High Country Horses

High Country Horses are based at Merrijig, Victoria, only three hours from Melbourne.

Located by the banks of the Delatite River amongst the beauty of Victoria's High Country.

Merrijig is just 14kms from Mansfield on the Mansfield to Mount Buller Road and we are located opposite the Merrijig Pub.

Our Guests Scrapbook


Helloww lovely Fiona!! (and Chris/Sam/Jeff/Malin/Sonja),
 
I arrived home on the Sunshine Coast 2 hours ago - been 21 day road trip for me, across 3 states, will floods chasing at my heals.
 
I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you to you and all your family, staff and amazing horses, who made the NYE trip absolutely fantastic for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
You guys work so so so hard and it shows in everything you do. The food was great and the company wasn't too shabby either. My heals have healed, thanks to your Dad's tip of regular sprays of metho!!
 
I hope to connect with you via FB so I can share my road trip pics with you all.
 
Also hope to post you guys some nice pics = got lovely ones on Sonja, Malin, Sam, Jeff and Chris - I think you escaped my famous camera!!).
 
Okay, must go wash up now - it's been a hard slog, but fabulous!!!
 
Luv Flav xox 2010/2011

Dear Fiona and Chris

Thank you for a wonderful time on the razorback ride. After having the worst year of my life it was such a relief to take time out for me,,,sounds selfish but I feel like I can now keep going.
The staff and horses were amazing and I felt like I was looked after like a queen (without a shower). Mouse was a delight to ride. She is such a gentle horse and looked after me. I was a little nervous to begin with but had all the confidence in the world after a short time on her back and felt no fear sliding down the mountain on her.

Everyone at High Country Horses should be so proud of themselves for the job that they do.

With heartfelt thanks
Tracey Brimley 2010

Hi Chris & Fiona,

I just wanted to thank you  & your staff for making our weekend something Helen & I will never forget!!
We have never experienced anything like that ride & you introduced a side of our Australian bush
That unfortunately not everyone will get to see or be a part of (if only for a weekend).
Your staff were brilliant, patient, smiling & willing to do everything & anything to make sure every person
On the ride was happy & comfortable.  So please thank Bridget (she is a hoot & smart & very, very patient),
Jeff (made everyone feel welcome & ...patient), Jim (great in the kitchen), Amanda (friendly no matter what time of the day),
Cain (great help, so knowledgeable)
Chris you & Fiona both knew everyone’s names & I feel this is the most important thing when you are running the
Kind of business you run, you made sure each & everyone of else felt important & you made us feel comfortable (even when
Physically we may not have been!!).
I just again want to say THANKYOU.  We thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.
Hope to see you again.
(PS. How long before I can walk properly???)

Kind Regards,

Kelly 2011

Hi Fiona and Chris,
                           We would just like to let you know how much of a great time we had on our ride. Everything was so well organised from accomadation to the great food, Jo says thanks so much for the gluten free food espeacially the muffins Fiona. A big thank you to Chris and his very trustworthy horses they worked so hard and were in beautiful condition, they are a credit to you all, espeacially Budy,Bandit and Mouse! Briget, Kane and Jim and everyone else involved made it so much fun and enjoyable. And we cant forget Jeff can you please give him a big hug from Jo and Amy not me though lol, just shake his hand and tell him that I will buy him a beer next time! He is a sensational bloke and we really enjoyed his company at the pub and his jokes on the ride. We will see you guys next year until then be good and stay safe.

Darren Jo Amy 2011

PS tell Jeff he has to be on our ride next time and can you let Jo know if you ever put Mouse in foal!

Hi Fiona,

It was all a bit rush & bustle at the end of the ride, so Mathew & I just wanted to send you a note to say a proper thank you & let you know how much we enjoyed the ride.
We ended up making it all the way home on Sunday night, arriving at 1am.  Swapping stories, lot of laughs & a general debrief of our wonderful adventure meant the time flew past & we did not feel tired.
I hope the rest of you enjoyed dinner at the pub – we would have loved to have joined you, but were keen to get home to the horses/dogs etc.  I do hope nobody else came down with the dreaded gastro bug, so far Fiona & I are ok & Scott is making a good recovery.
Once again Fiona, our sincere thanks to you, Chris & all the team for giving us not only a great holiday, but a wonderful adventure, we enjoyed it immensely & will be recommending it to everybody we know.  It far exceeded both of our expectations, I’m not sure how Mathew will settle back into race riding – he may find it too boring for him!
Please say goodbye to all the crew for me (think we missed seeing a couple eg Sonya) & pass on our thanks & open invitation to all of them if ever they venture to Cowra.

We certainly hope to cross paths with you all again in the future.  In the mean time all the best to all at HCH.

Kathryn & Mathew Cahill 2011

Dear Chris and Fiona,

While it is fresh in my mind I thought I’d drop a quick e-mail to both you and your staff.

I’d like to thank you for a wonderful weekend, it proved to be everything I had expected and so much more. It was a pleasure in dealing with all your staff and nothing was a problem to them from checking girth straps, explaining what mountain was what or simply chatting along the way. It gave a feeling of being welcomed into a little community. The horses were amazing and I know we each got attached to our own, we boasted “mine was faster” or “mine is so careful” or  “so sure footed” etc……………. I hadn’t expected the going to be so tough on them and yet they did everything that was asked of them.

Scenery along the way was simply breathtaking. I can’t wait to have some of the pictures blown up. Ash, Ben, Greg and I couldn’t stop talking about what a great time we have had on the way home and would certainly like to come back next year at some stage. As I said to Chris your backyard is not bad!

Again, many thanks

Richard

Hi Fiona and Chris

Apologies for my tardiness in not sending this through earlier, however I did want to write to you to say a sincere thank you for such a wonderful experience over the Easter long weekend.

The experience you offer is so unique. I appreciate there are a number of horse riding companies that operate in the local area, however the way you operate would surpass all others.  You are a beautiful and genuine couple and this is evidenced in the way you run your business.  The care you provide to your horses, the great crew you attract to support the event, the way the whole event is organised from the moment you arrive,  your "can do' attitude where nothing requested is a hassle during the four days.......  The knowledge you have of the area and ability to get all guests with varying personalities and abilities to the one place at the one time - amazing!

I also want to pass on a big hug and virtual lolly raspberry to Mouse - who carried me with confidence for the four days and made my experience so pleasurable and so much fun - a big thank you to Mouse also.  I hope that all her experiences are with people who appreciate her abilities and character and smother her with love and of course lollies....

I will send through some photo's next week, which you might enjoy.

Kind regards and again thank you

Karyn

Hi Everyone,

The ride was amazing and more than I expected, to go up there and have beautiful weather for 4 days, fantastic horses, great company and to share with Dani and special friends, WOW, WOW, WOW. Te Ta and Tania came and it was just brilliant.

The time was so good for the soul and I seriously did not want to come home, I have been shitty every since!!! It is my 40th birthday today and it is not special compared to the past 4 days I have had in the high country. To be able to ride through terrain I would have thought unpenetrable and only goat tracks existed! To make it through and then see the sights we saw and the endless mountain ranges, the weather, the birds, the animals, the rivers, the horses.

I could go on forever, it was the best time I have had on the back of a horse, the horse I rode Chance was a darling and he so

 

 

looked after me and every step he took! He had a Chance fit as I was warned he could do, but all was good and we rode on day after day. The main leader was Chris Dunlop riding a 24 year old paly mare, his knowledge was amazing and his energy so different to your usual country cowboy. He was a wealth of information and his horse adored him, which is always lovely to see.

I hope you all enjoy these photos as I do, by the way Dani was inspired and had a fantastic time too. It is not everyones cup of tea but I hope to be there again, next year maybe!!!

Speak soon,

Sam and Dani xoxoxoxo 2010

Dear Chris and Fiona
Thank you ever so much for a fantastic w/end - we had a ball, despite re-meeting a few muscles we'd forgotten existed !!
Coming from Hay Hell and Booligal we have been thinking this is the closest we may ever get to heaven !!
A few pics here and the ones of Jo and Jackie you may be able to please email onto them.

All the very best and hope to meet again one day,

Kind regards Jan and David Wagstaff

A poem by one of our favourite passengers ... June Small, Warwick, Queensland

The Duchess

Not being a horse rider myself -
Maybe too nervous - or too old.
I have to travel with all the luggage
In the trusty Troop Carrier - I'm told!

This grand, white reliable vehicle
Travels many miles each day.
To describe it as a person -
She's a Duchess - I would say!

She is smooth and sleek and patient
Never faltering in her stride
She is always most reliable
And assures me of a safe and carefree ride.

Heavily loaded with all the luggage
She never misses a beat
With a competent driver behind the wheel
I'm relaxed and comfortable in the passenger seat.

She takes lunches to the riders each day
Climbing the mountain is never a chore.
She does everything that is asked of her
And we couldn't possibly ask for more.

I only have to buckle up
No saddles, stirrups or reins.
She's never as thirsty as the mounts
And so much easier to train.

So to all you other riders
Describing your gallant steeds
I'm quite happy with my Duchess
She supplies me with all my needs.

So to all my friendly comrades
I'll ask you one more time
To raise your glasses and drink a toast
To this newly-made friend of mine.

"The Duchess". "Cheers!"


Viv Alf"Just thought I'd send you a note to let you know that Elyse and I had a great time on our ride on the weekend. ... We were both a little nervous beforehand as neither of us had ridden for a long time, but the horses were excellent. All of the staff involved over the weekend were terrific and added to it being a great experience. Now that we have done it once we ... look forward to giving it another go some time in the future. "

Jason Reithmuller
Viv with Alf our gentle giant.


Sarah"A big thank you to all of you for a fantastic time this weekend. The ride was amazing and I shall remember it forever. Chance was wonderful and looked after me so well on those tricky slopes! It was all very well organised, arriving at the wonderful lunch stops with delicious food waiting for us each time. The camp and BBQ were also great and I didn't even see a spider! Thank you to all of you involved in making it such a brilliant trek."

Sarah Pinder
(pictured on the right sitting on top of Chance on the summit of Mt Stirling)

 


High Country Horses
Mt Buller Rd
Merrijig Vic 3722
 
Phone:03 5777 5590 - Fax:03 5777 5290
email: info@highcountryhorses.com.au

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