I was drawn into its spell, the red and white truck, with five thoroughbreds, ex racehorses, trotting around a small ring, no longer than 50 metres in length and 15 metres wide, likewise.
I met the members, and Mr Kim, none of whom spoke perfect English and most spoke none!
Mr Kim informed me of the price, at the time it was about 50nzd for 30 minutes or about 250nzd for one month’s riding, which would include riding on Saturdays and Sundays. After which I promised to him I would be there at 8.30 the next morning. And I went away with a moon crescent as a smile. I still remember ringing Craig, stuttering away in excitement. He said to me “did you find a good bar?” and I replied “No, but I found a horse club!” Something that Craig couldn’t quite comprehend, but I know I found the better option! Months later, Craig, having never ridden a horse before joined me and Mr Kim for his first horse riding experience in the centre of Seoul.
The next day I turned up to the horse club, I was late, five minutes late. Mr Kim told me never be late again, and sent me on a five lap run around the soccer field, as is customary for his adult members.
Mr Kim’s riding school is appropriately named “GIMA, Koreas riding school for youngsters”, however it caters for all ages from early elementary to adults.
Mr Kim, who has a background in Electrical Engineering, worked in the industry for over 14 years until the IMF crisis of 1997 after which he began to turn his attention to horses having recognised that the horse riding industry was relatively undeveloped in Korea. Although there were and are opportunities to learn how to ride horses at specialised ranches in Korea, these ranches are in the countryside, which requires a lot of time in travel, as well as expense.
At that time South Koreas horse population was about 5,000-20,000 horses. And the horse riding was worth an estimated 80 billion won ($96,124,566.00NZ) market, so it was extremely expensive. In fact, the equine industry equates to about 1% of South Korea’s GDP, considering its total market is about 4 trillion won ($4,812,786,825.00NZ). Obviously when looking at these figures the equine market in Korea is far too small. So Mr Kim decided to introduce his horse riding school to the market. A wise idea, considering that Koreans are very active, perhaps the most active in the world, when it comes to education.
So, in November 2007 Mr Kim decided on an unusual approach to teaching horse riding, something not seen in Korea before, which was to take the horses in a truck to schools in Seoul and it’s neighbouring province, Gyeongi-do and educate people not only about horse riding but about horses in general.
At that time he had no formal staff, and only 5 part time workers. He started with five horses; these initial horses were Ajosi (old man) a black stallion and the boss of all the horses, he would nip at you if you weren’t looking, so you always had to be careful with him. Daejeonni, (captain) a chestnut gelding. Backtoban, a black gelding who coincidently was from New Zealand. Sarrangni (love) a brown gelding with a heart on his forehead. And Yong bu in, (pregnant women) his only mare. And while his herd has increased, these five horses are still there at the head of the pack.
Mr Kim was directly involved with every class. He had 110 students in all, 80 were elementary school kids and 30 were adults. When we first met, Mr Kim lived in Daegu, a small city 300 kilometres south of Seoul. Every Friday morning Mr Kim would load up the horses and travel the five hour journey to Seoul. And he would teach horse riding at 2 different schools over a 3 day period. On Saturday mornings his Gimadun members ride, these members tend to be university students and once or twice a year he has a camp for these students. He has taken them to the mountains and ridden over a few days in the bush. I was fortunate enough to be a part of one of the first of these camps, however at the time there were 11 students, so I took the last ride of the day. It was just me and Mr Kim, I looked at him, and I just knew we were both thinking the same thing, so off we galloped through the windy bush roads to the local dairy and drank a couple of beers as good lads would do. But, alas those days are gone now as the business has expanded so has the need for constant professionalism.
Mr Kim and I also used to go out for a canter along the busy city streets, just the two of us. And believe me, there is nothing more cool then cantering along a road in the middle of Seoul. People are amazed, people are surprised, and there you go just thinking yeah I’m the man! Although these occasions do still happen it is becoming less. However we do still take students out on the road on lead ropes, and only the well trained instructors will ride without any assistance on the roads.
Then on Saturday afternoons and late Sunday mornings/afternoons he teaches the elementary/middle school students how to ride. Thus, the weekends are perhaps the longest the horses will work. They have a start time of about 9am and finish time of between 3-5pm (it is only on the weekends when the schedule is such as this). And preparation/clean up, including the setup of 2 distinct rings, takes about 30 minutes
Hence, Mr Kim would spend 4 days and 3 nights away from home every week. The horses, having no stables to go to in Seoul would have to sleep standing up in the truck over that time, even in the winter. Yes that’s right he teaches horse riding in the winter! And I have been there many times when we have had to shovel the snow into big heaps to make the area required for riding! Horse riding has only been cancelled once for snow and that was because the snow was so thick it was too dangerous to take the trucks out onto the small narrow road that leads to his stables.
On a Monday morning he would move the horses to another school just south of Seoul and teach one more time. And finally, he would arrive back in Daegu about 2 in the morning on Tuesday.
Each lesson lasts for about 30 minutes and in this time the students are instructed on all the basics of horse riding, and as they get more advanced and confident they go onto more technical things such as trotting, cantering etc. Each student gets to spend at least ten minutes inside the ring for one on one tutoring with an instructor.
Students are required to not only use helmets but special protective vests. In the old days of 2008 they used an inflatable jacket that was attached to the saddle by a bungee cord. So that if a student did fall off, the cord would pull the trigger on a gas can, inflating the jacket before the student hit the ground. However, now days, they use something a little more modern. And of course they are always reminded of the basics, heels down, shoulders straight, and eyes forward. Safety is the first and most important message enforced at this horse riding school.
By starting this horse riding school Mr Kim has helped foster peoples interest in animals and the outdoors. Something that is lost amongst today’s generation growing up in Korea, because in a city of over 12 million, where most people grow up in tiny apartments where all they know of animals and the outdoors and the outdoors is what they see in the zoos and the occasional hiking in the mountains. The opportunity to participate in a horse riding school, at their doorstep, is a unique opportunity for those students. When I first joined the school, my job was to assist in teaching the students how to ride. This involved a lot of leading the horses on ropes, especially for the novices. I also had to keep an eye on everything else, as, at all times the team members/ staff have to be fully alert. However, Soo Yeob, Mr Kim’s right hand man at that time, and I had another important job, which was to feed and water the horses at night. The watering especially was very interesting as it involved standing outside the truck on a ladder and holding a bucket up to the horse’s faces. And sometimes, depending if it was raining or not you would have 2 or 3 or 7 showers in one night!
Mr Kim teaches his students the European style of horse riding, because the western style of riding is not accepted in Korea. Also, as students progress, they get to enjoy a canter, or jump a few hurdles.
When Mr Kim began horse riding 11 years ago he was involved with volunteer rehabilitation riding, and 3 years ago he was approached by the Korean disabled peoples association to teach riding for the disabled. So he began doing this with some state funding, which is renewed on a yearly basis. He is constantly looking to improve this part of the school, and because of his good heart, the school now teaches about 36 students through his riding for the disabled programme.
Mr Kim now has a team of approximately 40 people and 26 horses, with 4 trucks that are capable of carrying between 5-7 horses each. And he teaches horse riding (as an after school programme) at 21 elementary schools, to the disabled (as mentioned above) and to an international school. Making the total number of students he now teaches approximately 1,000 students.
From Monday- Saturday 4 trucks go out and on Sunday’s two trucks go out, hence this is a seven day a week business. So, as you can tell, this is a busy, progressive school!
Mr Kim’s management structure for GIMA is as such:
Mr Kim’s wife, is the schools CEO, she consults with the students and staff, makes the class schedules and organises the contracts with the individual school’s principals. While Mr Kim focuses on the development of the horse riding classroom. He makes and produces the books that the students learn from, as well as developing the skills and education of the trainers. Mr Kim’s position is more like the secretary of the horse riding school, overseeing everything, including its development and education, as well as reporting back to the directors and investors.
Within his management structure Mr Kim has 4 teams consisting of 6 people each, a truck driver who is assigned to a truck, and a team leader whose job is to supervise and manage each team and the workers whose primary jobs are to teach the students. About fifteen staff members have nationally recognised qualifications in horse riding instruction. In 2009 eight employees gained this qualification, and this year a further ten people are expected to complete this qualification.
Prior to joining the horse riding school most of the instructors were strangers to horse riding with no experience around or with horses. A strong curiosity about horses enticed them to the school and Mr Kim had to provide his new instructors with the necessary tools to teach horse riding. Also, in Korea job competition is tough, with most jobs averaging at least 1000 applicants per position, so finding a good job with a fair salary can be quite difficult in today’s times. This horse riding school is progressing and expanding at a very fast rate and opportunities are increasing for employees to work their way up the management ladder. Mr Kim’s employees know that horse riding as a sport and an occupation is a very attractive opportunity, and they are very excited in working for this school, considering that this horse riding school will continue to progress and flourish in the years to come. Thus, it is with this expectation that being a horse riding instructor will soon become a desirable and viable occupation for people in Korea. The students appear to take great pride in riding the horses; they quite often turn up early and hang around after the lesson just to be with the horses. And they quite often bring treats such as sugar and carrots for the horses to eat. Also, since the majority of the students live in the concrete jungle of Seoul, many children are blocked from having contact with any animals. It’s something that in New Zealand we can’t really appreciate since most households tend to have pets. Hence, mostly what Korean kids know of horses and animals is what they see in the media or at Zoo’s. And this is another purpose of the horse riding school, which is to give these children an opportunity to interact with animals on a personal basis, and to foster their love of the outdoors with this meaningful interaction.
The students who attend this horse riding school tend to originate from a variety of backgrounds, thus horse riding is not just for the rich and elite who can afford it. However there is a different price structure for students who have obvious advantages. Recently Mr Kim started taking his horse riding school to Apujeong in Seoul, which is like the Beverly Hills area of Korea. He hopes by providing his horse riding school in this area it will cause a significant sensation, thus promoting the school on a grander scale throughout Korea.
Mr Kim charges the following prices at his horse riding school:
For a standard lesson in what is called the class 4 circuit it costs 132,000 ($159.00NZ) per month with each lesson lasting 30 minutes. The students will ride at least 4 times within that month.
The next tier in the class 4 circuit is a 50 minute lesson. And they ride 4 times per month. He charges them 220,000 won per month ($265.00NZ) per month
Then in Apujeong he has a 50 minute class. He charges them 400,000 won ($481.00NZ) for 4 lessons per month. The prices remain the same for everyone, no matter their age, however it does depend on their location. At the moment the international school students are currently being charged the same as the class 4 circuits, however next year that price is likely to increase.
It may sound expensive, but when you consider how much time energy and effort goes into ensuring the students are able to ride each week, and how unique this is, it’s a small price to pay.
The schools curriculum is structured to last for 48 weeks. The school produces and provides its own textbooks. Safety is essential in this school and staff and students are constantly being reminded about this. Everything is documented and recorded on a daily basis.
Every year Mr Kim during the summer holidays Mr Kim runs a short summer camp. These camps are intensive and tend to last for between 5-10 days. And over that time they ride a distance of 250-450 kilometres.
Presently, there are approximately 18,000 horses here in South Korea. And 10,000 of that population are the native Korean horses, who are a close relation to the Mongolian breed of horses. They are sturdy strong, reliable horses, but for the purposes of learning how to ride horses, especially to the students and parents demands are too small at an average size of 120cm, to use. Thus, a horse of over 160cms with an approximate weight of 450-550kgs is required. Hence the main supplier of horses tends to be the American market. However, New Zealand horses are also used here.
There are approximately 190 stables in Korea, however these stables tend to be between 2-5 hours travel away from Seoul. There are also three specialised equine universities and high school. However Mr Kim tends to get all of his horses from the Korean Racing association. So his horses are ex-racehorses, which as we all know can be a bit fiery at times.
The horses are fed a mixture purina feed and alfalfa hay twice a day, while also having access to mineral blocks. To accommodate this expanding school, and to ease the demands being made on the horses Mr Kim made the decision in late 2008 to move his horses closer to Seoul to his present location in a small city called Pyeontaek (which is approximately 80 kilometres from Seoul).
An average working day consists of a start time between 5am-11am from when the horses are loaded onto the trucks and depart the stables. Generally a 1-1 and a half journey ensues after that, following which the horses are fed and have a one hour rest. Meaning a total of about 3 hours per day is travelled.
Usually preparation for the class takes about 30-40 minutes. This not only includes the saddling, grooming and healing of any wounds that the horse may have. It also involves the setting up of the riding area. This has two rings and is temporarily fenced off from the general public. The set up time also includes the preparation of all the necessary horse riding equipment. A typical teaching day will last between 5-6 hours, with the horses working 4-5 out of those hours.
The horses work 5 or 6 days a week and have 1 or 2 days rest, and there is no work for them on a public holiday or a school holiday. However they do work during the winter and summer holidays! And the horses are adequately managed with the help of the horse riding schools website (http://cafe.naver.com/horseandhuman.cafe) where the employees are encouraged to share information about the horses, students and all other relevant information.
In Seoul there are over 600 elementary schools and over 8,000 elementary schools nationwide. In regards to middle and high schools there are over 18,000 nationwide, potentially opening up an endless market.
Mr Kim has plans to extend the horse riding school from 4 teams and 23 schools at the present, to an additional 7 teams this year. This means, he will need an additional minimum of 35 horses 42 employees and 7 new trucks. In 2011 over 20 teams will be starting new horse riding classes. So he will have a total of 160 horses and 120 instructors. And he is always in contact with new and potential investors in the horse riding school. The educational market is perhaps the most solid and stable industry in Korea and the potential to make money through riding horses is endless.
Mr Kim through his riding school not only gives students to further their education in a general way (for example many universities in Korea require their students to be a part of a club of some sort, which in turns helps their employment situation) but he also gives students an opportunity to get back to nature and rediscover their rural roots. Previously people learning how to ride horses had been in a decline in Korea. However, with the advent of this horse riding school there has been a jump in interest about it. And investors see and realise the potential of this school, so investing in this school is likely to give them significant returns.
This school is also the only licensed horse riding school permitted to transport horses to the actual elementary schools and such like. This effectively gives them a monopoly in this field.
Hence, it’s a combination of these reasons why investors are flocking to invest in this horse riding school.
In a city where not only horses are a strange sight, so is the other unsightly problem. What to do with the dung? During the first year of the school, the staff used to run around with a bucket and a brush and shovel to catch it. However this became quite tiresome and messy, so, Mr Kim started using nappies for the horses. He attaches a bag (with straps) from the girth on the sides, and attached at the saddle from the top. As for the number ones, well they have been toilet trained in that department and most do well to hold on until they are safely back in the truck.
Over the past three years I have been privileged enough to be a part of this horse riding school. It has rapidly expanded, sometimes so fast it’s hard for me to keep up. And although these days my commitment is not as strong as it used to be, I still participate at least once a week on the Saturday at Cheongnyang Elementary school, where it all started for me. I also try to lend a hand whenever time permits.
And every time I go to wherever the horses may be, the first thing I do is give them a great big hug, and talk to them like their my best friend, although with so many horses, remembering their names is sometimes a little hard! Many of the other members think I’m crazy doing this, including Mr Kim, but they’re horses after all!
And, admittedly my friends and people I meet wonder how I can give up so much time to these beautiful animals. Especially a Saturday, when I have just taught at school all week, to go to another school for fun and love! Well I say to them just meet them, meet the horses and you’ll see why. But that’s not the only reason. Meet Mr Kim, and all your questions will be answered.
You’ll get the feeling that this horse riding school isn’t just a business to make money off. He genuinely loves the horses, being outside with them all day long. And he loves teaching the students, young and old how to do something that used to be a very common occupation in Korea. Mr Kim is a people person, he is great with the young and old and he can relate to all. Yet, he is a man who demands respect, and with him there is a time for joking and laughing, but when he means business, it’s his way or the highway!
Over the years Mr Kim has become a great friend and a mentor of mine. He is a very good and kind man with a lot of wisdom. But ultimately, to me, he will always be known as Uncle Big Mouth as rest assured he can never keep a secret! It’s our hope, Mr Kim’s and his teams hope at the GIMA horse riding school, and of course mine, that this article will help to promote awareness of the Korean Equine industry. And of our school, so hopefully meaningful connections maybe made further down the line.
Please feel free to visit his website at: http://www.xn--ok0bn3g34g.net/ although this website is in Korean, with no English language options. Alternatively you can contact me for further information at paultparsons@gmail.com or paultparsons@hotmail.com please put attention Korea’s horse riding school on the subject line or your email may go to the junk box.
Source:
Myeong-gi Kim (Mr Kim): Secretary GIMA Koreas horse riding school for youngsters.
Paul Parsons: Author and volunteer for Koreas horse riding school for youngsters.
One of the top New Zealand two-year-olds from last season, San Bernardino (3 Br. G. Gold Mine - Miss Katella by The Commander) returned to the scene of his impressive Listed win in the Welcome Stakes, to capture the $100,000, Group III, Lindauer Stewards Stakes (1200m), contested under Open Handicap conditions at Riccarton Park in Christchurch on Wednesday.
San Bernardino had recorded his previous Riccarton victory during Cup week a year ago, went on to win the Listed Ford Fairview Stakes at Te Rapa next start, finished third in the Group III Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie, placed second in the Fairview Ford Stakes at Matamata, and culminated a stellar juvenile season with a third to Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio) in the Group I Ford Sires Produce Stakes at Awapuni.
Set for the race, with two lead-up runs under his belt, San Bernardino led throughout in the hands of Darryl Bradley, had the field covered when two lengths clear inside the final furlong, and kept up a powerful gallop to win by one and a quarter lengths.
On a track upgraded from Good3 to Good2 after race seven, one that provided electric times throughout the day, San Bernardino scooted over the 1200 metres in 1:07.67, last 600 in 32.94.
San Bernardino is prepared at Tuhikaramea by the Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson training establishment, for owners Trevor Clarke (Hamilton), Bernard Hickey (Napier), Bryce Parker (Auckland), Graeme Rogerson MNZM and Karl Summers (Napier).
San Bernadino provided young owning enthusiast Bryce Parker with his first win in twenty years last season, and he was ecstatic with the result, "This is a great hunting ground."
Rider Darryl Bradley was equally taken with the performance, "It was an amazing run. He had his ears pricked going to lead down the chute, no work to the course proper, came in to the bridle nicely early in the straight, powered home on the nickel, and with no weight on his back I could feel the power kicking in. I had no worries about a horse ranging up because he just kept digging in", he said.
Part-owner Bernard Hickey selected San Bernardino at the 2007 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale from the draft of Hallmark Stud, paying $28,000 for the impressive looking equine athlete.
His dam, Miss Katella is by the Sir Tristram sire son, The Commander. His half sister GI Jane has also performing extremely well on the track and his full brother is amongst the current yearlings on the market from Hallmark Stud at Karaka.
We will have to keep an eye out at his next outing in his campaign, being the "Railway" on New years day at Ellerslie, followed by "The Telegraph" at Trentham on the 17th January. There is a very big bonus waiting for any horse that could win both. Further in the future we may well see him in the Kelt Capital stakes.
GOOD LUCK Bernie from us all
The Dreaded Sarcoid
For many years now the word sarcoid has equated to a death sentence for many horses. There have been some partially successful cures and some drugs that suppress the growth, but for most, once the sarcoid has been disturbed, a period of rapid growth occurs and the only humane outcome is to put the horse down once the cancerous growth destroys the quality of life.
There is now a treatment available here in NZ which is similar to ointments "cansema"(produced for human application) and "XXterra"(available in the States) . These ointments are a combination of herbs with mineral salts which promote inflammation of the sarcoid to stimulate the animals immune system, creating pus around the growth and cause rejection of the sarcoid. It does not affect healthy tissue.
The Indian Mud has been trialled on a number of horses with some spectacular successes. Two vets are now referring clients, (and another is watching with interest). Whilst it comes with no guarantees, and we may yet find that some sarcoids are resistant to it, we at least now have another option.
This product, marketed as Settenna's "Indian Mud", is an age old recipe that has been used by the American Indians to treat these "lumps" for years. The recipe combines the basic ingredients bloodroot, chapperal (or red clover flower), with Zinc Chloride combined to form a smooth brown (mudlike) paste.
For further information contact Annette 06 874 3711 or settenna@gmail.com sarcoid inquiry
Watch this space for photos of a case in progress
HAWKES BAY BRED QUARTER HORSE COMPETING IN THE STATES
Just as kiwis tend turn up in surprising places, so do their horses.
I was astonished to get news that a horse I had bred had turned up in Louisiana, and also delighted to discover that he had qualified for the Louisiana State Barrel Racing Championships for 2008.
Settenna Budlight was born in Hawkes Bay 1994, a stunning palomino colt by War Skeeta out of a Wholeheartedly mare, Anita Bay. He was broken as a three year old by Warwick Percival and I hacked him for a year, doing a few schools and trekking. He was a gutsy horse with loads of potential and when Wayne Howsan came visiting, he and his partner decided "DB" was ideal for them, Wayne would use him as a roping horse, while Robbie barrel raced him. In a few years Wayne returned to his homeland of Australia and from time to time I heard news of their competing in Warwick, and Wayne's coaching of a local school rodeo team.
News duly filtered through that Wayne had gone to the States and was making a living as a trainer, and I assumed DB had stayed in Queensland, but I was wrong. Again, he couldn't leave his mate behind, so DB made yet another international journey.
Now at 14, he has been loaned to a fifteen year old, Kaitlynn, and they have now qualified for this years state championships in both youth and open and we can, now, only wait to see how they fare.
As breeders, we always believe in our bloodlines, but I must admit, it is something special to get the confirmation of having a horse you've bred go back to the home of quarter horses, and have him compare very favourably.
All that is left to say is "GO the KIWI"