Day Rides · St James
Backcountry Scenic Ride
No experience needed
Saddle up for a real alpine adventure. Kept small with a maximum of 5–6 riders, this ride is a favourite with beginner riders looking for something a little more exciting than the usual nose-to-tail plod.
The pace stays gentle and steady throughout, but the terrain keeps things interesting — you’ll splash across little creek crossings, wind through changing landscapes, and climb uphill trails to a mountain viewpoint over St James that makes for the perfect photo (and a genuine sense of adventure).
Seasoned riders won’t be disappointed either. While there’s not much room for trotting or cantering on this trail, the stunning views and varied terrain more than make up for it, keeping even experienced riders engaged from start to finish.
A basic level of fitness is recommended, as the ride does involve some uphill sections, but no prior riding experience is needed. It’s a wonderful outing for kids 10 and up too — a real family adventure in the mountains.
Helmets are provided and must be worn at all times. For everyone’s safety, and the wellbeing of our horses, guides may stop or adjust a ride if safety guidance isn’t followed.
- Great for
- Beginner and experienced riders, small groups, families with kids 10+
- Duration
- 1.5 hours
- Pace
- Easy and steady, with varied terrain to keep it engaging
- Fitness
- Basic fitness recommended
- Note
- Group ride — you may be riding with other guests
Have more questions?
Before you book
The questions we are asked most often about this trip. Anything else, just ask — we answer honestly, even when the answer is "this one is not for you".
Not for our day rides — the horses are calm and we start slow, covering the basics before we leave the gate. Our overnight trips are private, so the guide sets the pace to you: the easy hot-springs nights suit complete first-timers, while the four-day Fowlers Circuit rewards fitness and saddle confidence. Keen, fit beginners are welcome on the bigger trips too — just tell us and we will make it work.
Day rides suit almost everyone. The Fowlers Circuit is physically and mentally demanding across remote, self-supported terrain — moderate-to-good fitness and saddle confidence required.
Yes — for safety and for the horses’ welfare, every ride and expedition has a minimum rider age of 10 and a maximum rider weight of 110 kg. If you’re near the weight limit, or riding with younger children, get in touch and we’ll talk through the options.
No — we are not able to take pregnant riders on any of our trips, at any stage of pregnancy. It is not caution on your behalf so much as arithmetic: a fall from a horse, hours from a road, with a helicopter that only flies when the weather lets it, is not a risk anyone should be carrying for two.
If you book and then find out you are pregnant, tell us as early as you can and we will talk through the options with you. You will not be worse off for telling us.
Long trousers, sturdy closed shoes or boots, a warm layer and a waterproof jacket. We supply helmets and tack. For overnights you bring a sleeping bag (or rent one from us) and personal layers.
Every overnight trip and expedition is private to your own party — a minimum of two riders and a maximum of four, with the pace built around you. Day rides are shared, but kept small: four to six riders, and the guide shapes the ride around the group.
We decide from the forecast before we leave, not at the road end. We do not travel if the overnight low is under −5°C, if gusts are forecast above 25 m/s, if heavy rain is set to sit over the whole trip, or if two of those stack up. If a trip has to move, we will work with you to shift it — so keep your travel dates as flexible as you can, especially in winter and the shoulder seasons.
A morning like this
