Holidaying farmer prefers saddle to sand

When it comes to holidays, Colin Drummond is not a fan of sitting on a beach.

"The first day's all right, the second day's average.

"After that . . .", the quietly spoken Canterbury farmer mused, as he prepared to harness up a six-horse team.

Mr Drummond would much prefer to be out in the high country, travelling in a wagon pulled by a team of Clydesdale horses.

This week, he and a group of other Clydesdale enthusiasts have been travelling in three wagons around the Omarama area.

The Canterbury Clydesdale Club tries to have at least one trek each year, and the spectacular sight of a bygone era attracts plenty of interest from any passers-by.

As they prepared to leave Ben Avon Station in the Ahuriri Valley on Thursday, Mr Drummond said it was a relaxing holiday.

While he could switch off from farming, there was always something to do, whether it was holding on to the reins or teaching someone else to drive.

Horses play a major role in daily farming life on the remote 14,164ha Erewhon Station, owned by Mr Drummond and his wife Christine, at the headwaters of the Rangitata River.

They have about 45 horses on the property, including registered Clydesdales along with half and quarter-draughts.

Using teams of horses for farm work like ploughing, discing and sowing crops was an easy way of giving a lot of horses some work.

While a tractor and modern machinery could often do a job quicker, "you just make the time", Mr Drummond said.

"Get out of bed a bit earlier in the morning and you find you can get a bit more done.

"We always seem to get the crops in on time."

Mr and Mrs Drummond also exhibited their horses at several shows, including the Canterbury A and P Show where they usually entered about nine or 10.

As with any type of farming, Mr Drummond said they were always trying to improve the quality of their stock.

The quality of Clydesdales in Canterbury was "right up there", he said.

There was a lot of interest in the heavy horses from the public - "a bit of mystique maybe".

The youngest trek participant was Emily Stroobant, from Helensville, who rode on Mr Drummond's wagon accompanied by her father Paul, who is secretary of the Clydesdale Horse Society of New Zealand.

Emily was 8 when she rode Erewhon Bert, a towering 18hh Clydesdale, at the Canterbury A and P Show in November.

She competed against adults in the ridden class, which brought applause from the crowd.

The wide, open country of the Omarama area was a novelty for the Stroobants and it was a "trip of a lifetime" for the pair, Mr Stroobant said.

Ian Tooley (72), who lives near Oxford, enjoyed seeing the backcountry during treks.

He has done nine of the Otago Goldfields Heritage Trust's cavalcades.

His wagon was pulled by Lady, a veteran with 32 treks under her girth, and the novice Rose, who was on her first trek and performing very well.

He was accompanied by Frances Myatt (78), from Christchurch, who fell off a horse when she was 72 and was told she would never walk again.

"But I fooled them all", she said with a broad grin.

Once discharged from hospital, she went on a trek.

She has a miniature horse at home, which pulls a cart, and that "keeps me out of the chair", she said.

The trek ended yesterday at Omarama.