Every so often my teaching takes me to a magical location somewhere in the world. Banff for instance, nestled under the Canadian Rockies is one such place. Spruce Lodge in County Wicklow, Ireland is another that a remember fondly.

In January 2011 my teaching took me to a special spot in my own country though - Tahi - A secluded estate of over 740 acres, encompassing surf beach to native forest. Situated about an hour from Whangarei in Northland, Tahi is no ordinary farm - oh no...

First let me tell you how I came to meet the gaurdians of this wonderful estate. A couple of years ago I was at a international symposium for Equitation Science in Sydney, and a lady from New Zealand introduced herself to me in the coffee break. She was Dr Anne Stewart, a biologist and conservationist with a passion for sustainable equitation and sustainable living.

Anne entrusted me with the job of training her 4 year old imported cremello Oldenburger stallion "Icarus" - a job I was thrilled to undertake in the end when I realised how difficult Anne was finding it to find a trainer for her stallion who followed ethical horse training principles based on science.

When Icarus was ready to go back home to run with his mare band in Northland, I travelled with him and spent a very short two days teaching in paradise. Anne was a fantastic host, along with her partner Dr John Craig and the many wonderful people who attended the clinic made it truely special.

Tahi is a sustainably managed property that is painstakingly being restored to a place of real beauty. Something like 200,000 trees have been planted on the property, and the native bushland and wetlands here are rejuvinating. The birdlife is amazing, and I could ended up teaching on a wonderful kaikouia grassed flat just a sand dune away from the surf - my kind of place!

Check out the website www.tahinz.com to find out more about this wonderful peace of environmental heaven.