For the Season One Finale, Executive Producer CJ Dore steps in behind the mic and interviews your wonderful host, Marianne Cotter. This is a chance to farewell an extraordinary first season by getting to know Marianne and hear her story, and how she fell in love with horses.

Thanks to everyone who listened around the world, and we loved getting your messages and feedback. We look forward to bringing you Season Two.

Stay in touch with the show and tell us your story - mariannecotter69@gmail.com

Sally is a middle aged Mum with a lifelong passion for horses and by day works in her dream job as Equestrian Manager at one of NZ’s leading private schools. She gets to teach and mentor students on their equestrian journey. It is incredibly rewarding to watch the students develop their horse riding skills as not just a passion but also a sport.

Growing up in the city with non-horsey parents her first riding lesson was at 6 years old and from there she was totally hooked. Sally’s parents finally relented when she was 13 and bought her first pony, a chestnut Arab called Sarnie for $350. On this occasion the saddles cost more than the horse.

Sally has been actively involved in the equestrian community for many years in particular with the Canterbury Dressage Group and the Canterbury A & P Association where she has been a competitor, groom, parent, judge, and coach.

Contact the show - mairannecotter69@gmail.com

Mary has a wonderful quote, “I learnt to speak dog early in my life, I only recently learnt horse.”

Encouraged by her husband, at age 58 years old Mary had her first 6 riding lessons. She had to watch YouTube lessons on how to get on and off a horse! From there, there’s been a fall, a fractured ankle and a two year period of learning to sit to the canter.

It only took her a handful of months to understand her steed Max. Max is a 22 year old Arab gelding. He taught Mary to ride. Max has great wisdom and Mary says took 7 months to trust her whilst they rode the laneways around her home. Max turns to Mary for comfort and help and of course food. And, he lifts Mary’s spirit with a whinny or nicker when she returns from a stressful day at work. He has bought Mary human friendships that will likely last longer than him!

Max has given Mary a sense of achievement at a time in her life when she was happy to relax and reflect. He has given her access to the countryside with like minded people and kept her active and agile. As Mary draws closer to retirement age, perhaps she will investigate bowls or knitting, until then she will keep racing around the countryside on Max!

Contact the show - mariannecotter69@gmail.com

Daf has had an eclectic career with horses from pony club through to riding race horses. In his own words he fell into starting his own riding school 15 years ago and has tried to escape ever since but kept getting drawn back to the coaching of riders. Daffyd is widely sort after around New Zealand as a riding instructor which he explains is part coaching of horses and sometimes a big part in helping clients with life stuff, being a sounding board and ‘therapist’

Although Daf has an intuitive way with horses and people he also has a solid background in science, understanding equine behaviour and promoting equine learning theory and ethical

Horse training.

This understanding helps him explain and reflect with riders the concept ‘what is on the outside of the horse, is on the inside of the human.’

Contact the show - mariannecotter69@gmail.com

Sara’s journey with horses began at a young age growing up in the UK and after moving to the Middle East was able to appreciate both the pleasure and working aspects of equestrianism that eventually led her into a career as a veterinary surgeon.

Sara studied at the Royal Veterinary College in London and spent her early career in the UK, before emigrating to New Zealand in 2009.

Her equine interests always lay in biomechanics which lead postgraduate study in Europe consisting of veterinary chiropractic, acupuncture, biomechanics and veterinary sports medicine. After setting up a sports medicine and rehabilitation practice in 2010, Sara continues to explore and address problems that arise in the horse-human interface and present as poor performance or behavioural issues, and uses a holistic approach in her work to investigate and treat patients.

In her spare horse time Sara has a boutique Irish Draught stud and is passionate about improving this breed within New Zealand.

Contact the show - mariannecotter69@gmail.com

Deirdre brings over 30 years of experience in senior leadership, coaching and facilitation within central and local government, education and social services. With her first-hand experience of leadership through the response and recovery phases of the Canterbury and Kaikoura earthquakes and more recently through the Covid pandemic, Deirdre is a specialist in leading teams through uncertainty.

Deirdre has trained and worked in equine assisted coaching, learning and development since 2010. She describes herself as ‘horse-obsessed’ since a young age, despite not growing up in an equestrian family. Though Salta Horses, Deirdre merges this lifetime connection with horses with her passion for experiential learning, training and leadership coaching. Deirdre is currently undertaking further study with the International Equusoma programme.

Contact the show - mariannecotter69@gmail.com