Edgewater Farm
Welcome to Edgewater Farm based in the Mamaku ranges of Rotorua, New Zealand.
Homestead
Aerial Photo of the entire property
We farm sheep side by side with our horses so our pastures are kept healthy. We only have a few horses of our own to allow the space for outside mares in the spring and summer. We can Guarantee no ragwort around here. The sheep graze where the horses won't and vice versa so this keeps the paddocks in a parklike state and our pastures do not become sour. We fertilise regularly and undersow our pastures every year. Our seed is always AR1 status which means we do not get grass staggers no matter how rich the pasture. All spare grass is cut as haylage for our animals winter feed.
View from the front Lawn to the rear-left of the property
We have two small stands of beautiful New Zealand Native Bush on the property and a natural water feature with wild ducks, native Pukeko's and Blue herons.
Nigel with two of his dogs in a bush clearing
The property is equipped with three barns, one housing Stables, a full-sized all weather Arena surface, and large flat jumping paddock set up with show quality Show Hunter fences.
The House, and to the left the Kennel complex, round Barn, and American barn partially hidden by the house.
Your mares will be well cared for and checked twice a day. We are able to provide agistment for mares up until their 42 day scan if required.
A large Hunter (Marakopa Magic) in the scanning bay
We have an indoor scanning crush making scanning safe and easy in all weather conditions.
Our equine vet, Celia Grant, scanning a large hunter mare.
The scanning crush is adjustable at the forward end allowing the handling of different sized mares. The vet is safely behind a solid gate where He/She can not be kicked and the handler is safely ahead of smaller mares behind a removeable barrier. If the mare is very unsettled and the handler feels at risk in this position, should the mare try to get over the barrier, she can stand behind the side gate whilst still being able to reach and handle the mare.
Handler positioned ahead of a smaller mare confined by a removable barrier.
When the barrier for the smaller mares is removed the handler then stands beside the large mares behind a solid side gate. This also allows safe access for the vet to apply any medication needed.
Handler safely behind side gate of scanning crush with large mare.
Mares have their first scan at 15 to 18 Days after last service. Upon a positive scan the mare owner may then take the mare home to save on agistment costs. In this case the owner must arrange a final scan at 42 Days. We prefer that local mares do go home at this stage but we are happy for them to return for the final scan if the owner has no facilities. Mares that have travelled long distance to get here are best staying until the final scan. This saves the cost of an extra trip if something should go wrong.
If the mares stay on at Edgewater they then have a second scan at approx 28 days. This is to make sure pregnancy is still on track. If for some reason the pregnancy has terminated we are not wasting another 14 days before we take action toward the mares next heat. As this scan isn't so critical we time it for when the vet is here to do first or final scans on other mares to keep costs down for the owner of the mare.
31 Day Scan
The final scan is done at 42 days after service and then your mare can be taken home and our job is done. The Live Foal Guarantee starts from this point.
As a guest at Edgewater your mare will enjoy excellent pasture & good sized paddocks. All mares are grass fed with the addition of hay or haylage if necessary. Mamaku has a high rainfall so we rarely have a shortage of quality grass. Your mares welfare is our concern and as we only take a small number of mares we are able to give your mare individual attention. Most mares visiting our property are somewhat reluctant to load when returning home which indicates they enjoyed their stay.
Mares awaiting finals scans before leaving for home
Because our property is at the top of the Mamaku ranges the evenings are cool even in summer so please send a light cover for your mares comfort on cold or wet days. We are happy to take covers on and off as required as your mare's welfare is our priority.
Baling Haylage
All paddocks are either deer-fenced with electric outriggers for the stallion, or post-and-rail. Mares are run in groups of four and are introduced to their group slowly and as safely as possible over several days. If there is conflict between mares (eg: two alpha mares) they are seperated and tried in another group until we have harmony.
Schooling Desperado at home
