Ezera Clayton on Daisy, and Briar Mascheretti on her horse Eve.
When the duo left for their trip in late October, they had Briar’s sister in mind.
“Everyone’s got stuff to do, but you just got to get out there and do the stuff,” was something Briar’s sister would say. Briar lost her sister to a sudden illness earlier this year; she describes her as “very adventurous”.
Friends and “happy hackers” Briar and Ezera have always enjoyed trekking out together.
They liked “seeing the country on our horses, whenever we can”, said Ezera.
When Briar declared, “When my sister passes away, I am going to ride out the gate, and ride around the East Cape,” Ezera’s response was, “Well, I’m coming too!”
Briar lives at Maketu, Bay of Plenty, while Ezera lives across the estuary at Pukehina Beach.
Planning for their trip included contacting fellow rider Larissa Mueller, who had previously worked with The Leg up Trust, Hastings. They worked alongside disadvantaged riders. Many years of experience riding throughout most of New Zealand enabled Larissa to impart some valuable tips.
“She sent us her map to look over,” said Ezera, connecting them with different people along the Coast.
Roydon, Ezera’s dad, also came on board as driver. The girls would park up and sleep in the horse float, with Roydon backtracking after a day’s riding to collect his live-in bus. Further planning consisted of a two-day reconnaissance trip prior to the week of departure. Setting up places along the coast where the horses could graze safely overnight was key.
With sun-tanned faces the pair reflect on their almost three-week, “epic trip”.
“Everywhere we’ve stopped, we met the most amazing people,” they said. Kicking it off was Ray from Hawai Bay campgrounds, just north of Ōpōtiki.
“Oh, you guys can come over and watch the finals rugby at my place,” he had said.
“It’s been so good to be out of your comfort zone and meeting people — getting to know their families,” Ezera said.
“Because you’re going at such a slow speed you get time to look at everything, like old buildings, really cool little coves on the coast,” she said.
For Briar’s horse, Eve, it was a change of pace. She purchased her horse just a year ago. Eve had never been off the farm at Cambridge. “Awesome” is how Briar described the easy adjustment made by her horse.
“We started off doing about 10 kilometres a day because we thought our bodies couldn’t handle it and there was one day when I thought it was a 6km leg of the trip, but turned out it was 26km,” said Ezera.
Both women were singing the praises of East Coast drivers.
“The roads are quieter on the East Cape and there are a lot of horsey people living there, so they know how to drive around horses. I love this side of the country.”
Then there was Eruiti at Maraenui who offered a place to stay on his property. He even went ahead to check the pair had arrived safely at their next destination the following day.
“A lot of people have grown up with horses and they’re amped, wanting to have a chat.
“I grew up with horses. My dad chucked me up there when I was three, that kind of thing.”
Briar found she shared a lot in common with Coasties.
Hawaea to Maraenui via the beach was one favourite part. Instead of having to negotiate a “pretty rough road and narrow downside”, they got to take in the breathtaking scenery not often trekked, crossing the Motu River.
In Te Araroa, Briar noticed fluids coming out of the bottom of the radiator on the horse truck.
“Within half an hour there were about five Hiluxs in the paddock with all these highly functioning young men with knife belts and things. They whipped the radiator out, tried another radiator, that didn’t fit. Next minute, they’ve ordered the part from Gisborne and organised — for just $20 — Cooks Couriers to pick it up and deliver. It was all done for a box of beer.”
They stayed on in that area for a few days.
“The truck had broken down in the right place. An amazing family cooked us up the best feed and were so welcoming,” said Briar.
“They’re all very horsey. That’s the bridge — we’re all horse mad. We just got together and talked horses,” she laughed.
Parts of State Highway 35 where the roads became busier, were a bit unnerving. They put high visible fabric on the horses’ backsides, something the local Te Araroa kids thought was comical to see.
“They must be really scared,” was one comment overheard.
Caught in a sudden downpour at Waipiro Bay and taking cover in an old bus shelter just added to the adventure. As much as they could, they rode off the highway and into some of the lesser travelled backroads.
Ezera said there was so much history on the Coast and they loved being in the elements, and are wanting to see more of the country via horseback.
The discussion on increased bridleways throughout New Zealand is something they both feel passionate about. Bridleways are designated safe tracks or pathways for horse riding.
“The horse community doesn’t have enough places to ride their horses from place to place. I should be able to get on my horse at Maketu and ride in and do my shopping. If I can bike safely, I should be able to ride safely,” said Briar.
Many of the original bridleways have been converted to bike tracks, pedestrian walkways or have limited access only, or are not open.
“Bridleways would encourage more people to get out there and ride. Riders could go further afield than their own paddock,” said Ezera.
Ezera would like to see as much of New Zealand on her horse as she can. Both sum up their trip, with their message and heartfelt motto, “Do the stuff!”
Victory at nationals means place in Team NZ for Hip Hope Unite World Champs.