Riding the High Country of the South Island
in New Zealand

Imagine a land of snow-tipped mountains, rolling green hills and river-slashed valleys; of ice cold sapphire lakes, and dense bush ringing with birds under a clear sky. Where the loudest sound you will hear over the tinkle of crystal water dancing over brown stones is that of your horse cropping the grass in the early morning dew. This is a land that has never heard the roar of traffic, the din of people, or been soiled by the haze of pollution. It is the high country of North Canterbury on the South Island of New Zealand. We will take you there, to live in it, ride through it and experience it. Based at "The Peaks", among foothill farms, these treks will take you through working sheep stations into isolated back country, where the biggest crowd you will see will be a herd of cattle. Your bed may be in a tent, a mountain hut or station bunkhouse; your dinner cooked over an open fire under a sky with more stars than you ever dreamed existed. You will experience silence so dense you will feel you can touch it. The spectacular scenery and tranquility will leave you refreshed in body, mind and spirit.

Our trips from Christchurch are run by Liam and Heather Naden. Liam has had a varied background, from professional musician to wine authority. He has extensive international marketing experience from a number of business ventures which he intends using to lift the profile of the business further. His father, Pat Naden, was for many years the senior trotting writer for the NZ Herald. Heather is an experienced horsewoman who rode competitively for some years in Britain. As a fully qualified chef she has owned a restaurant and auberge in France (she speaks fluent French) and a string of French patisseries in southern England. She has also owned nursery schools and children's adventure clubs in Britain. Liam and Heather run a team of 70 horses and supported by a first class team of trained, professional guides with a wide range of experience, are committed to providing a quality horseback experience in New Zealand's high country.
		Larney" Senior Guide Larney has been guiding treks with us for a while now, he has many years of experience riding and working in the backcountry, trapping opossums, hunting and leading treks. Being one of the more experienced backcountry guides around Larney plays an important role in training our younger guides, a real character with a wicked sense of humour, Larney is great company on any ride. When he is not trekking Larney enjoys working with horses and is a keen fisherman.
		Aimee Thorne Guide Aimee is from Loburn near Rangiora and has been with us since 1999. Aimee's interest in horses stems from mucking around on her grandfather's Thurso Station near Windwhistle and helping with competition driving ponies at a Loburn Welsh Mountain Pony Stud. Before joining our team Aimee led horse treks at Pukaki Downs Station. From starting as our working pupil Aimee has worked her way up to where she now leads many of the longer rides. Aimee is working towards completing her National Certificate in Tourism - Horse Trekking, to become one of the first guides to have this new qualification. Aimee's interests include reading, riding and generally having fun.
		Camille Nelson Wrangler Camille hails from Victoria, Australia, and is responsible for the training of our youngstock and keeping our older horses up to the mark. Camille has worked with horses in the USA and Australia and employs training methods based on the principles she learnt from Buck Branaman. Camille also helps out with the trekking when required and is also working toward completing her National Certificate in Tourism - Horse Trekking.
		Kevin Platt Trek Leader / Guide / Natural History specialist Kevin came to Hurunui Horse Treks after spending most of his working life in the high country as a botanist with first the NZ Forest Research Institute and then later with Landcare Research Ltd. He has recently been involved as a botanical guide with tours through the European Alps. A keen photographer, hunter and fisherman in years gone by, these days, when he is not on 'me pony' Pearl, you are more likely to find him strumming his guitar or tending his amazing native garden, a mini forest habitat in the middle of urban Woodend. Kevin's broad knowledge of the high country's natural history is invaluable and adds another dimension to the adventure. Interests: Environment, Native Plants, Country & Western Music, Horses

The Horses
Stationbred stock horses are the traditional mounts of the musterers, shepherds and stockman who work the New Zealand high country.
Most of our horses are the tough Thoroughbred/Clydesdale crosses used on the stations.
Strong, bold hunter types, they run free until they are rounded up and brought in for the bi-ennial auctions such as at the nearby St. James station.
They are between 15 and 17 hands high, well motivated, willing and much sought after for their all round ability. Our horses are trained to be ridden English style.

Connemaras
We like Connemaras for their toughness and endurance in difficult conditions, versatility and natural inclination to forage.We have several part-bred Connemara horses and we are running a breeding programme using our Connemara stallion, Ridgeway Stonelea (Stoney), over part-draught stationbred and thoroughbred mares.

The rugged Irish Connemara pony has characteristics ideal for back-country horse trekking.
They are tougher and hardier than New Zealand stock horses, do very well on minimal feed and have wonderful temperaments.
To get the right combination of strength, sure-footedness, hardiness, size, and good temperament we have a breeding programme putting our Connemara stallion, Ridgeway Stonelea (Stoney), over our part-draught and thoroughbred mares.
Crossing Connemaras with station hacks combines bigger size with the excellent Connemara traits; versatility, agility, staying power, temperament, intelligence and soundness. They are also excellent doers; a great asset on longer treks in the cooler months, when other horses can quickly lose condition.
As well as Stoney, we have Galway Jeanette, a pure-bred Connemara mare.
Nancy (Barwidgee Errif x stationbred mare) one of our top riding horses is part-bred Connemara, Borregon is a pure-bred gelding and we have a number of younger part-bred riding ponies left by Stoney.