Experience the freedom of horseback riding through the spectacular high country surrounding River Valley in New Zealand. This full-day adventure is designed for intermediate to advanced riders, taking you across sweeping hills, working farmland, and remote backcountry trails where dramatic landscapes and wide-open views create a genuine sense of escape. With small groups and a focus on the connection between horse and rider, the experience offers an intimate way to explore the countryside.
On arrival, you are matched with a suitable horse and introduced to River Valley’s Natural Horsemanship and freestyle riding approach before setting out. The trails can include steep and challenging terrain, with the route adapted to suit the weather and conditions on the day. As the ride progresses, there are opportunities to enjoy the changing scenery and experience the unique feeling of travelling through the hills on horseback. The full-day trek is intended for confident riders who are comfortable riding at all gaits over varied, open terrain; if the required experience is not met, the trek may be shortened.
What makes this adventure special is the combination of expansive high-country scenery, a genuine horse-and-rider partnership, and the opportunity to reach areas that are difficult to experience any other way. Riding with a bitless, barefoot horse and using freestyle techniques encourages focus, balance, and communication, adding a distinctive dimension to the journey. With riding boots, helmet, short chaps, weatherproof riding coat and a picnic lunch provided, you can focus on the landscape, the horse and the adventure ahead.
