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Stallion Challenges
From the author of the bestselling book For the Love of Horses, comes an epic new journey to rescue wild Kaimanawa horses from the biennial cull.
Follow television stars Vicki, Kelly and Amanda Wilson on their quest to train 10 wild, difficult and sometimes dangerous Kaimanawas for competition in the first national Stallion Challenges.
Can the Wilsons change these horses' fate? Share the heartbreak, the pain, the elation and the success as they take on their greatest challenge yet.
Follow television stars Vicki, Kelly and Amanda Wilson on their quest to train 10 wild, difficult and sometimes dangerous Kaimanawas for competition in the first national Stallion Challenges.
Can the Wilsons change these horses' fate? Share the heartbreak, the pain, the elation and the success as they take on their greatest challenge yet.
- GenresHorsesNonfiction
304 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2015
8 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Wilson
20 books60 followersBorn in Whangamata, Kelly Wilson relocated to Northland with her family at the age of five. Having grown up around horses, she competed in show jumping to Pony Grand Prix level, before focusing on her creative talents. She won a scholarship to Auckland University of Technology and graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor of Graphic Design, going on to become an award-winning photographer and designer. She is the bestselling author of four adult books, For the Love of Horses, Stallion Challenges, Mustang Ride and Saving the Snowy Brumbies, a children's picture book Ranger the Kaimanawa Stallion and a junior chapter book series Showtym Adventures. With her sisters Vicki and Amanda, Kelly has starred in the hit-rating TV series, Keeping up with the Kaimanawas, following their work taming New Zealand's wild Kaimanawa horses, and travelled to America and Australia to rescue and tame wild horses.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 22, 2015
I will admitI from the start. I could not watch Keeping up with the Kaimanawas. It drove me crazy as it captured the made for TV moments and made everything seem so... well... "reality tv-ish". I did wonder what the book would be like and I was very pleasantly surprised. It was extremely readable (perhaps more so than For the love of Horses) and filled in the huge gaps from the TV programme admirably with behind the scenes descriptions, actions, thought processes, etc. Well worth a read.
December 8, 2015
It was like you were there, and especially as I was witness to some of the events, it was good to ehar a 'behind the scenes' version and the background. Good book, and again loved the pictures and the stories!
December 17, 2017
The adventures of these three sisters and their companions never fail to amaze me. They inspire my own riding and absolutely be applauded for their plight to save New Zealand's wild horses, the Kaimanawas. Definitely put this book on your to-read shelf!!
May 31, 2018
What an amazing and touching book. It has inspired me so so much in my riding and more. It’s just incredible what they can do with horses. Very well written and like always, love their pictures in the book. Definitely read this book, you’ll thank me😂
March 29, 2023
I loved this book, it was amazing to learn about the Kaimanawa's that live in New Zealand, my home country. I absolutely loved that it wasn’t all changed to be perfect, that it was the real account of what happened. Amazing book. Would most definitely recommend it to anyone horsey
April 8, 2021
Another epic journey of a read and is eye opening to the nature and intelligence of NZ's wild horses.
February 11, 2016
Having been a lover of horses all my life, I was interested to read this book since I am now living in the North Island of New Zealand.
If you have a love for horses, and love reading riders/trainers experiences then you should pick this book up.
Not only is it full of beautiful images of wild horses, show jumpers and funny lighthearted pictures of riding through rivers, mountains and beaches, this book has an honest tone told by Kelly Wilson on her and her sisters challenge to tame Stallions of the wild Kaimanawa horses.
I am humbled by these sisters and their determination to save as many of the horses culled each year by DOC of the wild herd.
I hate that these horses have to be culled, but when humans have encroached on the land they once ran free on, its for the herds survival that the numbers are kept to a sustainable level.
And the story of their "Stallion Challenge" is both moving, heart wrenching and at times will make you ugly cry ( well it did me)
I have a similar belief to the Wilson sisters, in that if a horse has an issue there is a reason for it, having rehabilitated horses myself, it was nice to read how the sisters had moments of doubt, setbacks and heartbreak when they could not beat the odds.
But I do recommend this book, whether you are a horse owner/rider, or just a lover of animals, maybe you will get lost in the world of these dedicated sisters as I did as it's not a manual on how to train a horse from the wild, but more about how horses will invariably make you fall in love with them, whether in real life or in a book...
For me horses have been a part of my life since a child, and I lost my last horse recently, I miss my old boy Jester everyday and the day he died is etched in my heart as a day of despair, but I was lucky to have him as a loyal friend and companion and as the sisters say, you are a better person after the love of a horse. I will always have a place in my heart for horses and when I can't own one, then reading books about the special bonds and effect they have on the human race will have to be enough.
The New Zealand wild horses have a better life than those of the USA Wild Mustangs, and I know that the sisters next adventure after this book launch was to head off to the USA for 100 days to visit these horses... So I will await with baited breath for that book.
After reading this book, I would love to be able to do the same and help save more of these special horses that live here in New Zealand.
If you have a love for horses, and love reading riders/trainers experiences then you should pick this book up.
Not only is it full of beautiful images of wild horses, show jumpers and funny lighthearted pictures of riding through rivers, mountains and beaches, this book has an honest tone told by Kelly Wilson on her and her sisters challenge to tame Stallions of the wild Kaimanawa horses.
I am humbled by these sisters and their determination to save as many of the horses culled each year by DOC of the wild herd.
I hate that these horses have to be culled, but when humans have encroached on the land they once ran free on, its for the herds survival that the numbers are kept to a sustainable level.
And the story of their "Stallion Challenge" is both moving, heart wrenching and at times will make you ugly cry ( well it did me)
I have a similar belief to the Wilson sisters, in that if a horse has an issue there is a reason for it, having rehabilitated horses myself, it was nice to read how the sisters had moments of doubt, setbacks and heartbreak when they could not beat the odds.
But I do recommend this book, whether you are a horse owner/rider, or just a lover of animals, maybe you will get lost in the world of these dedicated sisters as I did as it's not a manual on how to train a horse from the wild, but more about how horses will invariably make you fall in love with them, whether in real life or in a book...
For me horses have been a part of my life since a child, and I lost my last horse recently, I miss my old boy Jester everyday and the day he died is etched in my heart as a day of despair, but I was lucky to have him as a loyal friend and companion and as the sisters say, you are a better person after the love of a horse. I will always have a place in my heart for horses and when I can't own one, then reading books about the special bonds and effect they have on the human race will have to be enough.
The New Zealand wild horses have a better life than those of the USA Wild Mustangs, and I know that the sisters next adventure after this book launch was to head off to the USA for 100 days to visit these horses... So I will await with baited breath for that book.
After reading this book, I would love to be able to do the same and help save more of these special horses that live here in New Zealand.
November 11, 2015
I read aloud with my daughters who enjoyed it very much. I had been interested in the Kaimanawa horses since I was a girl and had previously shared my love with my daughters; reading novels, articles, supporting the associated charities, watching video coverage and more recently following the musters and trainers on social media. Provides a lot more detail of the Wilson sister's journey through to the HOY finals. I very inspiring book as the sister's love of adventure, fun loving nature, ability to embrace change and seek challenges along with their passion for horses jumps off the pages. An easy read with loads of fantastic photos throughout.
Some quotes from the Epilogue;
"The things we are passionate about are not random; they are our calling, and we know with influence comes great responsibility."
and
"Like the Kaimanawas, we are battle-scared, imperfect and fundamentally unique."
Some quotes from the Epilogue;
"The things we are passionate about are not random; they are our calling, and we know with influence comes great responsibility."
and
"Like the Kaimanawas, we are battle-scared, imperfect and fundamentally unique."
December 20, 2021
I recently finished this book from my local library and absolutely loved it. It contained the two books written by @kellywilsonnz titled ‘for the love of horses’ and ‘stallion challenges’ 🐎
The patience, skills and love of horses that the Wilson sisters have absolutely inspire me and give me hope that there are other like minded horse people in this world that are determined to always do the right thing by the animals. If you are interested in reading about them successfully training New Zealand’s native wild horses (kaimanawa’s) to save them from slaughter then give it a read. 📚
By the way, in the background is my pony Gypsy. She is an Australian brumby that was also once wild! I thought it was a cool comparison ☺️
The patience, skills and love of horses that the Wilson sisters have absolutely inspire me and give me hope that there are other like minded horse people in this world that are determined to always do the right thing by the animals. If you are interested in reading about them successfully training New Zealand’s native wild horses (kaimanawa’s) to save them from slaughter then give it a read. 📚
By the way, in the background is my pony Gypsy. She is an Australian brumby that was also once wild! I thought it was a cool comparison ☺️
February 3, 2016
This is a great book by Kelly Wilson and is the second book after For The Love Of Horses. Stallion Chalenges is about the Kiamanawa Stallion Chalenges, where Kelly, Vicki, Amanda, and a few other trainers get two mustered stallions each and have to train them in time for Equidays and Horse of the Year 2014. I enjoied it because it was humerous and easy to understand. It also had tragedies, accidents, losses gains and failures. I thought it was one of the greatest boks in the world.
July 5, 2016
Another wonderful book by Kelly Wilson, chartering the training of the Kaimanawas from the 2014 muster. It was brilliant to read the "behind the scenes" parts, and understand more about the bond they have with their horses.
On a side note, I also love it because I did the illustration of Major on the dedication page!
On a side note, I also love it because I did the illustration of Major on the dedication page!
March 10, 2016
OMG this book is absolutely amazing any horsey Person seriously needs to read this book
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews