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Trails
Trail Tips
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Trip advice for the equestrian vacationer
Defer to your guide’s judgment when horses are assigned.
Valle de Bravo, Mexico The ride circles past the gorgeous lake Valle de Bravo and the surrounding mountains, through a forest made up of Montezuma pines, with spectacular views of the azure lake far below.
F Sources: National Geographic, Horse Nation, Wallpaper Center, RidingWorld.com, Hidden Trails, From The Grapevine, Equitrekking Travel, Equitours, Equus Journeys, In The Saddle, Combadi, Paragon Expeditions
orget the dude ranches and one-horse-fits-all beach rides— these vacations are designed to challenge equestrians of all disciplines, all around the world. If relaxing on the beach or in the mountains leaves you thirsting for a little more adventure, check out these equestrian trips and find the perfect one for you.
Masai Mara, Kenya
Loire Valley, France
Tuscany, Italy
Quebec, Canada
Flat-out gallops on muscular polo ponies, alongside zebras and wildebeests, past elephants, giraffes, lions, jackals, and dozens of other animals is a thrilling experience a ride in a Land Rover can’t give you.
History is brought alive by staying each night in real castles and riding into courtyards, over drawbridges like knights of old, and galloping along the tree-lined banks of the famous Cher River.
A ride through this part of Italy is a chance to view the idyllic Tuscan landscape from the backs of fine horses and to study some of the world’s great art treasures in Florence and Siena.
This inn to inn ride passes through magnificent forests and skirts the breathtaking seashore. The fall foliage season in this French-speaking region with the blazing maples is one of nature’s wonders.
Top Ten Places to Ride
Follow your guide’s instructions. They will dictate the pace and the best path to travel. Never pass the guide. Be aware of the horse in front of you and the one behind. Leave at least one horse’s length between horses if walking, leave two if trotting and three if cantering. Pass on the left at a reduced speed. On a hill, if another rider needs to pass your horse, turn and face your horse downhill. Do not ride side-byside unless the path is wide enough to keep horses from nipping or kicking each other.
Jerez & Seville, Spain
Rajasthan, India
Cappadocia, Turkey
Visitors to the Royal Riding School view one of their shows, a tribute to the beauty and athleticism of the horse. Riders can take lessons in dressage and jumping, and also ride through the countryside.
The palace-to-palace ride on Marwari endurance horses is considered an exotic tour. The palaces are impressive, but the journey through the striking desert landscape is as inspiring as the destinations.
This ride features rich Greek, Roman, early Christian, and Ottoman history. The horses perform well, taking riders safely over fascinating terrain and through villages that capture the imagination.
The Andes, Peru A ride through the sacred valley of the Inca, from Cusco to Machu Picchu, on a prancing Peruvian Paso is a haunting, spirtitual experience. The dramatic setting features sheer cliffs and lush valleys.
Estancia, Argentina This ranch in the quiet foothills of the Andes enables guests to ride with the experienced gauchos, providing an opportunity to understand this unique, rugged culture, while taking trips up into the mountains.
When your group’s horses stop for water, wait until all the horses have finished before riding away. Respect private property. Stay off people’s lawns and out of planted fields. Always keep your horse happy.