Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2025
Reflections
Do you think that time goes faster as you age?
Are you, like me thinking, “it surely can’t be Christmas again so soon!”
Yet here we are, less than two weeks away.
It is 9th Dec 2024 as I write, our team of humans and horses are busy completing a series of trails.
Musterer’s Mountain Pack Trail
As I write, our team of humans and horses are completing a series of trails.
The Musterers Mountain Pack Trail is 8 days and nights.
Starting at the historic goldmining town of St. Bathan’s, Central Otago.
The Vulcan Hotel is the most haunted hotel in Aotearoa New Zealand. Pack horses by our side, we thread our way through the mountains riding old pack trails forgotten in the dusts of time.
Your adventure horse team mate will carry you from mountain peak to mountain peak, travelling each day to a new musterers hut. Riding around 30 km’s a day you will be amazed just how far you travel as you gaze with mountains as far as the eye can see.
The beauty and isolation of this trail is breathtaking. No wifi to rule your life, just plug into nature and refresh your soul.
Eventually we ride out of our horse bubble and back into human existence. Finishing for 2 nights in the Ahuriri Valley at a beautifully restored homestead.
When riders complete this trail they are amazed at their own achievements. So often we receive emails, “that they are still on a high”, cards in the post, paintings that riders have done of their trail, books they have made detailing each of their favourite parts of the trail. It really is a very special connection that riders make with the mountains, the horses and the team of riders who experienced it with them.
Blogging about Musterers Mountain Pack Trail
Here is a link to a wonderful blog post written by Wanda about her experience riding the Musterers Mountain Pack Trail with the “A team.”
Wanda has now completed three trails and each time she rides we have so much fun together, she is an incredible lady.
Beautiful Birchwood
Birchwood Station Boutique Trail three incredible days on horseback. Summiting a mountain, exploring a tussock laiden mountain valley with a green tarn, riding along the braided river deep into the heart of the mountains. It is a wonderful trail to ride with friends or family.
When I think back to the seeds that grew into this amazing trail I have to cast my memory back 18 years. This was the very first place John ever brought me trail riding, from then on I was hooked.
I have searched inside to see just what it is about this beautiful valley that captures your heart. It is a heady brew of snow capped mountains, towering above an ice blue braided glacial river that gleams with sunlight, reflecting the mountains like a magical mirror, bringing twice the beauty. Then there is the native beech forests that skirt the mountains, like beards on ancient grandfather’s they are painted red with native mistletoe at Christmas time as though Papatuanuku “mother earth” is celebrating Summer Solstice by decorating her trees. The stones in the riverbed tell the story of their journey to this place, a multitude of colours just as we are all part of our Ancestral DNA. Waterfalls cascade down the mountain sides and rainbows arc across the river valley.
Thunder resounded overhead tonight, our first evening at the homestead and there is nothing like the intensity of the sound, striking like a hammer to the heart.
Then there is the beautiful homestead, warm and welcoming filled with beautiful memories and tales of the trails. We have sung many nights away here, danced line dances, laughed together and cried as we have to part.
Horses touch hearts in a way you can never describe unless you spend time together.
John and i could never have known how many lives we would touch or those that have touched ours when we began this ride into our dreams. We are so humbled by each of you who believe in our company and choose us above others to ride into your dream locations.
Come as strangers and leave forever whanau, “family”
Lupin Lovers Enchanted Trail
Our final trail before Christmas each season is the Lupin Lovers Enchanted Trail a two day/night trail.
The lupins are a phenomina of the Mackenzie Basin, each springtime see’s the entire area filled with a sea of these beautiful flowers.
As they are none native there is a groundswell to erradicate them which is such a shame as it really is an incredible sight.
Add horses to the mix and oh, your heart bursts as you ride through the glorious colours of lupins in full bloom. The Ahuriri is a stunning braided glacial river. Like a beautiful Woman with long braids she threads her way through the feet of the mountains, touching everything with her magic. Her ice blue colour reminds you of “Dumbledore” in Harry Potter.
Horseback is the only way to explore this magical location.
Horses, Young and Old
This year our beloved Ringo Star and Dude retired to a beautiful, exclusive lodge in Wanaka. Although we are missing them, we are thrilled that the brothers are still together, as they have such an incredible bond of love.
Young horses
In the last year we have seen quite a few of our younger horses working hard to join the pack and riding strings. Manuka, Speights, Porridge and Apatche have all made it into the wrangler riding string and have each completed at least 2 trails.
Aataahua, Summer, Ebony and Finnegan are all still at the almost stage. Our heartfelt thanks go to Kat, Enzo, Solene, Carlotta, Josi, Sandra, Bri and Nikki for the time and kindness you have shared with our horses on their journey.
First Foals 2024
Foals born before Christmas 2024
Rain and Dozer birthed Dolly Parton in October
Bracken birthed Johnny Cash this week
Dancer just birthed a wee foal yet to be named.
Lisa also birthed a foal we have yet to name
It is a beautiful time of year as the next generation of our horse herd come into the world.
Breeding your own foals is not for the faint-hearted. There are lots of hidden costs and sometimes heartache. However, we so believe that this is the way to go for a trail riding company such as ours.
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Celebrating the Seasons
As a celt, midsummer is so important, we dance, sing and light bonfires in celebration of a good harvest.
Christmastime here in Aotearoa is midsummer, Kiwis celebrate on the beach, with a barby roaring to cook up a storm together. This is always a lovely long holiday enjoying time with whanau, “families”
At this time of year our team are remembering,
Those customers who came to mark a milestone,
birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, beating cancer or still fighting it,
christmas parties or team building
Land owners who are kind enough to allow us access to their amazing high country stations.
Our incredible adventure horses who work so hard every day to carry you, our customers into your dream locations.
Fantastic farriers from Selwyn forge.
Terrific Trevor the Taxi driver (Mike and Hele before Trev)
The tiny team of humans whose passion for the horses and dedication to creating these incredible boutique trails for our customers, see customers returning, season after season. Bringing so much joy to the lives of those we share time with.
Come as strangers and leave as family, with the magical memories of the mountains threaded into the strings of your heart.
Complements of the season to you all.
See you in 2025 for some more incredible times together in our world of horseback adventures.
Aroha nui
Angie John Kat Solene and Bri and the horses
Thank you for visiting our world where horses are at the heart of everything we do each day.
If you are considering spending time in the wilderness do check out our adventure calendar. We are so blessed to have exclusive access to private land far from the tourist routes. Imagination is your only boundary when you dare to dream your adventure into life.
