Trekking through Ashley Gorge on the back of a horse

Press, 7 February 1986, Page 18

Trekking through Ashley Gorge on the back of a horse

MARGARET BAKER

finds peace and beauty with the help of a

horse.

North Canterbury on a hot mid-summer’s day is a contrast of colours and landforms; bush and plains, rivers and hills. Experiencing them all from horseback is somehow appropriate. Horse-riding seems to fit in with the natural landscape — takes nothing away from it, and adds no artificial aspect. Ashley Gorge Horsetreks, recently set up by Peter Nichol and Christine Burmas, offers the classic chance to “get away from it all”.

In the morning you set off from the Ashley Gorge, near Oxford, up an open ridge, climbing about 600 metres over tussock land on a well cut track, reaching Knowles Top in time for morning tea. The view from the top is magnificent, stretching out to the sea, over a neat jigsaw of paddocks, in various shades of brown and green. On the other side, Mt Thomas forest dominates the view, with the Puketaki range sitting on the horizon, and Mt Richardson to one side and Mt Hutt in the distance on the other.

Then the trek takes you away from the burnt gold hill cover, and the blue of the sky, and into the cool green of the bush. Surrounded by ferns and trees, with sunlight sneaking in from

both sides, the horses make their way along the ridge top. It’s quite hobbit-ish, very pretty and very quiet. Another contrast to the windy exposed hilltop. And just when you’re beginning to squirm a little in the saddle, and trying to find another position to sit in, it’s time to get off the horses and walk them down the hillside for about half an hour — to lunch. A lunchbox lunch of sandwiches and biscuits and fruit drink, and if you’re lucky some chocolate. For about another half an hour you alternate between bush and open hillsides, mostly walking the horses, and finally coming out at the Ashley River for a swim and a cup of billy tea. Baking on a rock in the sun, surrounded by the high walls of the gorge, the whole scene is very peaceful and relaxing. No pressure to rush on, time to let it all sink in.

Riding down the river is an experience to be remembered. From the back of a horse you can look around at the trees, down at the river running clear over the stones, and feel the sun

beating out of the sky. As Christine says, "You’ve got time to enjoy it all, without worrying where you’re putting your feet.” The homeward leg of the journey is a peaceful meander, or more exiting canter, if you are so inclined, out of the gorge and back along the roadside to where the journey began. The trek covers about 12 miles.

Designed as an “adventure for adults”, you need no experience with horses, and will be given one that suits your height and riding history. The nine horses are described as “quiet but not donkeys”. Peter and Christine each has about eight years riding experience, and two years ago they spent two weeks riding through the back country from Oxford to Blenheim. “We started to think then about putting together a commercial trip,” says Peter, “but then the logistics of something that size were too complicated.

They first approached the Forest Service in June, 1984, to ask about using some of its land as

part of a smaller trek, and last year spent most of the winter cutting the bush track. The trek also passes through two private farms.

Brothers, sisters and friends were all called in to help with the work, and the treks began operating last December. In the past, Peter has worked as a bulldozer contractor, and they both ran the Porter Heights Ski Lodge. “We started the trek to get into something that had a different quality about it, something that was away from the noise and the dirt and the fumes,” Peter says. Most of the people they have on the treks have either been locals from around Oxford, or people from Christchurch. There has also been a smattering of overseas people, including Australians, Canadians and a young Irishman who hopes to do it again before returning home. “It’s something some people never had a chance to do; they get to see places they have never experienced before,” says Christine. “Even people with horses in the city don’t have access to this

kind of country, and we’ve had phone calls from people who say they are sick of riding around city streets and want to come out here for a change.” Bad weather over Christmas and New Year meant a slow start for the business, and quite a few cancellations, but things are picking up again now, and they will keep running treks as demand requires. “We get a thrill from other people’s reactions to the views and the scenery. Each trek is different because of the people and the conditions”, Peter says. The minimum age for trekkers is 14, and the upper limit is left open, according to fitness and experience. “Even for people under 14 it would depend on experience, but they would have to be quite confident on a horse and be accompanied by adults,” Christine says. Regarding the length of trips, they said they were “open to suggestions” and in February will be taking a party of Australians and Americans on a two day trip. The usual trek starts at 9 a.m. and finishes about 4.30 p.m., and they also run half day trips on request Group size is kept to no bigger than six, with the minimum size set at four, including the two guides.