Cattle Muster

Chapman Valley Cattle Muster

Join the fifth and sixth generations of the Chapman family on an authentic Australian cattle mustering experience! A tradition that has been upheld for 184 years, rounding up the cattle on horseback is a huge event on the farm – and we’re inviting you along for the ride!

Spend multiple days in the saddle searching for and bringing in the cattle from all over the property, ready for drenching, drafting and preparing for the local cattle sales! Then at night sit around the campfire and discuss the day’s events with your fellow cowgirls and cowboys.

You’ll be assigned your own horse to care for and ride during the muster. This includes catching, grooming and saddling at the start and the end of the day.

Upcoming Dates

14th-16th October 2024, 11th-13th November 2024 (1 saddle left!)(waiting list available – email us to join!)

Have your own horse?

The above dates are for those riding our horses. See our Holiday With Your Horse page for dates and prices for BYO Horse options.

Upcoming Dates 2024

31st Aug-1st Sept. (full!) (waiting list available – email us to join!)

Have your own horse?

The above dates are for those riding our horses. See our Holiday With Your Horse page for dates and prices for BYO Horse options.

About The Ride

For six generations (since the year 1840) Chapman Valley has been an actively running beef cattle farm. Our ancestors, who were dairy-farmers in England, relocated to Australia to find new opportunities. They settled on this 6,000 acre property and stocked it with cattle. Since then the farm has been passed down from generation to generation, all the time keeping things running from the back of a horse. In this fast paced world, we find rounding up the cattle on horseback is still the best way to do things. Not only is it more gentle and kind on the cattle, but it’s more fun for the humans too!

In this authentic horseback Cattle Mustering experience, you’ll kick off your day with a hearty BBQ breakfast before heading over to the horse yards to get ready for the day’s adventures. You’ll be given your own horse to care for, and under the tuition of our helpful guides you’ll groom and saddle your noble steed before mounting up and riding out in search for the cattle.

About the Horses

We use the same horses on our Cattle Muster as we do on our everyday trail rides. This means they’re fit, experienced and reliable. They love their job, but the Cattle Musters are like a holiday for them and they are in their absolute element! On all of our rides, we encourage our horses to be responsive to their rider, to avoid the nose-to-tail grind and so the opportunity to spread out and roam the paddocks looking for cattle is right up their alley! You’ll find a mix of breeds in our herd, from Australian Stock Horses and Quarter Horses to our beautiful Shire and Clydie Xs. They range from steady quiet beginner’s horses to more responsive experienced rider’s horses, so there’s always a great match to be found.

Inclusions

Home-cooked meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks & dinner), horse hire, helmet hire, and accommodation in our brand-new Drover’s Quarters building.

Accommodation & Facilities

Our brand new six-bedroom accommodation, “The Drover’s Quarters”, overlooks the horse yards, so you can quietly snuggle up on the couch to watch the horses gather for their breakfast with coffee in hand. You’ll have your own private bedroom with a comfy queen/double bed, crisp clean sheets & cozy blankets & doona. Located next door to the camp kitchen where our delicious meals are served up, and nearby to our amenities block where you can enjoy hot showers & flushing toilets.

Group Size

The cattle musters that are held with Chapman Valley’s horses are limited to a maximum of 6 guests, plus 2 guides. BYO Horse Cattle Musters may be larger groups (up to 10 horses) depending on the event’s circumstances.

Details

You’ll be assigned your own horse to care for and ride. This includes catching, grooming, and saddling at the start and the end of the day. Our guides are there to assist you.
Participants must be able to trot with confidence (in case we need to catch up to the cattle or makeup time), but the majority of the riding will be at a walking pace to prevent over-exerting the animals.
No phone reception! Unplug for a few days!
We will return to the home base at the end of each day, where there are flushing toilets and showers.
As much as we hope and try to deliver, there is no 100% guarantee that we will muster cattle on any given day. This is an authentic, real cattle muster – not put on for show, and we won’t know exactly where the cattle are located.
For safety reasons, visitors aren’t permitted in the cattle yards during drafting or marking but are welcome to watch.
Riders are welcome to stay the night before and the night after, for no additional cost.
All riders must wear a helmet (we supply helmets).
Horses are rotated if needed, so you may not ride the same horse each day.
Weight limit – due to an unexpected reduction in our horsey family, we currently have a weight limit of 90kgs. If you’re over 90kgs and tall, or if you are an experienced rider, please feel free to contact us to discuss if we can accommodate you on your requested date.

What to Bring

Toiletries (bath towels are provided).
Warm clothes; beanies, gloves, thick jackets as nights can be extremely cold!
Waterproof clothes; gumboots, raincoats & waterproof pants. We still ride in the rain.
A few changes of clothes, for riding through the day and relaxing at night. Extras in case you get wet.
Riding boots (no joggers).
Casual shoes to wear at night (e.g joggers/thongs).