Equestrians Making a Difference

March 31, 2011 – 11:53 am

Mozambique Rescue Horse Playing in the Indian Ocean

Equitours offers an array of horseback riding adventures worldwide, but also tends to focus energy on rides and causes that contribute to the places that our clients know and love well.  Here are just a few of the rides in Africa that, with the help of our clients, make a difference in local communities each year.

An inspirational story that I think will speak to the hearts of horse lovers everywhere concerns Mandy and Patrick Retzlaff’s flight from Zimbabwe to Mozambique with a herd of over 100 rescued horses.  All of us here at Equitours, feel honored to help promote the Mozambique’s Volunteer Work Program where guests can choose to stay for a month or ten days; helping train, exercise, saddle, feed and care for horses as well as assist with various local community projects.  Keep watch for a more detailed article about this organization.  Mandy is quite a character and I look forward to sharing some of her stories with you.

The Flying Doctors Team

Every rider participating in the Masai Mara and Lakipia horseback riding tours in Kenya contributes to AMREF’s Flying Doctor Service, one of the most comprehensive air ambulance services in Africa.  While a membership helps to ensure our riders’ safety and provides peace of mind, the proceeds benefit the important work of the AMREF and the whole continent full of people that they help.

School Children learning about baby elephants at the David Scheldrick Wildlife Trust

Equitours also donates to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, dedicated to embracing all measures that compliment the conservation, preservation and protection of wildlife. These include anti-poaching, safeguarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, and providing veterinary assistance to animals in need.

As a new ride consultant, there seems to be a barrage of information about our riding tours streaming in daily, and it all grabs my attention and curiosity, but I find myself truly interested in, and even proud of, the positive impact that our company and our network of outfitters and riders has in the world.

By Traci McClintic | Posted in Riding Tours | Comments (0)

Head Over Heals for Mexico-Again

February 21, 2011 – 10:22 am

Relax at Rancho Puesto Del Sol

Biggi and Sultan in Xochitland de Las Flores'

Prickly Pear

In her search to further Equitours ever expanding list of equestrian vacations, Ride Consultant Biggi Hayes visited rural Mexico for the fourth time in her life and found the culture as strong and as vibrant as ever.

Q: Let’s start with you Biggi, where are you from and what brought you to Equitours?

A: I grew up in Eastern Germany. When the wall fell in 1989, I packed my bags and went out exploring. I have traveled the world ever since. Moving to the US was a great opportunity for me. I moved to Wyoming and earned a degree in Equine Science and started raising Arabians. From there, it all just fell into place.

Q: When Bayard asked you to explore options for horseback vacations in April of 2010 for Equitours 2011 Catalogue, why did you choose the Rancho Puesta Del Sol Ride in Mexico?

A: There was something about Mexico that called to me- romance, culture, life style. I have been there before and both Bayard and I felt strongly that we needed to give clients another opportunity to explore Mexico because it is such a large territory. It’s the 15th largest country in the world, almost 3 times the size of Texas.

Q: You obviously visited some interesting places-anywhere memorable?

A: I have two most memorable places-we rode to this really pretty water fall one day-its actually gorgeous-the contrast of riding out of that valley into the desert area was incredible-the trees were covered in Spanish moss- just like in the American South. The next day was a half hour trip by car to Atlantes de Tula. We had dinner at a little local restaurant in Tula-everything was homemade and fantastic-and I ate way too many tacos-some spicy, some not so spicy-but WAY too many!

Q: What did you love most about the trip?

A: Aaaah Where do I start? The ranch is 1 ½ hours from Mexico City and from the moment I stepped off the plane, I was greeted with hospitality. The accommodations were relaxing-margaritas pool side, gorgeous colorful rooms, wide open landscape, peace and quiet. But my favorite part was, of course, the horses-they are amazing-Criollo Quarter Horse Crosses.

Q: Crime in the border towns seems to be sabotaging the country’s economy as a whole. Were you ever worried for your safety while horseback riding in Mexico?

A: No. A part of my job is to be aware of events around the world, and while I am aware of the current situation, I haven’t found that it applies to the interior of the country. These rides are in Mexico’s heart lands-hundreds of miles from the border towns. People are living a simple life there. They still plow their fields with teams of oxen; they take their products to market; they have live music and fiestas on the weekends. It’s a wholesome style of living.

By Traci McClintic | Posted in Mexico, Riding Tours | Comments (0)

When You Get Bucked Off…

February 17, 2011 – 10:55 am

I came into work one morning and gales of laughter were cascading from Roz’s office.  She had received this You Tube Clip and I couldn’t help but share it with all of you.  This riding video is called Ed being Naughty and it follows a six year old boy and his pony during their riding lessons in Wales. Some might think its cruel to laugh-I laughed until I cried.  As Nancie says, we can all see a little of ourselves in this pair.

I wonder if Ross could be the next Raphael Soto, olympic silvermedalist and world renown horse trainer that teaches classical dressage on Equitour’s  Epona Equestrian Center ride in Spain?  And is Ed in any way comparable to Raphael’s famous horse, Invasor, who was known to be difficult-some would even say “impossible” in his youth?

Maybe…

Notice on Horse Safety: Ross is wearing a riding helmet and vest.

By Traci McClintic | Posted in Riding Tours | Comments (2)