The following article is written by Victoria Warman who completed a ride through the Cadrona Valley near Wanaka.

The trek started far below on the valley floor with Debs Thompson as our guide.

The "gate man" is Kelsey, aged almost four, who sits perched on the front of his mother's saddle on most of the half-day treks.

As we wind our way up the hill, using the old gold-mining water races as paths, the appaloosas, nimble as mountain goats, do not miss a beat. They pick their way across the hillside and through muddy creeks not batting an eyelid at the neurotic sheep that scatter as we approach.

Debs points out that there were once more than sheep here. At the height of the gold-rush in the mid-1860s Cardrona was home to more than 3000 miners and their families. All that's left behind are the terraced water races and a proliferation of fruit bushes and brambles which every horse likes to try and catch your leg on.

These were planted more than 100 years ago by the Chinese miners as a source of vitamin C. Scurvy was rife in those times due to the lack of fresh vegetables.

Rose briars, gooseberry bushes, and elderflower blossoms, together with foxgloves and lupins, provide a riot of colour on the hillsides during late spring.

Towards the crest of the hill the scrub gives way to open grasslands and tussock, and we are able to increase the pace to a gentle canter.

The western-style saddle allows you to sit low and deep, and definitely wins in the comfort stakes. It also gives beginners and novice riders added confidence as they can hold on to the pillar at the front for balance.

The tracks back down to the riverbed are steep. "Shoulders back and heels down," shouts Debs. Reaching the bottom without mishap, we criss-cross the meandering Cardrona River and canter between ancient willows and poplars.

Paradise ducks escort their young down the gentle rapids and lambs play in the adjoining meadows.

After a couple of hours in the saddle we head back to the stables. The horses' ears pick up and their step becomes sprightlier. "They know what's waiting for them around the corner," says Debs.

Sure enough, each horse soon has its nose ensconced in a tasty nosebag - a fitting way to say thankyou for showing us their piece of heaven.