About high country horse adventures - lake coleridge
Experience the high country on horseback ! Choose from a part day or one day trail ride out of Lake Coleridge Village or a classic 3, 4 or 5 day backcountry trek through some of New Zealand's most spectacular remote high country, camping overnight in authentic musterer's huts.
We have horses to suit all levels of rider experience, from beginner and novice to the experienced rider. If you are an experienced rider, let us know and we will let you ride to your full ability where the group experience mix allows.
Enjoy the spectacular Canterbury High Country - only 75 minutes drive from Christchurch - yet a world away !
Take in breathtaking views of the iconic Canterbury High Country - mountains - lakes - rivers. This is New Zealand's 'Big Sky Country' !
We have gentle horses, we match the horse to the rider and your level of riding experience and skill. Novice rider and a bit anxious about jumping on a horseback ? Don't worry, our guides are here to make sure that you will be safe all along. You will have an hour of briefing about how to ride, behave with our horses and all the safety rules. Plus, we would be delighted to have you for just a nice walk along those breathtaking views.
Outside of our peak Summer season, many of our rides are run as exclusive groups, couples or families. Additional riders are added to smaller groups at our discretion.
We have horses to suit all levels of rider experience, from beginner and novice to the experienced rider. If you are an experienced rider, let us know and we will let you ride to your full ability where the group experience mix allows.
Enjoy the spectacular Canterbury High Country - only 75 minutes drive from Christchurch - yet a world away !
Take in breathtaking views of the iconic Canterbury High Country - mountains - lakes - rivers. This is New Zealand's 'Big Sky Country' !
We have gentle horses, we match the horse to the rider and your level of riding experience and skill. Novice rider and a bit anxious about jumping on a horseback ? Don't worry, our guides are here to make sure that you will be safe all along. You will have an hour of briefing about how to ride, behave with our horses and all the safety rules. Plus, we would be delighted to have you for just a nice walk along those breathtaking views.
Outside of our peak Summer season, many of our rides are run as exclusive groups, couples or families. Additional riders are added to smaller groups at our discretion.
Are you looking for breathtaking views away from places crowed with tourists ? Lake Coleridge is Canterbury's hidden gem, mainly surrounded by local farm land. You can combine your trail ride with other activities in the area, high country walking, jet boat rides on the Rakaia River, trout and salmon fishing, 4x4 tours, golf at the nearby Terrace Downs Golf Resort or Skiing during the winter at the nearby Mt Hutt and Mt Olympus Ski-fields.
Meet the team
James Cagney - Owner Manager
James Cagney - Owner Manager
James is South Island, New Zealand born and bred, growing up in the rural MacKenzie Country and the Wild West Coast, in a farming and outdoors family. After a career in the NZ Air Force James settled with his family back in central Canterbury 27 years ago, working in the rural, outdoors, hunting, conservation and aviation sectors. James established our tourism business in 2014, adding the horse trekking in 2017 when we purchased the business from long established local operator Noel Stanger. James worked a number of seasons in Northern BC, Canada working with trail horses in the Northern Rockies. We handle, tack and run our horses here in much the same way as we did in Canada.
James lives at our base at Lake Coleridge Village, where he loves our wild and pure mountain environment. James does a lot of the guiding and all of the shoeing. James feels blessed to live a wonderful life with our horses, our close team and friends in such a beautiful natural environment.
James lives at our base at Lake Coleridge Village, where he loves our wild and pure mountain environment. James does a lot of the guiding and all of the shoeing. James feels blessed to live a wonderful life with our horses, our close team and friends in such a beautiful natural environment.
Dylan Cagney - Co-owner, Guide
Dylan is James' Son, he has grown up in rural Canterbury and has been involved with our tourism business most of his life. Dylan lives locally with his fiancé Breanna. Dylan guides in the horse trekking and hunting sides of our businesses, he loves the backcountry multi-day treks. At age 14 Dylan took a few months out of school and did a full season wrangling with us at Big Nine Outfitters in Northern BC, this started his passion for horse work.
Dylan loves the outdoors and the mountains, he is our Number 1 hunting guide and enjoys the Summer horse trek guiding. He is taking over the running of the guided hunting side of the business and runs a second herd of horses for us through the Summer. Dilly Dog loves a laugh and is alway fun. He is famous for his entertaining stories on our multi-day treks and his Michelin Star mashed potatoes.
Dylan loves the outdoors and the mountains, he is our Number 1 hunting guide and enjoys the Summer horse trek guiding. He is taking over the running of the guided hunting side of the business and runs a second herd of horses for us through the Summer. Dilly Dog loves a laugh and is alway fun. He is famous for his entertaining stories on our multi-day treks and his Michelin Star mashed potatoes.
Rosa Bell - Number 1 Guide (The Boss !)
Rosa grew up in the Canterbury High Country on her family farm in the Rakaia Valley and has been on a horse since before she could walk. Rosa's life revolves around horses. She has worked in various sectors of the horse industry and has ridden a variety of disciplines, settling where she's at her happiest, running a string of trail horses in the mountains in her beloved Rakaia Valley. Rosa has been guiding treks with us since 2023. Rosa is our full time guide, her role extends beyond guiding treks and includes leading our horse welfare and management and keeping James in line. On most of our day and multi-day treks Rosa is likely to be your guide.
Zoë Cowling - Guide
Zoë is a horse-mad outdoorswoman (just your typical crazy horse lady). She loves being around horses, meeting new people and, most importantly, having a good yarn. Whether it’s swapping stories, sharing a laugh or getting people settled in the saddle, Zoë loves making sure everyone has a bloody good time. She’s happiest on horseback, out in the hills, with plenty of good views.
Dara Carney - Guide
Dara is a 23 year-old North Canterbury local who has spent her life around horses, farming and the outdoors. She loves meeting new people, working with horses and being part the High Country Horse Adventures team!
Reba & Chilli
Reba & Chilli are our GSP sisters. They accompany us on some of the rides
Our horses
Discover joy in the wild! Beside their stunning grazing area, our 23 happy horses will sometimes roam freely in the stunning New Zealand mountains, taking a well-deserved break from their work. Experience the beauty of nature and the spirit of our four-legged friends! We've got 23 horses on our team, a mix of NZ station bred and standard bred horses. We get our horses from South Island High Country Stations (Ranches) and some of our horses are rescue horses. Our horse numbers allow us to rotate horses during busy times so that horses get rest days.
Discover joy in the wild! Beside their stunning grazing area, our 23 happy horses will sometimes roam freely in the stunning New Zealand mountains, taking a well-deserved break from their work. Experience the beauty of nature and the spirit of our four-legged friends! We've got 23 horses on our team, a mix of NZ station bred and standard bred horses. We get our horses from South Island High Country Stations (Ranches) and some of our horses are rescue horses. Our horse numbers allow us to rotate horses during busy times so that horses get rest days.
Western style riding
Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of New Zealand's mountains with a unique horseback riding experience! Mount up with a Western saddle or Australian stock saddle and channel your inner cowboy as you traverse the breathtaking landscapes of the high country.
Feel the exhilaration of riding through the wild terrain, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, lush forests, lakes and crystal-clear rivers. Let the rhythmic gait of your trusty steed carry you along winding trails and into hidden valleys that showcase the natural wonders of New Zealand.
Immerse yourself in the rugged beauty of New Zealand's mountains with a unique horseback riding experience! Mount up with a Western saddle or Australian stock saddle and channel your inner cowboy as you traverse the breathtaking landscapes of the high country.
Feel the exhilaration of riding through the wild terrain, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, lush forests, lakes and crystal-clear rivers. Let the rhythmic gait of your trusty steed carry you along winding trails and into hidden valleys that showcase the natural wonders of New Zealand.
Our Location
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Meeting place for our treks is at our office and base, located at
1 Hart Place, Lake Coleridge Village, a pleasant 75 minute drive from Christchurch or 30 minutes from Methven. Our trail rides are in the Lake Coleridge / upper Rakaia Valley area and surrounding high country. You can zoom the map in and out to see more detail. |
