Humans n Horses™ 

'What Are The Chances?' 

Revo, aka Slim, was picked up from a racing home in Te Kauwhata looking like an SPCA case. Scrawny, dull and U-necked, weighing no more than 400 kilos.  Matthew and Susan Grayling were, at the time, coincidently looking for a young horse. 

What are the chances that Slim would go on to be Matthew’s Olympic mount? 

“If you had ten horses lined up, you’d certainly walk past Revo”, says Matthew.

Revo started his career at 95cm and as a five year old, competed in both the Young Event Horse and the Novice 3-day. Despite Matthew’s efforts to ensure this horse looked somewhat ‘horse like’ for the Young Event Horse class, Revo’s genetics proved otherwise. The judges unfortunately gave no complimentary marks to Revo. 

Revo went on to be a fantastic performer, being a member of the 2004 Athens Olympics Team. The pair won Adelaide 4* in 2001 and remain the only Kiwi pair to have done so. 

German judge, Christoph Hess, once told Matthew that he felt “he could not get anymore out of this horse. He isn’t the best mover but he is the best trained.” For Matthew, that was a huge compliment.  This scrawny, U-necked horse had turned out to be something quite spectacular. 

What are the chances?

What are the chances?

Twenty years or so ago, ‘I’m Street Wise’, aka Kai, began his journey that we know about, as a baby wandering the streets of Te Awamutu, lost and homeless.   He was impounded by the council and then sold at the local sale yards.  Who should come along to this particular sale, spot him then purchase him but Andrew Nicholson who was there buying stock.  What are the chances?

Since that day, Kai has been the most incredible horse contributing so much to so many riders.  Andrew broke Kai in and gave him to his niece, Samantha Nicholson who competed him successfully in show hunter and show jumping.  When Kai was six years old, he was purchased by Karina Wallace who show jumped him to 1.15m and evented him at pre novice level.  To this day, she still owns him and she will never sell him.

“Kai loved to hunt and he hunted for many years with the Pakuranga Hunt Club.  “He also won or at least placed at every show he ever went to, often taking lines in the jump offs that no other competitor would even try.”

Karina tells us that Kai was often referred to as the ‘guard horse’ because being so vocal and talkative, every arrival was announced.

At the age of 23, Kai is still contributing hugely, this time to a mother of four young children, who was completely dependent upon a one in a million truly safe horse that she could rely on.  Kai is currently this guy and together this pair have enjoyed gating at the local hunts.  Kai is therefore still an avid member of Pakuranga Hunt and is extremely well known.

"It's the only way to fly!"

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"Horses and the ocean are the washing machine of the soul!"

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Who Knew...

Horses are the best therapy. 

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Friday's Photo Bomb!

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"Ride the wild pony!"

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"Polos for the Polos!" 

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Horses and Ponies intereact with humans in a wide variety of ways, competitive and non competitive, in working activities such as police work, agriculture, for entertainment, sport and therapy or as pictured here they can be the best sofa or bed on legs!

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“This is where I want to be!"

Here is a great article and another photo of the bereaved mare and the orphan foal introduced to each other to begin their healing and their new lives together! They both look very happy!

https://www.g1x.com.au/news/racing/a-beautiful-photo-with-a-story-to-match

"Just five more minutes?"

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"Whoever said 'diamonds are a girl's best friend', never met a rider!"

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"Sharing and caring”

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“Some of my best friends never speak a word to me”

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"If you want a stable relationship, get a horse!"

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Who knew...

"Relationships in life are everything. This is never more true than when it comes to humans and horses"



© iSpyHorses 2016

An iSpyHorses' user has submitted this photo of her 'One in a Million' horse.

"This is my one in a million pony. Danger Mouse aka Milo who is 13.2 hands is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. He was my first pony buying him as a 12 year old later finding out he was 18, but age is just a number especially for this pony. Milo has a heart of gold taking me to my first 1m and together we helped each other get to pre training odes ( the picture is of my first one ) when he'd never been an eventer. He taught me how to ride and I hadn't fallen off him in my 5 years of riding him, ( I had fallen and landed on my feet once ). He is now 23 and is leased to an amazing home who is doing fantastically well with him. Milo is truly a special little pony."

© iSpyHorses 2016

Submit a picture of you and your 'One in a Million' horse or pony to win $100 Stirrups Equestrian voucher. View details at

An iSpyHorses' user has submitted this photo of her 'One in a Million' horse.

"Murf 'Irish Ambition' is my one in a million. From going from a very successful racehorse over in Hong Kong, to eventing to 1 star with me, to winning Rising Star Hack at HOY in 2015 with new owners, to now taking a young rider up the dressage grades. He's a tough little horse. He's been through thick and thin and he's still going strong, which is testament to his determination and willingness to give anything a go. He really has a heart of gold, even with his few quirks. He always turned heads wherever he went with his danty head and long legs and has quite a fan base. If I could replicate him with a few less years on him I would in a heart beat, after all he was the reason behind my passion for eventing."

© iSpyHorses 2016

Submit a picture of you and your 'One in a Million' horse or pony to win $100 Stirrups Equestrian voucher. View details at

An iSpyHorses' user has submitted this photo of her 'One in a Million' horse.

"This is Classic Illusion aka Ivy. I think she is my 'one in a million' horse. I bought her 1year and 3months ago after she had been in a paddock for 2years. I remember the time I tried her I only trotted and we of course still bought her, as you do. We have learnt so much together, taking each other from 90cm to 1.10-1.15m in a year. Of course we have had our ups and downs, including the few months where she was so unridable that every time I rode her I would break down into tears. We fought through and just had the best season yet, including placing individually at Cambridge Show jumping champs, coming 2nd at the Karaka Show Jumping spectacular where this photo was taken in our first 1.10m-1.15m, and completing our first Training Horse Trial at Puhinui. I one hundred percent believe Ivy is the most talented horse I have seen and can't wait to try and ride her HOY in the Junior Rider Class within the next few years."

© iSpyHorses 2016

Submit a picture of you and your 'One in a Million' horse or pony to win $100 Stirrups Equestrian voucher. View details at