Samantha Goos

Sam is born and raised in the Netherlands, but never felt she could live her true potential there. After graduating from Hospitality Management the world was wide open. She spent a year in Colorado, and another year in Vancouver, but went back home every time. She then changed careers and worked for 5 years in the fitness industry as a Personal Trainer, and worked for Les Mills, and Nike. It doesn’t matter what she does, as long as it is with people.

 

However being home was never enough and she decided to take the jump and move to New Zealand for a year in 2018.She has been riding since she was 10 years old, starting with the one lesson a week, but spending 5 days in the week at the riding school just hanging out with the horses. It was a mix of trail riding, dressage, and jumping but unfortunately never got to own her own. It was actually here in New Zealand where the opportunity came when she was offered a job as a horse trekking guide.

 

This was the start of living a horse dream and starting a new career. When she heard about the “Cavalcade” (7-days riding) it was clear this was the ultimate experience for this Dutch girl. So she needed a horse and found herself “Dudley” in January 2019. He was her first horse and with him, she did multiple Cavalcades, attended natural horsemanship clinics, and went on many different adventures. It’s because of these adventures together in the backcountry she fell in love with this beautiful country and knew she had to stay.

 

Luckily now she is a resident and no way she’ll ever live anywhere else again. Horse riding at West Wanaka station is absolutely the dream, and she loves sharing her big passion with you. Horse riding is not just about sitting on a horse. It is about connecting with a beautiful animal, exploring nature, and doing something active. Besides that it is very special to have made so many friendships with people who have come for rides, connecting together, sharing life stories, and having a good time together.

 

This is where the hospitality side comes out, and she will make you feel very welcome and looked after. Her horses are her family, and she knows them very well. She will teach you how to ride them and tells you about their quirks. It is amazing they get to live together in a herd and move their body and give the customers great experiences.

 

Thank you, and hope to meet you soon!