Our Horses
"Lift up your feet!"
"Mr Popcorn"
Our horses are mainly station bred, Thoroughbred / Clydesdale cross, strong, bold hunter types, the traditional hack favoured by New Zealand stockmen and women.
Also popular as hunters and in the other equestrian disciplines, these horses are generally bought at auctions such as the St. James Station Auction near Hanmer Springs in the North Canterbury high country. The St. James horses range in a semi-feral state in the valleys of the upper Waiau River until they are rounded up and the youngsters driven 40km to the St. James Station yards on the Clarence River for the biennial auction.
People come from far and wide for the St. James auction, some just spectators enjoying the atmosphere, others prospective buyers looking for a good sturdy, high country hack.
We train all of our horses in natural horsemanship and classic training – with good strong foundations for them in a high country environment – we work on Respect & Trust at all times with them. Our horses are all well bred and mannered both on the ground and to ride and suited to all disciplines.
See what other people think about our horses:-
Why I Love Hurunui Trails & Adventures
"Amber"
"Coco Pops"
I wish to relate to any interested parties my experiences
in New Zealand, South Island with Hurunui
Trails. I have done treks 4 or 5 treks with this company. When I find a company that does extended treks into the
outback of a particular country, I tend to try them out. I travel extensively as a horse trainer and clinician and
taking these sorts of treks is one of the great perks of my job. From the very first journey with Hurunui Trails I
was hooked. The scenery is right out of the movie Lord of the Ring (this area of the South Island is where most of
the movie was shot. Spectacular is a word that doesn´t really do the area justice. One might say: "unbelievably/
incredibly beautiful."
As a professional trainer and teaching of horsemanship for over 40 years, I can attest to the quality and care of the horses provided by this company. The horses really were exceptional. Strong, sturdy, healthy, good looking, well-trained and maintained and a pleasure to ride, was the case with every horse on every trek I did. The treks I participated in tended to be the longest ones the company offered. So it was not unusual to be out for 8-days at a time. I had a comfortable bed every night and a hot shower daily. The food was terrific, fresh and well prepared. The staff was professional, cordial, hard working, and delightful people to be around.
The last three times I went with Hurunui Trails I brought groups with me. They were friends and friends of friends who loved horses, were experienced and proficient riders and horse owners themselves. I provided a two day seminar before our treks began. The intention of the seminar was to invite and facilitate a closer, more bonded experience between the guest and their new horse. Additionally, to impart as much wisdom of horses and appropriate handling techniques as I could within the time allowed. Occasionally, along the way of the trek, I would provide additional information and insight into equine behavior and training techniques. Hurunui Trails was always accommodating and supportive of all guests gaining more experience and better horsemanship through these programs.
In closing, I must say that I give Hurunui Trails & Adventures the highest rating possible for such an
organization. If my many years as a professional horseman at an international level, as taught me anything, it has taught
me to quickly recognize horses in any sort of distress, facilitates that may look OK on the surface but disguise deficiencies
in equine maintenance and handling. In my many journeys with Hurunui Trails & Adventures I have only experienced the
highest quality from this organization. If you take a trek with Hurunui Trails & Adventures you will experience a
highlight of your life involving horses. Fantastic! 
Franklin Levinson
"Kalia, Trooper & Lady "
"Hocus Pocus"
"Jack"
I had the pleasure of meeting Heather and Pete when I purchased
‘Hocus Pocus’ (HP for short) at the beginning of November 2010. This is the story of how that came to be...
That I was even contemplating buying a horse at that time was for me bittersweet. I had lost my fabulous big horse ‘Oscar’ to colic and was now facing the daunting task of moving on to another horse. I don’t know if I was quite ready to, but I knew it was something I needed to do. Since I had shared Oscar’s entire life of almost 15 years any new horse had big shoes to fill (size 8 to be exact)!
It was by chance I even found out that HP might be for sale, but I just guess it was just meant to be. After email correspondence and photos, then follow-up phone calls, I made the trip with friends from Dunedin to Hawarden in North Canterbury. When we finally met it was like reuniting with old friends – both Heather and Pete were so welcoming. They gave me as much time as I needed to get to know HP and Pete even took three of us on their horses on a hack around the block.
HP was Heather’s own horse and I knew it had been as difficult a decision for her to sell him as it was for me to buy another horse. She understood I needed time and there was no pressure for me to make a decision. HP wasn’t exactly what I thought I was looking for, but I was impressed by so many of his characteristics and attributes that the deal was sealed with a handshake, a big hug... and a few tears.
What can I say, HP is a lovely big 17hh ¼ Clyde, ¾ TB typical of the type Heather and Pete work with and are breeding. He’s a short-coupled, long-legged, sure-footed, sensible, no fuss, no nonsense, go anywhere, do anything kind of horse. This is testament to the wonderful way in which he has been broken in. He is a pleasure to handle in every way, something I do alone, no trouble at all. He isn’t pushy, respects my personal space and although he loves his food, he will wait patiently for it. He walks straight onto the float, is a great traveller and never rushes off. HP stands perfectly for the farrier, is good to catch, tie up and I can ride him on the road with all kinds of traffic including stock trucks, milk tankers and tractors. He doesn’t mind if he’s ahead or behind other horses when riding in company. He is well balanced and moves freely in all terrain (after all the high country was his training ground).
HP is now moving into the next phase of his education and is proving to be very trainable. He is a quick learner and very willing to please and I’m sure he will make a good hunter and all-rounder. Best of all, he is full of character and personality and he has put a smile back on my face. Our partnership grows every day.
I wholeheartedly recommend Heather and Pete to anyone who is contemplating having their horse expertly broken
in or started, or simply looking to buy their next ‘good horse’. It has been a pleasure to deal with such good-hearted,
honest, knowledgeable and hardworking people and to experience first-hand the results of their skilled handling of horses
through the use of sound ‘horse sense’!
Gwynneth Cundall
Momona, Otago
"Playtime at Hurunui"
