Equestrian Travel Articles

The nice thing about a Cabalgata, as Monica of Centaura explained to me, is that everyone rides together, regardless of social status or class. Whole families, young and old, ride their horses with each other. Monica has ridden in countless of these events.

We got on our horses and began the ride down the road. I was on Perla, a beautiful bay horse that is very smooth. Some people get a little crazy during the Cabalgata. Perhaps that is because many of them drink heavily while riding. Motorcyclesand ... ...

Cowboy luxury

Our few days at the Bar W Ranch in Whitefish, Montana offered surprising experiences at every turn. First was the lodge. This wasn't a rustic mountain lodge, by any means. It was originally a luxurious home, nestled on a 100 acre state of the art Arabian horse ranch, with its own private lake that backed up to a 3200 acre state park, and thousands of national forest acreage just a trailer ride away. We had the master suite with a Jacuzzi tub that overlooked the pastures, pine forests ... ...

By, Susan Seligman

Working in conjunction with Walter Reed Army hospital and North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA) trained therapeutic riding instructor Mary Jo Beckham, the Caisson horses have been put into service as therapy horses. The effort has gained national attention and a new lease on life for wounded soldiers returning from Iraq.

"The therapeutic riding program has brought out Natasha", says Mary Jo Beckham. "Here's a photo of the first day of the program. Natasha ... ...

There I rode a horse descended from Chilean horses that were brought to the island of Ua Huka in 1856 as a gift to a local chieftain. Ua Huka is now called "Horses Island" since the horses outnumber the 500 Marquesan native inhabitants.

And though I am not likely to forget my horse, Pomplemouse (a Tahitian grapefruit), not ever, ever will I forget our trek on Nuku Hiva, the largest of the Marquesas Islands. We began at the top of the mountains above Taiohae Bay and the town ot Taiohae. We walked ... ...

Photo Credit Spanish Riding School, Vienna

Tradition, history and grandeur reign supreme at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna. Dating from the 1500s it is the oldest riding school in the world, and home to the world famous Lipizzaner Stallions. The horses are trained and presented according to the highest principles and purest form of the classical art of riding. This extraordinary training has been handed down exclusively in an oral tradition from rider to rider for over 450 years, transforming ... ...

Photography by Elliot Framan

The riders stopped at the Golden Waterfall, Gullfoss, to rest the horses. They told me that they had been on the road for six days, riding from Skagafjordas in the north over the Rjolur mountain track to the Geyser Hot Spring area.

"We travel as much as eight hours a day to cover the distance," said Ishester trekking guide, Hauhur Hanksson. "We take hand horses along, and change our mounts a couple of times a day, which allows us to travel at a comfortable speed. The ... ...

www.chilenativo.com" target="blank">Chile Nativo guides, gauchos from Estancia Guido, and two local women working on a video about Patagonia, to scout a new horse pack trip near the Torres del Paine Park.

We arrive late in the night under a brilliant full moon to our warmly lit estancia (large estate) and accommodations, Lodge Cerro Guido. After unloading the gear we gather around a cozy fire, snack on appetizers and drink Pisco sours while waiting to meet our hosts. The newly renovated Estancia ... ...

We arrived at the ranch at the end of lunch, but the gentleman that picked us up at the airport (which is included in the price of staying at the ranch), called the ranch and asked if they would hold up lunch so that we could eat in the dining room. They did, and we had a great lunch. If you do miss it on your first day, the ranch provides a box lunch in your room, a nice perk.

There is a breakfast ride at the old homestead site near the ranch that is not to be missed. You ride through cacti inthe ... ...

Sergeant Stephen Cava is my guide at the stables, a tall affable soldier in his mid-twenties, who had the honor of riding in President Reagan's funeral. He is from New Jersey, and like most of the riders in the Caisson platoon, had little riding experience before joining the army.

Volunteers for the Caisson platoon need to be soldiers first, says Cava. We prefer that they have no riding experience. We put each solider through an intense ten week training course. Training begins on the ground learning ... ...

We had obtained our permits and had stuffed them in our pockets. We were armed with a map produced by the Battlefield Equestrian Society. So what if it was a couple years old-how much could it have changed? The over 5000 acres of the park are located at Sudley Road and Route 29 in Virginia and preserve a part of Civil War history. Horseback riding is only allowed in a portion of the park, but the loops were well marked on the map. Unfortunately the trails did not agree with the map totally, so ... ...

Photo courtesy of Pendleton Round-Up

It started out as a small bronc riding contest and roping exhibition held amid fields of wheat and barley, to celebrate the end of harvest. Today, almost 100 years later, it lives on as the most famous rodeo in the Northwest, rivaling Cheyenne and Calgary in magnitude. The Pendleton Round-Up, Pendleton, Oregon, kicks into high gear the second full week of September. Just the thought of it summons images of the rugged Northwest, in the best romantic light: the high ... ...

We headed up the wide grazing area along the rim of Meadow Creek toward the remains of an ancient Anasazi settlement where weathered pit houses, gentle mounds of earth and rock still lie, testament to a village that once made this place sacred ground. Hoping not to cause a stir or a stampede, I only exhaled once we found ourselves safely beyond the animal's reach. As I looked back, I wondered how the Plains Indians dared get so close when they were on the chase. These animals are big!

You too can ... ...

By Judie Framan

On September 6th through 9th, 2007, the Central Region of the Irish Draught Horse Society of America (IDHSNA) will host the Society's Annual Horseshow and Inspections at the Lamplight Equestrian Center, Wayne Illinois.

"This is the first time our Annual Horseshow is being held in a Midwestern venue," said Susan Jensen, show chairperson. "We are excited because the location will give more of our members nationwide a chance to attend and participate in the classes, inspections, andsocial ... ...

One place like that is Marriott Ranch in Hume, Virginia. Hume is about an hour's drive out I-66 from my home in the nation's capital. Marriott is a working cattle ranch, but today it is also a venue for family vacations and corporate meetings. As the name implies, J.W. Marriott bought the property when he made his home in the District of Columbia. He was originally from Utah and wanted a weekend retreat where he could enjoy the sights and activities of his youth. Marriott often hosted PresidentReagan ... ...

What DOESN'T come to mind is trail riding! And Tuscan Trails is hoping to change that. Thanks to Michele and Nicola Dolcetti, the owners of Tuscan Trails, it is now possible to ride through some of the world's most beautiful countryside while enjoying the world-renowned Italian hospitality of Umbria and Tuscany. The Siena Wine Trail ride, a one-of-a-kind adventure which began in spring 2006, is unlike most horse holiday rides - it is a true destination journey following winding country roads andsheep ... ...

Back hurting? Moving a bit gingerly the day after a ride? Yoga stretches may be just the answer for better flexibility both on and off your horse.

YogaFit instructor and medical massage therapist Risa Jackinsky has developed a yoga program specifically for riders in partnership with the Mind and Body center at Hidden Creek Ranch in Harrison, Idaho. She is pleased to share a basic stretching program with Equitrekking.

Jackinsky grew up conditioning endurance horses. Her long-time passion for movement ... ...

Having made the decision to spoil ourselves, we checked in to the Princeville Hotel on Kauai's north shore. The hotel is the epitome of luxury and decadence and sits on the coastal hillside facing clear aqua blue waters and the majestic Nepali cliffs. Though many of the hotels guests found bliss without ever abandoning the hotel's private beach or its five star amenities, I was determined to see and experience as much as possible.

After a short ten-minute drive, we arrived at the stables and were ... ...

When I visited Sea Island last summer, I took a tour of their new equestrian facilities, which were almost complete. By the end, I was picking up real estate guides and ready to move on down. That was before the riding! Guests of The Cloister, The Lodge at Sea Island and members of the Sea Island Club can take nature tours on horseback through the island's varied ecosystems, including salt marshes and dunes. Beach riding on Sea Island is fantastic, because the beaches are not normally cluttered ... ...

We were quiet. Aside from the plop of the pole every so often in the water, the only sound we could hear was the call of a bird above. “Fish Eagle" Matthew said, matter-of-factly.

Soon the plops were followed by tap taps of the pole on the side of the makoro. I looked back at my mother and then up at Matthew. “For the hippos," he said calmly, scanning the water with dark eyes. Around us, as far as I could tell, there was no sign of hippos. The water lay still as glass. “They don'tlike ... ...

It was not my first time on a horse, but it was my first time riding. I had been on a horse once before when I was young. They are such beautiful animals, and from a distance they looked gentle to me; safe. Once on one, I was so scared, overwhelmed by the power and size of such an animal. I didn't feel that I belonged on one. I felt as if some kind of permission should have been granted. And I didn't know how to begin to get a horse's permission.

I imagine that for some people riding a horse comes ... ...

This was just one of the events that make a visit to SICAB an unforgettable trip. There are those of us who are quite addicted to Thanksgiving in Spain simply because of the thousands of beautiful horses everywhere you turn. Everywhere you see a horse at SICAB you will want to ride it!

Along with all the horse candy to watch is an absolute city of vendors. You can walk away completely outfitted in the latest European riding apparel fashions from dressage to Spanish style riding. The beautiful Spanish ... ...

Yes ma'am, mounting up to ride in the land of the bible, and the view from the back of a horse is mighty fine.

Horses have been part of the Holy Land's history since ancient times. Yet recreational riding in modern-day Israel is a relatively new industry, and by all reports, it's a sport that is booming. Riding clubs are popping up all over the country. Cowboy competitions are drawing crowds and people are paying attention to the importance of breeding for major competitive disciplines. Reining, ... ...

The Pantanal is the world's largest wetland. It stretches 140,000 square miles throughout southern Brazil and into its bordering countries of Bolivia and Paraguay. Teeming with wildlife, it is home to 95 species of mammals, 165 species of reptiles, 263 fish species and 665 species of birds. During the rainy season, flooding is rampant and a significant portion of the land mass is underwater. Cattle ranching is the number one industry in the Pantanal and the Pantaneiro cowboy the backbone ofthat ... ...

contact with the outside world. Of course, our main reason for

visiting Brazil is the horses. The National Horse of Brazil is the Mangalarga Marchador. It is a breed that we fell in love with long ago.

We visit Brazil almost every year and continue to enjoy the wonderful, warm people, who are polite and gracious. This trip we travel to Ouro Preto before we get to the breeding farms that are our final destination. Ouro Preto means “black gold". The city is located in the mountains where many ... ...

We spent a night at Hacienda Pinsaqui, one of three centuries old Haciendas in Ecuador's northern Highlands for riding, fabulous food and a day at the famous Otavalo market. The drive from Quito was impressive in itself, winding through magnificent mountain farmlands. Pulling up to the whitewashed Spanish colonial Hacienda with its exquisite 200 year old gardens transforms you from the 21st century to the 18th, where a romantic bygone lifestyle awaits. Everywhere at Pinsaqui, the horse prevails. ... ...

The coast becomes more rocky and breathtaking the further you go along the inside passage. After stops in Ketchikan, Alaska's capital Juneau and Skagway, the Gateway to the Yukon, we cruised the Prince William Sound for two days. The scenery was gorgeous with glaciers and mountains, which come right down to the water's edge. The week's cruise ended in Whittier, where we got off of the cruise ship and headed inland and northward to the wonders of Denali National Park.

We took a nine hour trainride ... ...

For five days on the Sugarbush Tolt Trek we rode Icelandic horses over country roads, through fields and forests. Many trails were steep, overgrown and rain-slicked where walking on two feet would've been a challenge. These pony-size horses took us up, down and through them easily.

The Vermont Icelandic Horse Farm near Waitsfield, Vermont, breeds, trains, boards and sells Icelandic horses. It's run by Karen, with lots of help from her mother and experienced staff. We stayed at the nearby Mad River ... ...

All that has changed since I discovered foxhunting, and joined the Juan Tomas Hounds hunt club. The exhilaration of opening hunt is unsurpassed by any horseback experience that I can remember. On a crisp damp fall morning in October we gather at the fixture (hunt field) for opening hunt. The weather bodes well for good scenting conditions, and the air is laced with anticipation as hunters, horses and hounds prepare for the chase. The hounds, tails wagging, mill around waiting for the sound of the ... ...

Our group passes through this enchanted countryside, the muted "clop, clop, clop" of our horses' hooves beating time to the birds singing overhead. Through the trees we catch glimpses of the massive enclosing walls of Sorano. Passing through ancient gates and clattering up cobblestone streets, we're entranced by the elegant Renaissance architecture of this medieval jewel. I feel like I've been transported back in time. A traditional pranzo (lunch) eaten under an ancient oak beneath the sapphire blue ... ...

Once I leave the city, it is instantaneously apparent how wild and wide open this country is. Namibia is the size of France and Germany put together, but only has 1.2 million residents. I have heard it is even possible to ride for days without seeing another human being apart from those in your party.

Here we ride in western saddles. Even those who ride English at home soon find that western is the way to go on these long treks through the desert. I am carrying my personal water supply, lunch, ... ...

The stables are part of Smoke Tree Ranch, which has been an established destination in the desert for over sixty years, and welcomes both beginning and advanced riders, who want to observe the desert flora and fauna on horseback.

With an average of 350 sunny days each year and a variety of activities, Palm Springs is a top vacation destination. While on vacation with a friend's family, I was eager to ride.

As I headed down the desolate road toward the ranch, I initially drove right past the handwritten ... ...

Our adventure began by flying into Paris where we stayed the night. The next day, we left the hustle and bustle of Paris and rode the bullet train (125-mph nonstop) south to Aix-en-Provence. The town was founded in 122 BC, and was the first Roman military outpost. Today it is a city of 150,000 people whose celebrated son, Paul Cezanne, immortalized the countryside on canvas. We drove from Aix-en-Provence to Les Cypres de L'Etang in the heart of Provence where our riding adventure was to begin. Les ... ...

My husband and I had traveled to Tuscany to experience this amazing land where the horse tradition began and is central to the lives, history, and culture of the people. Our Etruscan adventure began in Proceno, a small medieval village in southern Tuscany, near the border of Alta Lazio. We had traveled south from Florence, driving through the beautiful countryside, rolling hills coated with vineyards and surrounded by dark green cypresses. We were to experience three days of a new eight-day riding ... ...

Whenever Jose turned his horse up the next switchback, I did the same with a light touch of the rein to Estrella's neck. I relaxed after the second switchback. Head down, alert, calm, the horse carried me to the top of the hill with grace and ease. At the top, we were treated to a breathtaking 360 degree panorama of the mountains and terrain that make up the Central Valley of Costa Rica, where most of the population lives. We watched transfixed as the sun set in the west, splashing orange, salmon ... ...

Large cow pastures, numerous barns consisting of chickens, cattle, and horses; and corn fields that thrive in the thick New England soil, provide a picturesque landscape for this agricultural college. This area, known as "Horse Barn Hill," provides a beautiful canvas for a rider and her horse.

For those of us who are not division one athletes, spending all of our free time training with teams and coaches, we must find other activities to occupy our time on campus. For me this task was easy. I have ... ...