reviews

"My friend and I visited NZ for 3 weeks from the UK and chose to do a half day ride on our last day in the South Island and boy was that the way to finish off an epic holiday! James was so welcoming and friendly, really knowledgeable about the country and you could tell how much he loved his beautiful horses. We’re both experienced riders but a little out of practice, however we did get back into our galloping stride which was just awesome with the scenery around us! We had Lester and Orange who were just the sweetest horses, very obedient and we felt at ease from the moment we arrived. The ride itself was just breathtaking, trekking from the field where the horses are kept up through some woods and then down towards the river with Mt Hutt overhead, and with it being such a hot day the crossing of the river was a welcome cool down! I couldn’t recommend James and his amazing horses enough and we’ll 10000000000% be returning for maybe a full day or multi day on our next NZ trip! Thanks so much James!!"

​Victoria F - England

"By far the best trail ride I have ever done!
Spending my first day in South Island, was blown away by the picturesque, mountainous landscape of Lake Coleridge. 
James is very kind, patient and all around top person to guide you! 
My mount (Willow) is by far the most pleasant and versatile trail horse. She was gentle, responsive and easy to handle. It’s weird to describe a horse as considerate but she truly was as I don’t regularly ride these days and felt a bit rusty. Nevertheless, Willow took everything in her stride, was eager to please and have fun. 
I’ve ridden loads of trails back in my own country but nothing compares to what I experienced here! :) recommend".

​Jen R - Queensland

"We were travelling around the South Island heading towards Arthurs Pass and looked for things to do nearby, luckily we stumbled across this! Got in touch with James over email and he was straight back and we arranged a ride for the next morning.
Greeted by James at their house we were quickly out on the horses and trekking through the woods surrounding the lake.
Having lived in the area for a long time James has a lot of knowledge about the area but what we enjoyed was how easy he was to talk to and how knowledgeable he was in general. We saw lots of amazing things on the ride, and 2 hours flew by.
After the ride James invited us back into his home for tea and to let us download the photos that he had taken of us which was very kind. We then sat for probably an hour just chatting about the area and what he recommended that we should go and see on the rest of our travels.
Very good would definitely recommend and made more special by having such a friendly, inviting guide to lead you."

​Eddie Scott - England

"A fabulous day out with girlfriends on a perfect Autumn day last year. Our guide was brilliant and catered to all levels on our trek. We had hills, river crossings and flat riding. those who were keen got to go for a canter. The horses were very quiet."

Jane - Christchurch

"We’ve done a day trek with James, it was incredible! Good lunch, pretty views and an excellent guide!"

​Anna - Netherlands

"Amazing ! This has to be one of the best things I've done in New Zealand, and I've been fortunate to do a lot of awesome things since being here (including other horse treks).
James is an outstanding host, really friendly, welcoming and knowledgeable. It was great to meet him and hang out with him for a couple of days, including staying the night in his lovely house.
The trek has to be on your top 3 things to do in NZ and I cannot recommend James highly enough. The horses are incredible; really well mannered, obedient, calm and responsive to rider commands - they're happy not to be 1cm away from the horse in front, which you sometimes find on horse treks elsewhere.
The scenery is stunning! The 2 day trek I went on, takes you out to some really remote locations where all you can hear is the horses hoofs and bird songs.
When you come to NZ (or if you live here permanently), make sure a horse trek is on the top of your things to do, but more importantly, choose James and his horses and you will not be disappointed. I've been on 2 other treks with different companies, and none have been as amazing as this. When I come back to NZ, I intend on doing an extended 3 day trek.
Thanks again James, for making this an outstanding experience that we'll never forget!
See you in a year!"

Charlie & Sarah - England

"My partner and I recently did a 3 day trek with James and Karly. We had an incredible time!! We were even hosted in their beautiful home the night before. They couldn’t of been more welcoming. Everything about the trek was more than we ever expected, the food was great! We never went hungry that’s for sure! Karly and James were so great with the horses, getting them ready for us every day. We never felt pushed or uncomfortable. Especially me being a pretty unskilled rider. The horses were beautiful! Very responsive and sure about where they were putting their feet in the rough parts. They each had their own little personalities but were all so gentle. The views were breathtaking, and made even better on top of the horses. It never felt like a tourist operation, it felt more like James loves what he does and it wasn’t much of a job at all. Highly recommend this experience, so pleased we did it! 
Thanks to Deb for also being a great host! We’ll be back one day for sure!"

​Hayley Maxwell - Queensland

​"My friend and I had the most amazing day with James. We did a half-day of horseback riding and went through absolutely breathtaking scenery. The tracks were adventurous and challenging since we rode through both forests, hills and rivers, but we felt very safe and well taken care of, despite both of us being pretty inexperienced with horses. James had made sure that the horses matched our abilities and we didn't leave until we both felt comfortable and prepared for the trip. The horses were clearly healthy and happy in addition to being absolutely stunning.
James was the sweetest guide and taught us a lot about the horses and the landscape we passed through. This was by far one of the best experiences we had while visiting New Zealand and we’d recommend giving James and his beautiful horses a visit to everybody who’s visiting the country or the area - you will not regret it!"
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Kamille and Josefine, Denmark

"Last month I completed a 2 night / 3 day horse trek with James & cannot find enough superlatives to describe the amazing experience.  The night before the trek I stayed in the Lodge run by James & his wife Deb. Their hospitality is generous, relaxed, fun, with beautiful food! 
 James & his Canadian support person Karly were superbly organised, relaxed, very knowledgable regarding many things, including the local area. The horses are beautifully cared for, healthy, kind & very responsive if required. The terrain was stunning & varied, seeing places you would never see any other way than on horse back
Thanks so much to James, Deb & Karly for making this such an outstanding experience. I am the envy of many of my friends. I will be back!"
Michele Handley - Tauranga  

"We had a fabulous time on a three day trek through very remote high country. The scenery and tracks were amazing & mum couldn't believe it just kept on stretching out ahead of her.  Staying in a very traditional musterers hut was a great experience. The horses were fit and responsive and well matched to our riding capabilities. James and Dylan were very organised and everything just happened without any fuss - although it was clearly well planned in advance! A definite highlight of our NZ road trip and we'd love to do it again one day !"
Emily & Catherine
​Somerset - England

"My father in law came for a visit in NZ and went on a half day horse trek with James, he absolutely loved it and came back from it with a big smile on his face. Orange his horse was very good, trek challenging just at the right  level and James was great to talk to. My wife and mother in law stayed with James and his lovely wife Deb on the same visit too, the house was clean and comfortable and Deb and James prepared a yummy meal for them including accommodating for my wife's vegan diet.
They all highly recommend James and Deb for a home stay and horse trek. Thank you James and Deb".
Family of Doron
Israel

"Truly the Garden of Eden. An amazing way to experience the real New Zealand on a 2 day trek on horseback."
Miriam & Richard
​Ontario - Canada

"We had the most amazing ride yesterday. Has to be probably the best horseback trek I’ve been on. James was amazing. Took us on a diverse ride. River ride, forest ride and cross country ride. We trotted, cantered and had a blast. Thoroughly recommend it."
Leona & Derek
​Gulf Harbour - Auckland NZ

"Really fantastic day exploring the high country round Lake Coleridge. Our guide James was great. Had really calm and gentle horses. Great fun trying out a western saddle for the first time. Me and my friend were a bit nervous at the start but by the end James had us trotting and cantering with confidence. Will 100% be back."
Jane 
Christchurch

"One of the most beautiful rides ever! Stunning scenery, professional guide, well looked after horses. An experience to never forget anymore. Highly recommended! A crown on my trip to NZ!"
Masha - From the Netherlands

"Fantastic experience with breath taking scenery, good natured horses and friendly guides!
We have been lucky enough to ride with High Country Horse Adventures – Lake Coleridge on more than one occasion in recent months.  Each time the horses have been handpicked to match our abilities and we have always felt completely relaxed and at ease with their choices.   James, Deb & Dylan are knowledgeable, relaxed and friendly guides and have an intimate knowledge of each of the horses in their pack.  On each trek, it has been extremely reassuring to note that we have not departed until they are confident that both horse and rider is comfortable and well prepared.  With their treks crossing countryside that affords breath taking views of the braided rivers and mountain ranges that surround Lake Coleridge, you will not be disappointed by this experience!"
​Mike & Karen
Darfield

"At 72 I had never been on a horse so was rather nervous initially. Watching James and Deb select and prepare the horses for my initiation, as well as the horses of choice for them to ride with me, I soon relaxed. With clear, careful tuition it didn’t take long to feel comfortable on my mount, a beautiful quiet horse. They made sure I felt secure before we set off first walking the horses then riding out to the expansive beautiful Rakaia river. The concern for both the horses and my safety and enjoyment showed their professionalism, and led to a most enjoyable afternoon. By the end of the ride I felt much more comfortable around horses and look forward to returning for more horse trekking experiences.  It goes to show you “can teach an old dog new tricks!"
Maureen 
​Hokitika

"We are from South Africa and visited High Country Horse Adventures during July. My wife is an experienced rider and I am a novice, the guides chose the perfect horses for each of us. We took a ride into the “High Country”, the mountains, rivers and lake was a breathtaking scenery! The horses are well trained and extremely obedient. We can surely recommend High Country Horse Adventures for any horse and nature lover." 
Jannie & Viraldi
Polokwane - South Africa