Equathon is owned and operated by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, and his wife Rebecca.
Our home is in the Noosa area on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. Our clients benefit from our decades of international equine experience, as well as the natural assets of this region with its diversity of beach, bushland and hinterland.
Our aim is to bring people and horses together in rewarding relationships, and our clients range from elite equestrians, to people just looking for special vacation experiences with safe horses.
Equathon was named 2011 Adventure Tour Operator of the Year at the Queensland Tourism Awards, and is ranked in the top 15 horse riding tours in the world by CNN International.
Equathon’s Australian Stock Horses are skillfully trained and are experienced in all our locations, including the Noosa Trail Network, Noosa North Shore, and a diverse range of other stunning trails across the Sunshine Coast.
We offer hourly, group, private, overnight and week-long adventure packages as well as horse riding lessons and coaching for riders of all abilities.
Ride Options
BEACH RIDES
1 Hour Private Beach Horse Riding Tour In Noosa
Price: $140 per person
Where: The Esplanade, Noosa North Shore
This is a holiday adventure to remember. Imagine experiencing beautiful Teewah Beach at Noosa North Shore on horse back over a private one-hour beach horse riding tour.
Managed by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, riders will be matched to the perfect Australian Stock Horse for their level of experience.
The private nature of the tour (just your group and a guide) allows for extra instruction and personalised tuition, making it safe for everyone, from absolute beginners to experienced riders. These riding tours are ideal for families or riders with less experience and children as young as seven can be accommodated with prior notice.
2 Hour Private Beach/Bush Horse Riding Tour In Noosa
Price: $185 per person
Where: The Esplanade, Noosa North Shore
Spend two glorious hours making your way along the stunning sands of Teewah Beach on Noosa North Shore in our two-hour private riding tour.
Managed by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, riders will be matched to the perfect Australian Stock Horse for their level of experience.
The private nature of the tour (just your group and a guide) allows for extra instruction and personalised tuition, making it safe for absolute beginners to experienced riders. This intimate tour is ideal for special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays, or romantic escapes.
Want to explore more than just the beach? We can also take this two-hour horse riding tour from the beach to the bush, so you can see even more of Noosa’s stunning natural beauty on horse back.
7 DAY TOUR
This horse riding tour is designed for horse back riding enthusiasts who would love to discover Australia’s natural beauty in luxury.
Australian triple Olympian, Alex Watson and his wife, Rebecca, take riders on a seven-day tour along the Sunshine Coast and wonderfully pristine and varied hinterland trails.
Alex and Rebecca handpicked each destination on the tour to ensure riders experience the depth and beauty of the Sunshine Coast region, as well as spot wildlife such as kangaroos, koalas and hundreds of native birdlife.
Suited to intermediate to experienced riders, guests will have the opportunity to walk, trot, and canter along beautiful beaches, tropical rainforests, and bushland trails where they will also have the opportunity to muster cattle.
Riders will be matched to the perfect Australian Stock Horse for their level of experience. Stock horses are famous for their athletic ability and temperament.
Price: $3,200 per person (twin share)
We also cater for non-riding partners with a range of alternate activities. Contact us for more information, and continue reading for a full itinerary and activity list.
Price: $360 per person (twin share – minimum 2 people)
Where: The Esplanade, Noosa North Shore
About: Experience an awesome mini getaway, or an escape from your usual weekend routine.
The Noosa Overnight Escape Horse Riding Package includes a two-hour private horseback riding tour along the beach and overnight accommodation at an award-winning resort in Noosa.
Managed by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, riders will be matched to the perfect Australian Stock Horse for their level of experience.
The tour starts along Teewah Beach at Noosa North Shore, with the option to take your ride inland and explore the natural beauty of Noosa’s Great Sandy National Park.
The package includes:
Two-hour private horse-riding tour
Overnight accommodation at RACV Resort Noosa
Full Buffet Breakfast
Helmet Hire
Personalised tour with experience guide and instructor.
INSTRUCTION
LESSONS
Pricing:
Group Lessons
(up to 4 riders per instructor)
Adult – 1 hour lesson – $80 per rider
Child – 1 hour lesson – $60 per rider (ages 8-18 years old)
Private Lessons
(usually one rider however can be up to two riders on request)
Adult – 1 hour lesson – $120 per rider
Child – 1 hour lesson – $80 per rider (ages 8-18 years old)
If learning to ride a horse is on your bucket list, or a long-held dream, Equathon is here to make those dreams a reality.
Offering personalised private and group tuition for riders of all ages and abilities, Equathon’s goal is to make you confident in the saddle.
Our experienced coaches are led by triple Olympian, Alex Watson, and can instruct beginners to experienced riders. We cater for general riding tuition suitable for a range of riding disciplines with emphasis on dressage and showjumping.
Our goal is to provide our students with a solid riding foundation based on universally accepted principles of riding promoted by the Australian and other leading international equestrian federations.
All lessons are held at Equathon’s horse property at Verrierdale on the Sunshine Coast. We have a purpose-built arena and horse working areas for instruction and horse training.
About Our Lessons
Lessons are conducted throughout the week at various times to suit school, work and family hours depending on the time of year, weather and availability.
Riding instruction includes a combination of riding in and outside of an arena.
Discounts and incentives are available for regular lesson bookings.
We provide the horses and helmets. Riders are recommended to wear suitable riding attire such as long pants/jeans and boots.
RIDE EASY
Ride Easy is our patented Riding, Training, and Horse Management Program, designed by triple Olympian, Alex Watson.
Alex has more than 30 years of international horse riding experience from Olympic Games to World Cups across three continents.
The Ride Easy Program is conducted as a practical, easy to follow course over 5 x two-hour hands-on sessions (total of 10 hours), and has three related pillars of learning.
Phase One – Horse Management
The aim of the Horse Management Phase is to make students competent and safe working around horses, creating confidence in both horse and handler, and to give students a consistent basic knowledge of practical horse management skills.
Phase Two – Horse Training
The Horse Training Phase is aimed at acquiring the fundamentals of working a horse from the ground prior to mounting and riding.
During this phase, students will learn the techniques of working and training a horse to improve movement, balance, suppleness, responsiveness and the systematic elimination of real or potential problems relating to horse temperament, level of experience and confidence.
Phase Three – Horse Riding
The Horse Riding Phase is aimed at linking the ground working and horse training techniques to actual work of the horse under saddle with a consistency of aids and communication from the rider.
The riding phase is dedicated to creating harmony and control between horse and rider by systematic work to establish an independent balanced seat, effective leg aids, and responsive hands in all gaits and riding pursuits.
About This Course
The Ride Easy Program is an excellent course for beginner riders, nervous riders, riders who have had a long break from riding, riders who have had bad experiences in the past, new or prospective horse owners and those wishing to work in the equine industry.
Sessions are conducted individually or in small groups of up to four participants.
Courses are generally run over five weeks (one two-hour session per week) but can be conducted as a live-in course over a weekend or number of days.
The course is practical based and completed with an assessment of competency. Successful completion gains participants a signed and dated Ride Easy Certificate.
Sessions are $180 per person/ 2-hour lesson or $900 per Course (5 sessions) incl. GST. If entire course is paid in advance the total is $850.
Explore the beautiful bushland and beaches of the Sunshine Coast on horseback with Equathon Horse Riding Adventures. Offering hourly, group, private, overnight and week-long adventure packages, there is a horse riding experience perfect for riders of any skill level.
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