Horse ride in Argentina – ESTANCIA LOS POTREROS is an amazing experience as the swimming pool here gives an excellent view of th surroundings and the activities carried out at the farm. Besides horse riding, the visitors can enjoy the most delicious dishes from the original farm produce. This lovely destination can boast of a polo field that welcomes the riders with ‘stick and ball’.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

During your equine vacation, you are likely to discover a new and different facet of the Wine Country. If you want to witness its picturesque countryside, dramatic scenery, take a ride on a gaited horse through vineyards and ancient redwood groves. This ride offers personalized tours and rides at some of the most exclusive areas of the countryside. You will taste wines from Napa, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties.

The Wine Country ride is not only about wine, but it has more to offer to its visitors. You can also visit its gracious gardens, dine out and experience its nightlife, antiques and arts. You can also get in a golf game at a world-class resort; bicycling and picnicking in the countryside; flying in a hot air balloon; visiting farmer’s markets; and shopping at specialty boutiques or outlet stores.

To find out more fill out our Equestrian Vacation information request form.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

Visit Cowboy Hideaway Ranch website for more wine country equestrian vacation information.

Find out more about available Equestrian Vacations: CLICK HERE

After the ride we sat on the deck of the house enjoying wine and appetizers. We then went to the town, which is just a short drive away and had a wonderful meal at the Blue Wing Restaurant and Bar. One of the fun trips while staying at the Cowboy Hideaway Ranch is to ride down to this watering hole and have lunch. Vans are provided for those who do not wish to ride back. Another great side trip is to Ceago Vinegarden, one of the Fetzer children’s new winery.

The Rick Lamb show has been up to the Cowboy Hideaway and can be seen on RFD-TV. If you are interested in joining the Horse2Heart crew on a weeklong ride at Cowboy Hideaway Ranch fill out the Online Equestrian Vacation Interest Form or give us a call. We are also planning additional rides to report on and film and can keep you up to date if you contact us and might wish to join one of those.

Featured books and DVDs on Horse2Heart

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

Equestrian vacation in Spain.

A horseback riding vacation can be a joy or a disaster. It can be comparatively safe or extremely dangerous. It is a wonderful way to practice a sport you love and travel in depth. Horses are great icebreakers with strangers and you will be welcomed far more warmly than if you came on a bus. After over thirty years of leading and judging equestrian vacations I have developed some ideas which can help you choose the vacation which is the most appropriate for you. Keep in mind that no ride, no horse and no person can be perfect. Nothing will protect you always from the dust of the trail, tired muscles, faulty plumbing, etc. To enjoy any trip to the fullest one must accentuate the positive. Complaining makes everyone unhappy and usually accomplishes nothing. Here are the main criteria we use in choosing the best rides.

Skill Level – It is most important to be sure you will be happy with the pace of the ride. Is it fast enough to be challenging and interesting for you? Have you the necessary experience, training and fitness to do it safely and enjoyably? It is difficult to tell from a description what a ride is really like. Riding skill is not the only factor because for some rides considerable physical endurance is needed and for others one may have to get off and lead the horse up or down hills in difficult terrain. Intermediate riders must be careful not to try a ride the first time which is too difficult as they may be frightened or hold up the rest of the group. More advanced riders should be sure that the ride will be paced fast enough for their taste. It is of vital importance that great care be taken by the organizer of the trip to be sure that all participants have the required riding skills to handle the ride. Many trips have been badly impaired by participants who slowed the other riders.

Ride Leaders – The leader of the ride can make or break it. He or she needs to be an excellent rider, to know the horses well, to do the best possible job in matching horse and rider, to be attentive to the group, to be familiar with the route, to be well informed about the local culture, flora and fauna, and to impart that knowledge. The leader needs to have the courage to take people off the ride if their skill is not up to the required standard or the tour can be ruined for everyone. The leader is your main contact with the local people, especially in a country where you do not speak the language fluently.

Horses and Tack – The horses must be in good condition and obedient. They must be capable of handling the itinerary planned. There should be mounts for backup available in case a horse goes lame or is inappropriate for a rider. They need to have comfortable gaits and be reasonably free of bad habits. They should be accustomed to the normal hazards of the route so that they do not shy suddenly. Bridles and bits should be appropriate for the horses, and the saddles should fit properly. Saddles should be comfortable for riders. Bear in mind that most countries in the world use saddles similar to what we call English. Some Western riders have trouble adjusting to these, but there are rides in Europe using Western saddles. Australian saddles are usually easier for Western riders to adapt to and so are the McClelland type saddles used in much of Latin America. Of course the tack needs to be well maintained no matter what kind is used.

Weather – Weather is certainly a factor important to most riders. There are no absolute guarantees about weather, but your chances of finding the conditions you want are far better in some places than in others. If you don’t like the rain and mud, your chances of avoiding it will be better in southern France or Greece than in Ireland and still better in southern Morocco. The time of year is important too, for instance one wants to avoid Iceland in January and Mexico in August.

Terrain – The terrain can certainly affect the pace of the ride and the enjoyment of the riders. Are the trails too rocky most of the time to allow a good gallop now and then? Is a considerable part of the ride along paved roads? How attractive is the landscape? How steep are the hills? Must large towns be traversed?

Culture – Most of us want to experience to the fullest the cultural aspects of the places where they are traveling. Does the ride give one a chance to come in close contact with the country? Are there opportunities to visit spots of cultural interest like castles, kasbahs, medieval villages or temples? Will there be local music and dancing? What are the chances for mingling with the natives? What is there of particular interest on the route?

Cuisine and Drink – Are you prepared to test exotic dishes? Do you care about local wines or other drinks and if so, what is available. If you have dietary restrictions, will they be accommodated? Vegetarians will have a hard time in Mongolia, but will be right at home in India. How good is the food and how safe is it for non-native stomachs?

Lodging – Lodging can vary from a rough camp on a pack trip in the Rockies to a Hemingway style camp in Kenya. It can be in palaces, chateaux, small village inns or upscale hotels. Do you want the exotic charm of a palace or is it more important to be sure there are ensuite facilities and plenty of hot water? How much do you care?

Safety – Safety is of vital importance, but keeping in mind that nothing you do is completely safe. Nevertheless risks can be greatly reduced. For starters, we strongly recommend that you wear a hard hat at all times when riding. Finding a ride which goes at a pace suitable to your skill level and being mounted on a horse which is appropriate for your ability are key factors. How careful is the ride leader about this and how much effort do they put into finding out about the ability of the riders beforehand? What can be done in case there is an accident? Does the ride leader have a cell phone or a radio? How long will it take to get medical help? Does the ride leader have medical training? Are the horses well trained and mature? Do they have confirmed bad habits like kicking and bucking? Are riders informed about their idiosyncrasies? Does the ride leader make clear what procedures should be followed and does he see that the guests observe the rules? A ride in Kenya where the lions may give chase or a wart hog bursting from his lair can cause a horse to spook is going to carry a higher risk factor than a gentle canter on Exmoor. The choice is yours, but you need to be informed.

Getting the Right Information – Now that you have read something of the considerations involved, how do you find the information you need? Booking with an outfit you found on the Internet or through an ad can be risky. Each is trying to convince you it has the right ride for you and tends to reveal only the positive aspects. Most websites or books listing rides are simply taking money from the outfitters in exchange for a mention. They usually do the write-ups themselves. It is a good idea to book through a reputable tour company with ride consultants familiar with the rides they handle. A good consultant can offer various options and help you find the tour which suits you best. They can tell you the pluses and minuses of each choice and advise you as to which rides are most appropriate for your skill level. References should be available upon request. A good tour company will depend mainly on its repeat business and will inform you as completely as possible so there are no unpleasant surprises.

Do you have any stories about your horseback riding vacation? Share them with Horse2Heart readers; send us your horseback-riding story.

Bayard Fox has been riding for 70 years on six continents and has ridden enough miles to circle the globe several times. He is owner and founder of Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Vacations. He and his wife also own the Bitterroot Dude Ranch where they raise and train Arabian horses. Bayard has been leading and organizing riding tours for 35 years.

Featured books and DVDs on Horse2Heart

Find out more about available Equestrian Vacations: CLICK HERE.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories

This picture shows the secluded alpine meadow beside
my hunting camp where the horses could graze freely
on nutritious grass.

We were in my wilderness hunting camp 10 miles north of our ranch near Yellowstone Park that October morning. At 9,000 ft. above sea level the temperature dropped to around zero just before dawn and it was crackling cold. We had to be off well before first light. The best time for hunting is that narrow window when the glow of the sun gives just enough light to see, but before it comes up from behind the mountains. We had quite a long ride to get to the place where I wanted to be at the crucial time. The bleary eyed cook had revived the wood stove and fried us some eggs and bacon. Two of my guides and their hunters were likewise aroused and ready for the morning hunt. We hung our bridles near the fire so that the hard cold of the bits would not hurt the tender mouths of the horses.

A kerosene lantern hung from a branch by the corral and by its light we fed, saddled and bridled the horses. My much loved horse was Democrat. Several times his agility had pulled us narrowly away from the horns of charging buffalo and he and I had been through some scrapes together. I named him after my grandfather’s horse by the same name. A picture of the first Democrat and my grandfather, now almost a hundred years old, hangs today on the wall above my desk. A horse, like a wife or loyal friend, can make you look good and Democrat always did that for me.

Democrat and I spent many long days
together leading ranch guests on trail rides.

We rode out in pitch blackness with no moon, but Democrat (his night vision was superb) found the faint trail north with no hesitation. It was so dark that I held my hand in front of my face to warn me of low hanging branches I could not see. After a half hour of this my hunter asked how on earth I could find my way. “Long practice”, I whispered, and then, in deference to a touch of honesty, “and I have a pretty good horse”.

We went north along the valley and then turned right on a game trail up the lip of a canyon entering the main stream. We climbed sharply for half a mile or so with a steep drop off to our right. We were close to the secret alpine meadow I wanted to reach and we were starting to have a little light. On trails like this Democrat always liked to stay on the outside. I think it is an instinct some horses have because while it takes them closer to the edge, it also allows them to see better around the next corner in case a predator might be coming. Democrat was pulling at the bit and entirely ready to keep going, but my hunter’s horse was starting to breathe hard and needed a rest so I stopped for a few minutes. Democrat was on the very edge of the cliff, but I remained serene as I had total confidence in this wise and extremely athletic animal with catlike agility.

Democrat was a remarkably versatile mount, which made him a great asset at the ranch.

With no warning horror struck and I stared sudden death in the face. Democrat was tilting inexorably toward the abyss and was going over. On my part there was no conscious thought. I simply dumped off ungracefully onto the upper side totally instinctively. It must have been the result of a lifetime on horseback when one’s reactions take over before real thought. I landed on the rocky trail on my knees struggling to cling to the side of the trail so that I would not follow Democrat. The pain in my knees was excruciating and it took a minute or two before I turned to my hunter and asked him if he knew what on earth had happened. He said that a rock on which Democrat’s hoof had been resting gave away, making him lose his balance. The hunter added that he was mighty glad it hadn’t happened to him because he would never have made it off the saddle in time.

I turned to my hunter and asked if I could borrow his rifle because, on the slim chance that Democrat could still be alive and suffering I wanted to give him the coup de grace. This was the least I could do for a noble animal and what I would have wanted done for me. I never liked to carry a firearm myself while guiding though I now think this was silly. Of course he let me take his rifle and I looked up and down unsuccessfully for a spot where I could see the bottom of the canyon. Then what seemed a miracle happened. From the bottom of the trail we heard a whinny and soon Democrat came galloping up that steep trail. I have had my share of euphoric moments in my life like my first jump when my parachute finally opened (I am deathly afraid of heights). There was never anything to compare with my joy at seeing Democrat with cuts and scratches, saddle in shreds, but no serious damage and as glad to be back with me as I was to be with him. Though he was an exceptionally agile horse, I will never understand quite how he could have survived that incredible fall, but there he was.

In seventy years of riding I have been privileged to know some superb horses. Some I have ridden for 20 years. They are a glorious part of my life and have enriched my existence immeasurably. If I ever get to heaven, it could hardly be that great a place unless they are there too.

My Grandfather on the first Democrat about 100 years ago.
He loved this horse who made him look good too.

Bayard Fox has been riding for 70 years on six continents and has ridden enough miles to circle the globe several times. He is owner and founder of Equitours Worldwide Horseback Riding Vacations. He and his wife also own the Bitterroot Dude Ranch where they raise and train Arabian horses. Bayard has been leading and organizing riding tours for 35 years.

For help planning your horse vacation call (714) 865-0222

Rosepine Ranch | Horse consultant.

Find out more about available Equestrian Vacations: CLICK HERE.

Post from: Horse Stories | Horse2Heart – Great Horse Stories