Focus on: The Andalusian

by: Barbara Clark

The origin and history of these beautiful creatures has a direct correlation to how they became what they are today. When you learn about this breed you are also learning about the history and culture that developed them.

The P.R.E (Pura Raza Espanola) or Pure Spanish Horse has its origins buried deep in the geography and history of Spain. There are drawings dating back to 5,000BC found in the caves of Altamira and Canforos de Penarubia in northeastern Spain ... ...

Cowboy Mounted Shooting has become one of the fastest growing family equestrian sports in the country. Blending such disciplines as reining, barrel racing, and horsemanship, the fast-paced sport of mounted shooting requires teamwork between rider and horse.

Using two .45 caliber revolvers and five rounds of specially prepared blank ammunition , the rider must be able to accurately shoot 10 balloon targets set in one of 75 different patterns, while controlling his horses' speed and direction. The ... ...

Originally used for war, the Criollo horse is the direct descendant of some of the best European horses, brought by the Spanish conquistadors to the New World during the 16th century. Natural selection under the harsh conditions of life in the vast South American plains gradually transformed this horse into the symbol of the legendary Gaucho (cowboy) lands.

To talk about of the Criollo horse is to talk about the Gaucho. The Gaucho is proud and adventurous, but at the same time simple and noble. ... ...

So, You Want to Own Your Own Ranch!

This dream you're having is not as surprising as you might think. Usually, we hear it while we eat the evening meal. Guests have been horseback riding all day with a mission. The energy level is still sky-high. It's been an exciting day looking for uncooperative cows. The horses have worked flawlessly. The riding challenge has been successfully met, the job rewarding. The confidence level has reached a new high. Hesitatingly, someone asks: "Alan, Debbie ... ...

by: Gwen Rizzo

Argentina is well-known for producing top polo talent of both the human and equine kind. Polo is treated as a national sport in Argentina and is widely followed among the locals. The Argentine polo season (October through December) is highlighted by the Triple Crown of Polo—the Tortugas, Hurlingham and Argentine Opens. The Argentine Open is the grand finale of the tournaments and is played on the Palermo fields, owned by the Argentine Army, in the center of Buenos Aires. The final ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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, ... ...

In the U.S., while the history has just started, every Marchador breeder or owner has their own story of how they fell in love. This journey, to bring a new breed to the U.S., is really a love story.

The Mangalarga Marchador (MARCH A DOOR) is a breed that descends directly from Iberian stock. This gaited horse is known and bred for its smooth step – the marcha – and is the National Horse of Brazil. It has a gentle temperament, intelligence, stamina and a comfortable ride,

In 1807 Napoleon invaded ... ...

RRI is pioneering adventure travel trips bring humanitarian aid to people in the beautiful and neglected villages of Rajasthan, in northern India. These trips are open to the public, meaning that those with an adventurous spirit and a desire to help others through service, can gain more than just a riding vacation through India, they can gain a new perspective, while helping others and seeing the world. In a recent interview, Alexander Souri shared with me his passion for helping others and his ... ...

reasons, but the most important is the smooth ride that is a result of their four beat lateral gait.”

The birthright of every Paso Fino horse is its extremely quick, surefooted rhythmic gait. When my Paso Fino filly, Canela Vita, was born, I watched her struggle to her feet and take her first faltering steps, all the while maintaining her gait. It was as though she recognized her special gift and was executing it with style and pride.

Seven hundred years before Columbus brought Paso Fino horses to ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

The Forest pony was particularly abundant in France, where cave men not only feasted on them, but also immortalized them in their Stone Age cave drawings. At that time England and France were connected by a land bridge, so not surprisingly similar remains are found in England as well. Eventually, as humans became smart enough to domesticate the horse, the Forest-type became used as a pack pony. Its short stature, weight-bearing capacity, and slightly longer back made it ideally-suited for this ... ...

As Lead Cowboy for almost seven years, I sat atop some of the finest bred American Quarter Horses that ever breathed air, and interpreted the history of Texas, and the George Ranch to thousands every year. As the crowds looked on, we also demonstrated life as the cowboy does it - in full partnership with his horses. They began to realize the prize that the combination of a great cowboy with a great cowhorse made for the rancher, and how much work could get done in a day’s time with such. The equation ... ...

Photography by Elliot Framan

Some of the best horsemen in the world have testified to the outstanding qualities of the Irish horse. The unique qualities of temperament, soundness and ability have been bred into the Irish Draught over hundreds of years of galloping across the Irish countryside. This makes them capable of doing anything you want them to do, from dressage to jumping, from hunting to eventing, and even everyday leisure riding. They are intelligent, quick to learn, safe, reliable, and ... ...

On her first visit to Forward Stride, she was so weak she could barely sit on the horse that the instructor brought out for her. As the weeks progressed, so did Emily. She became stronger and soon was able to sit on the horse throughout the entire lesson. Emily began eating again and sleeping through the night, a general improvement all the way around.

Her family thrived too. Her fears had transferred to a focus on the horse and the lesson. She no longer worried about the chemo treatments. Emily ... ...

Photography by Elliot Framan

The horse is an integral part of the Icelandic nation. They came to Iceland with the Vikings around 900 AD. It is thought that they were descendents of the Mongolian

ponies that were imported to Scandinavia.

The story of the settling of the island is found in Landnamabok, the “Book of Settlements,” which is a nearly factual account of what transpired. Rather than sailing the dragon ships usually associated with Vikings, the settlers came in deep-keeled knars. ... ...

Twenty-two year old Londo not only talks the talk---he walks the walk. Being a champion while going to school at the same time requires a lot more than wearing a championship belt buckle and sporting a 10X Stetson.

He's definitely a multi-tasker. Maintaining a 3.6 GPA at CalPoly in San Luis Obispo, he is in his senior year majoring in Construction Management. He plans to pursue this career once he graduates from college.

During the summer, he is working on starting his own construction related business, ... ...

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 ... ...

An unlikely warrior, Neda is charming, charismatic, articulate, pro-active and relentless in reaching the widest audience possible to share the news of her foundation and its purpose. Founded in 1997 in order to educate the public about the options for wild horses, Return to Freedom is a non-profit wild horse and burro sanctuary on 300 acres near Lompoc, (Santa Barbara County,) California, dedicated to preservation, conservation and education.

Seven days a week, some 200 horses comprised of a number ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

In a recent interview, Diana Madaras tells us what drives her to paint animals and help them through her charity “Art for Animals.”

When I returned from that trip, the desire to paint was so strong that I knew I had to change my life and began plans to sell my marketing company. In 1996, three years after the trip to Greece, the sale of the company was consummated, and I became a full-time professional artist.

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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, ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

I felt like Indiana Jones as we hiked to the cave. Ronnie pointed out different trees and their uses, including the Sapodilla tree from which chicle is harvested. Found in tropical rainforests, the chicle from this tree was harvested to make gum products like Chicklets.

At the large entrance to Rio Frio Cave, stalagmites hung from the ceiling. The cave is interesting as you can see clear to the other side. Ronnie tells me that caves, like this one, were sacred to the Maya. They believed that itwas ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

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 ... ...

By Kelly Sigler

I was sitting in my house getting ready to pack George into my trailer and head out for a jumping lesson when a sudden storm popped up. I looked outside to see what was going on with our crazy Texas weather, and saw a mini twister slithering it’s way through my pasture. It picked up George’s lean to that he was casually standing under, and whisked it away like a scene from the Wizard of Oz. George went from 0-60 faster than a Ferrari- scared out of his wits. Quicker than it ... ...

We woke up at 5AM to make the three hour drive to Kipahulu. Along Hana Highway, we stopped to watch the waves crash on the cliffs and to take in the waterfalls and pools that dot this area of rainforest.

Keoni would be taking me out along with two other visitors. Keoni grew up in the area and has a deep connection to his Hawaiian heritage. He would serve as out Alaka’i or guide into the rainforest. Before riding, Keoni sang and prayed a traditional oli or call to his ancestors.

Maui Stables has about ... ...

Well, I am sitting here with a sunburn after a very full day of beach riding on Sea Island. During my ride, Sarah, who was leading our small group of three down a wide sandy beach under a bright blue sky, said that it couldn't get any better than this. I have to agree.

Sea Island is one of the barrier islands off of Georgia's coast in a grouping known as the Golden Isles. The Sea Island Resort has been welcoming guests to the island retreat for generations, and people have been riding on the island ... ...

Today, I began my travel adventures on the East Coast, riding horses from the state of Georgia to the state of Vermont and filming for the Equitrekking™ television series.

Equitrekking is the first travel television series to explore the globe on horseback. Our new six-part series begins broadcasting nationally on Public Television in 2007. We're filming in high definition, in order to capture the beauty of the horses and scenery of each place that we visit.

We've already filmed in Ireland, New ... ...

Today was fantastic! I spent the day touring Georgia's Cumberland

Island with naturalist Fred Whitehead, who has an intimate knowledge of the island's "wild" horses and varied ecosystems.

Roughly the size of Manhattan, Cumberland is a small island off the southern Georgia coast and boasts 17.5 miles of pristine beaches. It is no more developed today that it was in the early 20th century, as large landowners and now the National Park Service have tightly regulated development on the island for over ... ...

I just got back from riding with Stacia Hendricks, a naturalist on Sea Island, who took me out for a nature ride on the beaches and into the varied ecosystems of Sea Island. I rode Charlie, a very large Belgian Draft horse. At almost 18 hands high, I would certainly be getting a bird's eye view of things during our journey.

We rode over the Black Banks River and hit the wooded trails that lead to the wide, sandy beaches of Sea Island. There is a rich diversity of bird life on Sea Island. We passed ... ...

Today we ventured out to see more of the horses and wildlife on Cumberland Island. The horses on Cumberland travel in family groups, usually with a dominant stallion. Because the island is for the most part undeveloped and subtropical forest, there are not many grazing areas. The horses must compete for the few grassy grazing areas on the island, the majority of which are the lawns of the few houses and historical buildings or ruins scattered around the island. Fresh water is supplied by an aquifer ... ...

Steve Davis, the Director of the University of Vermont Morgan Horse Farm, is a bundle of energy, whose passion for Morgans is evident from his handshake. We were joining Steve for a tour, and I was interested in meeting a foal or two.

Steve took us over to UVM Opie, a three-month old bay colt, who will be auctioned off in UVM’s yearly raffle in October. After seeing Opie, I purchased 10 raffle tickets.

Steve has been working at the UVM Morgan Horse Farm for over 34 years, so has had a hand in naming ... ...

If you ask a Cherokee tribal member how long they have lived in this area of Western North Carolina, they will say that they have always been here, that the Creator put them here. If you ask an archeologist or Dr. Barbara Duncan, like we did, she will say that evidence dates the Cherokee as having been here for thousands of years. No matter what you believe, the Cherokee have been in Western North Carolina for a long time. They have deep rooted traditions and culture and a great history with horses. ... ...

Today we enjoyed riding in the Great Smoky Mountains with tribal members from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. I rode a Tennessee Walking horse, which was a first, and really liked its smooth gliding gait through the shaded mountain trails.

Forrest and his wife, Ashley, who train Tennessee Walking horses and are lifelong riders, let me, Doug and Chip (our crew) borrow horses for the ride. We would be riding and filming, which would be a logistical challenge on steep and rocky mountain trails. ... ...

So today, I took a break from the saddle to explore downtown Asheville's arts, restaurants and shopping and spend the afternoon rock climbing at Chimney Rock Park. No, I have never gone rock climbing before, and yes, I am still in one piece. It was a lot of fun and certainly a challenge.

Asheville is a nice mix of urban culture in a small area. We used the Chestnut Street Inn as our jumping off point. The Chestnut Street Inn is owned by a young couple, Eddie and Jesse, who had great recommendations ... ...

Today I went horseback riding on the Biltmore Estate, enjoying the grounds, trails and horses from an insider's perspective. It was a hot day in Asheville, NC, and with dry roads, we kicked up a lot of dust as we headed over to the equestrian center.

If you want to ride at the Biltmore, you can enjoy over 100 miles of surrounding Appalachian trails and many choices. Anyone can take a Western style trail ride at the Biltmore. Riders can also bring their horses to board at the stables and enjoy thetrails, ... ...

I am frequently asked to speak or write about safety for riders. Of all the tips I offer for anyone anywhere, the most basic applies to every rider every time you saddle up: Wear a helmet. Read more.

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 ... ...

Jacques has about 20 horses and several cabins for guests looking to stay and ride in the area. I rode Tom, a 7-year-old Canadian mixed breed. Tom was wonderful and a good looking black horse. Jacques keeps his riding trails groomed in the winter and the horses have studs on their shoes, so that they can keep their traction on the snowy trails. We took off into the quiet woods, past an old sugar cabin and towards a large field, where we could try some faster trotting and cantering. Many of the trails ... ...

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 ... ...

Riding at the ranch is diverse. We headed through fields of tall grass and mesquite trees, towards hills of oaks and up to a point where you had great views of the Brazos and Cooper Rivers. There's a lot of history in the area relating to Native Americans, 1920's wildcatters looking for oil and the early frontiersmen who lived and worked here in Texas. You still ride by old oil tanks that are sprinkled throughout this part of Texas.

I am enjoying the fact that everything is bigger in Texas here,by ... ...

I went on a day ride with Lou, a Welsh wrangler who rode a Quarter Horse named Sonny, and Dale, an Oklahoma steer wrestler turned Texas wrangler who rode his wonderful horse Poncho. If nothing else, experienced riders can enjoy some nice, fast gallops at the ranch.

After a big, hearty breakfast of breakfast burritos, eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade banana bread, coffee and fresh fruit, we headed over to the barn. I was able to try a couple of horses before we chose Linus. My first horse was having ... ...

For dinner, Jacques’ wife cooked up a delicious pastry filled with buffalo meat, zucchini, broccoli, couscous, salad with smoked salmon, bred with fresh homemade pesto, and cake for dessert. Everything was made with organic ingredients, making me feel healthy after a day on the trails.

After a cozy night in my cabin, I awoke to another great meal. Breakfast consisted of eggs, pancakes, potatoes and ham and spinach, black tea, and toast. We toured around the town, seeing a covered bridge and other ... ...

After a big breakfast, I didn’t want to leave the warm fire, but meandered over to the barn with Josee to meet my horse for the ride and my riding partner, Daniel Locas. Daniel would be riding Yanni and I would be on Judy, a mixed breed. Judy loved to go fast, but also listened very well, making her a pleasure to ride. We headed out onto the snowy, well groomed trails around the ranch, past the frozen Black Banks River with views of the beautiful Laurentian mountains all around. We varied groomed ... ...

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 ... ...

I really like Old Montreal. We stayed at Place d’Armes Hôtel, a hip, boutique hotel, which though modern, has managed to maintain it’s rustic brick interiors as well. The location was great, right in the center of Old Montreal, so we were able to go to a nearby pastry shop, Café Europea, and try these neon macaroons, which give a nice sugar boost in the afternoon. They were light and airy, but also tasty. They were filled with different fillings, like caramel apple whiskey flavoring, hazelnut, ... ...

Centaura’s horses are amazing. They are well trained, responsive and riders can have their pick based on what they want to experience on their adventures. Centaura specializes in custom riding vacations and offers other adventure activities through Serendipity Adventures. This means, I’ll not only be riding on the beaches, at the base of Arenal volcano and in the countryside of San Carlos, but I’ll also be climbing a twelve story tree, going hot air ballooning and visiting a frog farm andseeing ... ...

Esteban rode Chocolate and Monica and her brother Sebastian rode along with us. The area just around the farm is really diverse, with rolling grasslands where cattle graze to fields of pineapple and sugarcane to rainforests, rivers and the grand Arenal Volcano.

The thing about riding in Costa Rica, is that you can really let loose and ride fast. The saddles that we used were McClellon saddles with a nice cushiony seat, ideal for long days in the saddle. Esteban told me about how many people in the ... ...

It look all of us a little while to get our horses to go into the water. My horse Pinata was very afraid of the waves at first, but we were able to get in after a few tries and after some of the other horses got in as well. We were able to stay on the beach through sunset, a beautiful end to our beach ride.

The day was not without its obstacles. As I write this, we nervously await word on the condition of fan favorite Lainey Ashker and her horse Frodo Baggins who experienced an unfortunate fall early on. It's never easy to see a rider fall. We wait breathlessly for both to get up. Unfortunately Lainey was airlifted to a local hospital and Frodo Baggins received on the spot emergency veterinary care, before he was taken away. They will remain in our thoughts.

Today, we went to a frog farm that is not open to the public with Esteban of Centaura. The owner raises rare frogs, but the neat thing is that the frogs are left to hop along in the rainforest, so if you walk quietly through, you can spot many of these neon colored frogs. We stealthily walked through the rainforest in search of these small frogs. Beside the trails, there were a lot of them. You have to look closely, but you can find these bright green and black frogs, whose skin and delicate arms ... ...

Climbing up was like climbing the rope in gym class, but harder, as I weigh a lot more than I did then and don’t seem to have a lot of upper body strength. There is a rigging system so that you use your legs and upper body to climb, which once you get the coordination of it all, is hard, but not impossible.

The hard part for me was that we were filming it, so I had to keep stopping and hanging in the air, while we got different angles, meaning that my legs got a little cramped. It also gave metime ... ...

I felt like we were floating as we rose up over the pineapple fields and lush green environment and headed for the rainforest. Though it is the dry season, to me everything is still really green here. You can get pretty close to the tree tops as you float over the rainforest. We did! It was early morning, so we heard the sounds of the rainforest waking up; monkeys and birds called out. We saw parrots and macaws flying below us and even a sloth.

As we rose higher, the cows in the distance looked so ... ...

To ride here, is to ride among lava rocks, listen to the rumblings of the Volcano, see the smoke billowing from the top of the cone and see the lava billowing down its side, especially at night. Arenal can throw rocks the size of cars and its flow has been known to change direction.

We also visited nearby hot springs, but non-touristy ones. The heat of the springs is determined by how active the volcano is that day. On our day, the volcano apparently wasn’t really, really active, though it was a ... ...

We were able to ride out with Albert, a local who works at the ranch and knows the rainforest plants very well. Since he was a child, Albert has been using plants from the forest to cure his ailments. He learned how to do this from his mother, who learned it from hers. As we rode, Albert pointed out plants to cure everything from headaches to diabetes.

We came upon a giant ant pile filled with cutter ants. Albert stomped on the pile to get the large soldier ant to come out. Once the big ant did,Albert ... ...

John pointed out a tree sacred to the Maya people, as we continued through the jungle. John sent one of the wranglers ahead of us to use his machete to cut away forest which was impending upon the trail. The machete seems to be the accessory of choice here, as the jungle grows fast.

We then rode through the beautiful and slow growing teak trees to a Maya site. These sites are scattered throughout Belize. There are so many that they can’t excavate them all, because it is too expensive. We rode over ... ...

Belmopan consists of a grocery store, small, one story homes and lots of embassies, including a very big, new American embassy. It was interesting to think of this as a capitol city, because it is so tiny, but then again, Belize is a small Caribbean country.

“A Colorful Horse in a Colorful Spot”

The McCulloch Peaks Mustangs roam a designated area established in 1971 of 109,814 acres of colorful badlands and sage covered prairie. This herd area, The McCulloch Peaks Wild Horse Management Area, is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

It’s surprising of how the increase in this horse’s notoriety has brought about many new “fictional” stories as to the explanation of their existence. Stories about the McCulloch Peaks Mustang range from the ... ...

We were a little frightened upon arriving at the lodge. As we were eating dinner by lamplight, someone drove up and ran into the open air dining room. A neighbor had been bitten by what they believed to be a poisonous snake and needed help. Being in such a remote location, the hospital was about an hour and a half drive down a bumpy dirt road. Once at the hospital, it wasn’t a guarantee that they would have the anti-venom. Belizeans have a root that you can pick from the forest and when you chew ... ...

Trappe Hill Farm was our first stop. Located a ways down a side road off of Route 50, this farm has about 30 horses, which are trained for racing (on the flat and steeplechasing), foxhunting and endurance riding. They also had a couple of foals that were adorable. Though we missed the swimming demonstration, there is a pond outside where the horses do swim. On the tour, the Northern Virginia Animal Swim Center and Stables also has a pool, used for conditioning and rehabilitating horses.

Though Trappe ... ...

My guide Trevor, whose family moved him from Texas to Belize when he was very young, talked more about the forest, having grown up riding through it. I can’t imagine growing up in this remote part of Belize without electricity and being home schooled. What a fascinating life and so neat to hear about it while riding here!

The resort is eco-friendly. The Privassion River provides hydroelectric power to the resort. Fruits, vegetables and flowers are grown in a beautiful organic garden. There are two restaurants from which to choose. One has Guatemalan food and the other has Italian. Horses are born and raised at the lodge. They found that they were not able to get the type of horses that they wanted in Belize so have started to breed horses here at the stables themselves. In Belize, the Mennonite community uses a lot ... ...

We were blessed with blue skies, as I mounted “The Kid,” a 10-year-old black Quarter Horse Thoroughbred Cross. The Kid was a great partner for my ride. Tawn, of Canyon Trail Rides, guided me on his horse Wiggy. Tawn said that a lot of people get nervous as they begin their descent into the canyon, because of the drop off on the other side of the trail. I felt safe on The Kid, as he had ridden this trail a thousand times and was probably more sure-footed than I would have been on foot. What makes ... ...

As we rode, Pat told me all about the Native Americans, outlaws and Morman pioneers who rode through and settled Capitol Reef, called “Land of the Sleeping Rainbow.” The colors of the rocks and cliffs here are striking. We rode to petroglyphs created by the Fremont people, ancient Native Americans who lived in the area. Pioneers saw it fit to sign in here too and Pat told some stories from their journals. Surrounded by tall canyons on each ride of us, we were riding through a spot where people ... ...

The Quarter Horse Thoroughbred cross that I rode, Sawdust, had been in various movies and was super well trained, necessary when rounding up bison. The free roaming bison on the island look ancient, but are fast moving. You have to be careful when working them, so that you and your horse don’t get charged. My horse was definitely charged up, as the herd scattered in various directions and we cantered and then galloped after them. It was super exciting and fun.

After expending some energy with the ... ...

Snow Canyon has towering white and red Navajo sandstone canyons, juxtaposed with lava rocks. All along the ride, Patty tested my imagination and gave me some insight into hers by pointing out formations that looked like bears, the gopher from Caddy Shack, an eagle head and more. We rode to a spot where a couple of falcon nests were constructed in a rock wall, but alas, no one was flying around for us.

We rode through a trail through a sandy wash and were lucky enough to see a beautiful white flower ... ...

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Part 1: Life as a Zooarchaeologist

by, Jessica Creane

Sandra Olsen wanted to be an archeologist since the third grade. “I loved dinosaurs, like most kids, so I wanted to be a paleontologist. But then in college I took classes in Zooarchaeology,” the study of animal remains from archaeological sites.

In 1985 she got a chance to do research at a dig site in France where horses were hunted 35,000 years ago.

“That’s when I got interested in horses. I was looking at horse skeletons for clues about ... ...