‘Every time I think about this weekend, I smile!
It was one of the best weekends of my life and I haven’t stopped raving about it. The horses were beautiful, fun and safe; Clancy, Vanessa and the team were incredibly accommodating, knowledgeable and patient; the trails were fantastic, with views to die for; the lodges were super cosy and cute (that fireplace!!); and finally, all of the other riders in the group – what a bunch of beautiful souls! We were almost like a wee family by the end! Cannot wait for our reunion in a few weeks!’

‘The Yarra Valley Ride is the perfect girls (or guys) trip away. Short enough to leave the husband at home but long enough to really feel like you’ve had a holiday. I loved this opportunity to explore a new location on horseback. The accommodation absolutely exceeded all expectations. I loved the ‘hut’, although you could hardly call it a hut, it was so well appointed. The stone fireplace, comfy lounges, beautiful bathroom and beds were all 10 out of 10 in my opinion, as was the catering! Extremely healthy, varied, high-end providore cuisine, and I really enjoyed the extra effort that had been made to showcase local produce. Clancy and his team were delightful. They always made us feel welcome and well looked after, and I loved the ‘family’ atmosphere. I rode Nick and he was a stellar horse: very easy, forward when needed, but never uncomfortably so. I am so glad that I did this ride!’

‘The Yarra Valley Ride was very scenic, with lots of mountaintop views. We rode through grape vines one day and giant tree fern forests the next. It was faster paced than any other Australian ride I’ve done, but we were very safe on great horses. The attention to detail with checking girths, stirrup lengths etc and ensuring our safety was probably the highest I’ve encountered on any ride. I got lucky and rode Duke. We had a great bond – I may go back with my float and some cash. The lunch at DeBortoli was outstanding and all meals and antipasto boards were excellent. We had charming, rustic accommodation, comfy beds, superb food and terrific hosts, and the massage service offered was greatly appreciated (I had one every day)! Just do it!’

‘The Yarra Valley Ride is absolutely fantastic! It provides a great variety of riding, from soft tracks through fern forests to rough tracks in the national parks, and caters to all riding abilities. The scenery was beautiful, with magnificent views of the Yarra Valley from high ridges in the forest. The hospitality of Clancy and his staff was faultless and nothing was too much trouble for them. The food was delicious with plenty of variety, and we certainly didn’t go hungry! Our cabin was beautiful with a huge open fire, spa bath, stunning views of the rolling hills and pasture, and comfy beds. I would highly recommend this ride as a great way to escape the craziness of the world and to switch off and relax on lovely-natured horses.’

‘The Yarra Valley Ride is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The landscape is incredible, the food and wine is amazing and the hosts are just wonderful. I don’t have enough positive words to cover everything! It’s very well catered for all levels of riders and as an advanced rider I never felt bored – there were so many opportunities to canter up amazing hills (and it would be impossible to be bored in that beautiful scenery anyway!). I brought a friend with me who hadn’t ridden for more than 10 years, and on the second day she cantered right past me on a big hill – it was so much fun to watch her rediscover riding and become so confident in such a short time! I loved my horse, Kite, and was extremely impressed with the quality of all of the horses. I would have taken at least two or three of them home with me in my suitcase if I could. Thank you SO much to Clancy and the team!’

‘The perfect break! Great location, knowledgeable staff and a personal approach. Clancy and Vanessa are the best guides! They are very understanding and accommodating, and their knowledge of horses and the local environment is just amazing. I totally loved our ‘outing’ to the huts. Dinner and wine around the fireplace… simply the best!
The trip was perfectly organised and executed, and excellent value for money. I loved it. I’m planning to bring my daughter on this ride shortly!’

‘I hadn’t ridden in years but horses were a huge part of my life for a long time, so I booked this ride as soon as it came up to give me a chance to reconnect with this passion. Upon arrival, I was greeted by Clancy, who did a great job matching everyone up with their horses. I jumped on a big Standardbred called Spunky and we headed to the winery for lunch and a wine tasting. The beautiful scenery, amazing food and the gallop through the grapevines was such an amazing start to the trip.
I honestly felt so comfortable and secure the entire time – Spunky was a great ride, quick and fast when we got to gallop and slow and careful in the tricky parts. The horses were all well taken care of and you could tell that they were loved. I can’t tell you enough about the accommodating nature of Clancy and his family (I am considering his entire staff part of the family)! The food was amazing and they were friendly, kind and so approachable.’

‘The Yarra Valley Ride is the perfect length if you’re looking for a short getaway from Melbourne. It was an absolute joy after a long year out of the saddle. I rode BB. He was happy go lucky, affectionate, fit, surefooted and loved a good canter! I felt very safe riding him – he looked after me well. My favourite moment on the trip was definitely galloping on the second day. Not only did I feel secure and comfortable at that speed, I also felt I improved as a rider. That gave me a boost in confidence and trust in my own abilities. Clancy told me I had the biggest grin on my face!
For someone who has very specific dietary requirements, the food was amazing! Fresh, organic and local. I felt very looked after. The huts were fantastic, and the night in the swag was absolutely brilliant. The double swag was massive, and so comfortable and warm. Clancy and his son Patterson set it up perfectly, oriented to overlook the glorious view, moonrise and sunrise.
Thank you to Clancy and his team for a wonderful time.’

‘This ride was beautiful! The team went above and beyond to make my stay special. Clancy and his staff were so welcoming, supportive, kind, reassuring and positive. I can’t thank them enough for all the hard work they put in. I’m a nervous beginner and Clancy matched me with the perfect horse, Sugar, who really looked after me. She was kind, sound, responsive and beautiful! I highly recommend this ride.’