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Horse Vacations?

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  • #1

    Horse Vacations?

    I am desperately seeking some recommendations of good places (and more importantly bad places) to go on a horse vacation. I have my eye on a week long vacation in Spain, but am open to almost anywhere. I am open to an instructional or non-instructional trip. I just have to get away for a while and what better way to unwind.
    Nothing is as good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse. Sir Winston Churchill.
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  • #2
    EPONA near Seville, Spain — the family who runs the place is WONDERFUL and the head instructor is British Horse Society certified (so no language barrier).

    Riding is a combo of dressage instruction and cross-country trail riding on the farm's Andalusians. When I was there several years ago they also arranged some field trips (beach ride, et cetera). And there is a POOL for the afternoons, which will be hot but not unbearable in the spring.

    Web site is eponaspain.com
    "Go on, Bill — this is no place for a pony."

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    • #3
      there are several companies that offer riding vacations of all types

      hidden trails and equitour - do a google search

      I've done aorund 12 week long riding trips around the world and loved each and everyone of them. Met great people, rode nice horses, lovely scenery, etc

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      • #4
        We are going to go ride in Ecuador with Equitours in September, it will be my first trip with them. So far, they have made everything very easy though and are well-organized. It is not an instructional trip, just galloping through the Cordillera!
        Life doesn't have perfect footing.

        Bloggily entertain yourself with our adventures (and disasters):
        We Are Flying Solo

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        • #5
          There is a website that list a ton of riding Vacations. My aunt has gone on one through the company in Vermont which she enjoyed.

          http://www.ridingtours.com/horseback...pain-epona.cfm

          I'm actually intending to do the Epona one sometime this fall.

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          • Original Poster
            #6
            Thanks so much for the recommendations! I knew about Equitours and Hidden Trails, but I know that there are others out there that aren't as well known. Keep them coming!! You guys rock.
            Nothing is as good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse. Sir Winston Churchill.
            ***

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            • #7
              I just did a 5-day trek in New Zealand (South Island) with Hurunui Horse Treks. It was great! Pricey, yes, but the horses were wonderful and we were well taken care of. It's autumn there right now so you'd probably need to wait until their winter is over. PM me if you need more information.

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              • #8
                horse vacations

                I've been to Wyoming riding with Blue, Sky Sage for the past five years (blueskysage.com) I can highly recommend the experience. You are out in the wilderness with wonderful horses (no nags, no head to tail mindless rides), great people and great food. The countryside which you ride over is truely beautiful and every day is different. There is a good chance you will see some of the few remaining wild horse but you may also see elk, antelope, moose, cranes, hawks, eagles and flowers of every color. If your passion is riding, this is the vacation for you. This is not a spa vacation but it is 1,000 times better.

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                • #9
                  The two I've done were:

                  Utah, Capitol Reef National Park with Hondoo Rivers and Trails (http://www.hondoo.com/)

                  Australia, Snowy Mountains (yes, THOSE Snowy Mountains) with Reynella Rides (http://www.reynellarides.com.au/)

                  Both outfitters were excellent - friendly, great guides, excellent horses. Both trips are equally spectacular in their own way. Highly recommended.
                  RIP Victor... I'll miss you, you big galumph.

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                  • #10
                    If you want a vacation that is more relaxing, with daily riding but not riding all day long, there is a lovely place we went to in Costa Rica: http://tamarindobeach.net/casagua/

                    Advantages: cheap and easy to get to from the US, very nice horses (well trained, well cared for), miles of beautiful dirt roads through ranches and cute villages, nice place to stay with great breakfasts, generally safe and pleasant surroundings, even in the nearby beach town.

                    (Dis)advantages (depending on your preferences these may be nice or not): typical riding is 1-4 hours a day, depending on your arrangements, you need a rental car so you can go to nearby town for lunch/dinner, there is time to visit plenty of other places nearby for sight-seeing, hiking, sitting on the beach, or just napping endlessly in the quiet shade.

                    Another favorite: riding in Southern Brazil with this guide: http://www.campofora.com.br/

                    Advantages: fantastic, mindblowing wide-open big sky scenery; towering waterfalls and exotic trees; tireless ranch-broke obedient horses; a great guide (Paulo) who is safety-conscious, practical and professional; excellent hearty food, real sense of being away from it all. I was ready to pack up and move down there. Fantastic climate, too, being in the mountains. The couple of towns you might have access to are quaint and have fun "cowboy" shops. I'd ride with this outfit again in a heartbeat.

                    (Dis)advantages (again, depends what you like): it's a long flight, and the starting point is about three hours from the airport; six hour days in the saddle (three hours after breakfast and three more after lunch); little else to do - we rode for two days and barely saw a single human, let alone a car; hope you like beef; hope you like cheese; riding is rain or shine (heavy ponchos provided); long periods of sitting trot (a sort of Western jog the horses do); occasional canters, but safety and keeping the horses sound for long distances a priority, so no yahooing (disobedience will get you ponied!!! LOL).

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                    • #11
                      Seeking Horse vacation ideas

                      If staying in the US, I have been going back to Wyoming (Blue Sky Sage) for--this will be my 4th year. I've gone in summer, and a fall clinic ride;; superb instruction. This year I am going later in Sept. for a fall color ride. The reason I go back is 1) I like to live outdoors for a week without text messages, emails, newspapers or walls! 2) the horses are well trained but still challenging and always teach me something while I ride them. 3) Mike and Bobbi Wade the owners are excellent guides, instructors if you want, and have a wonderful balance of setting the trip up according to their professional standards AND flexing to the needs of any group I've been in 4) The riding groups are small (approx 6 people), and finally 5) Mike & Bobbi are great hosts who want to make my experience memorable and fun. Check it out at blueskysage.com They ride open country not far from Jackson Hole which is a "trip" all its own; a good "add on" if you have the time.

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                      • #12
                        Horse Vacations

                        Hi there,

                        I've gone on three riding vacations with an outfit out of Wyoming called Blue Sky Sage. They're excellent. It's run by a couple, Bobbi and Mike Wade, both experienced horse people. The horses are really, really good. I've ridden a Quarter horse/Arab cross, a Quarter horse/Tennessee Walking Horse cross, and a lovely little Morgan/Arab cross. All were absolutely delightful to ride and very well trained. The majority of their herd are purebred Quarter horses that Bobbi and Mike bring along themselves. No boring old plodding trail rides here! Lots of loping, covering lots of ground, looking for wild mustangs around the Wind River Rage. Absolutely beautiful country. And both Bobbi and Mike also throw in lots of riding advice (if warranted), without being pushy.

                        Definitely worth looking into ... their website is www.blueskysage.com.

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                        • #13
                          I did a Dressage vacation for a week in Spain. I would NOT recommend it. PM me if you want the name of the place. It is not mentioned in any of the previous posts.
                          We do not have an overpopulation of dogs, we have an under population of responsible dog owners!!!

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