LEARN TO RIDE

“There’s no grass to distract the horses, so they are fully focused on their work,” says Petra Yorke, owner of Surf and Turf Horse Riding. Swimming with horses is one of the options open to riders, along with farm rides, sunset treks along the beach and “fish and chip” rides, where there is a break at halftime for a beach picnic. It’s easy to imagine why beach rides are the most popular. Petra, who taught herself to ride via a YouTube video, regularly exercises her horses on the sands. “People would come up to talk and pat the horses. I decided I should make a business out of it.” The horses, up to their manes in salt water, were happy to oblige. 027 435 2648, raglanhorseriding.co.nz