I live near Berri, South
Australia and I am very honoured to be the youngest person to join the
Silversand Associate Team.
I became involved with horses in 2001 and my journey with
Steve and Irena began in 2002 thanks to a problem horse Rusty.I hadn’t been riding any longer than 12
months and needed another horse, which is where Rusty stepped in.He was an emotional horse and was not
very confident, one that would challenge a more experienced horseman, let alone
a weedy little lad just in his teens!But with the help and support of Steve and Irena, we overcame our
hurdles, forming a willing partnership, which became evident during local pony
club competitions that included show jumping, eventing, gymkhanas and mounted
games, leading us to be very successful for a number of years.
Four years on, I have another horse Cass and have begun a
new journey, looking at and studying the Californian Vaquero tradition with the
aim of getting both my horses ‘straight up in the bridle’ in a spade bit.
I look forward to helping others on their own journey to
help the relationship with their horse based on communication, feeling and
understanding.
For more information or enquires, feel free to contact me,
I
may even be able to make you a custom pair of chinks or armitas!
Hi there! I am Josh of JNE Horseworks and my partner Emma and I live in Mildura with our family of 6 horses, 4 dogs and 1 cat. Emma and I have shared a passion for horses since early childhood and over the last 10 or so years we have been involved with natural horsemanship where we have followed the Parelli Program, which has helped our understanding and development of both ourselves and our horses. Only just recently we had the luxury of meeting Steve and Irena Halfpenny and I was invited into their selected range of instructors.
We are now offering our knowledge and skills with: Group and Private Lessons, Foundation Training, Problem Horses, Float Loading and Colt Starting.
For all enquiries please call Josh or Emma on 0422645330 or 0428690004.
David Mellor
Hi my name is David Mellor. I live with my wife Angela and daughter Laura in Bendigo, Victoria.
I started with Natural Horsemanship and horses over 15 years ago with the Parelli system. It was there that I first met Steve and Irena. Steve was initially one of my principal teachers with Parelli. When Steve started Silversand I was very lucky to be able towork closely with Steve, spending many hours watching and learning from him.
I have discovered that not all Horseman are the same, and it takes a rare individual who is an exceptional Horseman, and has the ability to pass on that knowledge. This is what has drawn me to Silversand and Steve Halfpenny.
After completing my Level 3 in the Parelli program, I was overjoyed to be asked by Steve to join the Silversand team as an associate instructor in 2009.
We would like to make Bendigo known as a Silversand centre of excellence. We will be holding regular clinics with Steve on a yearly basis.
In Bendigo we are now offering a Silversand learning centre to help people continue with their journey towards becoming a Horseman.
We have a 180m2 sand riding arena, plus 90 foot round yard for safe secure riding. Our property is based next to Lake Eppalock which gives us a huge range of riding opportunities.
If you would like more information on myself or what we can offer please feel free to contact us.
Hi my name is Annie Gilbert and I now live in Murray Bridge after spending 24 years in the mid north.I live with my 2 dogs, Timothy a corgi x, Runny Honey a foxy x, Jet my paint gelding, Tallulah a Q H filly and Tinkerbell the cat from hell, a pretty tortoiseshell. My other cat Smoochy chose to live at Silversand after spending the winter there with me while Steve and Irena were overseas.
I have shown horses for many years in the hack and western rings, judged at agricultural and western shows and been involved in community events where horses were needed such as festivals and xmas parades.
My friendship with Steve and Irena began 8 years ago after a dear friend Liz Stanley recommended them to get me started in horsemanship training.
The previous year I had purchased a 3 year old paint colt “ Bluegums Jetstream “ who came to me with huge physical and emotional scars and it didn’t take long for me to realise I needed help. I discovered Jet was only performing for me because he thought he had to through fear, brought about by his previous owner, not because he wanted to.
So began our journey and, with Steve’s guidance, Jet and I progressed and now enjoy a beautiful friendship. We went on to achieve great success in the western show arena culminating in numerous individual championships, high point performance horse of South Australia, his national paint horse champion award and a stunning buckle for Amateur Owner at the State Championships. Not bad for a horse I was advised to sell by well meaning people before he kills me!
Jet is now considered a schoolmaster and has won many hearts over the years with students, friends and fellow competitors.
My greatest pleasure now is passing on my knowledge so others can enjoy their horses as much as I enjoy mine. I have been teaching for many years and am honoured to now be an associate of Silversand Horsemanship Centre.
My contact number is 0458 660 520
Helen Sharp
I felt very privileged to be asked to join the Silversand Associates Team.
My involvement with horses started at about age 15 when I purchased my first horse, Ben. I progressed though the Pony Club ranks with him and a few other horses that came along. Once leaving Pony Club I joined a couple of Adult Riding Clubs that were affiliated with Horse Riding Clubs Association of Victoria. I competed with my horses in dressage, eventing and show jumping and enjoyed doing so.
WhenI moved to South Australia I became disheartened with my riding as there was not the same degree of Adult Riding Clubs here. I felt totally lost. I joined the local dressage club but didn’t really enjoy it that much because I eventually came to the conclusion that I was trying to ‘make’ my horse do something that neither of us was enjoying.
A short time after that some friends invited me to see a Pat Parelli demonstration of Natural Horsemanship at one of the local indoor arenas. Back then he was not as well known and was traveling around Australia with his Level 3 students to ‘spread the word’. I was totally mesmerized to say the least but the skeptic in me was hovering. There must be some trick or a catch but in my heart I knew this was where I needed to go, for my horse’s sake. I eventually started lessons with Steve and Irena and the hard work really began, physically but more importantly for me, emotionally.
Nine years and 3 horses later the journey still continues. I currently have 2 beautiful Appaloosas (I’m not biased at all!) and am proud of the fact that I have over come some huge hurdles with my older horse, Sunny and the younger one Dale, well he just keeps me wanting to learn more and more. I’m not necessarily interested in competing any more but what is important to me is that I can take my horses anywhere I want to and know that they are emotionally ready to accept what I ask of them.
I also enjoy helping other people on their Natural Horsemanship journey, especially those that are just starting out. I remember how hard and confusing it was but with the right help, it IS just the beginning.
I am pleased to be a part of the Silversand Natural Horsemanship team. Whenever I visit Silversand I just feel so welcome and inspired to do something more with my horses. Steve & Irena not only have a special way with horses but with people too on their journey with horses.
I have a special interest in teaching children and the bond they can feel with their ponies/horses through the principles of the Silversand programme. I am also excited to be able to help others on their journey through Natural Horsemanship.
A life time of loving horses has progressed through to now being able to pass onto others knowledge learned from not only the horses but from other people.
I have had a varied experience in this progression through “horse studies”. Firstly living most of my life on station properties in isolated parts of Australia with my family and for a job too as a young jillaroo in the Northern Territory and Victoria. Then following on to compete in Tent pegging, Gymkhana, Racing and using my horses whenever I can working stock on our 100,000 acre Merino Sheep property. We have 5 grown children who all grew up riding horses in varied disciplines.
I would like to make myself available as an associate instructor of the Silversand Horsemanship Programme. If you would like to bring your horses and kids up to our Merino Sheep property, we have basic home style accommodation in our shearers quarters (not Dec, Jan or Feb because of the heat).
I first discovered Natural Horsemanship through the Parelli training system back in February 1994 when I audited my first ever clinic held at the Morning Sun Quarter Horse Ranch in Perch. I came home from this clinic thinking - hey this stuff is interesting! At the clinic I put my name down as being possibly interested in attending a 3 day live-in camp at Margaret River, and when the info came through I thought why not!
This was definitely the start of the end of my "normal" horse training life. I loved the camp but found that I had loads of "yeah buts" to work through and lots of "I've always done this, why should I change". However the seed had been planted and it flourished.
In 1997 I was fortunate enough to spend 3 months with Pat and Linda Parelli at their Study Centre in Pagosa Springs USA, what an experience that was! I came home with a wider view of the world, and an even stronger desire to continue on with my Natural Horsemanship Journey. For several years I was part of the PNH instructor programme and it was during this time that I first met Steve and Irena Halfpenny.
Being a Natural Horsemanship Instructor has always been my dream. Having thoroughly enjoyed my own journey into Natural Horsemanship, I am now very proud to join ranks with Steve and Irena Halfpenny and the Silversand Horsemanship Centre and look forward to meeting you and your horse and assisting you in some way on your own journey to communication and softness the Natural Horse Way.
Silversand Horsemanship
I live near Berri, South
Australia and I am very honoured to be the youngest person to join the
Silversand Associate Team.
Hi there! I am Josh of JNE Horseworks and my partner Emma and I live in Mildura with our family of 6 horses, 4 dogs and 1 cat. Emma and I have shared a passion for horses since early childhood and over the last 10 or so years we have been involved with natural horsemanship where we have followed the Parelli Program, which has helped our understanding and development of both ourselves and our horses. Only just recently we had the luxury of meeting Steve and Irena Halfpenny and I was invited into their selected range of instructors.
Hi my name is David Mellor. I live with my wife Angela and daughter Laura in Bendigo, Victoria.
Hi my name is Annie Gilbert and I now live in Murray Bridge after spending 24 years in the mid north.I live with my 2 dogs, Timothy a corgi x, Runny Honey a foxy x, Jet my paint gelding, Tallulah a Q H filly and Tinkerbell the cat from hell, a pretty tortoiseshell. My other cat Smoochy chose to live at Silversand after spending the winter there with me while Steve and Irena were overseas.
I felt very privileged to be asked to join the Silversand Associates Team.
be some trick or a catch but in my heart I knew this was where I needed to go, for my horse’s sake. I eventually started lessons with Steve and Irena and the hard work really began, physically but more importantly for me, emotionally.
Marilyn Harvy
living most of my life on station properties in isolated parts of Australia with my family and for a job too as a young jillaroo in the Northern Territory and Victoria. Then following on to compete in Tent pegging, Gymkhana, Racing and using my horses whenever I can working stock on our 100,000 acre Merino Sheep property. We have 5 grown children who all grew up riding horses in varied disciplines.
