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Catlins Horse Riding
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Catlins Horse Riding

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Catlins Horse Riding
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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5.0
44 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
2
Kim
11 contributions
Everything perfect, guides, experience, care and views.
Feb 2023 • Couples
Thoroughly enjoyed our trek, the views are stunning. As a nervous beginner, I was paired with the paired with the perfect steed. Thank you for taking such great care of us Cara. Great communication and a great price too. Highly recommend!
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard D
Auckland, New Zealand9 contributions
Horsesome trek
Jan 2021
We honestly can't speak highly enough of this exceptional horse riding experience. Having done many horse trekking trips around the world, this one really stands out. The horses were wonderfully engaged and responsive, and the freedom that Cara has to choose from a wide variety of routes through stunning farmland and glorious stretches of beach meant that the horses weren't dulled to the same route on every trip. Cara was an awesome guide, she was not only very knowledgeable about the area, she was happy to chat and answer questions. She was clearly very passionate about her horses and the Catlin area. She was very flexible about the routes and happily extended our 3hr ride to a 3.5hr ride as we were riding to make sure that we got the most out of the experience as we could. Cara was very attentive to our skill level to make sure we had the right horses and were able to go at a pace which suited our experience. She was also happy for us to ride side by side and spread out when she was confident that we could handle it, rather than plod nose to tail like so many other trekking companies insist on. And what better way to enjoy the majesty of the Catlins than on horse back? It was absolutely stunning from start to finish and we were delighted to spot a few sealions on the beach too.
Written 18 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michelle A
4 contributions
Fantastic riding experience
Jan 2021
We had an awesome 2-hour farm and beach ride! Cara matched us up well to her amazing good-natured horses. We had mixed riding abilities in our group of 4, and these were well catered to - those who wanted a slower steady pace were able to stay at a walk while the others of us had a good fast ride along the beach. It felt more like riding out with a group of friends than a trekking company ride. Such a beautiful area. Highly recommended, I'm sure we will be back.
Written 13 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
michellecM478CS
Dunedin, New Zealand24 contributions
Catlins horse trek
Jan 2021 • Family
An amazing day out, all our abilities were catered for, Cara and Mel were friendly and very knowledgeable of the area, Cara’s horses are loved and their well-being is a big part of the trek, highly recommend.
Written 12 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Harriet W
Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand2 contributions
Best trekking experience!
Oct 2020
Wonderful trek over Cara's family farm and to Surat Bay. Cara is very knowledgeable about the area and history of the Catlins more generally! Beautiful and sweet horses too. Highly recommended.
Written 22 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Colleen Simpson
6 contributions
Awesome beach trek
Oct 2020 • Family
We had a wonderful 2 hour trek over the farm and down to Surat Bay. As others have said, Cara is an excellent guide and we enjoyed hearing about the area and its history. I recommend the beach ride, the views are amazing.
Written 12 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monica Muir
38 contributions
Horse trek in paradise
Jul 2020 • Couples
We had a fabulous trek down by the beach and across farmland with great views. Cara was an excellent guide and tailored the trek to our experience and needs. We would definitely come back again.
Written 16 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brooke D
Karaka, New Zealand19 contributions
Afternoon ride for beginners
Jul 2020 • Family
Cara and Glenys were fantastic hosts, helping to teach our young children on their first ride. They took care to lead the children down to the beach and then gave them an opportunity to ride independently on the way home. Thank you for a lovely and memorable afternoon.
Written 12 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
alex-832016
New Zealand48 contributions
Once more a wonderful experience
May 2019 • Couples
We came back after a couple of years and enjoyed another amazing day with Cara and her lovely horses. My partner and I went on a stunning and sunny beach ride on absolutely easy-going horses. The fact that the summer season is over, left the beach only for us wich was awesome. Thanks again, Cara for the perfect ride! We'll definitely be back, again!
Written 7 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Christopherljones72
4 contributions
Not a ride for Beginners.
Jan 2019 • Couples
Windy rainy day....
I am an intermediate rider, I just lost my own horse a month ago, so my loving husband booked us this ride. He is a complete beginner, so we expected the quiet horse for him, at least. Well, his horse was very spooky, he almost got thrown off about 5 times, and my horse become nervous few times...

Things that spook horses - road signs, gates, people on the bicycles, sea lion, sounds of the sand fallen into the ocean, the seaweed on the beach, etc.
..
And I know that horses could be nervous...Also trying to bite my husbands legs off constantly, perhaps with improper saddle fit. That was scary...
However I am a very patient rider but even I couldn't keep it cool and had to get off ... My horse just disrespectfully bulldozed through me!!!
Cara is a kind person and cares for horses. However they developed very bad habits on the ground and under saddle. I watched he to tack/saddle them up and they show no respect whatsoever on the ground. I know it takes just about 3 days to train the horse to stay still for mounting, but even her horse was not trained enough to ever do so...

Very poor horsemanship skills, when the horses go ballistic she just try to sweet talk to them instead of fixing the problem...
Also, for my complete beginner husband there were no horn or even even a strap to hold on the entire time, so I was concerned for his safety.

I was looking forward to this ride with the expectation of an amazing memories and pictures. I would love to trot/canter some too. However, Cara was not even ever offered to get off, position the riders and get breathtaking pictures, well, she couldn't manage her own horse!
The view and the ocean/beach was awesome, however my confidence went down and I had to watch and worry about next tantrum horses might have....

So summery of the trip - enjoy on your own risk, No one will take your pictures.... The horses are my passion in life and good training is the key - it will help both, the rider and the horse to achieve the trusting balance!!!
And if you advertise the business, just put some mileage/training on your horses - I just wanted to let everyone know what to expect.
The beauty of the country is unprecedented, We Love NZ....

Will be booking with Moonlight Stables next time we come again - they are the best!
Written 3 February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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CATLINS HORSE RIDING: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Frequently Asked Questions about Catlins Horse Riding