At The Guided Rein Adventures, we understand the unique bond you share with your horse and your desire to explore beyond the familiar. We offer expertly guided tours, designed exclusively for you and your own horse, through the breathtaking Lake Manchester area and its surrounding natural wonders.
Many riders hesitate to venture out on new trails due to:
A lack of confidence riding alone.
The worry of getting lost.
Finding it hard to organise a riding partner or just wanting calm company and companionship.
Concerns about setting the correct pace or picking a trail that might be too difficult for their horse's ability.
Uncertainty about how an arena-trained horse will handle a new trail environment.
This service is also ideal for those new to endurance riding who want to gain confidence before their first event, or for experienced riders looking for guidance on training speeds and distances to step up to longer rides.
That's where your experienced local guide comes in. We address these worries head-on, ensuring every ride is enjoyable, safe and tailored to your needs.
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Expert Guidance & Local Knowledge: Say goodbye to guesswork. Navigate the diverse trails with a seasoned guide who knows every turn, ensuring you stay on track and discover hidden gems. Our horses offer a calm, steady companion to ride along with, offering confidence to your mount.
Safety & Confidence: Ride with peace of mind. Your guide's intimate knowledge of the terrain and vast experience managing horses on trails helps prevent issues, allowing you to relax and enjoy the scenery.
Tailored for You: We cater to your preferences with varied ride distances and lengths. Our small group sizes (up to 4 riders, including your guide) or optional 1:1 tours mean personalised attention and a pace that suits your horse's ability.
Companionship & Connection: Share the beauty of the bush with like-minded horsewomen without the hassle of organising a group.
Endurance Riding Mentorship: Thinking about endurance riding? Whether you're new to the sport and want to get familiar with event protocols before your first ride, or you're looking to step up to longer distances and need guidance on training speeds, distances, and strategy, your experienced endurance guide can help. Leverage our Queensland State Championship and multiple Tom Quilty Buckles experience to elevate your endurance journey.
Optional Organised Picnics: Enhance your journey with pre-arranged picnic stops in picturesque locations, making your ride a complete day out.
Your journey with The Guided Rein Adventures is led by Mindy, a true equestrian enthusiast with a lifetime of experience in the saddle. Mindy has been riding since childhood and actively immersed herself in competitive endurance riding, training multiple times a week in the Lake Manchester area since 2013.
As an Open and Qualified Endurance Rider, Mindy holds multiple Tom Quilty Gold Buckles and is a Queensland State Champion. These achievements speak volumes about her exceptional horsemanship, strategic navigation and ability to excel in challenging long-distance conditions. Her extensive training right here in Lake Manchester means she possesses intimate, firsthand knowledge of every trail, ensuring a seamless and insightful ride.
Beyond her personal achievements, Mindy, alongside her husband, runs a local endurance club, Kholo Endurance Riders Club. This invaluable experience includes setting up and marking tracks, and crucially, managing riders safely on course during events.
Mindy's exceptional training skills and calm approach extend beyond the trail. She famously taught her own horse to rear on command specifically for popular band Ball Park Music. This unique feat was accomplished at the bands request for an album cover photo shoot, with her horse performing safely and calmly in front of their studio in Stafford, a busy city industrial estate. This demonstrates her remarkable ability to prepare and manage horses in highly unusual and distracting environments.
Those who ride with Mindy consistently describe her as a delight to ride with, calm and knowledgeable. Her steady presence and deep understanding of both horses and trails create a relaxed and highly supportive atmosphere, making every adventure a truly enjoyable experience.
Have you been dreaming of tackling an endurance ride but feel unsure where to start? Or perhaps you're ready to push beyond current distances and need practical guidance to achieve your next goal? At The Guided Rein Adventures, we offer specialised support to help you navigate the world of endurance riding with your own horse.
Draw upon Mindy's extensive experience as an Open and Qualified Endurance Rider, a Queensland State Champion, a holder of multiple Tom Quilty Gold Buckles and trainer of her husbands 3x consecutive State Championship Heavyweight horse Maximus Ra. Her many years of consistent personal experience in endurance, combined with running a local endurance club, means you'll benefit from real-world insights from someone who has truly been there.
Our endurance riding support can help you:
Understand Event Protocols: Get familiar with what happens on ride day, from strapping in to vet checks, so you feel confident and prepared for your first event.
Optimise Your Training: Receive practical guidance on training speeds, distances, and strategic planning to safely build your horse's fitness for longer rides.
Master the Vetting Process: We can go through the critical vetting process together. Learn how to accurately take your horse's heart rate (HR), understand what judges are looking for, and confidently present your horse for trot outs. We'll also provide strapping guidance on effective techniques for cooling your horse down and lowering heart rates in varying conditions, crucial for meeting vetting time periods.
Whether you're taking your first step into endurance or aiming for that next achievement, our dedicated support will equip you with valuable knowledge and confidence to move forward.
To excel even further, we can refer you to some incredible elite trainers and mentors at National and FEI levels.
What You Need to Know
To ensure every Guided Rein Adventure is safe, enjoyable and tailored to your needs, please familiarise yourself with the following key information:
Rider Age: All participants must be 16 years of age or older.
Group Size: To provide a personalised and safe experience, tours are limited to a maximum of 4 riders plus your guide. This ensures individual attention and a cohesive group.
Helmet Policy: Your Safety is Paramount.
We strongly recommend and encourage all riders to wear an Australian Standard approved equestrian helmet. While we do not supply helmets, wearing one significantly reduces the risk of head injury.
If you choose not to wear a helmet, you will be required to acknowledge and tick a specific waiver clause confirming this decision and understanding the associated risks.
Your Horse, Your Ride:
The beauty of our tours is that you ride your own horse. This means your horse should be healthy, sound, and free of sickness. We accommodate horses that are barefoot, booted, or shod.
Choose Your Adventure: Tours are fully customisable based on your preferences. You can choose your preferred distance and hours in the saddle, from a leisurely few hours to a more extensive journey.
Pace & Trail Customisation: The speed, distance and specific track chosen for your tour will be customised to you and your horse's ability and comfort levels. We ensure the pace and terrain are suitable for everyone in the group.
Be Prepared:
Client-Supplied Gear: Remember, you are responsible for bringing all your own riding equipment, including your horse's tack (saddle, bridle, etc.), which must be safe, well-fitting, and in good repair.
Hydration: Always bring ample water for both yourself and your horse, especially during warmer months.
Weather & Conditions: Be prepared for varying weather conditions. We ride rain or shine unless conditions are unsafe. Always check the weather forecast before your ride.
Your Guide is Certified: For your peace of mind, your guide, Mindy, holds a basic First Aid Certificate and carries a comprehensive first aid kit, including a snake bite kit, on all tours.
Trail Etiquette & Our Care for the Area: We share these beautiful natural spaces with other users and wildlife, and we're committed to preserving them. Your guide will brief you on the "give way" code and other trail etiquette to ensure a respectful and safe experience for everyone. We strictly respect designated trails, protect the natural environment, and observe wildlife from a distance.
Movement Record: Please remember to complete a movement record for your trip to Lake Manchester, you can find a template here.