The stable doors are closing for good at an iconic horse trekking business that put Pakiri Beach on the map.
Pakiri Beach Horse Rides owner Sharley Haddon is looking for extra special new homes for 40 beloved horses - and admits it's with quite some reluctance that she's calling it a day.
"It's been my life for 42 years and it's pretty hard to just walk away... I'm really sad that I've had to stop. I'm not a happy retiree."
The former school teacher explained it all started with "two fat ponies" she bought for her children when she moved up from South Waikato.
Word spread fast and visitors, from first time riders to experienced equestrians, were soon travelling from all over New Zealand in the hundreds.
They were enticed by the chance to go for a guided trot through pristine vistas and hear hoofbeats under them on the deserted, white sand beach.
It was a roaring success story.
"I moved into the international market and marketed overseas and it grew from two fat ponies to, well, I had 80 horses on the place at one stage," Haddon said.
"I think I probably introduced a lot of people that live here now to Pakiri."
Today, the stable walls are scrawled with messages from former trekking guides, who came from all over the world.
"They still contact me on Facebook and write wonderful things about how it was one of the best times of their lives," Haddon said.
"I'm not so sure that I was the best boss but it's so nice living here. They had a staff house that came with the job and I think it was a lot of fun. It was a pretty horrible house but it always was happy."
Pakiri Beach Horse Rides attracted people from all over the world. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
Some of her own fondest memories are the seven-day treks down to Muriwai beach in Auckland.
"We used to stay in a little hut at the top of the Kaipara hills. It was semi camping, but everything was there. It was fabulous. I used to love that. Especially when we lit the fire and we were all wet and hanging around the fire drinking whiskey," she said.
Haddon had been gradually wanting to retire when the pandemic forced her hand.
A tough two years made it untenable to keep employing staff or running the treks - and she explained four legged staff didn't qualify for the wage subsidy.
A broken neck from a fall three years ago has kept her out of the saddle herself, and she said increased health and safety regulations for tourism operators have gradually put the squeeze on her operations.
While Haddon would love someone else to swoop in and take over the business, she said she isn't selling the land, only the horses.
She knows each of the 47 horses by name and unique personality.
Seven "old favourites" will remain on the farm for herself, her daughter, her son and her granddaughter.
Any prospective buyers of the other 40 will have to be pretty special people, Haddon explained she'll be making sure they're the right fit for the horse that they choose.
"It's not easy to sell horses. For me, when I love them, it's not easy to sell them," she said.
Pakiri Beach Horse Rides owner Sharley Haddon. Photo: RNZ / Marika Khabazi
As for the owner herself, Haddon isn't putting her feet up just yet.
She has been keeping busy writing and illustrating stories, and toying with the idea of a new job.
Her happy chapter running Pakiri Beach Horse Rides might be over - but what a ride it has been.
