Reynella Rides - New Year's Eve in the Bush

Horsezone's own, Jenny Goodwin (pictured centre left and below right), decided to literally take to the hills for new year's eve and experience a relaxing start to 2011, with great people and the best view ever - the world as seen from between a horse's ears...

Hosts Roslyn and John Rudd of Reynella Rides, have been welcoming people into their homestead at Adaminaby for almost 40 years.  Guests are from all over the world, both experienced and beginner riders, many of them returning again and again.  Rides up into the mountains range from 3-5 days, camping out in large teepees, with brilliant meals prepared over the campfire.

Ian and his wife Judith from Canberra, have been coming to Reynella twice a year for over 30 years!  Ian boasts that he has worn the same hat, which is now held together with staples and the same boots for every ride!  It was my fifth ride. I love the peace and quiet, you often don’t see anyone else the whole time, other than the occasional rider. The scenery is magnificent and ever changing and then there's the wonderful food!

There were 14 people on my ride, plus Brendon and Conrad our guides, Tom the cook and a young local showjumper who came along to help out.  My mount for this adventure was Prue who I’ve ridden a few times. She is a gorgeous brown, sturdy, part clydie mare who is very responsive and super quick on her feet.

Places we visited included Middle Ridge, Ware’s Yards, Boggy Plain, Alpine Track, Gooandra Plain, Bullock’s Hill, Coal Creek, Eucambine River, Four Mile Hut, Long Arm Creek, Mount Selwyn, Tantangara Mountain, Alpine Fire Trail.

 

Day 1

Climbed up Middle Ridge into Ware’s Yards where we lunched on food carried by our trusty pack horse – fresh sandwiches, home made fruit cake. Washed it down with billy tea and cool, clean water from the nearby creek.

Skirted around Boggy Plain onto the Alpine Track. Rode around base of Tantangara Mountain and up on to Wild Horse Plain where we saw our first mob of brumbies. Climbed out of Wild Horse Plain, descended on to Rocky Plain where we based ourselves for the next few nights. Dined on fresh rainbow trout cooked over the coals – divine!  All fell into our beds at about 9pm happy and exhausted.

Day 2

We all agreed it was one of the best days of riding we’d ever had. Magnificent sunny day with a light breeze, breathtaking scenery, which included visiting the historic Gooandra Homestead.  Our group  split up so a few experienced riders could track brumbies to get a close encounter, galloping high up into the mountains with the wind whistling in our ears and not a care in the world.

Sang by the campfire to the tune of Ian’s harmonica well into the night,  marvelling at the vast constellations of stars that just aren’t visible in a city sky.

Day 3

Lunched at a spectacular waterfall at Four Mile and Long Arm Creeks, where we also swam to cool down.

Pressed on to Four Mile Hut. (4 miles from Kiandra – site of 10,000 strong gold rush in 1860. Sadly 300 people froze in their first winter, not realising how harsh the conditions would be.)

Returned along Mt Selwyn Fire Trail, past the ski resort and cross country ski fields. 

Bathed in the mighty Eucambine River in preparation for our New Year’s Eve feast of turkey, ham and plum pudding – washed down with gorgeous red wines supplied by one of our riders Graham – a successful Sydney hairdresser who, by the way, gave Brendon our guide, one of the best cuts of his life!

Day 4

Sadly left our temporary home at Rocky Plain, riding up over Tantangara Mountain, down the Alpine Fire Trail to Eucambine River where we swam and rested at lunch time. Prue loved crossing the deep river, splashing first one leg then the other like a kid in a wading pool, with me grinning from ear to ear!  Much more fun than dressage!

Enjoyed a huge meal of roast pork and all the trimmings back at the homestead, sharing stories and photos of our wonderful adventure.  Now all I need to do is plan my next ride!

 

CLICK HERE to find out more about Reynella Rides and organise your own mountain escape!