At Los Potreros one can’t help feeling happy. Gracious hosts, quality horses, amazing landscape, great food and accommodation create the perfect ambience. I rode a different horse each day, all had exemplary manners and gaits. A taste of Polo added to my delights. An overnight ride to….. added to my happy memories. Riders of any level are catered for with great care.
We had a great time in Austria and recommend that you do the ride in the Styrian Alps. Yodelling from horseback is fun! We can also spend a day visiting the Lipizzaner Stud at Piber and of course we will visit the young Lipizzaners in their mountain pastures. Season from April to September.
We found a wonderful ride network in the Pantanal, western Brazil. It is a huge wetland teeming with wildlife. The eco-tourism developing there is something quite special. The horses are great, comfortable and well trained. Farm stays can be mixed with camping out. Best times are May to October.
They look pretty inviting don't they?
What a journey of discovery this test ride was for me. Horses are a joy, the owners and helpers are friendly and caring people. There are three different rides to enjoy. One of a 7 day duration in south of Bulgaria through rugged mountains and deep forests. Visits to a couple of caves, home to myths, prehistoric artifacts and bats adds to the 'wow' factor. The second ride from the eastern part of Bulgaria to the Black Sea. The third ride is more central. All are great rides.The hosts along the routes are excellent as is the food.
Below - stallion "Freedom", who is usually ridden by Marin the local Vet nicknamed 'the Kelt', making eyes at one of the' ladies'.
Torres del Paine National Park in Southern Patagonia must be one of the world's most beautiful places to 'equitrek'. Great CriolloX horses, stunning scenery, canter for miles in the Pampas mostly in view of the magnificient Torres. It is a ride to thrill the senses! We rode in March last year and can't wait to go again!
The ride in Chile last year was great - it must be rated among the most beautiful in the world - the scenery is nothing other than overwhelming. Here are some pictures. Rides are possible from October to April each year and are conducted in the Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. The mountains and valleys, the glacier lakes and the Pampas was our home for 10 days. Our steeds, the sturdy Criollos did a splendid job. We camped, stayed on farms and guesthouses - it was a wonderful time.
A true rider's ride. Horses trained with love and care to international eventing standard, some with successful competing experience. We ride through hills, forest and fields at a good pace, stopping at a different place each night. We visit a Lipizzaner Stud, eat great food and savour quality wines. For this ride you need to be experienced, know your aids and equal the horses' good manners. It is a ride that will make a true rider's heart smile!
Dates to be advised.
It was a delightful eye opener to ride in Ireland and to see the wide variety of riding opportuntities. Tuition at all levels for all disciplines including hunting is available at various beautiful locations, as well as trekking and great trail riding. The Irish certainly have a great relationship with their horses, all the ones I rode, some very tall, some very round and a few in between, happily got on with their jobs.
We have a little language quirk here - 'trekking' are the short rides and 'trails' are the long ones from the Irish and English point of view, just opposite to our perception. One nice idea is the tour where you ride as with your own horse - you get the horse, a map and instructions and off you go for a week, riding from place to place. The route is well marked, you can't get lost and it is a great way to see a part of Ireland. Overnight stops are welcoming, have great food and of course adequate facilities for your horse, which you care for yourself. If you don't want to ride, you can do a similar thing with a horsedrawn caravan - you can even take the carvan for the non riders in your family and take a riding horse along for yourself! How about it?
Equitrek's first trip to Europe 2 years ago was great. The Tuscany and Umbrian rides were super and we have included them on our calendar for this year. Coming from Australia - we enjoyed the examples of ancient architecture, little mountain villages which time seems to have forgotten.. and the food! The horses were most enjoyable too.
Our second ride in Italy saw us having a wonderful time at Malvarina in Umbria. What a perfect place! The combination of excellent horses, wonderful surroundings, riding the paths St Francis of Assisi would have walked many times plus superb food, which one can even learn how to prepare made this a truly memorable holiday. The best season is from April to September, July and August are hot and it can be very crowded. Contact us for more details.
Turkmenistan, bordering on to Iran is a country not yet overrun by tourists. It is together with the northeastern corner of Iran, at the cradle of the "hot blooded' horses. Home to the Turkoman and Akhal Teke for thousands of years, it is the perfect place to ride these horses. Desert, mountains, green valleys are all encountered on a 7 day ride. You can swim in a warm 36C. underground lake, explore the Kopetdag Mountain range and the Firuza Gorge.
This ride takes us back in time and we'll encounter traditions and beliefs from the glory days of the Silk Road!
