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What Makes a Good Trail Riding Horse?
Jen Clingy • July 24, 2019
We are blessed at Australian Horse Adventures to have an extraordinary team of horses in our operation.
We have a core group, the “A team” who have been with us since they were young, or were bred by us. They have clocked up thousands of kilometres under saddle with us (trail riding, endurance and stock work) and with whom our whole adventure business evolved.
Then joining them, is our team of preloved horses. We are proud and delighted to acquire “hand me down” horses. Usually these horses belonged to friends, who sought a good home and feel their horse would suit a career in tourism.
It’s also part of our commitment to minimal impact on the environment. With so much wastage in the horse industry it's important to our ethos and be conscious of how we can make a difference.
Re-cycling horses feels right to us.
So what do we look for in a horse to join our team?
If you check out our website or social media photos you will see we are big fans of Arabian horses.
They are stunning horses to look at and so photogenic. They are also much more than a pretty face.
Intelligence
is high on our priority list. When we work with a horse, we want them to have a good dose of “horse sense”. We encourage them to problem solve and make wise decisions. The obstacle course, our bush trails and challenges we create, give us the opportunity to assess if the horses can think through the tasks. To do this, we pay close attention to ensure every request we make when training is understood, but we are also respectful of what each horse can offer. We focus on patience, trust and respect.
Experience:
The less experienced guests we have, the more experienced horse we partner them up with. “Green” riders are teamed up with our “been there, done that” horses.
Personality:
Our horses are busting with personality. We look for a horse with personality and let it shine. As trainers and guides we get to know them intimately so that we can read their minds and they need to be able to read ours or respond to our cues.
Our horses have their own biographies that describe each horse perfectly. Guests can read through these at the tour induction to get a feel for the individual personalities of our team. We then aim to match horses and guests based on compatible personalities. It makes for a great partnership and a memorable holiday for our guests.
Conformation:
We look for a balanced horse – it’s the one secret to lifelong soundness and maximum performance. We are asking our team to work for years in training, competition and trail riding, they must be able to withstand the concussion, the distances and demands. Our ultimate challenge is to work with each horse as an individual and recognise what is balance and soundness for each one.
With our hoof fetish as hoof care educators, good, strong, healthy, balanced hooves and surefooted horses are super important to us.
We look for good movers, who are efficient with their energy and comfortable to ride.
Attitude:
Do they want to work with us? And can they work together as a team? It’s the question we ask the horse through observation.
The horses in our operation have an amazing work ethic because they enjoy what they do, they love a job, they are willing, courageous, fiercely independent, and fun, they embrace the fitness training and line up in the queue, day after day to join us at work. They build their strength and endurance to be able to take our guests on epic adventures week after week.
“A horse is a horse of course” Mr Ed
When work finishes, the horses get to do their thing.
They live together a herd in a big paddock, they have access to food and water, they roll, they snooze, they get dirty, they are without rugs, without shoes. They are free to go feral. And this works for us and for them.
Success with our team lies in letting them be horses and building partnerships not slaves. And it shows with a team who are willing, happy and responsive. We are in constant admiration for what they will do for us. They are superstars. There is no mountain too high, no river too wide, no challenge to tough for our horses.
They are what makes Australian Horse Adventures so special and our guests reviews so favourable.
You know those nights where you are a bit bored and simultaneously clicking away on the internet and watching The Man from Snowy River (again)? And you get to the scene where there is that cracking horse chase off the hill (or maybe it’s a cliff, it’s steep enough), and then ten minutes later you stumble across a website listing horse riding holidays? So you book into a holiday that you think will let you be the Man from Snowy River? Ok, so maybe that’s just me……
The extraordinary relationship between humans and the horse has been running since before the birth of Christ. Indeed, there is evidence our domestication of horses goes as far back as 3500 BC. And ever since we recognised the utilitarian value of the horse, there has been the horseshoe. The use of horseshoes has become an almost unquestioned tradition. Humans have been nailing shoes onto horses’ hooves for well over a thousand years. Who can remember back to a time otherwise?
In our crazy busy lives, it’s easy to forget the power of simplicity. We yearn to just saddle up and go for a ride in a magical place. Horse riding is a powerful cure for an overworked mind, a tired soul and a dormant spirit. When we are so busy hustling and bustling and ticking off this list and moving on to the next thing, we forget to allow ourselves any contentment along the way. We need an all-important RESET and RECHARGE. Australian Horse Adventures, our trail riding business, promise to provide you with the feeling of contentment and joy and to redirect your perspectives by looking after your every little thing on your horse riding holiday so you can just savour and enjoy: Gorgeous safe, fit and educated horses. Horses that are trained to ride bitless and a chance for you to learn about natural horsemanship. Luxurious comfy accommodation with your own private room and ensuite. Mind blowing scenery Delicious healthy fresh food that is renowned in the local region. Imagine juicy seafood straight from the ocean with a chilled Tasmanian white wine, or a cheese platter with a peppery perfect Shiraz from the Barossa, SA. Our tours focus on showcasing the local produce and the culinary “must try” of a location. Photographs are taken for you and provided as a gift at the end of the tour. All you need to do – is come and ride with us. It’s horse time that reminds us fulfillment isn’t felt in all the chaos and goal kicking in our careers and lives. Its magnified in nature, with these beautiful creatures. Check out www.australianhorseadventures.com.au for the range of horseback tours. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU JOIN US.
Five-day horseback adventures in Australia takes guests from the mountains to the sea, through bushland, rainforest and vineyards and provides an insight into the world of shoeless, bitless riding.
Our famous five day ride will have you swooning in love with the apple isle. Riding guests will experience the true heart of Tasmania from the Australian Horse Adventures headquarters of Gem Farm, in Deloraine. The islands history and culture, the local people, the raw scenery and unique wildlife not to mention the culminary delights of this amazing place. A horse ride adventure in Tasmania is one to treasure for years to come.
I would like to share something with you – a wonderful article on our Tassie Tiger Trail Horse Ride adventure. http://www.afr.com/brand/sophisticated-traveller/riding-tasmania-exploring-the-tiger-trail-on-horseback-20170130-gu1f7f
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