This page is dedicated to some of the many people who helped guide me through the 8mo process of having this vision of breeding Paint Horses in South Africa realized. Thanks so much to these folks, and to fellow Paint Horse lovers, for helping this dream to come into fruition.
Brenda Helget
Mdm Helget has been my friend since pre-teen years. Though we had not seen one another since age 14, we were reunited in our 40th year, more than 20yrs after we'd lost contact. This was thanks to the wonders of the internet - and a mutual desire to ride on South Africa's incredible Wild Coast! A fellow Paint Horse Phanatic, Bren was critical in assisting me screen, literally, HUNDREDS of candidate horses for Paint Horse Africa's breeding programme. This is in addition to painstakingly researching bloodlines and providing invaluable logistical support in advance of the foundation horses' export from the US.
Grant Walske
Mr Walske has initiated my own education in horsemanship and the basics of fundamental horse training, at his facility outside Perth, Australia, and to this day, on-line. He has also furnished numerous, relevant references on the topic, some of which are mentioned elsewhere on this site. He is a wise horseman. Anyone who has the privilege of having their horse trained by him is truly fortunate.
Grant Walske sadly died on 18 December, 2006, age 50. He left behind a lovely, dear wife and bright, beautiful daughter. It was an honour to have learned from this outstanding, gifted trainer. His dedication and sage advice is already deeply missed.
Kevin Connolly
Connolly Turner Bloodstock
Mr Connolly artfully orchestrated the two flights that brought the Paint Horse Africa herd from Europe, where they transited from the US, into CapeTown. These were special, ad hoc chartered flights as regularly scheduled horse cargo flights into RSA only come into Johannesburg. This requires an extraordinary amount of coordination with US, UE and South African import/export authorities as well as the veterinarians overseeing the horses' pre-export exams.