Thu, Mar 9, 2023 8:24 AM
Breeding operation exceeds expectations
AFTER joining the Waikato Heavy Horse Association, Erin Miller went on to break in her own horses to sledge work.
Paul Charman
OVER the past two years, Erin Miller and partner Bryce McKinley have turned their idyllic 40 ha property between Ōhura and Ahititi into a base for breeding Clydesdale horses, German shepherds and Muscovy ducks.
The specialist breeding operation, known as Sabella Farms, already has a following across the country.
Erin, a Canadian who moved to New Zealand about 21 years ago, and Bryce, who grew up in New Plymouth, never imagined finding such a beautiful property with a lake right beside the farmhouse.
Peace and quiet, safety, no neighbours and a quiet simple life were what the couple were looking for, as neither of them could stand the city or living in the suburbs, Erin said.
“This place way exceeded our expectations,” she added, explaining that it was ideal for breeding and even to some extent working their Clydesdale horses.
In the 19th and even into the early 20th century, the big draught animals did much of New Zealand’s farm and forestry work, not to mention much of the country’s heavy road haulage.
“But today the breed is dying out, with the Clydesdale Society pushing hard the few people who own them to increase the numbers born each year in New Zealand,” Erin said.
As well as breeding the huge animals, she and Bryce put them to work on the farm.
They have done hay making with the horses in the past or have used them to pull a sledge for feeding out.
“We focus on their trainability as that’s a huge part in producing horses that can be worked; doing a variety of things in harness and not have it bother them,” Erin said.
“Especially this means pulling loud things behind them which they have to cope with and do quietly.
“We aim to breed quiet working horses that can do a range of jobs on the farm plus the traditional work that they were originally bred for.”
Erin has been riding since age four and has always loved horses.
“I got my first Clydesdale in about 2005 and totally fell in love with the breed. They are so wonderful to handle and work with, you would never want to deal with any other breeds.
“I joined the Waikato Heavy Horse Association, which is an amazing group of people, and have since gone on to break in my own horses to sledge work.
“I have done ploughing competitions, shown for years at A and P shows and held Clydesdale classes.”
Meanwhile, with the property’s lake, plus its many swimming holes, the water-loving German shepherds had abundant space to run and play when released for daily exercise.
Breeding shepherds had long been a passion for Erin, with her focus on dogs that are more flat-in-the-back, as the breed has had many years of issues with hips.
“I was really frustrated at the lack of medical testing done on dogs, especially shepherds, so our focus is to breed healthy, happy well tested dogs. We DNA test, hip and elbow score them. We then get our vets to certify our dogs.”
They produce standard black and tans, but also rarer colours such as saddle back silvers, silvers, all whites and brindles.
As for the ducks, they’ve almost been an accidental add on.
“When Bryce and I bought this place, four Muscovy ducks were left in the lake.
“I approached New Beginnings Rescue about getting some chickens and they had some Muscovy male ducks that were dumped and needed a home, so we took them in.
“After that we took several other groups of ducks, some Indian runners and some Muscovy, and they have produced really wonderful babies.
“We also collect their eggs for cooking and baking with. Once you have so many wonderful ducks it’s really easy to love them. They come when called and are fed twice a day.
“We are quite new to them, but people have taken some of our ducks to help deal with the egg shortage which is quite bad at the moment, and they’re a great alternative to chickens for eggs.”
The specialist breeding operation, known as Sabella Farms, already has a following across the country.
Erin, a Canadian who moved to New Zealand about 21 years ago, and Bryce, who grew up in New Plymouth, never imagined finding such a beautiful property with a lake right beside the farmhouse.
Peace and quiet, safety, no neighbours and a quiet simple life were what the couple were looking for, as neither of them could stand the city or living in the suburbs, Erin said.
“This place way exceeded our expectations,” she added, explaining that it was ideal for breeding and even to some extent working their Clydesdale horses.
In the 19th and even into the early 20th century, the big draught animals did much of New Zealand’s farm and forestry work, not to mention much of the country’s heavy road haulage.
“But today the breed is dying out, with the Clydesdale Society pushing hard the few people who own them to increase the numbers born each year in New Zealand,” Erin said.
As well as breeding the huge animals, she and Bryce put them to work on the farm.
They have done hay making with the horses in the past or have used them to pull a sledge for feeding out.
“We focus on their trainability as that’s a huge part in producing horses that can be worked; doing a variety of things in harness and not have it bother them,” Erin said.
“Especially this means pulling loud things behind them which they have to cope with and do quietly.
“We aim to breed quiet working horses that can do a range of jobs on the farm plus the traditional work that they were originally bred for.”
Erin has been riding since age four and has always loved horses.
“I got my first Clydesdale in about 2005 and totally fell in love with the breed. They are so wonderful to handle and work with, you would never want to deal with any other breeds.
“I joined the Waikato Heavy Horse Association, which is an amazing group of people, and have since gone on to break in my own horses to sledge work.
“I have done ploughing competitions, shown for years at A and P shows and held Clydesdale classes.”
Meanwhile, with the property’s lake, plus its many swimming holes, the water-loving German shepherds had abundant space to run and play when released for daily exercise.
Breeding shepherds had long been a passion for Erin, with her focus on dogs that are more flat-in-the-back, as the breed has had many years of issues with hips.
“I was really frustrated at the lack of medical testing done on dogs, especially shepherds, so our focus is to breed healthy, happy well tested dogs. We DNA test, hip and elbow score them. We then get our vets to certify our dogs.”
They produce standard black and tans, but also rarer colours such as saddle back silvers, silvers, all whites and brindles.
As for the ducks, they’ve almost been an accidental add on.
“When Bryce and I bought this place, four Muscovy ducks were left in the lake.
“I approached New Beginnings Rescue about getting some chickens and they had some Muscovy male ducks that were dumped and needed a home, so we took them in.
“After that we took several other groups of ducks, some Indian runners and some Muscovy, and they have produced really wonderful babies.
“We also collect their eggs for cooking and baking with. Once you have so many wonderful ducks it’s really easy to love them. They come when called and are fed twice a day.
“We are quite new to them, but people have taken some of our ducks to help deal with the egg shortage which is quite bad at the moment, and they’re a great alternative to chickens for eggs.”
