High Country Horse Ride

Horse Riding with Watsons Mountain Country Trail Rides

After many months of waiting the day had finally come for our horse riding adventure. There were 10 of us all heading for the Howqua Valley near Mansfield. We departed school at about 4pm in the Shire bus, only stopping for food at Yea. We arrived at our accommodation, Howqua Valley Views, at about 9pm with only a slight detour. We saw plenty of kangaroos and wallabies during the drive but were also fortunate to see two deer. Some very excited students and slightly weary adults moved into their bunkhouse accommodation and had a good night’s sleep, eager for the next day to begin.

Saturday morning saw all the students up and dressed and ready to go before breakfast! After a cooked meal we drove to the Watson family farm to meet our guides and our horses for the next two days. We then set off on our ‘Man from Snowy River’ experience on horseback. We rode up a very steep hill to spectacular 360 degree views of the valley below.

After lunch we rode through creek beds and bridle tracks, up and down hills, trotting and cantering along the way, back to our accommodation at Howqua Valley Views.  Everyone had such a great time and riding skills improved immensely. We then enjoyed a relaxing hot shower before a hearty roast dinner around a camp fire in one of Victoria’s prettiest valleys.

Sunday started much the same as the day before. We brushed and saddled our horses before we set off for “Kate Camerons Peak”, the perilously steep hill where the famous jump scene from the Man from Snowy River movie was filmed. We then headed back down to the Watson family farm for lunch to complete our ride.

It was a quiet drive home with some very contented but weary students. Even a stop at the lolly shop in Mansfield did not have the effect it should! We were home by 7pm, with everyone having had an amazing time.