Riding Tours Blog

Equitours is busy putting the final touches on our 2008 brochure, which should be ready to distribute mid December. We have some exciting new rides and programs on offer such as ‘Zululand Ride’ in Africa as well as our tried and tested “oldies but goodies� such as our Arizona ‘Long Valley Cattle Drives’ which are always a hit and book out often a year in advance.

Equitours is also focusing on some specialty rides in the 2008 brochure, such as family specific destinations such as Estancia Los Potreros, cooking focused rides such as the Toscana Cucina Ride or rides suited for ladies such as the Rainforest Adventure in Costa Rica.

If you would like to be put on our mailing list to receive a 2008 Equitours brochure please call 800 545 0019. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sarah

You should see the colors! Amazing shades of gold, yellow and amber. Unfortunately this fantastic sight won’t last long. The Bitterroot Ranch had its last week of guests leave on Sunday and now it’s clean up and pack away time for another season. The horses are wormed and shoes pulled, the calves are all weaned and the cows are off to the winter pasture for another year. Wow how time flies.

As we in the office work steadily on our new 2008 Equitours brochure we are forced to reflect on yet another year that is passing by. Maybe I am in denial but it feels way too early to be thinking about Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then bam -  its 2008 and it starts all over again!

For others in denial wishing to savor the rest of 2007, Equitours have some amazing rides for the rest of the US fall and start of winter. Our South American neighbors are just gearing up for their busy time and a trip to warm Argentina, Chile or Ecuador may just put the sparkle back in your year end. Also on offer are Belize, Costa Rica, Kenya, New Zealand and Mexico. A perfect time to plan your escape from the US.

Sarah

Debra from NSW, Australia corrected me on the fact that Australian horses have NOT in fact been vaccinated against influenza in the past as the country was free of the disease.

Debra says:

I quote from a paper ‘Nation Management Group: Equine Influenza Communique 13.9.07′
 
“Equine Influenza is an endemic in virtually all countries with significant equine industries, and vaccination is used to control the disease in those countries.  Australia (until recently) and New Zealand are the only countries with large equine populations free of the disease and therefore do not vaccinate.”
 
EI (Equine Influenza) was brought into Australia by a Japanese Thoroughbred Stallion.  It has spread to some areas of New South Wales and Queensland.
 
A zoning system for affected areas on the east coast has very recently been announced and horse movement is allowed within the Green Zones but still no movement across State borders.
 
We are very fortunate that we live in a green zone, however, every horse enthusiast is affected and virtually no horse events are being held at the moment on the east coast of Australia.
 
Some reliable sites for information are:
 NSW Department of Primary Industries
 
Australian Horse Industry Council

Thanks for your contribution Debra. Perhaps this is the price Australia pays for globalisation and opening its doors to the international racing/horse industry.  Or I wonder if something was missed in the quarantine of the horse? Have the authorities gotten slack?

Sarah