About us ~
our World of
NAtural Horsemanship
We believe horses are teachers, not tools.
Every ride, every moment spent in their company, is an
opportunity to learn the language of trust, patience, and connection.
Our approach is simple: no force, no fear. Instead, we work with the principles of Natural Horsemanship—understanding how horses think, communicate, and move through the world. It’s about listening as much as leading, and building relationships that honour the horse’s nature.
ABOUT US
our World of
NAtural Horsemanship
We believe horses are teachers, not tools.
Every ride, every moment spent in their company, is an
opportunity to learn the language of trust, patience, and connection.
We are genuine, certified
Natural Horsemanship professionals.
With a wealth of experience and passion.
We are owned and operated by a Licensed Parelli Professional and ambassador for animal welfare. Parelli Natural Horsemanship is a movement which focuses on education to fulfil the mission of making the world a better place for horses and the humans that love them.
Every guide at Lighthorse has walked their own journey with horses—one that goes far beyond basic riding skills. Every guide has completed extensive horsemanship training and is regularly graded on competence to ensure continued skill development. They’ve earned their place here through dedication, skill, and a genuine love for what they do. Our ongoing training ensures as we expand, so does team, as horsemen and as guides.
Owner | Parelli Professional
Lynetta Schionning
Owner of Lighthorse Adventures and professional horsemanship coach. With 12 years teaching experience in the horse industry and over 25 years as a student of the horse, learning from world class, industry leading masters of horsemanship in both Australia and the USA. The more I have learned of horses the more I am called to the need to share the knowledge of horsemanship with others.
Two years ago I was recruited by the manager of Dart River Stables to come into the business as Equine Specialist. The opportunity to be a part of improving industry standards around safety and animal welfare were enough to have me move my life to Glenorchy and begin working to improve the system. I was then given the option to purchase the Dart River Stables business and as owner operator, continue this mission. This is how Lighthorse Adventures was born.
Business Manager
Felica Schionning
An adventurous horse rider from a young age, I gave up my horse passion to make way for more responsible things, like running our family farming business. This was my life’s work, up until four years ago, when after the passing of our father I needed to move on from the Farm in North Queensland Australia.
I ventured to Queenstown to be with my sister, Lynetta and now have settled here to co-run Lighthorse Adventures.
This business has not only allowed me to re-discover my love of horses, but has also challenged me with the incredible task of creating a unique way to share the love of horsemanship with the world.
Booking officer | Receptionist
FreyJa Carmichael
“Truly a phenomenal experience. Thank you Freyja for assisting us on this amazing ride. We cannot wait to return and ride again!” ~ J. Battig
Receptionist & CRITTER CO-ORDINATOR
Emily Pointon
A recent addition to our team, Emily brings a spirit of calm charisma to the reception team. After returning to Aotearoa after living in Edinburgh and exploring the busier places of the world, Emily finds herself thriving in the quiet wilderness of Glenorchy and has quickly become a keen student of horsemanship. Along with her customer service skills and receptionist talents Emily is an impressive knitter, keen baker, and maker of creative things.
HORSEMANSHIP COACH
Tereza Šafránková
As a professional horsemanship coach it is my unique ability to be able to offer visitors from all walks of life the opportunity to experience what normally only a few passionate horsemen and women get to learn about; the art of Horsemanship and share with you rare insights into the way horses naturally communicate with each other.
No matter who you are, where you’re from or if you have ridden before or not, we are able to bridge the gap between the elite horsemanship world and you, and offer everyone who visits us the chance to experience horses on a deeper level, while enjoying all the usual fun and excitement of adventure horse riding.
I’m honoured to be able to share with you all that I love about horses.
Senior guide | yard assistant
Helena Wundsam
Second time at Lighthorse and it gets better every visit. Took my partner with me for the second trip and we have agreed to try and make this a frequent occasion whenever we can moving forward. Our instructor Helena was so amazing and we had so much fun riding with her and the horses.” ~ Danielle. K
SEnior Guide
Leslie Leduc
I’ve been around horses since I was a kid — I spent about ten years doing traditional riding before realising it wasn’t quite what I was looking for. Discovering Parelli Natural Horsemanship really changed everything for me. It’s all about understanding, communication, and building a real connection with horses — exactly what I’d been missing.
Before joining Lighthorse Adventures, I spent a few years studying biology, focusing on animal behavior and communication. Animals have always fascinated me, and now I get to combine that curiosity with my love for horses every day. Out on the trail, I love sharing stories and little facts about the wildlife — especially the birds along the Dart River (I’m a bit of a bird nerd!).
For me, this job is the perfect mix of everything I love: horses, nature, and helping people connect with both in a genuine way. ” Indigo and Leslie were amazing guides particularly for our 5 year old daughter.” ~ Scott. B
Senior Guide
Luca Zaddach
I am a nature-loving and creative person who combines a deep connection to nature with a lifelong passion for horses. I have worked with horses since my early years, and over time, I have developed a unique relationship with them.
I started my journey as a professional horse trainer and later discovered the philosophies of Parelli Natural Horsemanship which opened my eyes to a new way of working with horses.
For me, it’s not just about training them, but about creating harmony, understanding, and a respectful, trusting partnership between horse and human.
EXCELLENTTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An unforgettable experience. The scenery around Glenorchy is simply breathtaking, and seeing it from horseback made it even more special. The horses were calm, well looked after and perfectly matched to the riders, while the guides were friendly, knowledgeable and made everyone feel comfortable. A genuine highlight of our South Island holiday. Highly recommended!Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Amazing experience, in a beautiful part of NZ. Our guide Aurore was fantastic and showed us how to communicate and ride our horses in such a gentle and respectful way. We learned a lot and will definitely be back. Thank youPosted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Horse trek was amazing horses well trained. The guide aurora was absolutely amazing she was so kind and had lots of knowledge about horses. And she made me feel alot better when I was nervous to go. She is the sweetest lady and definitely will be back xPosted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Lovely tour, my 6 year old daughter absolutely enjoyed riding a big horse by herself (with the help of lead). What a memorable experience!Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. If you are considering this, it’s a must! I booked this trek without realising they were a company trained in and using Parelli principles. Any company using natural horsemanship is putting their horses first in all decisions made and the outcome is a safe and fulfilling experience for both the rider and horse. I did the 2.5hr and could not recommend it highly enough. The ride and scenery go without saying, but the experience of the guides and their wealth of information about the local area make it a stand out. Both our guides were not only lovely but highly educated and it was a joy to be able to experience this once in a lifetime ride with them.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. All of the staff were warm, welcoming and knowledgeable! Horses were all well behaved and the scenery was outstanding. Our 7 year old daughter loved this activity so much.Posted on GoogleTrustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. My wife and I had an absolutely wonderful time at Lighthorse Adventures. We had a mix of experience levels in our group, from beginner to experienced and the guides knew exactly how to deliver all of the information clearly enough to make each rider feel comfortable and confident. We really valued the tone and attitude of the guides, creating a calming, yet safe and fun atmosphere for everyone to enjoy, (including the horses!) rather than focusing on a fear-based approach. We also enjoyed learning about natural horsemanship and the differences to what we had learned and were taught. The guides were patient and reassuring, which helped us to feel comfortable in a new setting.Verified by TrustindexTrustindex verified badge is the Universal Symbol of Trust. Only the greatest companies can get the verified badge who has a review score above 4.5, based on customer reviews over the past 12 months. Read more
Our Furry co-stars
We couldn’t do what we do without our hoofed teachers. Horses don’t lie. They can’t pretend. When you’re with them, you quickly discover what’s real and what’s performance. They’ll teach you to read energy, set boundaries with kindness, and communicate from a place of truth rather than trying to control.
Houdini
Reliable and a just a little bit naughty.
Bell
Serious about adventures…. and snacks.
Larry
A sensitive soul, Larry loves gentle connection.
BLAZE
Gentle in nature, sharp in mind, and always close by to his friend Dot
Phoenix
Fun, cheeky and incredibly bright, Phoenix loves games and puzzles, especially when there’s a cookie at the end.
Shadowfax
A more extroverted horse who loves to make friends by using you as a scratching post. You’ll win his friendship through a head scratch!
Nequita
An majestic soul, always looking for adventure.
Patch & Styles
Stylish by name, stylish by nature. Bringing together the best qualities of the Frisian and the Gypsy Vanner.
Tigger
Kind, gentle, independent and sensitive, he must be hiding his unicorn horn somewhere.
RIDE THE GLACIAL RIVERS
WHERE MIDDLE-EARTH COMES ALIVE.
We offer tailor made custom day rides and package experiences.
Perfect for private groups, couples, surprise proposals, advanced horsemanship
or any adventure you can dream up through the stunning surrounds of the Dart Valley.