Frequently Asked
Questions
Be sure to be honest about your experience level as both
the horses and the guides will notice what you are and are not
capable of doing and we do not want to disappoint you by
refusing a trek for safety concerns.
What gear is provided?
As per our Health and Safety policies we provide equestrian standard safety helmets and high-visibility vests. These must remain on at all times for your safety and to meet the requirements of our licences we hold with the local council, Iwi and landowners. Unfortunately we are unable to let you remove any safety gear while mounted on horseback. Muriwai Beach and forest is classed as a road and commercial area so all safety regulations must be adhered to at all times.
We ask that you wear your own suitable clothing for horse riding. Please refer to our ‘What to wear’ section in our FAQ’s for further information on this.
What to wear?
We suggest long pants/ leggings, t -shirt or shirt, a jumper or jacket in colder and wetter months, sunscreen for Summer months. CLOSED TOE SHOES are a must (crocs or similar are not considered closed toe shoes).
Please note we do not have shoes or clothes for you to wear so please ensure you and your party are dressed appropriately as we cannot let you ride due to unsafe clothing/shoes and we cannot offer to refund or reschedule you if you have not dressed appropriately.
Can we ride with two people on a horse?
No, this is not a safe way to ride our horses nor does our equipment allow for "doubling on horseback". It's also not very comfortable for our horses and would exceed our weight limit in many cases.
Can my child ride with me on the same horse?
No, this is not a safe way to ride our horses nor does our equipment allow for "doubling on horseback". Each person will be allocated their own horse.
Can my baby ride with me or be strapped to me during the ride?
No, this is not a safe way to ride our horses nor does our equipment allow for "doubling on horseback". We also have an age limit of 5 years old.
How much is it?
We have a range of treks and horse riding activities available. Please click on the ‘Book Now’ part on our website as this will take you to where you can view all available treks and their current prices. For speciality treks, private bookings or photoshoot/filming pricing please email us.
How do I get there?
The exact location for our treks is available on google maps and will be emailed to you once your booking is confirmed. You will also be sent a link with specific directions via google maps in your booking confirmation email.
If you are using anything other than private transport please make sure you have pre booked and confirmed your trip in advance to your arrival date and time, we strongly suggest doing the same for your departure from our facility. Our location is based in a remote rural township where public transport is limited and often unavailable including the use of Uber or similar taxi services.
Late arrivals for any reason can not be refunded or rescheduled as per our terms and conditions.
What if I decide to back out of riding?
We want you to feel safe and confident so our friendly, knowledgeable staff will help you along the way to ensure you are safe. However horse riding isn't for everyone and if you feel you cannot go ahead we will respect your wishes. However we cannot offer to refund you as per our cancellation notice time, we cannot resell your seat nor be left out of pocket when we have already spent the time reserving your horse and preparing it for your ride.
Do you have a weight limit?
Yes our weight limit is 95kg. If you are over this even by 1kg please call us to discuss we can possibly facilitate you at the time.
Please be honest about weights, we do have scales onsite and often check weights of all clients so we can be assured we allocate the correct horse.
If a customer arrives at our facility and they are over our weight limit and we have not made a prior arrangement with them we may not be able to allow them to ride, no refund or reschedule can be given in this case as we were not notified and haven’t been able to to agree and facilitate.
We understand that this conversation can be a sensitive one. We are here to support you and your group and so please email us to discuss privately if you have any questions or concerns. We will do our best to make things work as long as it's possible and safe.
Like people, horses also have limits, we really care about our horses and do our best to make sure we do not overwork them or exceed their limits.
Vet studies state that a working horse in heavy work should only take up to 15% of their body weight and this should include the gear like saddles etc so if we work on this calculation a 600kg horse can take 90kg weight total including gear.
Can my 3 year old child ride a horse?
No sorry we have an age limit of 5 years old.
What if I am late for the check in time for my trail?
No sorry, we cannot offer to refund or reschedule trails for customers that are late or no shows, please see our terms and conditions and policies for further information.
What if it's raining or bad weather?
We ride in all weather as long as it's not a safety concern. A bit of water never hurt anyone. However we do live on the safer side of caution and we may need to postpone if weather is a danger to the safety of clients and staff. You can read our weather policy in our terms and conditions.
What if someone in my party is nervous?
We understand riding a big 600kg animal can be scary, we are here to support you. We will teach you all you need to know and accompany you along the ride to help give you support.
On our one hour trails we can even walk on foot next to you to help you or lead you if you feel you need us to.
A full safety briefing will be given before you ride so you have the information you need, our knowledgeable guides will also remind you and give instructions along the ride.
If you are very nervous and not sure you will be able to even get up on a horse but you want to try to face your fears, give us a call to discuss how we might be able to assist you. We also offer private trails which can be one on one and give you all the time and support you need.
Will there be other people on the trail with me?
Yes, there may be other people not from your group booked in on the same trail as you, we do keep our groups as small as possible but please be aware we may join trails together. For example a couple book in and another person on their own books in, they will most likely be together and have three people go on the same trail. If you are wanting to secure a private trail, you can email us to discuss and we can accommodate private bookings.
