May 19

May 19 On the right trek

You know you are in a job you love, when you still do it on your time off – and that’s the case for banker turned horse trek leader, Charlotte McDonald. By Katherine Robinson. Photo by Esther Bunning

If you were to list astonishingly scenic Wairarapa roads, you’d have to put Admirals Road near the top. You might expect the bird’s-eye view of the plains but it’s views of a hidden valley to the east that take the breath away. And, based on a sheep and beef farm overlooking these views, is Gladstone Horse Treks run by Charlotte and Toby McDonald.

The third generation of his family to own and run the farm, Toby grew up riding horses, simply because it was the easiest way to get around this rugged countryside. Even now cattle are mustered on horseback here.

Charlotte grew up on a farm north of Masterton, “and had a few riding lessons when I was a child, but it wasn’t until I came out here that I really learned. Toby put me on a horse and said, ‘Off we go’,” she says.

From there on, she was hooked, although she insists that she is “not a fancy, show-jumping rider, I think of myself as a good country rider. I just like being outside doing what I love – and I love the horses and I love riding.”

Her love of riding and a busy family life – the McDonalds have a daughter and twin boys – led her to switch her 12-year career in banking to running horse treks.

From small beginnings, she now has ten trekking horses. Treks range from one to two hour gentle rides down the valley to one or two-day treks to the top of the ranges where the views are epic.

“Riders do need to know how to ride to get up the hills – It’s not for beginners. But when the weather is good you have 360 views over the Wairarapa and as far south as the Kaikoura Ranges.”

The McDonalds have a glamping hut for those who would like to stay overnight.

Trekking groups are deliberately kept small (around six at most), which means Charlotte can tailor the ride to suit. With larger groups of mixed riding ability, they split the group, with Toby taking the more experienced riders.

“We do try to give people who know how to ride a bit of fun. And even with beginners, I give them a try at something new – they get so excited if they go for a wee trot up the hill.”

She tries to pinpoint riding ability with a few questions at the start, matching horse to rider.

“Sometimes people who are capable riders will downplay their ability. They might have learned to ride when they were kids, and it comes back really quickly. Others say they can ride when they can’t,” says Toby.

Their youngest riders have been around five (Charlotte might walk the horse on a lead) and their oldest – over 70-years-old.

“You have got to really love being a horse trek guide because it is as much about people management as managing the horses. You need to keep an eye on how both are doing,” says Charlotte.

Most riders come from Wellington, Palmerston North or are local.

“One couple got engaged on a ride. He told us that he was going to propose in the morning, so we wandered off to give them some space,” says Toby.

Charlotte is always on the lookout for good trekking horses. Ideally, these are intelligent, calm and totally trustworthy.

When trialling a horse, she will ride it as if she was a beginner or ask one of the children to ride. “Though they are all getting too good now,” she says.

You get the feeling that any horse she chooses is supremely lucky. For Charlotte, all the horses are her pets, and once they are too old for trekking they will have a long, happy retirement.

Winter horse treks

Summer may be the busiest season for horse treks, but the big advantage with winter riding is that your group, however small, may be the only ones on a trek so Charlotte will tailor the trek to suit you.

For more info, click here.