Ros Rowe, Founder/Co-ordinator

Hawke’s Bay born and bred, Ros founded the Leg-Up Trust in 2002 (incorporated in 2003) when it grew out of her horse trekking business in Te Awanga.

She has been around horses most of her life, albeit with a frustrating break when illness kept her largely bedridden for 20 years.

The Trust, based on Christian principles, has been her passion since its inception and there has been little time for anything else. However, in her rare spare time she loves to garden, read and write. She has written three books. In the late 70s she had a friendship with a wild bottlenose dolphin, Horace, and the experience was a catalyst for Leg-Up many years later.

She has two adult children and three granddaughters.

 

Sandy Dooney – admin, horses and programmes

Proud mother of two daughters, both of whom are horse mad and one of whom also works for Leg-Up, Sandy plays a dual role, with the office administration being her main focus. She has had her own horses for many years and enjoys sharing this interest with the people who come to Leg-Up. Her other passion is working with plants.

  

Kate Dooney – horses and programmes

Horses have always been a part of Kate’s life. Kate has been a volunteer at Leg-Up since her Intermediate days and when she left school we snapped her up to work here full time.

She still enjoys low level show jumping and eventing but her work at Leg Up keeps her very busy. Kate often leads our programmes, guiding the youth as they handle and connect with their horses. She has learned her natural horsemanship skills from Ros and says it has opened up a whole new way

The other part of Kate’s role at Leg Up is helping look after the horses and ensuring their general wellbeing. During the school holidays she and Lizzie focus on riding the horses to give them a rest from the usual routines working with the young people. “The horses need a holiday too.”

 

Lizzie Rangihuna – horses and programmes

Lizzie initially joined our team as a volunteer and then, in April 2017, she joined as a staff member. She comes from a family of ‘horse people’ and says she’s been handling and riding horses for as long as she can remember. Working with youth is also something Lizzie shares with her family, many of whom are teachers. It is close to her heart and she’s grown up ‘aunty’ to a lot of nephews and nieces.

Lizzie is enjoying learning the natural horsemanship that is Leg-Up’s way of working and she’s taking those skills home to train her own horses. “It’s identifying the horses needs and making it interesting for the horses – not hard work.”

Lizzie grew up with Te Reo as her first language and is a keen Kapa Haka participant. When she’s not busy with that and horses, Lizzie enjoys getting out and driving – motorbikes, quad bikes and cars!

 

Allan Rowe, part time maintenance man and chief mucker-outer

Allan is in charge of mucking out the paddocks daily and also keeping the machinery up and running.

His main passion in life is racing pigeons.

 

Volunteers

Leg-Up operates mainly through the goodwill of volunteers, and we have a great team of people doing their bit for a few hours each week.

Our dedicated team includes Shane Bruere, Judith Burkin, Linda Calder, Dave Head, Mason Hill, Eddie Macdonald, Deb Scott, Keith Smith and Phil Woolley.

 

Trustees

Judith Burkin, volunteer and trustee

Judith came to Hawkes Bay from England in 2011 and joined Leg-Up as a volunteer in 2013.  In the UK she had mentored young people and was an ‘Appropriate Adult’ – a stand-in for absent parents who makes sure a child’s rights are upheld when they are dealt with by the police.  A horse lover from an early age, Judith was attracted to Leg-Up because it involved both horses and young people.  She became a trustee early in 2016 and has been updating Leg-Up’s health and safety paperwork and systems, while continuing as a volunteer once a week.  Her other interests are gardening, painting and her two granddaughters.

Keith Cammock, trustee

Born and Educated in Hawkes Bay. Have lived and farmed in Dannevirke for last 40 years. Two children, three grandchildren. Have been on local school BOT and a trustee of the Ruahine Work Trust, as well, as various local committees. Currently Chairman of the Scanpower Customer Trust. Trustees are elected by the customers every three years. Have served 14 years, and been chair last 5 years. Like Reading, Travel and Flying Currently divide my time between Napier and Dannevirke.

Mike Dalzell, chairman

Drawn originally by a shared interest in horses, Mike has been a long-term supporter of Ros Rowe and Leg-Up Trust's unique approach.Through the agency of horses, Leg-Up attempts to awaken hearts and lift spirits, often after many alternatives have been tried without great success.Under Ros's perceptive and kindly guidance, the team at Leg-Up work hard in the face of a tidal wave of need.As one of the trustees, Mike uses his chartered accounting and governance experience to assist Ros and the staff to do their work.

Charlie Janes, trustee

Charlie has been involved with Leg-Up since its inception. He is from an engineering background. A former District Mechanical Overseer for NZ Forest Service, he joined the Dept of Conservation as a ranger when the Forest Service was disestablished. He is a licensed pilot, author, horse owner and bushman. He is currently involved in pest control in a native forest.