RIDING HIGH
Exploring the gorgeous Margaret River region on horseback.
DAKOTA AND I ARE GOING TO BE GREAT FRIENDS, I can just tell. After all, we are going to be spending the best part of a week together at close quarters, relying on each other to navigate our way through the contrasting landscape of Western Australia’s celebrated Margaret River region. She’s the serious, silent type so I do most of the talking, but she shoulders her responsibilities with a stoic grace. All she asks in return is a brisk rub down at the end of the day and a heaping helping of chaff. Dakota is a horse. It’s day one of what will be a five-day Margaret River Ride with Globetrotting, which specialises in horseback itineraries around the world. My base for the duration will be Jesters Flat, a traditional Australian homestead located in the charming Rosa Brook bushland, some 18 kilometres east of Margaret River. Owner Paul Brennan was brought up on the homestead and knows the surrounding country inside out; along with his wife Fiona he has been running rides out of the property, which also boasts a boutique winery and a delightful glamping site, for 10 years on their stunning string of 30 home-bred and educated Australian stock horses, Dakota among them. After mounting up, Paul leads our group of 12 (including five staffers) to Irishman’s Pool through the Rapids Conservation Park; after three hours in the saddle we return to a Welcome to Country by proud Waljin woman Mitchella (Mitch) Hutchins, who delivers a fascinating demonstration of her region’s local flora and fauna. Each day thereafter unfolds as a tapestry of rich scenery – bush, beaches, vineyards – viewed as sweeping vistas from my elevated vantage point atop Dakota. We spend five to six hours in the saddle, returning to our cosy base at Jesters Flat for generous communal table meals (including a couple of neighbours) of the best the region has to offer, including wine from Paul and Fiona’s own cellar door. I finish the week as a more confident rider, with a new understanding, and love, of horses, and the Margaret River region itself.
HORSING AROUND
While the five-day itinerary packs in myriad noteworthy sights and experiences, one of the absolute highlights for me was swimming bareback at the deserted white-sand Forrest Beach. After riding at full canter along the beach, saddles (and riding gear) are removed and horse and rider wade into the clear waters. It’s an extraordinary, and quite rare, thing to be able to swim with horses; a real bucket-list experience. Another highlight was seeing the wildflowers that blanketed the landscape. Chelsea, one of my fellow riders, carried an encyclopedia of flora and fauna with her and we would collect wildflowers and identify them as we went.
THE RIDE OF YOUR LIFE
The five-day Margaret River Ride delivers an amazing variety of kangaroo-filled Aussie bushland, turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, farmland, forest and, of course, the region’s famous wineries. Activities include everything from art gallery visits to learning the art of polocrosse in the afternoon (Paul played for Australia) to morning yoga sessions and wine tastings.You are also given the flexibility to choose what you want to do: I would head to the beach each morning for a swim, returning to camp for breakfast before saddling up for a day’s riding.
The five-day ride delivers an amazing variety of kangaroo-filled bushland, turquoise waters, white-sand beaches and, of course, the region’s famous wineries.
We spend five to six hours in the saddle, returning to our cosy base at Jesters Flat for generous communal table meals.