Horseback’s the way to go
RIDING through the bush or along the beach on the back of an Australian stockhorse is a unique Oz experience.
The movement of the horse, the rustling of life all around, the rhythmic thrum of hooves – it’s not something you can experience from an armchair.
Olympian Alex Watson, owner of Equathon horse riding tours, says horseback riding is a great way to get in touch with the natural environment.
“Being able to view the countryside from the back of a horse is such a nice way to do it,” he said.
Equathon offers tours for all skill levels, starting from an hourlong trot along the beach and advancing up to seven days of mustering and trail riding.
Mr Watson said he had tried to make the tours as diverse as possible, with the longer rides taking visitors all over the Sunshine Coast region and further afield.
“We made a really serious effort to be imaginative with what we do in the tours,” he said.
Mr Watson said the combination of this immersion in nature and the ability to cover large distances made horse riding a great way to see the real Sunshine Coast or other regions.
“There’s a lot of things you see riding that you wouldn’t see in a car.”
Horse riding isn’t just for the adults, though.
Kiah Park, near Gympie, runs holiday camps for school-age children – even if they’ve never been in the saddle before.
Kiah Park spokeswoman Samantha Barbar said the camps were a great opportunity for children to get in touch with nature.
“You don’t need any previous horse-riding experience to enjoy a wonderful time at Kiah Park, as lessons are incorporated into our program,” she said.
The retreat also aims to give children a respect for their horse, teaching them not just to ride, but also how to look after the magnificent animals.