Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter and KAP Member for Hill Shane Knuth are spurring on small business in their electorate, recently on show at a Tully horse riding facility.
Visiting Reinsdown Horse Riding in Tully, run by Sam and Amy Strutt, Mr Katter and Mr Knuth saw first-hand the value of a small local business which capitalised on its surrounds to offer customers a memorable experience and attract a range of visitors and tourists.
Mr Katter said the facility, which hosted personalised tours of a working cattle and horse property and catered for all riders from beginner to advanced, harnessed the beauty of the bush and rainforest.
“Congratulations to Amy and Sam at Reinsdown Horse Riding; nowhere else can you ride in the jungle with the cassowaries and on the beach,” he said.
The small business added significant value to the region and its capacity to attract more locals as well as visitors from Australia and overseas.
“What these two great people have delivered is unique and a huge drawcard to the Paradise Coast, which is fast becoming a major tourism centre,” Mr Katter said.
Reinsdown offers a personalised experience customised to individuals and small groups of all ages and riding capabilities, all hosted on the Strutts’ private 150-acre property.
“We offer a range of horse riding lessons through to rainforest rides through to general farm experience for younger children, catering for all age groups,” Ms Strutt said.
Children younger than eight are unable to go on the rainforest ride but can enjoy experiencing farm life, with the chance to pat, hold and feed farm animals and even ride small ponies in the arena.
“It’s a good opportunity for city people to experience the farm life, for city kids to pat and feed animals; a lot of kids these days are on their iPads all the time but here, they’re outside and don’t have their iPads with them,” Ms Strutt said.
The family built the undercover arena they hold horse riding lessons in ten years ago to be able to continue training their horses in wet or hot weather.
They gradually took on more riding lessons and began hosting rainforest rides about two years ago.
“Part of our property is in rainforest, and during rides we see cassowaries, Golden Orb spiders, bush turkeys, Ulysses butterflies and lots of birds.
“The sounds of the creeks and birds singing in the trees (is beautiful),” Ms Strutt said.
As small business owners, the Strutts said support from locals, tourists and governments was important to stay viable.
“The more support we get from everyone is fantastic,” Ms Strutt said.
With Tully’s short tourist season, Ms Strutt said she encourages visiting friends, family and clients to shop locally and support local tourism operators rather than travel to Cairns.
Support local business and shopping locally is a cornerstone of KAP policy and values and Mr Katter and Mr Knuth urged all Australians and tourists to back local communities.
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