Globetrotting Guest Horse: Tomahawk

The Maasai Mara Ride, Kenya

Meet Tomahawk, a piebald gelding who is part of the safari string in the Maasai Mara, Kenya. I was super fortunate to ride this handsome fellow on our last guided ride and sheesh was he responsive. We jumped, we swam, we raced and we conquered. Check out his credentials here, courtesy of riding guide Cindy:

Name of horse: Tomahawk

Breed: Sire is Hiawatha, a piebald stallion, and Dam is Pauline, who is a Thoroughbred off the track.

Height: 15.1

Gelding or mare: Gelding

How did you find Tomahawk? He was home bred on our property at Deloraine in Kenya’s Maasai Mara.

How long has he been in your herd?  Tomahawk was born at Deloraine on the 21st of November, 2009.

What do riding guests most love about Tomahawk? I am sure that his colour is eye catching to begin with. I love riding him at home and with extra schooling I am eyeing him up to perhaps do some eventing this year.  He has recently been doing some grid work and show jumping practice and can now ping 1.10m easily.

What do you as guides most love about him? He is forward going, light mouthed and an easy ride. He’s well-mannered but a little spooky at times and has plenty of character, so he’s never a boring ride.  He learns very quickly, has a good jump and even did Pony Club Camp last summer. He’s got nice paces and can pull off a reasonable dressage test.

You only have to look at his family line on Pauline’s side (a very well-known safari horse), Mary, Amber,  Piers to have confidence that he has a great character and great potential to go up the ranks with the right rider in the eventing circuit.

What are some of Tomahawk’s idiosyncrasies? We have tried doing a little stick and balling but he has not shown any great interest on the polo field. He thought the ball is something to stamp on, rather like thinking it might be a snake in the grass!  However I am sure with extra schooling he could very easily get used to it.

 Is there anything else we should know about Tomahawk’s story?  It was very amusing to see all the other horses’ reactions to the addition of a piebald/black and white horse to the string when he was born! I think he may have suffered a little with feeling like a bit of an outcast due to his colouring! Fortunately, his mother Pauline is a wonderful, accepting mother.

If you would like to learn more about the Maasai Mara safari in Kenya, check out the ride page here.

You can also meet one of our Maasai Mara guides, Simon, here.