Miniature horses get a reprieve

Miniature horses will continue to graze at the Windsong stud near Tauranga after efforts to sell the herd fell through.
The owner of the Windsong spiritual retreat and healing centre, Tony Hawkins, has announced a reprieve for the herd. It means people can continue to drop in and see the cute little horses at Omanawa.
Mr Hawkins' change of heart happened after a story in the Bay of Plenty Times highlighting the future of the herd prompted people to step forward and offer their services to help with the care of them.
Mr Hawkins said the story prompted a burst of enthusiasm from people attracted to the idea of setting up their own tourist venture involving buying the herd of 45 miniature horses.
Interest quickly settled back to one couple who wanted to involve their daughter in a tourism venture. But when she returned from Perth, they discovered she had leased out her block of land.
Since then, Mr Hawkins has sold 15 miniatures, with another 12 to 14 likely to go to a new tourism venture in the Bay.
If the sale goes through, the herd will have been whittled down to a manageable size, centred on the rare champagne colour.
Mr Hawkins' vision was for the rest of the horses to become an integral part of Windsong's new focus - the healing centre and his plans to extend it into a crystal healing centre. It includes a crystals walk, looking a bit like Cascade Gardens. People will be able to educate themselves about crystals while taking the walk.
Windsong already features a crystals shop, with crystals workshops, but he intends tobuild a fully fledged crystals education and healing centre.
"The horses have had a reprieve - there is a need for the horses to be a part of the new venture," Mr Hawkins said.