Helen Down

‘I have to say, I am finding writing anything about this adventure very difficult. In some way, I feel like I am still there. It was the best horse related experience I have ever had, even though I have ridden for 30+ years.
It was beyond anything that I could have imagined. Calling it a holiday goes nowhere near to describing those eight days. It was a real adventure – exhilarating, calming, peaceful, exciting, challenging, beautiful and an experience I will always treasure. The horses were fit, happy, independent and so confident in themselves. Mine – Dakota – was the best horse partner you could ever want on such an adventure. He was fit, energetic, honest, confident and so much fun, with impeccable manners, and he listened to me every step of the way. If I could have taken him home, I would have. And as for our two fabulous guides – I cannot imagine any other horse people who I would rather ride with.
The marae visit was out of this world and all the locals went completely out of their way to make sure we felt more than welcome and had everything we wanted. I loved the mountains we rode up, and the valleys we rode down into, the gallops across long rolling hills, the stops on the mountaintops to admire the views and the huge country that we had ridden or were about to ride that day. On one such hilltop, we stopped and were lucky enough to watch a band of wild Kaimanawa horses beneath us. They were so curious and beautiful. A sight I have never seen.
As a fellow kiwi, one thing that really stood out for me is that this ride is an opportunity to experience the real New Zealand High Country. This is not a touristy, commercial riding holiday option – this is the real deal, experiencing a slice of true kiwi life on the best horses.’