Darley Newman
Darley Newman, Host of Equitrekking
Darley Newman is travel expert, published author and Emmy nominated host and producer, who searches the globe for the best in equestrian travel, while learning about local history, culture and food, for the high definition Equitrekking television series that she created. Darley is the host and producer of Equitrekking®, the first travel television series to explore the globe on horseback. Equitrekking is broadcast in on PBS stations across the nation, on CREATE, a nationwide Public Television lifestyle channel and on various international networks.
Darley grew up in South Carolina and started riding horses at the age of seven at camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Growing up in Myrtle Beach, Darley was able to spend lots of time outdoors at the beach, playing tennis, surfing, taking tap dance lessons and participating in community theatre. In high school and college, Darley studied in Spain and Italy, trips that fueled her interest in seeing the world. Primarily an English rider, Darley rides different horses and all types of local riding styles as she travels the globe.
With Equitrekking, Darley combines her passion for horses and travel with her background in television production. Darley has worked at 48 Hours, CBS, the WB, The Talk Radio News Service and on various PBS documentaries and series. While filming of Equitrekking, Darley constantly encounters challenging places to explore on horseback, like the crater of a volcano on Maui, the backcountry in snowy Quebec, the varied terrain along the U.S. Mexico border and the rainforest in Costa Rica and Belize. She’s ridden championship cutting horses in Colorado, award winning Andalusians in Spain and famous movie star horses in Utah.
Darley chronicles her adventures through Darley’s Blog, Equisearch.com and for Equitrekking’s monthly e-newsletter. She is author of the Equitrekking: Travel Adventures on Horseback companion book, published by Chronicle Books. This beautiful coffee table style travelogue showcases Equitrekking’s first 13 destinations through Darley’s writings and Chip Ward’s stunning photography. Recently reviewed in the Denver Post and Budget Travel, Equitrekking: Travel Adventures on Horseback takes readers from the remarkable ruins of Ireland and charming colonial towns of Spain, to the lush rainforests of Hawaii. For armchair travelers and horse lovers alike, the Equitrekking book will inspire anyone who dreams of riding off into the sunset.
Darley writes regular columns for True West and Practical Horseman magazines and frequently speaks at events and to the media. Darley is currently featured in the book, How’d You Score That Gig, a look at the coolest careers for twenty and thirty-something’s, published by Ballantine Books/Random House and was recently profiled in the Washington Post and Ralph Lauren magazine. Darley is the creator of the 'Darley' travel inspired jewelry brand available only at ShopDarley.com
On the Road with Darley-- Host Darley Newman comments on some interesting facts and figures related to Equitrekking.
108 and counting- Number of horses Darley’s ridden while filming Equitrekking. “I ride different horses and different breeds wherever I go, from Arabians in Turkey to Icelandic’s in Iceland to Quarter horses in the American West. I am constantly adjusting to new riding styles.”
26 and counting- Number of Equitrekking episodes. “People often can’t believe some of the places that we ride. I have had people ask if there are really horses in Iceland. Up until the early 20th century, horses were the sole mode of transportation around Iceland. When you visit and see these beautiful horses running through the sometimes treacherous terrain in Iceland’s lava fields, you’ll understand why.”
Most challenging ride- Bison round up on Antelope Island, Utah. “There were only two of us trying to move a large herd of very large bison, and since I had never herded bison before, I was definitely the weakest link. It was a very good thing that my riding companion Ron and horse Sawdust were old pros, because those bison are scary up close.”
Hottest Ride- Belize. “We stayed at an eco-friendly lodge in the jungle, which was beautiful, but you really appreciate solar powered showers after a day of riding in the sometimes steamy jungle.”
Coldest Ride- Quebec in the snow. “I thought it would be beautiful and dreamy to film a snow riding episode in Quebec. My crew wasn’t too happy about donning snow shoes and trudging off the trails to film us, but the episode is gorgeous and cantering through the snow is a rush.”
Highest Ride- Engineer Mountain, Colorado. “Engineer Mountain rises to over 13,000 feet above sea level. When you are up at those altitudes, the weather can change quickly. We endured a sudden hailstorm. As the ice pelted me, I really appreciated my cowboy hat and layers.”
Number of granola bars consumed- Endless. “I often don’t get to carry a whole lot with me when we are filming and sometimes we’re out longer than we planned, so these energy boosters are a hot commodity.”
Favorite after riding experience- Spa in Reykjavik. “After herding horses through the lava fields of Iceland, it felt really good- almost necessary- to soak in a hot pot at the spa, especially since I was riding again the next day.”
Best on the trail snack- Tapas in Spain tie with Turkish pide in Turkey. “I could really get into the Spanish lifestyle. On a ride through the countryside outside of Seville, we stopped for an aperitif on the trail. I wasn’t expecting the spread before me. Alfonso, who we rode with, had prepared all of these delicious Spanish hams and cheeses, breads and crackers, along with sherry. It was amazing. In Turkey, we stopped for a picnic by the fairy chimneys of Baglidere. We ate this amazing Turkish pide, which is similar to pizza or a one-sided pita covered with good fixings. Mine was baked with tomatoes, feta, lamb, garlic and onions.”
Most useful bush remedy- Belize jungle. “Albert, who guided me, is an expert on medicinal remedies and showed me everything from leaves that I could wrap around my head to alleviate a headache, to leaves I could crush and use as a natural bug repellent, to cutter ants that could be used like stitches to suture a cut or wound. He demonstrated the power of the cutter ants by letting one bite his hand. Ouch!”
Best wildlife- Costa Rica. “In Costa Rica, I encountered howler monkeys, bright macaws, iguanas, the red-eyed tree frog, poison dart frogs, cutter ants, and more. It was amazing to see so much wildlife in one area.”
Most challenging out of the saddle adventure- Tree climbing Costa Rica. “I climbed a 12 story tree in the rainforest in Costa Rica. It was extra challenging because we were filming, so I had to stay suspended in the air while I waited for our cinematographer to get different angles. I thought that my arms were going to fall off. The climb took me to the top of the rainforest canopy, where the views at sunset were beautiful.”
Most dangerous out of the saddle adventure- Snowmobiling in Iceland. “I was a little wary of snowmobiling on a glacier, because there are hidden crevices. If you fall in, you are in real trouble. My guide used GPS to help us get around, which made me even more scared, because when I use my GPS to take me places, it often gets me lost.”
Most challenging shoot- Hawaii’s Big Island. “While we were filming, we were staying in this house in Hilo that was all screened in and there was an earthquake. Then a hurricane was coming ashore so we had to evacuate to another part of the island. Later in the shoot, we were riding in Wai’pio Valley, a valley that was destroyed by a tsunami in 1946, and there was a tsunami warning. Finally, we’re filming at Parker Ranch and there was a nearby wildfire! Fortunately, we still were able to film a great episode, despite our bad luck on the Big Island.”
To learn more about Darley’s adventures, check out Darley’s Blog and new book, Equitrekking: Travel Adventures on Horseback.
