Felix is a movie star. Tom Cruise rode him in The Last Samurai and Felix had a body double and a makeup artist. He had professional Spanish horse trainers and can do tricks. He is used to better things.

Now Felix is lumped with me for a week as about 230 of us either ride, walk or bike our way through the back country from Rawene in the Hokianga to Pouto Point at the tip of the Kaipara Harbour.

Felix comes gratis of Steve Old, who was once horse co-ordinator for the Lord of the Rings trilogy and the Last Samurai.