Horse Riding Faq's
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the interest of the comfort and safety of both horse and rider our weight limit is 90kgs. 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.
Different age limits apply to different lengths of ride. We have set these limits in the interest of the safety and comfort of the children riding:
- Kid’s led rides: 3yo
- 1hr:5yo
- 2hrs: 10yo
- Half Day: 12yo
- Full-Day: 15yo
- 2 and 3 day musters: 15yo
There is no maximum age limit, if you are physically able we would love to have you along!
There are many factors that affect the speed of a ride:
- The rider’s ability
- The horse’s energy levels
- Temperature and wind levels
- Footing on the trail
- Other riders on the trail
We cater for experienced riders; however the ultimate decision will be made on the day. Please respect our decision as we have your safety and the horse’s wellbeing as out top priorities – we aren’t trying to be the fun police, just bringing you home in one piece.
No, we cannot allow more than one person to sit on the horse at any one time.
Essential: Long comfortable pants, preferably jeans (we cannot allow people in shorts to ride)
Essential: Enclosed shoes with smooth sole and small heel (no thongs!) (more info below)
Essential: Wet weather gear (no plastic ponchos please). We still ride in light rain so come prepared.
Essential: A water bottle, no larger than 600ml. Horse Riding is thirsty work!
Advised: Long sleeve shirt is advised (singlets lead to sunburn)
Advised: Sunglasses
Advised: Sunscreen
Advised: Warm Jacket. Even on warm days the weather can change within hours
Please note due to safety reasons we cannot allow backpacks or large cameras on the ride.
We suggest that you leave the following behind:
- Phones, Wallets and Car Keys (we can lock these away while you’re on your ride)
- Jewellery – not only can jewellery get lost or damaged, but they are also a safety issue, often catching on saddles or trees, causing damage or injury.
We still ride in light rain, so remember to bring a rain jacket!
In the case of torrential rain or thunderstorms, we may cancel a ride. We try to give 24 hours notice where we can, so please check your phone and email before leaving home. If your ride is canceled due to rain your ride will be rescheduled to another date, a gift voucher given, or a full refund.
CVHR has a maximum of 6 people per trail ride. This ensures we can make the ride as personalised and safe as possible. Events and custom rides may be larger, depending on the circumstances. Please contact us if you have more questions.
There will be a minimum of 2 instructors on each group ride (sometimes more), so the ratio is a very healthy 1:3 instructor:customer.
Our instructors ride in the same saddles that you do, so we make sure they’re all nice and comfortable! All of our saddles are Australian made stock saddles with a minimum 17” seat which will fit most adults.
The shorter rides are led through open fields near the base camp, whereas the longer rides combine open paddocks with riding through valleys and over mountains. There is a lot of native wildlife at Chapman Valley, including kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, native birdlife and lots of cattle!
We want you to be informed – Horse Riding in itself can be a dangerous activity, as we are dealing with live animals in an outdoor uncontrolled environment. HOWEVER! We work very hard to make sure these risks are minimised and controlled as much as possible! From our selection of only the top quality horses in Australia to the safety mechanisms in our saddles and trail leading protocols we have an amazing safety record- our goal is to keep you safe! If you have any worries please feel free to contact us!
We supply Australian Safety Helmets for your ride. Please ensure you wear long pants and enclosed shoes as we cannot allow you to ride in shorts of thongs.
The Horses
Every horse at Chapman Valley is here because they are very quiet and enjoy what they do. We only keep the best of the best, and all our horses are free of vices – i.e no horse at CVHR is known to buck, bolt or rear. As a beginner you can rest assured that you will be partnered with a quiet and experienced horse that wants you to have a fun and relaxing ride just as much as we do, and experienced riders can rest assured that you can ride a responsive, fun horse but won’t be stuck with a project or problem horse that needs fixing!
Our horses are trained to listen to and obey their rider, not to plod along out of habit. They have good brakes, and are soft and willing to please their rider. We take great pride in the level of training our horses are up to, and we hope you will too.
Generally, no. We match riders with their horses based on a number of things, such as the height, weight and riding experience of the rider – aswell as the personality of both the horse and rider.
Absolutely! Their favourite is carrots, but they along love apples and bread. Please, no sugar cubes or liquorice.
Yes! You can bring your own horse to Chapman Valley for only $40 per horse per day, or $30 per horse per day if the group is more than 10 horses. This includes unlimited riding across the entire 6,000 acres. Please bring your own yards for your horse. Here’s some more information on bringing your own horse.
The Location
We’re located at Howes Valley, which is a 1 hour drive from Pokolbin and a 2 hour drive from Sydney and Newcastle. Checkout our Location page for full directions and maps.
There is a cafe about 10minutes from us, called the Grey Gum Cafe and the beautiful Hunter Valley Wine Region is only a 60 minute drive from us. Unfortunately due to our secluded location there are no other activities in the area close-by – however you’re welcome to bring a picnic blanket and a book and enjoy the serenity the CVHR has to offer!
Bookings
Our online booking system automatically closes 1 day out for bookings. To enquire about riding today or tomorrow please call us to see if we have availability.
The earlier you book your horse ride the more chance there is of you securing the ride date and time that you would like. Our weekends tend to book out a week or two in advance, so make sure you get in as soon as you know you’d like to ride!
Please call us to check availability for today.
No, we require full payment in advance in order to hold a booking. We cannot accept cash or credit card on arrival.
Due to the very limited spaces and high demand for our horse rides, we have a strict cancellation policy to protect our team from last minute cancellations. Please see the Terms and Conditions page for a full breakdown of time frames relevant to your booking type and date. If you have any further questions regarding the cut-off times, please contact us before making a booking.
If your ride is cancelled by Chapman Valley Horse Riding due to weather or other circumstances, you will be provided a full refund.
What others are saying
Chapman's has been hands down the best trail riding experience that I've had in Australia, it is so worth the trip and realistically is not that far from either Sydney, Central Coast or Newcastle.
We wanted something that would give us the freedom to trot, canter, and really enjoy the Australian landscape on well-cared-for horses. Chapman Valley delivered that and so much more!
Not a typical nose-to-butt trail ride. Chapman valley horse riding was one of the best horse riding experiences I’ve had to date.
The horses are so well cared for, the saddles are good quality and comfortable, the staff and guides are lovely (and organised) and the food is great.
What sets Chapman Valley apart is the staff - they are absolutely wonderful! So friendly and welcoming, you get the feeling you're staying with family
These guys are fanatical about horse welfare and guest safety, the guides are helpful but never intrusive and cater for all levels of riders.
We had such a great time on the 3-day cattle muster. The accommodation was beautiful, guides we very friendly and accommodating, horses very well cared for.
I have never seen the Milky Way so clearly other than being in the middle of ocean. Do it!
A very nice quiet stay in a beautiful surroundings. Nice flat and grassy camp site and very friendly staff.
Amazing location and experience. No reception is GREAT. Ideal getaway. Lovely team and family run business.
Our family enjoyed horse riding, marshmallow roasting, taking in the wildlife and cows roaming, slowing down and 4WDing on the tracks.
I did the 3 day cattle muster and loved it! They take you all over the property and you get to ride and find cattle on all sorts of terrain.
The campsites were well-maintained and offered plenty of privacy. I loved hiking the nearby trails and enjoying the peace of nature.
Magical scenery, walking tracks, some 4wd tracks all of which are all marked out and easy to follow
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