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The Live Sport Bible is here!'Living the dream': From Northland’s wild horses to Mongolia’s open plains
Sport Nation • May 15th, 2026 10:56 am
Chloe Phillips-Harris | Photo: Photosport
Most New Zealanders associate wild horses with the iconic Kaimanawa horse that roam the ranges of the Central North Island.
But according to Chloe Phillips-Harris, there are wild horse populations all across New Zealand - particularly in the far north, where hundreds roam areas including 90 Mile Beach.
Speaking with Erin Speedy on The Rural Roundup, Phillips-Harris reflected on more than a decade working with wild and feral horses through The Wild Horse Project, while also sharing how a life-changing trip to Mongolia led her towards a career built around adventure, animals and remote expeditions.
“They get all the media attention (Kaimanawa horses), but all over New Zealand, especially here in Northland we have our own wild or feral horse populations and I have been working for over 10 years now to help manage in some situations, help home, help muster a lot of the wild horses.”
Her connection with horses eventually took her far beyond New Zealand. More than 12 years ago, Phillips-Harris travelled to Mongolia to compete in the Mongol Derby - a 1,000km endurance race across the Mongolian steppe that is widely regarded as the world’s longest horse race.
“I went to Mongolia over 12 years ago and did the the Mongol Derby...I loved it, I loved the country, I loved the people and I kept going back there.”
After returning multiple times and later working on the event itself, Phillips-Harris took things a step further. In 2018, alongside two Mongolian partners, she launched her own expedition company specialising in immersive journeys through some of the country’s most remote wilderness regions.
“We do expeditions on horses, on camels, on reindeer, on yaks, and we do it in a way that takes people to places they could never get to and kind of supports nomadic communities.”
For Phillips-Harris, the experiences are about far more than travel. They are an opportunity for people to reconnect with nature, challenge themselves and experience life beyond their comfort zones.
“I am a huge believer that getting outdoors and getting out with the animals is just so good for the soul and good for people. And I think it's really good for people to get out of their comfort zones. And we definitely specialise in that.”
And after years spent working with wild horses around the world, Phillips-Harris says simply:
“I feel like I'm living the dream.”
Listen to the full interview below:
