Reviews

‘I absolutely loved this ride! The only bad thing about it was that it came to an end. I rode Cool Daddy – such a little trooper. Michael matched horses to riders perfectly and even after spending a week dealing with a bunch of nutty women, he was still ready with a smile and a terrible dad joke! I love that he is so community minded. The ride not only supports his business, but other local businesses, too. I was very happy with the food – the 8 course degustation dinner was the absolute highlight. I barely ate for 2 days after we got back, we were so well fed! I would recommend this ride to anyone.’

‘The Howqua River Ride – oh my goodness! After many many river crossings and around 75kms of mountains and goat tracks, we finally made it to the jump scene from the Man From Snowy River – the camera doesn’t do it justice. Thanks to Michael for the amazing properties to explore on wonderful horses – my beautiful Leah was a rockstar. Huge thanks to Karen, our fabulous guide, chef, and all round Wonder Woman. And as always, thanks to Kate and Laura for making these dreams a reality. Isn’t the Globetrotting life just the best!’

‘Recently I heard the quote, “The only way to make something amazing happen, is to make something amazing happen” and this trip was living proof. It was my first Globetrotting ride and I do not regret it one bit. It is scary at times to book something with strangers without having a friend with you, but this was the most memorable experience I’ve ever had. I’ve ridden horses on small trail rides and in the arena, but this ride was so freeing, with unforgettable views of the Victorian High Country. The horse that I rode, Rex, was the sweetest boy in the world. Myself and all the riders agreed that Michael, the host, did an exceptional job of matching us with the perfect horse. He was very knowledgeable of the terrain, history and horses. I have never had such a good guide. The accommodation was very peaceful, clean, homey and well set up. I am never going to forget this trip or the amazing animals and people I met. I’m already looking into my next Globetrotting ride!’

‘I was fortunate to grab a spare saddle seat for this ride and I couldn’t have been happier – from start to finish it was amazing. Our guide Karen made us all feel at ease, and her knowledge of the region and its history was very informative. All the staff ensured everyone had a good time, and Michael kept us entertained over dinner with stories of the High Country. I rode a Stock Horse called Scarlett, a beautiful, responsive mare with a gentle nature, and very surefooted over the river crossings. The accommodation was beyond expectations and all the meals were delicious and plentiful. Each day we had cooked breakfasts, lunches of meat and salads, and dinner was a full cooked meal. The eight course degustation dinner was simply amazing. I really enjoyed the experience and look forward to completing another Globetrotting ride in August.’

‘This was an experience of a lifetime and one I will cherish forever. The accommodation was amazing! Gorgeous country settings and very comfortable. I was really happy with the food, too – the eight course degustation menu was divine. My horse Bonnie was absolutely gorgeous in both temperament and looks. I trusted her completely and we formed a lifetime bond. I was so sad to say goodbye. As for the guides, Karen was exceptional! Extremely knowledgeable of the local history, an incredible horsewoman and she made me feel extremely welcome. As I was a beginner rider, Karen gave me plenty of encouragement and I was astounded how much my riding improved over the five days. I am now confident at cantering. Michael was also fantastic and share some great stories. I am so thankful I took the plunge and did this trip solo! I met some amazing strangers who I now call friends.’

‘The Howqua River Ride was the longest ride I’ve ever done and I loved every moment of it! Each day of riding was different, with varied terrain and trails. The scenery was stunning; I especially enjoyed the river crossings. The food was fantastic: delicious cheese platters, scrumptious dinners, yummy desserts… luckily I brought track pants! Michael and Charlotte were fantastic, attentive and knowledgeable guides. Michael paired each rider superbly with their horses – everyone was very happy with their match. I rode Ozzie – the most affectionate and cheeky horse I’ve ever met, with the most entertaining personality. It was a wonderful way to spend five days exploring the region, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again.’

‘An amazing experience with like-minded people. We had so many laughs, good food, the best scenery, and great horses! I was given a part Arabian and he was a trooper! The hosts Michael and Karen and everyone involved were fantastic. They had a great sense of humour, were kind, loved the horses and took care of everyone’s needs. Every day was beautiful, but being high on the mountain and seeing the jump scene from The Man from Snowy River was especially great! We had a very memorable, amazing time.’

‘I recently went on my first Globetrotting adventure as a single traveller and absolutely loved every minute of it! I felt in good hands right from the start as everything was easy and well organised, both by Globetrotting before departure and by Michael and his team on the ride itself.
As a single traveller I was a little bit nervous about, well, doing it on my own, but any concern was gone as soon as I met Michael, Karen and of course the rest of the group. Everybody was there for the same reason: having a good time and enjoying the world on the back of a horse. Michael and Karen gave us their hospitality, knowledge, lots of laughter, good advice and patience, and made it a very personal experience. So if you’re a single traveller and worried about going by yourself, there’s no reason to worry AT ALL.
To sum it up, 10 out of 10! I literally have nothing negative to say and hope everyone taking the trip in the future will enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks to Michael, Karen and Beth for making it so special!’

‘The Howqua River Ride was one of the best things I’ve ever done! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this experience. The weather, scenery, horses, accommodation, food, hosts and tour group were all fantastic! Michael, Karen and Beth were wonderful hosts. Nothing was too much trouble and they had excellent knowledge of the local area and history. They could not be faulted! I rode Wilbur, who was perfect for me as a beginner rider: very quiet and patient, but would move into a trot or canter when asked. The food was amazing, from the cooked breakfasts to the BBQ lunches to the chef-prepared dinners. An absolute standout was the seven course degustation – extremely memorable. I also loved the cafes and pub chosen for the group meals. I think the day when we crossed the Howqua River 52 times was my favourite!’

‘I booked my next trip before I finished this ride! If you have any hesitation about going solo on one of these trips, don’t. I booked a seat as soon as one became available for the Howqua River Ride and it was amazing, though that doesn’t quite capture how much I enjoyed it. We did everything from winding along high tracks to river crossings to cantering through the bush. My horse, Boo, was willing and careful. He never put a foot wrong and improved my confidence exponentially. Our guides, Michael and Karen, were enthusiastic and happy to chat. The food was to die for – Wendy is a magician with a passion for local produce and amazing flavours. We capped it all off with a ride to the top of the jump from ‘The Man From Snowy River’ before our week was over far too soon.‘

‘I highly recommend this ride for people looking for a relatively easy ride with creature comforts and good food. The scenery was great and the horses worked well in a group. Michael did a good job with everyone – he was friendly, helpful, knowledgeable, and safety was never compromised.’

‘This was my first time travelling solo on any holiday and I’m sure happy that I went for it. The people, the horses and the scenery were just amazing. One of the best moments was when we were given the opportunity to canter across the river for pictures. The horses were able to navigate the smooth river stones and flowing water with ease. 10/10 would do again.’

‘Having just returned home from this ride, I highly recommend the hospitality and horsemanship demonstrated by Michael Watson and his team, and the quality of the horses provided for a beautiful five days’ ride along Howqua River. Every rider was given a horse according to their preferences and abilities, and they proved in general a good match to each of us. The horses were all happy, well fed, well looked after and well trained for trail riding. Having a dietary requirement, I was impressed with and grateful for the special attention paid to my restrictions by the guides and support team. The ride itself was well planned through beautiful mountainous areas with plenty of river crossings, and opportunities to trot and canter. Thank you for an excellent experience!’

“A wonderful ride – great value for money. I rode Boo, a strong, solid horse and I felt very safe and comfortable on him. All the food was great, but the degustation meal on the last night was amazing. My favourite experience was riding the horses to the river and swimming in our riding gear. So beautiful! Thank you for offering such great rides to feed my Globetrotting addiction!”

‘Five fun-filled days riding through the beautiful Victorian High Country on lovely, surefooted, eager horses; each picked expertly to suit their riders. Many laughs, beautiful food and fantastic, knowledgeable guides. Cantering across the Howqua River was definitely a highlight.’

‘As a lone traveller, I was slightly nervous about the week ahead. However, this instantly dissolved as soon as I met both our guide and the rest of the group at the airport! During this ride, with my noble Anglo-Arab steed, Skeeta, I saw the most amazing scenery, cantered up mountains and through rivers, ate the most amazing Australian food and met a lovely bunch of other riders. I could not recommend this ride more! I also caught a good tan to take back to the UK!’

‘Our five-day ride along the Howqua River was amazing. Michael, Will and Mick made us feel incredibly welcome, matched us well to our horses (I wanted to bring mine home with me!) and soon felt like old friends. I loved all the uphill and open field canters, the incredible scenery and the wonderful food. Incredible value for money. I can’t recommend this ride highly enough.’

‘This was my first Globetrotting experience and I would highly recommend it. We had great guides and terrific hosts over the five days we were trekking, and our guides matched riders to horses very well. I rode Jesse, whom I absolutely loved. A nice forward, happy horse – just what I like! The scenery and landscapes we traversed were amazing and I look forward to planning another adventure soon.’

“This ride was absolutely fabulous in every way!”

“A fabulous ride and adventure thanks to Michael, the fabulous horses and the wrangler team.”

“The price of the ride is well worth the quality of the horses, the top-notch meals and accommodations. The camaraderie, the belly-wrenching laughs, and the memories gained are all priceless.”

“The ride was beyond my expectations. I could do that ride again and again!”

“All the days were great: fantastic views, good riding, excellent horses – exactly what we were after!”

“It really was more than we expected. The scenery and overall experience in the Snowy Mountains was second to none. I hope to be back one day with my children.”

“I can’t speak highly enough about Michael and his team on this trip. Fantastic. What we thought was going to be a rough, rustic experience was far from that and the food was above our expectations.”

“OMG the ride was amazing, I loved it and wish I was still there. I could easily have kept going for another five days.”

“The ride was fantastic, exactly what I needed to finish 2014 and start 2015. All of the horses were brilliant, and I bonded instantly with my lovely Thoroughbred mare Chillea. The weather, the countryside, the company, the accomodation and the food were all exceptional.”

“Everything was perfect – the food, horses and accommodation!  The horses were beautiful, well behaved, keen and perfectly suited to their respective riders. Thank you for organising such an amazing event.”

“I had a lovely mare called Nellie who carried me around the countryside for the 5 days. Great temperament and well suited to my riding ability.  Would definitely recommend this ride to anyone interested in horses, picturesque landscapes, great food and meeting friendly people.  Ready to book my next Globetrotting trip!”

“I had an absolute blast! That was by far the most memorable trip I have ever done, certainly my favourite holiday to date. I don’t have a single complaint, the horses were beautiful and well looked after, Michael and his team were amazing and the accommodation and food was spot on.”

“This would have to be one of the best holidays and riding experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I honestly have no complaints at all! I will certainly be recommending this ride to all my friends!”

“Whether you have been riding all your life or whether you’ve hardly ridden before, this five day luxury riding experience is a ‘must do!’ This is the best riding holiday I have been on by far!”