T R AV E L
(LtoR) Marie and Kin Kin, Alex on MacTaggart, and Neil riding Moose LEFT: Cody, MacTaggart, Monty, Duke, and Josh carry Equathon clients over the Black Snake Range. and the daily beach rides have become
training. “My coaches would not tolerate
teaching the three essential pillars –
fully booked with domestic clients
anything but a ‘take care of your horse
Horse Riding, Horse Management and
who want nature based activities to
first’ attitude. We like to be an open
escape city living. The desire to seek
Horse Training – to equip customers
book and all our management, training
refuge in nature and a back-to-basics
to be safe and effective around horses
and care of horses can be viewed at
attitude seems to be happening as
any time,” he says. “There is never
and in the saddle. This course is for
people look for stability in a world torn
anything that guests are not welcome
apart by COVID. Seeking enjoyable experiences with horses seem to be part of that trend,” Alex says. An appealing feature of Equathon’s website is viewing the gorgeous images of their delightful crew of highly
to observe, and in this way, they learn good horse management practices.”
riders of all ages and abilities and is ideal for people returning to riding after a break, a loss of confidence, or if they are contemplating buying their own
Teaching good practice is obviously
horse. Ride Easy is conducted over
a priority for Alex. “We also run a
five sessions of two hours each and
successful program called Ride Easy,
can be followed by further lessons or
trained horses, including their names and details. Although Equathon staff are open to hearing which horse a guest likes best, they will generally match horses to riders based upon height, weight and riding experience. Alex lives and breathes horse welfare and his decades of best-practice equine care underpin the entire operation. “Our philosophy has always been based on presenting well trained, happy, healthy horses,” he says. “Many of our guests comment on the quality of our horses and frequently request a particular horse for their next visit. Some have come back more than half a dozen times.” This management philosophy goes back to Alex’s early Olympic riding 76 | H O R S E V I B E S N O V / D E C 2 0 2 0
From beach to bush and back again: Toby, Moose, Luke, MacTaggart, and Kin Kin are happy in any location.
