Rawnsley Horses

In your average Western movie, the buzzards overhead add a sense of ominous dread, but for me it's confirmation that word is out about my riding skills. As the wedgetail eagles soar above, we head out with Tony Smith on the Rawnsley Bluff Trail. With the Chase Range as our backdrop, we slowly make our way to Clem Corner lookout, on a form of transport which helped open up this country for grazing.

"There were no sealed roads and motor cars then so yer, horses were the one means of getting around the country".

Rawnsley Park Station was first established as a sheep property back in 1851. In the 1950's Tony's father, a grazier, took it over but by the 60's the family had moved into tourism. Now a bloke who once mustered sheep in this country is shepherding experienced and novice riders alike past remnants of an ancient seabed which powerful forces have thrown up as part of Wilpena Pound.

The sign seems a little out of place, but for me this is the ideal speed, slow enough to take in all the Flinders Ranges have to offer. Soon we approach an opening that will take us through the Yah-loud-nah range. Ulowdna.

"We'll pass through this small gorge, it's fairly narrow. Uhm, sometimes it's a bit hairy coming through here Ron but I'm sure you'll handle it"

"I'm sure too"

It pays to be assertive, you never know, the horse may be listening. Slowly we pick our way through a quiet creek bed surrounded by stands of native pines.

"Just let the horses pick their way through here. It's a bit hard on their hooves if they pick up a stone, so don't push them too hard"

"Whoa fella, that will do"

"So Tony, back in the early days would they have mustered through here?"

"Oh yeah, I can remember mustering through here when I was a child. We had a couple of horses until I was about twelve years old and then the motorbikes took over after that"

This form of horse power is surely one of the best ways to experience these backtracks in the Flinders and after a solid hour you come across this.

"This is a magical view out over the Elder Range to the west and you still see the pound range back behind us but this is one of my favourite spots at Rawnsley Park. Here I think".

"And it's named Elder Range after Thomas Elder?"

"That's right, yes. Thomas Elder was one of the early merchants and pastoralists in South Australia who formed Elder Smiths and the range is named after him".

From here you need to take some time to soak up the view. Contact Rawnsley Park Station for more info.