Horse Treks
Come and ride with us beside the beautiful Waimakariri River and experience a relaxed, scenic horse trek through quiet forest trails and open river flats. Our ride weaves through shaded woodland before opening out to the river, where you’ll have the chance to splash through the water and enjoy the wide, natural landscapes Canterbury is known for. With calm, well-trained horses and friendly, knowledgeable guides, this is an easy, enjoyable ride designed to help you unwind, connect with nature, and experience the river in a way you simply can’t from a car or walking track.
Riding Lessons
At Saddles and Sanctuary, our lessons are centred around creating a friendly, relaxed and supportive environment where riders can learn without pressure. Whether you’re getting in the saddle for the first time or an adult returning to riding and looking to rebuild your confidence, lessons are tailored to your individual needs and comfort level.
We can provide a suitable horse for your lesson, or you’re welcome to bring your own horse. Our priority is helping you feel safe, have fun and build confidence while developing your riding skills at your own pace.
Riding Options
120 New Zealand dollars
150 New Zealand dollars
75 New Zealand dollars
Want to Lease a horse?
Weekly options available - Contact us for Pricing and Availability
Trek Horse Lease
Unlimited trail access!
Lease one of our trusted trekking horses for independent weekly rides along the stunning Waimakariri River trails. Ideal for confident, capable riders who can manage and enjoy the horse solo—no guide required. Limited spots available.
Weekly Lease for Schoolmasters – Jumping & Dressage
Lease a well-schooled horse for weekly riding, ideal for experienced riders looking to progress in dressage basics or jumping over a variety of natural and set fences. These horses aren’t suited for trail riding but offer great opportunities to build skills in a safe, open environment.
Weekly Horse Companion Lease – No Riding Needed
Cuddle time!
Looking for horse time without the pressure to ride? Lease one of our kind-hearted horses for weekly visits—perfect for grooming, cuddles, hand-grazing, and quiet connection. A beautiful way to bond with a horse if you just want calm, quality time together.
Quiet, Kind Horse Training
Our training is built around patience, calm energy and giving each horse the time they need to understand and learn. We believe in creating a quiet, positive foundation where horses can develop confidence, trust and good habits without being rushed or pressured.
Training can be tailored to your horse’s individual needs, including breaking to saddle, foal handling and weaning, trailer training, groundwork and confidence building. We also offer grazing options where horses can have the time and space to settle, grow and learn in a calm environment.
Why we love Standardbreds
All of our trusty trek horses are Standardbreds—and for good reason. They’re intelligent, steady, and full of heart. We love their willing workhorse mentality, making them ideal partners for both trail and pleasure riding.
Breaking to Saddle
We offer thoughtful, progressive saddle training tailored to each horse’s pace. Whether freshly off the track or needing a restart, we focus on calm, confident transitions from harness to ridden work, with plenty of mileage in open spaces.
Groundwork & Manners
Good horses start from the ground up. We spend time instilling solid basics—leading politely, standing tied, loading, and handling feet. Every horse leaves our care with respectful manners and a better connection to humans.
Contact
215 Coutts Island Road, Christchurch
New Zealand
021 0854 0176
