It's amazing how when I you stop to think sometimes... I wonder why or how we are going to pull this all off! Regardless, we have to remain feeling optimistic...and we are!
Brent and I have been talking a lot recently about finances and we are rethinking some aspects of our trek. One idea has been that we loose our support crew and go intrepid (well, more so than before :P). With this comes many pros, one being that of finances as petrol for the adventure is costly! However, with the decision to loose a support crew, Brent and I have come against other issues such as not being able to take as much gear on the trek, worrying about what to do in the event of our pack horse becoming lame, the cost to maintain ideal weight for three horses as well as the inability to carry enough feed for them. The more horses we take, the more it costs to keep them on the road so to speak. Also, seeing as we are riding on tarmac a lot of the time, the horses shoes could wear down in a matter of days! For this reason, we are looking into hoof boots (see www.hoofboot.co.nz). They are basically a hard wearing slip on shoe and they can be taken off and on. They can last much longer than a metal shoe and can provide more traction for the horse.
Another option we have brainstormed is hitching a horse or two onto a light wagon! This solves our problem of being able to carry feed and also means we would be maintaining less horses. However... niether Brent or myself can 'drive' a horse and so we would need to take lessons! This could be fun though as it is something new to us both.
Once we have made up our mind on what we are going to do, we are going to start the hunt for our horses! We need as much time with them as we can to build a relationship and also desensitize them to the multitude of scary sights and sounds that will come their way on the trek. We are so fortunate to have been offered free grazing in Hunua for next year which is a miracle!
Oh yes, TEAR Fund are also activating a donation page for us soon (thanks guys!) so you can sponsor us! Go on - make all this worth it!
Will keep you posted,
Sarah
www.hoofprintsforhope.co.nz
Monday, November 22, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Surrounded my maps!
Hey blog readers,
I thought it was about time to post a bit of an update! So as you could probably guess, the more we think about and organize Hoofprints for Hope, the more we realize we need to do! It's SUCH a massive task and lots of people think we are just crazy to want to do something like this. Fair enough (ha-ha) but you know what? We really beleive in this cause and it feels great to put time and energy into something that is bigger than ourselves. Of course this journey will be one Brent and I will never forget but it will partly be so due to all the challenges and not so high points that we will experience. We are so committed now to this journey and in the last few weeks, we have had a couple of knocks backward and a growing anxiety about finances for the trip. We beleive God will continue to provide for us but phew, it's a scary thing!
So anyway, to the topic of the blog - mapping! Our latest big task has been planning out route for the trek. We have decided to start in Bluff as it will be summer as we begin and we don't want to end up in the south island in winter (which is what would happen if we started in Cape Reinga!). So far, we have mapped out our route from the Bluff to Kaikoura which is 3/4 up the east coast of the South Island! It's a big job to map out a route but rewarding and exciting thinking about all the beautiful places we will be riding.
Brent and I are hoping to begin the fundraising process soon for the trek as well as seeking some sponsors. We firstly need to buy our horses and begin to bond with them and desensitize them to the roads and various sights and sounds. We also need to make sure that they (and we!) are fit for the journey. We will make sure they have had a couple of vet checks before we begin to make sure they are healthy and ready to travel the country with us!
In terms of sponsors, we are so reliant on these to come through for us so if you could keep us in your prayers that would be fantastic :)
If you know anyone who has some camping gear/horse equipment that they could donate, it would be so appreciated!
Yeah, so other than working hard on the route, Brent and I are excitied about planning our wedding too! We will be married only a couple of weeks before we hit the road...
Well that's all from me at the moment.
If you want to get in touch with us for any reason at all, we would be happy to hear from you and thank to those who have sent us emails of encouragement and support - blessings!
Sarah (& Brent)
hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
I thought it was about time to post a bit of an update! So as you could probably guess, the more we think about and organize Hoofprints for Hope, the more we realize we need to do! It's SUCH a massive task and lots of people think we are just crazy to want to do something like this. Fair enough (ha-ha) but you know what? We really beleive in this cause and it feels great to put time and energy into something that is bigger than ourselves. Of course this journey will be one Brent and I will never forget but it will partly be so due to all the challenges and not so high points that we will experience. We are so committed now to this journey and in the last few weeks, we have had a couple of knocks backward and a growing anxiety about finances for the trip. We beleive God will continue to provide for us but phew, it's a scary thing!
So anyway, to the topic of the blog - mapping! Our latest big task has been planning out route for the trek. We have decided to start in Bluff as it will be summer as we begin and we don't want to end up in the south island in winter (which is what would happen if we started in Cape Reinga!). So far, we have mapped out our route from the Bluff to Kaikoura which is 3/4 up the east coast of the South Island! It's a big job to map out a route but rewarding and exciting thinking about all the beautiful places we will be riding.
Brent and I are hoping to begin the fundraising process soon for the trek as well as seeking some sponsors. We firstly need to buy our horses and begin to bond with them and desensitize them to the roads and various sights and sounds. We also need to make sure that they (and we!) are fit for the journey. We will make sure they have had a couple of vet checks before we begin to make sure they are healthy and ready to travel the country with us!
In terms of sponsors, we are so reliant on these to come through for us so if you could keep us in your prayers that would be fantastic :)
If you know anyone who has some camping gear/horse equipment that they could donate, it would be so appreciated!
Yeah, so other than working hard on the route, Brent and I are excitied about planning our wedding too! We will be married only a couple of weeks before we hit the road...
Well that's all from me at the moment.
If you want to get in touch with us for any reason at all, we would be happy to hear from you and thank to those who have sent us emails of encouragement and support - blessings!
Sarah (& Brent)
hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
TEARFund
Sweeeeet.
Today we had another meeting with TEARFund mainly talking about media/press release related stuff and design too for posters and such.
We are nearly at the point where we are beginning the sponsorship process as well as beginning to fund raise for our horses and gear needed for the trek. Some huge expenses include: food for ourselves, food for the horses, inter island transport, petrol for our support vehicle, vet checks and farrier bills for the horses etc etc etc The list goes on and on and on! We are also beginning to plan our route! It's very exciting looking at all the places we will be going. Google earth/maps rules!
On our website under 'can you help us' we have lists of equipment that we need so if you could help us by donating or selling camping/horse equipment to us, please get in contact at hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
We would love as much of our equipment to be donated or second hand (to reduce our 'hoofprint' ;)
Oh, we have great news. We have free grazing next year! From a college of my mums. Praise the Lord! Bring on our horses.
Will update again soon
Sarah & Brent
Today we had another meeting with TEARFund mainly talking about media/press release related stuff and design too for posters and such.
We are nearly at the point where we are beginning the sponsorship process as well as beginning to fund raise for our horses and gear needed for the trek. Some huge expenses include: food for ourselves, food for the horses, inter island transport, petrol for our support vehicle, vet checks and farrier bills for the horses etc etc etc The list goes on and on and on! We are also beginning to plan our route! It's very exciting looking at all the places we will be going. Google earth/maps rules!
On our website under 'can you help us' we have lists of equipment that we need so if you could help us by donating or selling camping/horse equipment to us, please get in contact at hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
We would love as much of our equipment to be donated or second hand (to reduce our 'hoofprint' ;)
Oh, we have great news. We have free grazing next year! From a college of my mums. Praise the Lord! Bring on our horses.
Will update again soon
Sarah & Brent
Monday, October 25, 2010
Good news, good times.
Hey all!
It's been a while since updating this blog so I thought I'd pop one through with some photos too ;)
As you know from the last post, Brent and I are recently engaged and so Hoofprints is to become our honeymoon!
We have had some more great news too. We have been offered the use of a horse trailer by our friends further down the north island...! and we have free grazing for next year meaning we can start raising money for our horses!
Plus, Kerrin and Genna are being so generous offering their time and precious horses for us to ride, they've even thrown in a few things for our journey which is such a blessing. Genna and Kerrin, if you are reading this: We love you! As you can see, they have become good friends to us. It's so cool how this adventure is already creating so many connections with people that we would have never anticipated!
We have even had some offers of horse equipment for the trek which is just incredible.
Praise God!
Anyway, here are some recent photos for you :)Enjoy and please contact us if you wish, we would love to hear from you: hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
God bless!
It's been a while since updating this blog so I thought I'd pop one through with some photos too ;)
As you know from the last post, Brent and I are recently engaged and so Hoofprints is to become our honeymoon!
We have had some more great news too. We have been offered the use of a horse trailer by our friends further down the north island...! and we have free grazing for next year meaning we can start raising money for our horses!
Plus, Kerrin and Genna are being so generous offering their time and precious horses for us to ride, they've even thrown in a few things for our journey which is such a blessing. Genna and Kerrin, if you are reading this: We love you! As you can see, they have become good friends to us. It's so cool how this adventure is already creating so many connections with people that we would have never anticipated!
We have even had some offers of horse equipment for the trek which is just incredible.
Praise God!
Anyway, here are some recent photos for you :)Enjoy and please contact us if you wish, we would love to hear from you: hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com
God bless!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Exciting news!
Brent & I are engaged since the 5th October :)
He got down on his knee infront of many people and I of course said yes!
We will be married before Hoofprints ;)
Just keeping you updated!
Sarah
He got down on his knee infront of many people and I of course said yes!
We will be married before Hoofprints ;)
Just keeping you updated!
Sarah
Monday, September 27, 2010
Help us out in 2 seconds!
Click the 'like' button at the page below. That is all! :P We are in the finals for a competition in which we win $3000 towards Hoofprints.
http://www.247girl.co.nz/inspirations/unstoppable_girl_sarah_parry_finalist/
Thanks so much!
Sarah & Brent
http://www.247girl.co.nz/inspirations/unstoppable_girl_sarah_parry_finalist/
Thanks so much!
Sarah & Brent
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Blessed are we.
I love how Hoofprints is all unfolding. Even though it is so far away, it is comforting and exciting knowing that is happening for certain! Even as we creep slowly along with plans and ideas, we know we are being led closer and closer to this dream. People are stepping out and supporting us/offering to help and it's all such a blessing. We are feeling more and more support from all around us and it's an incredibly warm feeling. We truly are blessed.
This week I've started to sell some things that I hold very dear to me in order to get some money for the trek. Brent is really excited about riding which is awesome. I think he's incredibly brave, what an amazing person to want to do this with me. We are already browsing horses in anticipation of the ones that we will buy for the trek! I hope some grazing comes through for us soon! The sooner we get our horses, the better.
Just a quick blog I know. Update coming again soon ;)
Thank you for all those who are following our story. We appreciate it, remember you can email us at hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com. We would love to hear from you!
Sarah
This week I've started to sell some things that I hold very dear to me in order to get some money for the trek. Brent is really excited about riding which is awesome. I think he's incredibly brave, what an amazing person to want to do this with me. We are already browsing horses in anticipation of the ones that we will buy for the trek! I hope some grazing comes through for us soon! The sooner we get our horses, the better.
Just a quick blog I know. Update coming again soon ;)
Thank you for all those who are following our story. We appreciate it, remember you can email us at hoofprintsforhope@hotmail.com. We would love to hear from you!
Sarah
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