mountain ash trails

This trip was a holiday that took a long time to come due to me breaking my ankle a week before we were first booked to arrive. Well, all I can say, as painful as it was, it was well worth the wait! Then after a rather eventful journey with car issues we did start to wonder if we'd ever arrive...we did...in the cold and the dark. However, when the sun rose the next morning my 12 year old niece, my sister-in-law and myself knew it was going to be an awesome adventure!Victoria and Gary are two of the most lovely hosts I have ever met and their love for their gorgeous horses (well, all their animals) is just beautiful. They welcomed us into their home as if we'd known them for years. Then they took us on a wonderful adventure into the forest. Their knowledge of the area is fabulous and Victoria will make sure if you can't ride at the start, you can by the end!!Home cooked meals and great hospitality was just the start. Then we met their stunning horses! And then we rode, and rode and rode. Acquainted and perfectly matched with our horses for the weekend, Clint, Jacques and Rosie, we rode through beautiful forests and wild landscapes, got wet in a dam, cantered through heather-covered plains and then (as if on cue) wild brumbies appeared. We joked that Victoria released them on Gary's signal as it was such perfect timing!! Over our 2 days in the forest my niece counted 52 of these gorgeous creatures including several very young foals. How lucky we were to be sharing their home, even just for a short moment in time.These two lovely people go to great lengths to provide a truly magical experience that really will be unforgettable. I have spent many an occasion riding in the Snowys and this was up there as the best of them...just magic!We can't wait to come back. Highly highly recommended. Keep up the great work!

Hi everyone, My name is John and my Wife's name is Sue. We love to see Brumbies in the wild and to see them protected and loved. Well its Sue's birthday and I always arrange for a trail ride for her as she enjoys it so much. This year we decided to go to Mountain Ash Trails and it was an unforgettable experience .Victoria and Gary were just so friendly and their love and knowledge for the Brumbies was just beautiful. We were able to ride their horses who easily negotiated the Brumby trails and rode through the most beautiful forests filled with giant Ash trees, small rivers and wild Brumbies roaming free.We can highly recommend Mountain Ash Trails for your next riding experience and we know that Victoria and Gary will go out of their way to make this happen. Well done and we will be coming back.

I recently visited Australia with my mother-in-law. We were visiting the Australian side of my recently-late husband's family, as I had never had the chance to meet them before he passed in September. I am a life-long horsewoman, though haven't actually had the chance to ride in a few years, and I try to ride at least once in all my travels.Garry and Victoria were so accommodating - They basically bent over backward to make sure I had a wonderful and memorable experience. Victoria kindly allowed me use of her lovely horse, Clint, while she was engaged with another guest and Garry (with his horse, Poppy) guided me through 2 days of fantastic riding. A great horse, amazing and varied terrain, lots of brums, lovely company, and top-notch service. I really can't say enough good about Mountain Ash Trails.Next time I'm in Australia, I'll be booking a spot for the 5-day camping ride - Garry and Victoria haven't seen the last of me :o)

Put together two horse lovers - Victoria and Gary, a wealth of country experience , beautiful countryside and fabulous horses that are so well cared for and blaze a trail searching for wild Brumbys. Top it off with catching yabbies as the sun goes down and with great country hospitality it is an experience to be repeated.

I have waited two weeks to try to find the words to describe my experience with Gary and Victoria at MAT. Victoria was away for our stay but even left a fiftieth birthday cake for me. As a single host, Gary (with the support of Victoria), made our visit so very personal and special. His true love of his forest and the horses is the difference. A mountain man with a huge heart, and a genuine love for where he lives and the horses he works with. A great sense of humour and a genuine guide. Don't go here is you are after an ordinary run of the mill trail ride. Go hear if you want to feel the magic and share it with people who feel the same. Good horses, amazing hospitality and an incredible mountain and brumby experience. We first did a mother daughter day ride which was to be followed by a gentler family ride with your grandkids the next day. However, when the storms came and ruled out riding, Gary made sure we all went up the mountain in the four wheel drives so that the kids and our husbands could see the brumbies and the beauty of the mountain. They are very special people. A special mention also to Glenburnie Winery Cottage with whom we stayed at Victoria's organization to meet our needs. Mountain Ash Trails always goes that extra mile to make it personal and to suit your needs. My dream was to ride with the brumbies and feel that magic. Gary and Victoria made that happen and shared the love and respect of the mountain and the horses that roam it. Decent people who really want to make your experience memorable. Thanks - we will be back very soon... and next time we will try camping.

Thank you Gary & Victoria for accommodating us at very short notice and for your very kind hospitality. The three of us (grand father, father and son) were very happy with our experience and I'm sure it will be a long lasting and very treasured memory for the 3 of us; with photos of the day already printed and hanging on the wall. It was great to ride through the bush on well behaved and sure footed horses. My son, a beginner, had never ridden a horse outside of a round yard before and had grown bored with his lessons previously. One ride with Mountain Ash Trails and he hasn't stopped talking about it. A couple of cold beers and some good light hearted conversation was a great way to for Poppy and me to finish the day too. We were certainly made feel very welcome. I'm sure we'll be back again soon.

Gary and Victoria were the most knowledgeable, caring, accommodating host I have encounted. My son and husband were in or of the stories, the places we went to and the experiences they shared with us. MY favorite experience was the 4wd tour Gary took us on where we got up close and personal with 100 beautiful wild brumbies. It was a breathtaking and exciting journey through bushland you could never imagine! The accommodation was lovely and Victoria fed us so well each day. Yummy pork belly!!!! We can not wait to go back again and this time take all 8 children on the trail ride that we did and experience the amazing beauty in their backyard. But most of all we met two amazing people that we now call our friends. Their accommodation, their knowledge and patience is a great credit to them! Miss you Victoria and Gary!!!!! Nicholas can not wait to see Rosie again soon! Thank you for the most amazing 4 days of beauty and peace!

I return to Victoria's and Gary's every year and have the best time riding, bushwalking, great dining surrounded by awesome people. I learned a lot about horses and caring for nature. I would recommend this place to anyone who like to escape the big buzz and enjoy true spirit of Snowy and its beauty. My children wouldn't go anywhere else now.

I recently returned to Mountain Ash Trails to again samples the delights of riding mountain bred horses in the Snowy Mountains and to experience the hospitality of Garry and Victoria. The stay was great with good wholesome country food prepared by Victoria and a lovely warm comfy bed.. Naturally the highlight of my trip was the horse riding and I was delighted to be able to ride Brumby Jack a former brumby who proved to be a as sure footed as a Mountain goat with a a gentle personality. The mountain air revitalised me as did the opportunity to spot wild brumbies and kangaroos and lots of different types of parrots as we threaded our way through the Mountain forest. I would definitely recommend Mountain Ash trails to anyone who likes experiencing the great outdoors from the back of a reliable horse and country hospitality.

The owner operators Veronica & Gary are great animal lovers and are doing an awesome job with Mountain Ash Trails. If you are new to riding, they have a duty of care and take the time to teach you the best basics so you are confident, comfortable and don't do anything that affects the horses in a negative way. Remember the horses are part of the family and they have a terrific memory too.We've booked to return for one of the Half Day Trails.

We recently visited lovely Victoria and Gary with our two kids (aged 5 and 7) and had such a terrific time. None of us had a lot of experience riding horses and we were made to feel comfortable and confident on the horses straight away. The kids were delighted to get a chance to ride a real brumby "jacko" and we have been raving about the experience to all our family and friends. Must also mention the wonderful hospitality shown to us by Victoria and Gary. It was a cold, rainy day and there was nothing better after a horseride that a hot chocolate and tomato soup. Absolutely lovely lovely people and would happily recommend this to anyone that wantsa real "Snowy Mountains" authentic experience. P.S.The horses are beaut and very well behaved. Clearly well loved and looked after

Ok, the weather gods weren't kind, but even so, my girlfriend and I had such a lovely time with the mountain ash family and horses. Nothing was too much trouble for Victoria, Gary and Ben, and you are made to feel very welcome in their home.and also by their beautiful horses. As horsey people, we were impressed by the condition and education of the horses, they were a pleasure to ride and seemed to also enjoy themselves. We saw multiple herds of brumbies which was wonderful. Arriving back cold and wet after a great day out, we were well fed by clever Victoria, then made ourselves very comfortable by the fire with red wine and movies.....sigh!Thanks for looking after us so well guys, all the best until we see you again, Kate and Mary

I love riding horses; I love getting into the bush. Horse riding through the bush with Gary and Victoria over the weekend was fantastic. They were great hosts who know how to take care of their horses and really know how to take care of their guests. I would recommend (& have) a horse ride to tall my friends. I've seen brumbies before when driving through the mountains, but quietly coming up on a wild pack of brumbies until were are less than 100m away; glorious. The wild brumbies just think we're another pack of horses (until someone speaks). The campsite was very comfortable with huge fire to stay warm, and the food was good too. I was going to get an early sleep for riding the next day, but listening to all of Gary's bush stories was too entertaining.Horses in the bush; it doesn't get any better! I will be riding with Victoria and Gary again.

Victoria and Gary are gracious and knowledgeable hosts. Wasn't sure what to do with my newly acquired toy poodle and Victoria told me to bring her along. She is Cuddles twin! My allocated mount was just perfect. A very willing arab who loved to jump - so my toy poodle, Molly and I went over a few logs and took a giant leap forward for mankind across a creek. Molly even fell asleep at one point.We were alongside beginners, the ride was appropriate for their skill level though I did get a chance to canter. Great accommodation and food - I could stand up in the tent which was erected for me whilst we were out on ride!!! My friend Scott came with his own stock-horse and was made feel welcome. Saw about 3 sets of brumbies. Dress for the cold!Had awesome time. Thank you.

I loved it so much last time, that I came back again with some friends. Once again, we had a fantastic experience. Some of us had ridden before .... but none were experts, and 3 had never been on a horse before. Gary, Victoria and Ben, made us all feel very comfortable and even led the complete novices until they felt comfortable ! We rode in slight misty rain, We felt like real 'Snowy Mountain Riders' ..... (note to self ) have to learn the poetry for next time around the fire !!I know Gary and Victoria offer bush camps - but we only had a limited time, this time, so we opted for the one day ride and lunch. Four of us stayed with Gary and Victoria the night before at their homestay B & B. A great adventure, and a fantastic way to experience the Australian bush.