Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley | Rachel Case | Horse Guide
Guides are the backbone of experiential luxury, offering professional, fascinating narration and insight into memorable excursions, creating a space for guests to discover the true depth, diversity and beauty of Australia. In a spotlight on Our People, we are taking a look at Rachel Case’s passion for horses and for the Australian bush, and her role at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley introducing guests to the resort’s equine family and beautiful nature trails is, as she describes it, “her dream job”.
The conservation-based resort is set in a stunning wilderness reserve in the Greater Blue Mountains in New South Wales and in addition to its 7,000 acres of native bushland, it is also home to 14 horses, a stunning state-of-the art stables and mounting yard.
For as long as she can remember, Rachel Case has lived and breathed horses. As the resort’s Horse Guide, her day starts early, grooming the horses, getting them ready for the day’s adventures and mucking the stables. She then takes guests on rides, exploring the area’s jaw-dropping trails through river crossings, up and down steep terrain and across open pastures, encountering the local wildlife and kangaroos.
Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley’s long-term vision is the protection of regional biodiversity and the restoration of habitat, and the resort’s extensive environmental work helps to secure a more stable future for the region’s native wildlife. Over 200,000 native plants have been established across the property since opening, using seeds collected onsite by both guests and colleagues, which are then propagated at a local nursery. Planting projects to date have focused on the streamside revegetation of Carne Creek and Wolgan River and restoration of important wildlife corridors across the reserve.
With her training as a Field Guide, combined with the calm, friendly horses, even guests with minimal experience quickly acquire the skills such as mounting, dismounting, balance, steering and stopping that every horse rider needs. “I love watching our guests ease into the ride as they realise how gentle and kind our horses are,” says Rachel. In addition to managing the guest’s equine adventures, Rachel is responsible for maintaining the horses, stables and the trails.
Prior to joining Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley, Rachel worked as a rural contractor for Australia Post. After ten years working in hospitality, finance and real estate Rachel eventually realised that office life was not for her. Much of her personal time was spent outdoors, caring for injured wildlife in Wolgan Valley, so when a job as a Field Guide came up, she leapt at it, and has never looked back. For Rachel, getting guests back in the saddle and exploring the nature reserve together is her greatest pleasure. As she puts it, “I’m living the dream.”
Imparting knowledge of Australia’s unique flora and fauna and inspiring us with secrets of the natural landscape, Guides educate guests as to ethical practises concerning wildlife, tend to be wilderness protectors, cultural heritage advocates and avid conservation contributors.
Discover more on Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley’s horse riding experiences here.
