Meet Our Guide: Jane
Twin Coast Adventure, New Zealand
One of the more recent additions to our Globetrotting portfolio is the Twin Coast Adventure in New Zealand’s drop-dead gorgeous Bay of Islands region. We are in LOVE with this ride in no small part due to the host, Jane Kennedy, who is among the top horse clinicians in the country. The only thing she loves as much as horses is her patch of coastal paradise, so sharing both of these things with globetrotters is a dream come true! But don’t take it from us – read on to learn about the ride through Jane’s eyes.
How long have you been running your riding outfit? And what was the background, history, reason for starting?
I have been doing horsemanship clinics in New Zealand and the USA for 25 years. I started running riding holidays as I wanted to share this special piece of paradise with my clients. It was also a way to ensure that I got to go up there regularly myself, as I found that I was getting too busy with clinics and not getting to spend time in my special place.
How many guest horses do you have?
Fourteen.
Describe your herd of horses in four words:
Cruisey, comfortable, colourful, characters!
What is the philosophy or ethos behind your horse riding experiences?
Giving people the time of their lives, creating wonderful, everlasting memories, and having the experience of riding their dream and being looked after hand and foot – it’s a holiday, not boot camp!
What do you love most about your job?
Spending time on my horse in the most amazing place on earth – Henderson Bay is the place that sets my soul free!
What is the most challenging part?
Cooking! But I now have a fabulous team that cook amazing meals – so now the challenge is to not put on too much weight!
Why should globetrotters sign up for this ride?
Because it is amazing – I have ridden in many places around the globe and this still ranks as the best in my book. The huge changes in scenery that you experience in a single day will blow your mind. Majestic forestry, huge sand dunes, tussock country, sand dune lakes, wild west coast beach AND wild horses – all in one day – unbeatable!
A tip that every globetrotter should know before signing up for this ride:
You will get growled at if you try to help with the dishes!
Finish this sentence: Don’t leave home without…
Your enthusiasm and sense of adventure.
What has been the most memorable or significant moment of your guiding career?
We were on the homeward leg of the West Coast ride and it had been raining heavily. We were riding through the forestry and it was quite warm and the rain had turned to a dense mist. Out of the mist walking towards us emerged a wild stallion – we all came to a halt and he just stood there quietly watching us – it was like a scene out of a movie. He calmly turned and walked along the track in front of us and we all followed him (he was only about 20 feet from us). He veered off the track into the trees and as we followed him he lead us right into the middle of his herd. We all stood stunned, looking at them, and they just watched us with mild curiosity, and then with some unspoken communication they all turned and walked off into the mist. We were all speechless, sitting there pinching ourselves. No one took a photo as we had buried our cameras deep in our saddle bags to keep them out of the rain! A truly magical experience.
Wow! How’s that for an introduction?! If you’d like to find out more about the Twin Coast Adventure, click here.