Join the Chapman family’s
Chapman Valley Cattle Muster

Join the fifth and sixth generations of the Chapman family on an authentic Australian cattle mustering experience! A tradition that has been upheld for 184 years, rounding up the cattle on horseback is a huge event on the farm – and we’re inviting you along for the ride!

Spend multiple days in the saddle searching for and bringing in the cattle from all over the property, ready for drenching, drafting and preparing for the local cattle sales! Then at night sit around the campfire and discuss the day’s events with your fellow cowgirls and cowboys.

You’ll be assigned your own horse to care for and ride during the muster. This includes catching, grooming and saddling at the start and the end of the day.

Three Day Cattle Muster
$1,750
per person

Upcoming Dates:

11th-13th March 2024 (FULL!)
15th-17th April 2024 (FULL!)
13th-15th May 2024 (1 SADDLE LEFT!)
11th-13th June 2024 (2 SADDLE LEFT!)
15th-17th July 2024 (New!)

(waiting list available – email us to join!)

Have your own horse?
The above dates are for those riding our horses. See our Holiday With Your Horse page for dates and prices for BYO Horse options.

 

Two Day Cattle Muster
$1,250
per person

Upcoming Dates 2024:

2nd-3rd March (FULL!)
6th-7th April (FULL!)
4th-5th May (FULL!)
25th-26th May (FULL!)
29th-30th June (FULL!)

(waiting list available – email us to join!)

Have your own horse?
The above dates are for those riding our horses. See our Holiday With Your Horse page for dates and prices for BYO Horse options.

 

About The Ride:
For six generations (since the year 1840) Chapman Valley has been an actively running beef cattle farm. Our ancestors, who were dairy-farmers in England, relocated to Australia to find new opportunities. They settled on this 6,000 acre property and stocked it with cattle. Since then the farm has been passed down from generation to generation, all the time keeping things running from the back of a horse. In this fast paced world, we find rounding up the cattle on horseback is still the best way to do things. Not only is it more gentle and kind on the cattle, but it’s more fun for the humans too!

In this authentic horseback Cattle Mustering experience, you’ll kick off your day with a hearty BBQ breakfast before heading over to the horse yards to get ready for the day’s adventures. You’ll be given your own horse to care for, and under the tuition of our helpful guides you’ll groom and saddle your noble steed before mounting up and riding out in search for the cattle.

Riding Ability:
Riders must be able to do a rising trot, to ensure we can increase the speed if need be (e.g if we need to cover ground more quickly, or to keep up if the cattle try to run away). The majority of the ride however will be at a slower pace in order to prevent distressing the livestock or over-exerting the horses & working dogs. We also have a 1-day Cattle Muster!
Expect to be in the saddle for 5-7 hours each day, so be sure to get a few rides in before the departure date to get saddle fit.
Minimum age 15yo.

About the Horses:
We use the same horses on our Cattle Muster as we do on our everyday trail rides. This means they’re fit, experienced, and reliable. They love their job, but the Cattle Musters are like a holiday for them and they are in their absolute element! On all of our rides, we encourage our horses to be responsive to their rider, to avoid the nose-to-tail grind so the opportunity to spread out and roam the paddocks looking for cattle is right up their alley!

You’ll find a mix of breeds in our herd, from Australian Stock Horses and Quarter Horses to our beautiful Shire and Clydie Xs. They range from steady quiet beginner’s horses to more responsive experienced rider’s horses, so there’s always a great match to be found.

Inclusions:
Home-cooked meals (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks & dinner), horse hire, helmet hire, and accommodation in our brand-new Drover’s Quarters building.

Accommodation & Facilities:
Our brand new six-bedroom accommodation, “The Drover’s Quarters”, overlooks the horse yards, so you can quietly snuggle up on the couch to watch the horses gather for their breakfast with coffee in hand. You’ll have your own private bedroom with a comfy queen/double bed, crisp clean sheets & cozy blankets & doona. Located next door to the camp kitchen where our delicious meals are served up, and nearby to our amenities block where you can enjoy hot showers & flushing toilets.

Group Size:
The cattle musters that are held with Chapman Valley’s horses are limited to a maximum of 6 guests, plus 2 guides. BYO Horse Cattle Musters may be larger groups (up to 10 horses) depending on the event’s circumstances.

To book, click the above button, select the appropriate date, and the ride will show as available
Very limited places available. Don’t miss out!

Details:

  • You’ll be assigned your own horse to care for and ride. This includes catching, grooming, and saddling at the start and the end of the day. Our guides are there to assist you.
  • Participants must be able to trot with confidence (in case we need to catch up to the cattle or makeup time), but the majority of the riding will be at a walking pace to prevent over-exerting the animals.
  • No phone reception! Unplug for a few days!
  • We will return to the home base at the end of each day, where there are flushing toilets and showers.
  • As much as we hope and try to deliver, there is no 100% guarantee that we will muster cattle on any given day. This is an authentic, real cattle muster – not put on for show, and we won’t know exactly where the cattle are located.
  • For safety reasons, visitors aren’t permitted in the cattle yards during drafting or marking but are welcome to watch.
  • Riders are welcome to stay the night before and the night after, for no additional cost.
  • All riders must wear a helmet (we supply helmets).
  • Horses are rotated if needed, so you may not ride the same horse each day.
  • Weight limit – due to an unexpected reduction in our horsey family, we currently have a weight limit of 90kgs. If you’re over 90kgs and tall, or if you are an experienced rider, please feel free to contact us to discuss if we can accommodate you on your requested date.

What to Bring:

  • Toiletries (bath towels are provided).
  • Warm clothes; beanies, gloves, thick jackets as nights can be extremely cold!
  • Waterproof clothes; gumboots, raincoats & waterproof pants. We still ride in the rain.
  • A few changes of clothes, for riding through the day and relaxing at night. Extras in case you get wet.
  • Riding boots (no joggers).
  • Casual shoes to wear at night (e.g joggers/thongs).

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where will we sleep/What amenities are available?

Previously our Cattle Musters were a camping experience, with guests sleeping in tents and swags at night. We’ve recently upgraded the experience to provide accommodation on-site in our comfy six-bedroom Drover’s Quarters. Each day is its own adventure, and we will be returning to the Home Base at the end of the day. The home base is where your car will be parked, so you can leave things stored in your vehicle or locked in your private room if need be.

There are flushing toilets and showers (with hot water) in the amenities block, which is a short walk from the Drover’s Quarters building.

Please note, the camp kitchen building (where meals are cooked and served), the Drover’s Quarters building (where you’ll sleep), and the amenities building (where you … you know …) are separate buildings a short walk from each other. They are not adjoining buildings.

Will I have the same horse every day?

Maybe, maybe not. The horses will be rotated out depending on their energy levels and to allow different riders to experience riding different styles of horses.

What meals are included?

We supply three meals a day during the Muster (excluding the last night), including snacks and water/soft drink. BYO alcoholic beverages – you’ll probably feel like a coldie at the end of the day!

For example:
On a muster that runs Mon-Wed:
Sunday: No meals provided.
Monday: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Tuesday: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner.
Wednesday: Breakfast & Lunch.

We are used to catering for all dietary requirements; allergies, celiac, vegetarians, vegans, lactose intolerant etc!

Will bedding be supplied?

Yes!

Your room will be made up of pillows, fresh sheets, blankets, and doona.

Can I bring my own helmet?

Yes, so long as it meets our Accepted Helmets Policy.

Can I bring my own saddle?

Sorry, no. All of our horses have their own assigned gear that has been professionally fitted and meets our insurance safety requirements.

Can I bring my own horse?

Sometimes.
We run two separate events; one where you ride our horses and one where you can bring your own. Look for “BYO Horse” next to the name of the event where you can bring your own. For safety reasons, we do not mix the two.

Can I trot/canter? How experienced do I need to be?

The majority of the Muster will be ridden at a walk, to save the horse’s energy (it’s a marathon, not a sprint!) and to avoid stressing the Cattle. However, since we are covering a lot of miles over the course of the Muster, and may need to pick up the pace to catch up with the cattle at times, participants must be able to confidently handle a horse at a walk and rising trot. We recommend that riders become ‘saddle-fit’ before their Cattle Muster, doing shorter rides in the lead-up to prepare for the trek.

Can I stay an extra night?

Yes. You’re most welcome to arrive the day before the muster begins at no extra cost. If you wish to stay on the final night after it finishes, you may add an extra night for a small fee. 

Check-in starts at 3 PM

Check-out is before 10 AM on the last day of the event

Please note meals are not included the night before the muster, or on the night of the final day so you will need to make your own arrangements. There is a fridge and BBQ available for you to use on these occasions.

What if it rains?

The show must go on, no matter the weather. Please remember to bring a rain jacket and gumboots!

Do you offer a payment plan?

Yes! Download our Payment Plan Info Pack and contact us to arrange.

When will new dates be released?

As this is a true, authentic Cattle Muster and is not put on just for show, the dates will vary and depend on the season on the farm. We will generally announce dates a few months in advance once we have weighed up the factors of the best time to muster.

As a rough guide, they’re generally run in March-November. However, we cannot guarantee dates in advance. New dates will be published on this webpage, but your best chance of grabbing a spot as soon as dates are released is to sign up for our Mailing List to receive the Pre-Release notification. Contact us if you would like to join the mailing list.