Horseback Riding and Gourmet Tour of Tasmania, Australia　2020/2/24～3/1

A Wonderful Journey Built on Years of Trust

By Tatsuko Mochida

The eight FRC horses used in our tours were all bred and trained in Tasmania, Australia. Even with my limited riding experience at an advanced age, I was able to fully enjoy trail riding — thanks to these well-trained, seasoned horses.

The FRC Tasmania Tour, which has been running for over 25 years, was the perfect opportunity to visit their homeland.

I vaguely remembered attending an FRC regular meeting years ago where it was said that Tasmania remains rich in untouched nature and abundant seafood. I had casually thought, “Riding horses and enjoying oysters with white wine sounds wonderful.” But as the departure date neared, I grew increasingly anxious: "Can someone like me, barely capable of a rising trot, really manage to ride a new horse?"

Upon arrival in Tasmania, we first visited a tack shop where I bought a holder to attach to the saddle. “If I feel like falling, I’ll grab onto this!” I thought. But all my worries were delightfully unfounded.

The horses I met in Tasmania were truly extraordinary. Watching Jeremy, the trainer responsible for their groundwork and conditioning, was breathtaking — he handled horses with such skill that I thought, "Is he the J.F. Pignon of Tasmania?" With just a flick of a finger, the horses responded flawlessly, clearly demonstrating the excellence of their training.

The trekking horses there move with:

No bit
Barefoot (no shoes)
A simple rope halter

They are true endurance horses.

I was paired with "Ruby," a 17-year-old Arabian mare and a veteran who completed the Tom Quilty Gold Cup, Australia’s premier 160km endurance race. She was intelligent, powerful, and remarkably dependable — once I was in the saddle, I could simply trust her completely.

Those four days spent with these exceptional horses offered me pure enjoyment and rediscovery of the joy of riding.

Highlights included:

Trekking along endless white beaches
Staying at a coastal lodge where penguins visit the shore
Indulging in fresh Tasmanian oysters, abalone, and fine local wines

Everything was wonderful, but above all, I’m deeply grateful for the horses' outstanding abilities and the warm hospitality of the staff.

I truly felt that this unforgettable experience was made possible by the strong relationship of trust built over many years between FRC’s Mr. Tanaka, Mr. Tsukamoto, and the Tasmanian staff.

Now I can’t help but wonder — What amazing horses will FRC introduce me to on the next overseas tour?