MORNINGTON PENINSULA
“In riding a horse, we borrow freedom.” - Helen Thompson
CONTENTS
GUNNAMATTA TRAIL RIDES
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- Our Vision / Our Mission
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OUR PEOPLE
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OUR HORSES
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- Condition & Welfare Management
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OUR RIDES
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- Bush Rides
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- Beach Rides
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- Packages
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CLINICS & LESSONS
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EDUCATION PROGRAMS
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CORPORATE OFFERING
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OUR OPERATION
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- Property
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- Parks Victoria Permit
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- Our Green Focus
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- Location Map
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- Our Safety Culture
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- Why You’ll Enjoy Riding With Us
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CONTACT DETAILS
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GUNNAMAT TA TRAIL RIDES
an iconic memorable adventure 4
Whilst there are a variety of activities your group could participate in we believe none are as rewarding, or memorable, as horse riding with Gunnamatta Trail Rides. We know you will be thanking us over and over again for this experience. Trail riding on horseback through beautiful coastal bushlands and on spectacular beaches, is one of those incredible experiences that you will never forget. Fresh air, gentle horses, excellent staff and stunning scenery – all shared with your team in a supportive and healthy environment. With over 30 years in business, we thrive on delivering an incredible experience from the time you enquire to the time you pat your horse goodbye. Our service and professionalism is second to none, and our facilities, horses and people are world class. No one does it better than Gunnamatta Trail Rides. Our Vision Gunnamatta Trail Rides aims to create the ultimate lifetime experience and learning foundation for all current and future horse enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers. Our Mission Through our everyday activities, recruitment practices, business processes and customer service orientation we strive to achieve our vision. Importantly: • Your safety is ‘Gunnamatta’ • Your experience is ‘Gunnamatta’ • Your memory is ‘Gunnamatta Trail Rides’
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Our team members are passionate horse people. They have completed recognised and relevant courses in Equine management and tourism and most own, or have owned, their own horses. All staff members have a First Aid qualification and a Working with Children check as a minimum requirement. Customer safety and the welfare of our horses is top of mind for our staff and they deliver on this whilst ensuring great fun for all. The management team has an extensive knowledge of horsemanship and the various riding disciplines, coupled with a strong customer service and corporate business background. The balance between business and passion creates a harmonious operation that produces great experiences for it’s clientele. Ongoing training and education is offered to all staff to ensure contemporary horsemanship methods and techniques are used at all times and, as a result, become a standardised process throughout the business.
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OUR PEOPLE
passionate qualified & experienced 7
OUR HORSES
healthy gentle & beautiful
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We have 70 beautiful, healthy and gentle horses that can be ridden by any rider at any age and experience level. Of varying breeds, all our horses have friendly temperaments, with appropriate characteristics for the trail ride service being offered. They are used to being handled by both trained staff and inexperienced riders. We trust that you will connect with your mount during this memorable journey. Condition & Welfare Management All of our horses are in excellent health and condition. We maintain regular cyclic programs that concentrate on the key areas of the horse’s condition and welfare: • Weight Management We hand feed with premium quality feed after each and every ride to ensure the horses maintain condition. • Daily Inspection 10 point health check. • Daily Grooming Intensive routine to prevent rain scald, girth galls and saddle sores. • Hoof Care Fortnightly farrier care. • Worming 6 week prevention program. • Tack Check Daily and weekly review to monitor condition and ensure safety and proper fitting.
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OUR RIDES
Private Rides If you prefer a little more privacy and flexibility for your group, you may choose to book a private ride whereby the experience can be tailored to your requirements. Only a limited number of private rides are available per day so please book early.
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Bush Rides Trueman’s Bush Ride (50 minutes duration) This popular bush trail ride is a great introduction to horse riding and suits those with limited time. It is also ideal for younger team members as the minimum age is 6 years. The ride takes you along a sandy bush track and is a walk-only ride – however if the team desires, some short distances of slow trotting may be included. Our guides will show you the basics of how to ride a horse before the ride commences. Greens Bush Ride (3 hours duration) The Greens Bush Ride is only suitable for experienced riders who have regularly cantered confidently for long stretches. The horses walk and trot to a nearby National Park known as Greens Bush. The large bushland park has long sandy pathways that are ideal for trotting and cantering horses. All Day Ride (5 hours duration) If you’re up for an all day ride then this one is for you. You’ll need to be an experienced rider who’s comfortable with cantering and many hours in the saddle. The day will start with the signature St Andrews Beach and Bush ride then return for a lunch break at our Gunnamatta stables. The afternoon then comprises the Greens Bush Ride. Walk, trot and canter along winding sandy pathways scattered throughout Greens Bush National Park before heading back to our Gunnamatta stables.
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OUR RIDES
a serene & breathtaking coastline 12
Beach Rides St Andrews Beach Ride (2 hours duration) This is our ‘Signature Ride’ and has been enjoyed by thousands of locals and international tourists for more than 25 years. The ride leaves our stables and heads along a sandy, bushland track to St Andrews beach. Once there, the horses climb over lofty sand dunes and down onto a beautiful beach where the horses often stroll in the rock-protected ocean water. The views along the coastline from the sand dunes are spectacular and the exhilaration of riding along the beach as the waves crash over the rocks is both breath taking and memorable. Twilight Beach Ride (2 hours duration) As the day draws to an end you’ll be saddling up for our spectacular St Andrews Bush & Beach twilight ride. Starting somewhere between 5 - 6pm you’ll be riding at one of the most enjoyable times of the day. Calm, quiet and cool. This is a beautiful way to end a hot summer’s day.
Looking for more? Enhance your experience with any of our package options.
Private Rides If you prefer a little more privacy and flexibility for your group, you may choose to book a private ride whereby the experience can be tailored to your requirements. Only a limited number of private rides are available per day so please book early.
Gunnamatta Trail Rides have partnered with some of the Mornington Peninsula’s finest hospitality and tourism providers to offer you unique packages and make your visit to this amazing part of Australia even more unforgettable. Book any of our rides and you’ll have the option to add-on a voucher with one of our partners to use at your leisure. More details over the page.
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OUR RIDES
creating unique experiences
Packages The Mornington Peninsula brings to mind beaches, award winning wine, gourmet food and unique experiences. Why not get the most out of your visit by turning your ride into a package? Gunnamatta Trail Rides is constantly exploring new ways to enrich your experience, so we’ve partnered with the best local hospitality and tourism providers to offer the opportunity to make your visit to the Mornington Peninsula even more memorable. Book a ride with us and you’ll be able to add on fantastically priced vouchers for any of our partners, redeemable at your leisure.
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The Cups Estate
Peninsula Hot Springs
Voucher (Tapas Lunch)
Bathing Pass (Public Bathing)
Think you’ll work up an appetite on your ride? Why not plan ahead and book in a delicious lunch at The Cups Estate, a nearby picturesque winery were you can enjoy local produce and award winning wine.
Need some relaxation in your life? Why not plan ahead and book a dip at the tourism award winning Peninsula Hot Springs.
The vineyard, established in 1999, produces highly acclaimed wines of many varietals: Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay amongst others. This family-owned, boutique business boasts 30 acres of vineyard, olive grove, cellar door and restaurant. With such sensational views, your multi-course tapas experience will be one to remember.
Only a few minutes travel will see you relaxing in the picturesque surrounds and soothing natural thermal mineral water. Enjoy globally-inspired bathing experiences including a cave pool, reflexology walk, Hamam (Turkish steam bath), sauna, cold plunge pools, massaging thermal mineral showers and a hilltop pool which offers a stunning 360 degree view of the region. Perfect for the whole family. It is essential to pre-book when visiting the Bath House on weekends, school and public holidays.
Restaurant open for lunch Thursday - Sunday Bookings essential, please mention voucher when making reservation. 15
Throughout the year in addition to our trail rides, we also offer private & group riding lessons, as-well as holding a wide range of clinics at the Gunnamatta Equine Education Centre. Clinics Facilitated by industry professionals, clinics are open to anyone interested in increasing their equine knowledge and skills. Hosted throughout the year, they are excellent value and can provide an intimate audience with many well known trainers and industry identities.
Lessons
Our aim is to provide a safe environment that enhances a rider’s confidence and ability to ensure they receive the full benefit of the tuition.
For those looking for individual tuition, our lessons are a perfect place to start, even if you don’t have a horse of your own.
Most commonly we have clinics requiring rider participation, but we also host theory based clinics, open learning events as well as Q&A style forums.
We accommodate all riders, whether it’s your first time in the saddle or your fiftieth, tailoring the lesson to suit skill level and desired outcome.
The clinic schedule is open to all disciplines and focuses, including: • Dressage
Taking place in one of our two enclosed sand arenas, you can either bring your own horse to the lesson or enjoy riding one of our gentle natured horses. For those new to riding, we can assist by teaching the fundamentals of horsemanship, from basic commands to confident riding.
• Cross-country • Show jumping • Confidence Clinics
Lessons are also an ideal way to brush up on dusty techniques for those who where avid riders in the past but haven’t been in a saddle for a long time.
• Behavioural issues • Western • Horsemanship We also offer Basic Clinics for those new to owning a horse / pony, where the focus is about learning how to safely handle and best care for their new family member. For information about upcoming clinics and events, subscribe to our mailing list or visit the clinics section our website. www.gunnamatta.com.au/clinics
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Accomplished riders looking to enhance their skill set or are also catered for, with instructors experienced in a wide range of disciplines. When booking a lesson, let our staff know your experience level, training objective and any discipline focus so we can best prepare and help you reach your goal.
CLINICS & LESSONS
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EDUCATION PROGRAMS
“No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle” - Winston Churchill
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Gunnamatta Trail Rides are firm believers that education through practice is education for life. Kids Programs A great introduction to riding, our half or whole day Kids Programs are a great way to make the most of weekends and school holidays for kids aged between 6-16. Children have lots of fun learning about horses and safe riding with each program including: • A group riding lesson in one of our arenas • A bush trail ride • Tack and equipment lessons • Washing and grooming of horses • Learning about general equine care • Hands on fun with some gymkhana games These programs can also be held for small private groups, which will allow more flexibility in the activities undertaken and make for very unique birthday parties. Education Programs We love to watch kids and young adults overcome their fears and excel in our special environment. Our dedicated Education Programs are available to Schools and special interest groups, suitable for both children and teens. Participants learn skills and knowledge about horsemanship, safe riding, proper equine care and horse management in a fun, positive way. We offer different options ranging from single day programs to those that run for a full week, all developed to align with national standards of equine education. Numerous schools have been returning to us for over 10 years due to our great facilities, excellent safety record and care taken to ensure all students enjoy their riding experience.
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Gunnamatta Trail Rides provides an excellent environment for corporate groups to take time out of their business, enjoy some fresh air and focus on their team. It’s a true day out of the office that provides challenges with lots of fun. Any situation in which people may be faced with uncertainty, nervousness or skepticism is a great place to facilitate teamwork, develop trust and build a bond. We collaborate with you to achieve your desired outcomes, creating the right blend of work and play; there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your team will have the opportunity to escape the daily grind, focus on the program objectives, stimulate effective learning and feel inspired. We tailor our rides to suit your schedule and your group size. Combine your ride with lunch and team building or motivational exercises, or add some leisure time at the Peninsula Hot Springs (see our Beach & Bathe package). We also offer conference room facilities where you can meet as a group before or after your ride. • Full or part catering service at reasonable costs • Tailored packages • Private group rides • Suitable for small or large groups • Memorable and empowering group activity So talk to us today about creating a memorable, bond building day out for your team.
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CORPORATE OFFERING
facilitate teamwork & develop trust
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OUR OPERATION
carefully maintained pastures
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Situated on over 80 acres of picturesque undulating land, our property is an easy 1 hour drive south of Melbourne and 20 minutes from Sorrento, Mornington and Red Hill.
Our Parks Victoria Permit We aim to operate the most professional horse riding service on the Mornington Peninsula and beyond!
Our Property
As part of best practice, we have been granted a Tour Operators Licence by Parks Victoria, which allows businesses to conduct appropriate, organised tourism and recreational business activities on Public Land Areas in Victoria; in our instance, the Mornington Peninsula National Park.
TheARTHURS estate is divided SEATinto 22 paddocks and we employ sound pasture management initiatives to ensure there’s abundant quality grass available for our horses all year round. The grounds contain sheltered bays, holding pens, saddle and tack rooms, and wash bays; at the end of each day every horse is thoroughly washed, groomed and fed and returned to their respective paddocks.
Our Green Focus If environmental sustainability matters to you, you’ll be pleased to know it matters to us too.
Our property also boasts two arenas that are used during our clinics, lessons & special programs. The surface has been professionally prepared and is regularly maintained to ensure optimal riding experience for both horse and rider.
Gunnamatta Trail Rides has developed a culture of green sustainability and makes every effort to be as eco-friendly as possible. We have a strong commitment to expanding the stewardship of our land and its resources and have in place a number of ‘green initiatives’ to re-use and recycle materials and resources within the business and property.
Arena One measures 36m x 16m Arena Two measures 66m x 32m
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OUR OPERATION
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safety is our priority
Our Safety Culture We have established best practice safety protocols and standards to ensure that we provide you with the most memorable lifetime experience, but working with animals and Mother Nature is not always plain sailing. However, your safety is our lifeblood, so as an organisation we have established and are committed to a ‘zero target’ safety culture.
We target zero accidents and zero customer complaints. Our safety protocols and standards have been developed to ensure each and every person leaves and returns from our rides safely. • All rides have a 1:4 ratio of staff to customers • The Lead Guide for the group must approve any trotting or cantering • There is no smoking on site • No riding under the influence of alcohol • No riding under the influence of drugs • Riders’ weight must be under 100kg (subject to conditions)
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OUR OPERATION
“Horses lend us the wings we lack” - Unknown
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Riding with Gunnamatta Trail Rides on the stunning Mornington Peninsula will leave an incredible impression on your soul. 10 Reasons you’ll enjoy riding with us 1. Beautiful, healthy, gentle horses 2. Passionate and qualified staff 3. Strong safety focus 4. Over 30 years experience and leadership in trail rides 5. Programs to suit all levels of experience 6. Stunning scenery 7. Beach, bush and private rides 8. Culture of excellence and professionalism 9. Superb facilities 10. Customer focused Management & Team
Take time out of your day-to-day life to do something extraordinary. You won’t regret it.
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“Gunnamatta Trail Rides aims to create the ultimate life time experience and learning foundation for all current and future horse enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers.� - Directors Gunnamatta Trail Rides
03 5988 6755
info@gunnamatta.com.au
www.facebook.com/Gunna3939
Cnr Truemans Rd & Sandy Rd Fingal (Rye) VIC 3939 www.gunnamatta.com.au