Backcountry Saddle Expeditions
Backcountry Saddle Expeditions
Backcountry Saddle Expeditions
5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Backcountry Saddle Expeditions has celebrated a few milestones this year... They are 36 years old... with an outstanding 30 years under the current management of Debs Thompson. Debs is a "hands on" outdoor girl and wishes to share her family of "fur babies" with everyone. Henry the cat, Dixie the dog and her stunning herd of 20 Appaloosa horses. Appaloosa's are an American Indian horse who are best known for their stunning spotted coloration. They are a mountain breed and are suited to the beautiful mountain steeps of the Hidden Valley, Earnscleugh. To keep the western theme the horses are outfitted in Western Saddles which ensure the rider a safe, secure and more comfortable ride. Come and enjoy the family and meet Debs and her team.
Duration: 2-3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingWhat is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
Top ways to experience nearby attractions
The area
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
3 within 5 kms
See what travellers are saying
- Jet315184109551 contributionOutstanding Experience - Thoroughly RecommendDue to my daughter's love of horses, we have done a few family horse treks on holidays. This was by far the best experience we have had. The trek was led by Debbie who is such a wonderfully relational person and exceptional guide. The Appaloosa horses are the most adorable horses, full of personality and energy. They are fit, healthy and strong. This trek caters to all levels of ability/experience - including those with lots of riding experience. The views were outstanding too! It was so much fun for the whole family. We don't usually leave reviews, but really want to promote this to others because it was excellent!Visited September 2023Travelled with familyWritten 5 October 2023
- IzzyUnited Kingdom3 contributionsAmazing scenery and beautiful horsesDebs was an amazing tour guide and made us both feel so comfortable considering we hadn’t ridden in over 10 years! The horses were beautifully behaved and the scenery was stunning. Would highly recommend if you’re in the area.Visited November 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 23 November 2023
- Lynn MSechelt, Canada368 contributionsA fantastic morningWhat a great day. Debs was an amazing guide. The horses were well trained and are suitable for absolutely any level. The views of Central Otago were absolutely stunning. A wonderful experience and I would highly recommend.Visited February 2024Travelled soloWritten 6 February 2024
- OzetravellersGold Coast, Australia1,100 contributionsBest horses we have riddenWe have been riding in many countries around the world and this was one of the most pleasurable experiences we have had. Deb’s horses are so well trained - an absolute pleasure to ride. At first I was a bit worried as there were 2 beginners with us and I thought they may slow our ride but often throughout the ride Debbie would take the beginners ahead and the three of us would canter /gallop to catch up. Most horses would be jumpy hanging back but not these horses! Perfectly chilled. Deb gave us such a great tour of the back country , teaching us about the history, flora and fauna constantly. She also took photos and videos and sent them to us afterwards. It was a pleasant 1 hour 20 from Queenstown but well worth it. We also had lunch at Dunstan house in Clyde on the way back - recommended by Deb and well worth it.Visited September 2024Travelled with familyWritten 7 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
5.0
724 reviews
Excellent
703
Very good
17
Average
2
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Pete C
18 contributions
Sept 2020 • Couples
What a great experience, totally recommend. Debs is great and the scenery is amazing. My wife and I are complete riding novices and we loved it. The horses are very sure footed and predictable and we quickly gained in confidence while covering some quite challenging terrain. Worth the drive from Wanaka and Queenstown to enjoy the different landscape. Enjoyed a nice lunch at the Post Office in Clyde afterwards .
Written 31 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindaloe
Rawmarsh, UK1 contribution
Dec 2019
Amazing ride on beautiful Appaloosa horses.
I was lucky to be in a party of 3 who were all novices. Debs, the owner, took us through the basics of riding before we started off. Rachel, our guide was very supportive, talking us through the different moves, making us feel relaxed, and at he same time giving us a running commentary of the surrounding area. We did trotting and even managed a small canter. I was a bit apprehensive to start with, but soon got the hang of it, and throughly enjoyed the whole experience and would certainly go back again.
I was lucky to be in a party of 3 who were all novices. Debs, the owner, took us through the basics of riding before we started off. Rachel, our guide was very supportive, talking us through the different moves, making us feel relaxed, and at he same time giving us a running commentary of the surrounding area. We did trotting and even managed a small canter. I was a bit apprehensive to start with, but soon got the hang of it, and throughly enjoyed the whole experience and would certainly go back again.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marine S
Paris, France49 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We had the best time with Philippe and the amazing horses of the backcountry saddle. We were both experienced riders and had the possibility to canter quiet a few times ! Debs is very lovely and knows perfectly her horses, and we were followed by the cutest dog Dixie. Thank you to Cheyenne and Cochise who were both great and Nice horses. Would recommend for sure !!!
The French guys, Marine and Quentin
The French guys, Marine and Quentin
Written 23 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah K
Hamilton, New Zealand65 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
A beautiful way to experience Alexandra. Amazing views from high up in the hills. We were three beginner riders who were able to canter by the end of this trek. Deb and her husband are welcoming, kind and informative. Learnt about the horses, landscape, fauna and the local wild life. Able to get a spot the day before and Deb has eftpos. Everything was a breeze. Loved the oil skin coats available. Couldn’t recommend this tour enough!
Written 26 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark A
5 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Backcountry Saddles are THE best! My family loved the whole experience. It was the first time that my son and daughter had been on an extended ride and they were not disappointed. The chosen horses (Jade, Smoke, Dawn and Pochahontas) were well selected for our varying levels of skill.
Frenchy was a great guide and very knowledgeable about lots of different things and we couldn't have asked for anyone better.
Frenchy was a great guide and very knowledgeable about lots of different things and we couldn't have asked for anyone better.
Written 15 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Anna H
Sydney, Australia19 contributions
Dec 2019
As young girls both me and my sister were regular horse-riders, and as we grew up and started travelling it became tradition to find a place to ride in every country we travelled to. From Australia to Vanuatu, Hawaii to Canada, never have we found a place as amazing at Backcountry Saddle Expeditions. We've had the pleasure of riding with these guys 3 times now, and the care that is put into the horses and the business is obvious. As experienced riders me and my sister struggle to ride freely at other trail-riding establishments (i.e. be allowed to canter with beginner riders around) - but the team at Backcountry Saddle cater for riders of all types. Beginners are taken good care of with gorgeous friendly horses, and more experienced riders are given plenty of chances to canter around some of the most gorgeous landscapes the south island has to offer. These guys absolutely deserve your business and you will leave with the biggest smile on your face, guaranteed. Horse fanatic or not, it's an experience to remember x
Written 11 April 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Angela C
Niseko-cho, Japan9 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
At first, I was a bit nervous because I had never rode a horse and my sons rode their own horse. The horses were SO well trained and behaved and Olivia the guide had fantastic communication with us that we all felt incredible comfortable. We had a blast and views were surreal. This was my favorite activity in New Zealand. It was so peaceful on top of the mountains! Highly recommend!
Written 10 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ozetravellers
Gold Coast, Australia1,100 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
We have been riding in many countries around the world and this was one of the most pleasurable experiences we have had. Deb’s horses are so well trained - an absolute pleasure to ride. At first I was a bit worried as there were 2 beginners with us and I thought they may slow our ride but often throughout the ride Debbie would take the beginners ahead and the three of us would canter /gallop to catch up. Most horses would be jumpy hanging back but not these horses! Perfectly chilled. Deb gave us such a great tour of the back country , teaching us about the history, flora and fauna constantly. She also took photos and videos and sent them to us afterwards. It was a pleasant 1 hour 20 from Queenstown but well worth it. We also had lunch at Dunstan house in Clyde on the way back - recommended by Deb and well worth it.
Written 7 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ashleigh
8 contributions
Aug 2020 • Couples
Absolutely love this experience, was much better than antipcated. The back country mountains and scenery was spectacular. Just perfect!!! And Deb was amazing, had a good sense of humour and was very informative about the history of the area. Highly recommend!!!
Written 4 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jet31518410955
1 contribution
Sept 2023 • Family
Due to my daughter's love of horses, we have done a few family horse treks on holidays. This was by far the best experience we have had. The trek was led by Debbie who is such a wonderfully relational person and exceptional guide. The Appaloosa horses are the most adorable horses, full of personality and energy. They are fit, healthy and strong. This trek caters to all levels of ability/experience - including those with lots of riding experience. The views were outstanding too! It was so much fun for the whole family. We don't usually leave reviews, but really want to promote this to others because it was excellent!
Written 5 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hiya! Just wondering if the time spent trekking is 2 hours? or does that time include preparations and getting acquainted with the horses etc. Thanks! :)
Written 16 August 2019
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
It’s 2 hours riding and all the lives and cuddles before and after are a bonus 🤠🐴
Written 16 August 2019
Is this suitable for a 20 month old and a 3.5 yr old sharing with each parent?
Written 10 March 2019
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
I really sorry but we cannot double saddle.
My minimum age for children is 5 years old.
Debs
Written 10 March 2019
May I know the price of the ticket pls?
Written 17 December 2018
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
The Adult price is $95 and a child is $75 (15 years and under) for a 2 hour ride.
We have 2 departure times daily at either 10.00am or 1.30pm and we do need a prior booking.
Hope this helps...
Debs🤠
Written 18 December 2018
jorgitooreillybeccar
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hi there. We are a small group (5) of Argentinian university students. We are all excellent horse riders, and well acquainted with the care and handling of the animals. We were wondering if you had job openings during your summer, form December 15-20 to the end of February. We also have fluent English, a good education, clean and orderly habits and good manners.
Written 29 May 2018
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
Sorry guys,
All my staff carry over from season to season.
I haven’t got any for seen vacancies.
Good luck...
Debs🤠
Written 30 May 2018
chloe1135
Adelaide, Australia
Hi there. Just wondering if there was a weight restriction for the horse riding. I’m a rider myself but I’m just worried about my partner, as he is a little over the weight restrictions here in Australia to go riding on tours.? Many thanks. 😄
Written 3 May 2018
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
Hi Chloe,
I do like to talk to people about weight versus height and ability.
Someone who is 5ft and 100kg is very different to a person who is 6ft and 100kg.
Hopefully you can ring me so we can discuss all these factors.
Debs🤠
Written 3 May 2018
What is the minimum age to ride? We are family of four, (kids are 9 and 2) the 9 year old rode before. Thank you!
Written 1 October 2017
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
Hi Guys,
The 2 year old is too young to ride.
Our minimum age is 5 years old.
The 9 year old will be fine.
Hope this helps...
Debs:-)
Written 30 October 2017
Hello,
My friends and I are going to New Zealand next week, and planning to try horse trekking. Just curious, are we allowed to carry a camera or handphone while riding the horse?
Thanks.
Written 31 October 2016
Debs T
Alexandra, New Zealand
Yes cameras are essential... The scenery is beautiful.
If you don't have a zip up pocket we supply a small bag that we tie onto the front of the saddle.
Bookings are essential and we do rides twice daily at either 10.00am or 1.30pm daily.
Look forward to your reservation.
Debs:-)
Written 31 October 2016
Showing results 1-7 of 7
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing