Maverick Sporthorses is located on 6ha of rolling pasture surrounded by thousands of acres of coastal farmland and picturesque shingle bays. There is a beautifully fenced 30mx55m all weather arena, with show jumps and water jump. The arena is surfaced with a sand and fibre mix that helps to promote happy working horses and ensures longevity of legs, joints and tendons. The property is fully and safely fenced into large paddocks that give the horses plenty of room to move around freely. Nearly all of the paddocks are accessed via the central race. We have utilised solid post and rail fencing as well as 4mm soft wire and equiwire , with electric outriggers to ensure the horses are as safe as possible. All of the riding horses are paddocked individually, and the paddocks are set out in a social manner.
We feed Pryde's Easifeeds in conjunction with hay that is grown and cut on the neighbouring properties. An extensive parasite control programme is employed, and all horses follow a strict worming regime that is closely monitored for efficiency through the use of frequent faecal egg counts. Being located in Northland there is also plenty of access to stunning, sandy beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see to exercise the horses. The tidal river estuary backing onto the paddocks is a great place to swim and cool off after long hot days in summer!
HORSE SCHOOLING
Sophie takes pride in working to produce happy, responsive mounts that are able to fulfil their potential in whatever sphere they are destined for. The correct conditioning, training and management of horses sets the initial building blocks and is critical to their future performance career.
HORSES FOR SALE
There are often a number of horses for sale at Maverick, and if any of the horses listed anywhere on the website are of interest please don' t hesitate to get in touch. If we don't have something that suits you, Sophie also has good knowledge of the industry and what horses and ponies are for sale both in New Zealand and internationally. She has a wide range of contacts in Australia, Germany, Holland, America, Canada and South America as well as working closely with other breeders and producers here in New Zealand.
SALES ON BEHALF
An excellent quality camera and photography skills, mean that horses are always shown in the best light for training and sales on behalf images. We can arrange the whole sales procedure; from training, presentation and photographing, to marketing and organising prospective clients.
LESSONS
We all never stop learning, and Sophie enjoys passing on things she has learnt over the years to her students. She relates very well to other riders and teaches in a quiet, straight forward and effective manner. Sophie has spent time with some of New Zealand's most acclaimed trainers as well as having international experience in both Europe and North America.
FACILITY HIRE
Our beautiful arena is available for casual hire at all times. With stunning views out over a salt water inlet, a variety of jumps and fill including a full sized grand prix water jump, and a sand and synthetic fibre all weather surface, it is the perfect venue to photograph your horse for sale, bring a young one for schooling or just as somewhere to ride in the winter.
CLIPPING
Sophie has a regular clipping run around the Bay of Islands area. She clips all year around, and with battery operated clippers is not reliant on a power source. Sophie generally travels to the client, making it easier on them and more relaxed and comfortable for the horse. Sophie has groomed and clipped top level horses all around the world so the job is professional and tidy. Get in touch if you would like a horse clipped.
FAECAL EGG COUNTS
Faecal egg counts are an effective and easy way to manage your worming programme effectively. Let us take the stress out of caring for your horses and help you to rest easy that your horses are happy and healthy with a tailored programme and FEC schedule.
BREEDING SERVICES
Sophie is passionate about breeding quality horses for the future, and Maverick Sporthorses has a select breeding operation. Maverick can offer everything from arranging, managing and overseeing the whole breeding process to caring for the mare throughout pregnancy and foaling down. Mares are hard fed and rugged throughout their pregnancy and Sophie takes pride in keeping them in tip top condition. If the mare foals with us, the foal will return to you halter trained, rug trained and able to have its feet and legs handled. Sophie has excellent knowledge of the breeding process and currently does the scanning and AI work for her own mares as well as studying towards a BSc in Genetics. Talk to us also if you are interested in purchasing an embryo from one of our mares. Maverick also stands stallions at stud and stocks frozen semen from overseas stallions.
"Dear Sophie, I would like to thank you for your exceptional services and the care and training of my horse you undertook whilst I was abroad. Your regular updates and photo’s you sent me allowed me to enjoy my time away all the more. It gave me total peace of mind. Thanks to your great competence, knowledge and consistency. Not only did you improve Gymkala’s flatwork in the seven weeks she was in your care you introduced her to jumping as well. I really enjoyed watching you ride her when I came to pick her up. I can highly recommend your services, please feel free to use me as a reference at any time. I wish you all the best in the coming show jumping season and with your dedication I’m sure you will achieve great results. Sophie, I could not have wished for my horse to have been in better hands!" Claire Houry
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"I sent two 2 year old mares to Sophie to break in for my girls in May 2013. The horses belong to my two young girls, and were to become their everyday riding horses; to ride at home, and to take to pony club. Both mares were returned to us after six weeks in fantastic condition, and were able to be ridden calmly in walk, trot, and canter, as well as over small jumps. Both girls rode their horses before we brought them home and the smiles on their faces said it all. The girls have continued to ride the horses at home, and Sophie has gone out of her way to provide ongoing help and support for the positive development of the horses, and my girls." Craig King
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"Sophie travelled with our horses to America / Canada and had sole charge, she had them ready, fit and feeling great the entire time, she has also bought horses into work for me here in NZ, I think a lot of young kiwis could learn a lot from her!" Katie Laurie