tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88243757312715887832024-02-18T21:43:37.416-08:00Riders Without Bordersdeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-45876829057816893262012-12-10T08:01:00.001-08:002012-12-10T08:01:48.890-08:00Reviews to come! Watch out for the following reviews in the weeks to come:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bali Island Horse (review 2) and Kuda P Stables in Bali, Indonesia</li>
<li>Grampians Horse Riding in Victoria, Australia</li>
<li>Arthayasa Stables in Jakarta, Indonesia </li>
</ul>
thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-64291086668931778642012-07-31T07:30:00.001-07:002012-07-31T07:49:44.022-07:00A Week In Portugal 2010<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
What a crazy number of years! I hadn't realised that this trip happened so long ago until I looked at the dates again. I promised myself I'd have the review up and running but I guess I was distracted. Portugal itself was a beautiful country but we're here about the horses so...<br />
<br />
<u>Portugal - December 2010</u><br />
After seven days of intense training, we had done more dressage movements than we ever had in our lives. We were at the Escola Equitacao de Alcainca – a riding school dedicated to classical dressage located in a small village in Portugal. The owner of the school is Georges Malleroni – in his biography on Hidden Trails he is written up as a student of classical dressage master Nuno Oliveira. We were mainly tutored by Paulo who seems to have been with the school for quite a while. Our daily lessons were filled with his exhortations as he pushed us and our horses into movement after movement.<br />
Shoulder-in, shoulder-out, piaffe, passage, travers, renvers, flying changes – we did them all under their tutelage and on the backs of the most beautifully trained Lusitano horses. We wouldn't even have thought of doing these kinds of movements under ordinary circumstances in Singapore! The quality of the horses and their training is very apparent.<br />
<br />
We started riding on the older and more experienced stallions, but eventually, Rufiao (Ruffian) and Vingador (Avenger) became our favourites. There is no doubt that the instructors know what they’re<br />
about and there is a high quality of instruction. We were not the only overseas visitors taking advantage of it either – while we were there we encountered a lovely lady from Japan who was there on her own, as well as two people from France. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpChxXDzVjOLNQDYmHw1Wss-6e1KnyfKWzNm_3KJPKhVFTC0JeLV4APSsG3ZWHexD1hZ771zb9V04gycbhXnaoXazmSVx1eN1YlltrYk57rk8bcPPwjTwE4x20s7vrPddh-5WTURP37I/s1600/Vingador.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpChxXDzVjOLNQDYmHw1Wss-6e1KnyfKWzNm_3KJPKhVFTC0JeLV4APSsG3ZWHexD1hZ771zb9V04gycbhXnaoXazmSVx1eN1YlltrYk57rk8bcPPwjTwE4x20s7vrPddh-5WTURP37I/s320/Vingador.jpg" width="240" /></a> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Vingador the horse with Dickie the dog.</span></div>
<br />
We had two lessons every day. Once in the morning after breakfast and once in the late afternoon. We rented a car and raced around doing some quick sightseeing each day in between lessons. The lessons are one and a half hours long and you truly realise how short our forty five minute lessons in Singapore are after that, and how fit their horses are! Every lesson started with a warm up, followed by exercises in walk, trot and then some canter and it was far from boring. On one of our first lessons, I did some rearing (I like to think it was close to a levade :) - description found here: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airs_above_the_ground" target="_blank">Airs above the ground</a>) on one of their most experienced stallions – Napolitano. In our later lessons, we began to try the movements in canter! We also had the opportunity to ride out into the countryside. The school not only gives riding instruction, it also breeds horses and there were some very sweet foals. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk24dFRXb9dftoG9EsZDgLshFEIOo_Hez1sjzl_ZLQXGcO2fCbPAhUpeFOWkfVF0_0iEp-cOsmcSqyMM7d6kJwGs-umF8HXQccpRQh8T1sYcpYCL0eQ5kZYEwIUmXRmWuJJtCfLLPcJi0/s1600/foal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk24dFRXb9dftoG9EsZDgLshFEIOo_Hez1sjzl_ZLQXGcO2fCbPAhUpeFOWkfVF0_0iEp-cOsmcSqyMM7d6kJwGs-umF8HXQccpRQh8T1sYcpYCL0eQ5kZYEwIUmXRmWuJJtCfLLPcJi0/s320/foal.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kh2litNC6A7bR7pijzjK89AIErFXf2L-qGymb6Ks4JLXYTwtXqkKQYAQg4kEVzUd0okX6c5FbpkVOvfUKMyVT3RwOfy9nAJlB0806cqzjLgr8e_caErdrMl5M98XusV7pa05YdXwhjY/s1600/house.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kh2litNC6A7bR7pijzjK89AIErFXf2L-qGymb6Ks4JLXYTwtXqkKQYAQg4kEVzUd0okX6c5FbpkVOvfUKMyVT3RwOfy9nAJlB0806cqzjLgr8e_caErdrMl5M98XusV7pa05YdXwhjY/s320/house.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Accommodation is a pretty little cottage extension that looks out onto the stables, nicely appointed and cleaned every day. Meals are hearty and homey - cooked by their lovely housekeeper who kept our bellies full every day and always accompanied with carafes of wine. The experience was such that we’re already making plans to return someday. Till then, we’ll have to sustain ourselves with the memories of classical dressage on those gorgeous horses.<br />
<br />
We booked our riding through Hidden Trails but you can also contact the school directly.<br />
Their Facebook Page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/escolaequitacaoalcainca" target="_blank">Escola Equitacao de Alcainca</a></div>LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-33681710814725285742011-12-25T12:26:00.000-08:002012-01-03T10:28:20.446-08:00Bali Island Horse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4Tg38O6Bit7hveV1S-NETqZQWZph9Ec_jpBxlRpiAZqXbby4bBQgMLCGrzuL49mGaq7qqythig8QU7Czkgaf8k2HbhhC_GlsuXTwCWPcyKWKpf93ArUqibzUZ3Y-qqTDxvjJso6rXi0U/s1600/riding10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj4Tg38O6Bit7hveV1S-NETqZQWZph9Ec_jpBxlRpiAZqXbby4bBQgMLCGrzuL49mGaq7qqythig8QU7Czkgaf8k2HbhhC_GlsuXTwCWPcyKWKpf93ArUqibzUZ3Y-qqTDxvjJso6rXi0U/s400/riding10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5690180243681510258" border="0"></a><br /><font style="font-style: italic;">Text and picture courtesy of Cindy and Lindsey<br /><br /></font>Lindsey and I had a 2 hour ride with Bali Island Horse at Yeh Gangga. The driver picked Lindsey first then came to pick me up from my villa in Seminyak. It was about 40min drive to Yeh Gangga from where I was so we had plenty of time to chat. Natalie, one of the owners was there to welcome us, show us to our horses and check helmet fitting (they had helmets to lend). A big group arrived around the same time as we did and Natalie was nice to get us on quickly so we wouldn't be slowed down behind the group.<br /><br />The horses looked really well looked after. Nice condition, shiny coats.<br /><br />Initially our guide (on a smaller pony) had Lindsey's pony, Black Ice, on a lead rope. When he was sure she was comfortable he let her off the lead and we all trotted along, very relaxed. Our guide took very good care of Lindsey and knew the horses very well as they were in his daily care. He was also really happy to take photographs of us with our own camera.<br /><br />We rode on a beach with black sand (like Kuta's beach). It was really close to the stables and a very easy walk to get to. The beach was really gentle sloping, wide and fantastic to ride on. The frothy waves were beautiful and we enjoyed the sunset and atmosphere very much. Horses were super. I rode in front as I was on a (super quiet) stallion and he liked to be in front, a really gentle personality with a super easy trot and canter. Linds who had not ridden since she was a kid was on a paint pony (about 14.1hh so not a tiny one), really cute looking.<br /><br /><br /><br />We also took a relaxing walk through the village, with many little trucks and motorcycles but the horses were unfazed. Lots of little kids waved at us.<br /><br />We crossed a stream on the way back which was short but fun. The water came up to just below my stirrups.<br /><br />We were taking it easy so we mostly trotted and walked but I had a canter on the way back. Our guide was careful to warn us in advance of the end bit where families were watching/playing football in the evening. The horses were quiet. We were just looking out as we didn't want to be hit with a stray ball but nothing even came near.<br /><br />Fantastic ride, highly recommended. We really loved our horses and mine was just such a special personality. I was sad to say bye. There's another riding place nearer to the main tourist area but I'm glad we tried this place. The owners (Natalie and Leanne) are Australian. They're riders themselves although now that the horses are busy they don't ride to let the horses have a day off when they can. We had a nice chat after the ride with a drink until the driver took us back.<br /><br />Oh yeah, they had 2 pet monkeys. One is really friendly and the other one bites so don't touch the monkeys unless you check which one is ok. The friendly one really took a shine to Lindsey and groomed her ponytail looking for bugs and everything. It was so unlike the aggressive monkeys I see when riding in Singapore!<br /><br />The 2 hour ride was about 50USD (booked through the internet) and included transport 2-ways. You can pay in USD or Rupiah.<br /><br />Website:<a href="http://www.baliislandhorse.com/"> http://www.baliislandhorse.com/</a><font style="font-style: italic;"><br /></font>thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-38562323051644514422010-11-18T01:35:00.001-08:002010-11-18T02:53:15.432-08:00The Happy Ranch (Siem Reap) 2nd Review - with picturesI planned my trip to Siem Reap in part because of the good feedback about Happy Ranch I've been getting from my friends (see Rachel's review <a href="http://riderswithoutborders.blogspot.com/2010/04/happy-ranch-siem-reap-cambodia.html">here</a>) and from tripadvisor (<a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297390-d654735-r87363571-The_Happy_Ranch_Horse_Farm-Siem_Reap.html">see here)</a>.<br /><br />Having ridden in several places around the region (and many beyond), the Happy Ranch was definitely one of my favourites. I did a 1 hour trail ride on the first day and a 2 hour sunrise ride followed by a private jumping lesson on the second. On the first day, I rode Brin, a 3-year-old who was born on the ranch. It was his first time out on the trails with a guest and he behaved impeccably- he was responsive and calm almost throughout the ride. I fell in love with Cambodian ponies there and then- they are really such intelligent, hardy animals with easy-going temperaments, comfortable gaits and smooth canters.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEf8KqHT_037PuE4CR4VH9ag_xhGIgsrJXqDdeFXUEzvgbyzQsT8VXRzUhZb8C-DGp_rx89inHWvn1SQ7dDCJCss3bkRPrFAGmUw2O_F9CzqapKN-kjWzYLJU7O_yroJsU6x9XauNue76/s1600/P1020187.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOEf8KqHT_037PuE4CR4VH9ag_xhGIgsrJXqDdeFXUEzvgbyzQsT8VXRzUhZb8C-DGp_rx89inHWvn1SQ7dDCJCss3bkRPrFAGmUw2O_F9CzqapKN-kjWzYLJU7O_yroJsU6x9XauNue76/s400/P1020187.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540828325577026226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Brin</span></div><br />The sunrise ride is the one I'd really recommend. We went past paddy fields, waded through small streams and rode through the local villages and caught a glimpse into the lives of the farmers.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfmZRB-JevxvyeMu9_SbpYQ6UjaZEvHltNVzJmWyZG1eSzaaFyw3pRCqyVuf18F_ayXh8purdrmkYqM-sIFsS_T3OK5sMjSTfGOz72HWF0x2ivRz3eG5vMfpu_hzxKqI8jqJDxykD3qrX/s1600/P1020603.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSfmZRB-JevxvyeMu9_SbpYQ6UjaZEvHltNVzJmWyZG1eSzaaFyw3pRCqyVuf18F_ayXh8purdrmkYqM-sIFsS_T3OK5sMjSTfGOz72HWF0x2ivRz3eG5vMfpu_hzxKqI8jqJDxykD3qrX/s400/P1020603.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540835042059109042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Riding past a lotus pond. Boy did I hone my horseback photography skills!<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe0KprxKoDANfMupJGhIBucCJyZC5kH2kKCNN6Mki3FLlot891netVhuK950RPnZFebV9dsJgDCKxURRE5JjQ_ZPzQJEzP1Tz87wX-uudvmWeucPm7i_KQArZIOsdDE4D2qG4DiaEGXhb/s1600/P1020653.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfe0KprxKoDANfMupJGhIBucCJyZC5kH2kKCNN6Mki3FLlot891netVhuK950RPnZFebV9dsJgDCKxURRE5JjQ_ZPzQJEzP1Tz87wX-uudvmWeucPm7i_KQArZIOsdDE4D2qG4DiaEGXhb/s400/P1020653.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540837577429704034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wading through a stream</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoVk6ArHc9B-aNYDpO1tlKUns5xszHa9I-tlhb5ePTPJwK_LXXu1hc_oprkOdC7pOhI3AKbjx5QWhPuRrX36sPaSN4Hn2lf5Alj-jqr4hA6y9syo17iYzNtAABxNrzJm2JSxiFmtCDgI9/s1600/P1020637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuoVk6ArHc9B-aNYDpO1tlKUns5xszHa9I-tlhb5ePTPJwK_LXXu1hc_oprkOdC7pOhI3AKbjx5QWhPuRrX36sPaSN4Hn2lf5Alj-jqr4hA6y9syo17iYzNtAABxNrzJm2JSxiFmtCDgI9/s400/P1020637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540839123527693490" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Paddy fields</span><br /></div><br />We rode through a field of cows that were peacefully grazing and didn't flinch even though we were an arm's length away from them. It was a very surreal experience for a city girl like me and probably the closest I've ever gotten to farm animals (other than at the zoo!)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDgTw86klUIT6znN3MrocTReo7oXCKoLzV6VEB6KdQmUFgoTvZ0_w-MLoKOzC_WVnu9UcmnwzQpz3GcMSQWx4E-jG6gHIYK-ksf4Yyfs3Lz3aCjLllqZ3Xa6ytYok0y5JdGTHrsnpDNpe/s1600/P1020157.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBDgTw86klUIT6znN3MrocTReo7oXCKoLzV6VEB6KdQmUFgoTvZ0_w-MLoKOzC_WVnu9UcmnwzQpz3GcMSQWx4E-jG6gHIYK-ksf4Yyfs3Lz3aCjLllqZ3Xa6ytYok0y5JdGTHrsnpDNpe/s400/P1020157.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540831998829215682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">We got so close to the cows we could touch them</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">Thankfully they minded their own business</span><br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOAbINtyg8yogdVVN5Oj6xb6QMessr60jiMZo61KmSt1EWN6IkwoFOJGo4EYu5b9dBFcRx90yuFzbh6_3mSr_JqtB5cNyFl5ua1u1QBfXtIj9jzVep_68GfXN9ksgRY_MbJCPUEhpFggx/s1600/P1020608.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOAbINtyg8yogdVVN5Oj6xb6QMessr60jiMZo61KmSt1EWN6IkwoFOJGo4EYu5b9dBFcRx90yuFzbh6_3mSr_JqtB5cNyFl5ua1u1QBfXtIj9jzVep_68GfXN9ksgRY_MbJCPUEhpFggx/s400/P1020608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540833585909986866" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Water buffaloes<br /></span></div><br />Watching the sunrise over the paddy fields was breathtakingly beautiful- it was quiet and absolutely serene- a stark contrast from the crowd and bustle of watching the sunrise at Angkor Wat the day before.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmOD83Dkiy5tx6w_2ATRhynTE0ZHeJ_OclT-VczoaT3gSez2VRYNnJvG3ZAqR9RwK-15qzSjOtjzWQ2VGu9rmARaR8eU4Ou3l1cBRCLend-qVeZ_aU7h-ewQquOnJZqIB6hbUQ2-7wYs8/s1600/P1020598.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmOD83Dkiy5tx6w_2ATRhynTE0ZHeJ_OclT-VczoaT3gSez2VRYNnJvG3ZAqR9RwK-15qzSjOtjzWQ2VGu9rmARaR8eU4Ou3l1cBRCLend-qVeZ_aU7h-ewQquOnJZqIB6hbUQ2-7wYs8/s400/P1020598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540835530765111234" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sunrise over the paddy fields<br /></span></div><br /><br />Jay (Jai?) was an excellent guide as well- he spoke very good English and answered all our questions about the people living in the region, having grown up in the village himself. The only downside was that I didn't get a chance to canter as much as I would have liked to as a lot of the trail involved going past villagers' houses and through water-logged terrain.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV01yHeJ93dNU3UegMa3MxbbIBr8SRXhpFpZnpieSx0vq_4Evx1klamQybpVhzp5ubrnF1ZL6h2QfcF7nI7MKkiOLgTaq3qMJxeedEepffEtkpslqbuGhrPTlLsVzAh2uRc9OnLishCexA/s1600/P1020174.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV01yHeJ93dNU3UegMa3MxbbIBr8SRXhpFpZnpieSx0vq_4Evx1klamQybpVhzp5ubrnF1ZL6h2QfcF7nI7MKkiOLgTaq3qMJxeedEepffEtkpslqbuGhrPTlLsVzAh2uRc9OnLishCexA/s400/P1020174.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540832890534248162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Jay leading the way</span><br /></div><br />We also made a quick stop at Wat Athvea, a 12th Century Hindu temple built by the same king who constructed Angkor Wat. It's quite a small temple but worth visiting simply because there were no other tourists around. Unlike Angkor Wat, there are relatively few carvings on the walls, other than a few very well preserved <span style="font-style: italic;">devata </span>(sacred female images).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3qoSJk2h2i15DWM2ATwojQcjbNacr36gTJOPDvF5sbhYZFs5PBmXEBzhyphenhyphenxzc6STzkdNNmtmhV_npO4uI-gctJlwMlT_re1Jxxs5eJxBub_R3ovjU7tmX7wmckirDXkpnCZgUYpx_G7bJ/s1600/P1020633.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3qoSJk2h2i15DWM2ATwojQcjbNacr36gTJOPDvF5sbhYZFs5PBmXEBzhyphenhyphenxzc6STzkdNNmtmhV_npO4uI-gctJlwMlT_re1Jxxs5eJxBub_R3ovjU7tmX7wmckirDXkpnCZgUYpx_G7bJ/s400/P1020633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540834363718998226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Wat Athvea. Riding Baloo, another young pony<br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wRbPqSP0VmQVZG716laqoOeHcmvbkO2BzDYdH3GINRchF073MtPaF-TIyL5A5ef67mIKaofOz6IGL0ZyTDzNYaTnpaUnU0Kq31A2xwhFwjqyeBnPcuN2LJJu8z1wQxXO-_Z4fkdYVRzK/s1600/P1020624.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wRbPqSP0VmQVZG716laqoOeHcmvbkO2BzDYdH3GINRchF073MtPaF-TIyL5A5ef67mIKaofOz6IGL0ZyTDzNYaTnpaUnU0Kq31A2xwhFwjqyeBnPcuN2LJJu8z1wQxXO-_Z4fkdYVRzK/s400/P1020624.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540838396745322578" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Inside the temple- a devata<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslCPizKZO15zSYWr2pO6IeGKVTHva1wQr3zQhyphenhyphenfeYpueA9S1dSf3Z2BgbavchffXjlYDAWJACu5F8XAKDGuO0F8w7ccXEoAjBvM4gEWYmdK5Nds5Sicev_uDofwAA5bx0QVPnIGyEjci0/s1600/P1020627.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslCPizKZO15zSYWr2pO6IeGKVTHva1wQr3zQhyphenhyphenfeYpueA9S1dSf3Z2BgbavchffXjlYDAWJACu5F8XAKDGuO0F8w7ccXEoAjBvM4gEWYmdK5Nds5Sicev_uDofwAA5bx0QVPnIGyEjci0/s400/P1020627.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540838652025349138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Unfinished carvings on the walls- they must have known there'd be horses passing through!</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><br />The lessons are perhaps more suited to beginner or intermediate riders, although more advanced riders can pick up a couple of good tips as well. The horses are not trained to a very high level so if you are looking for more advanced dressage or jumping lessons perhaps you may want to go somewhere else.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Information about the Happy Ranch:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prices </span>(payment in cash, US dollars only):<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Trail Rides</span>: 1h ($19), 2h ($36), 3h ($51), 4h ($64)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Lessons</span> (1h): Private ($22), Group lesson up to 4 ridesr ($16)<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Cart Rides </span>(1h): $12.50<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bookings: </span>Tel 012 920002 or 016920002, email: info@thehappyranch.com<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Website: </span>click <a href="http://www.thehappyranch.com/">here</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Location: </span>1.5 km away from the centre of Siem Reap (see website).<br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:donotshowinsertionsanddeletions/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-SG</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp/> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables/> <w:dontvertalignintxbx/> <w:word11kerningpairs/> <w:cachedcolbalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]-->thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-43759993834117690612010-09-06T18:04:00.001-07:002010-09-06T18:11:59.828-07:00We were in the news!Riders Without Borders featured in the Straits Times on 20 April<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHVo_HmIn0sxTaxdo1JxzMkyrw6mX89RSUtrptRiHmLJPwJ9sxPL-LWZs-6ZzYYpPrP6GRDZ3JkLYC5I2dgjjU48VPlKGw8c5Ll-3phu-h_-ngFNDLluE3dNqzJ3HtiY8dkyBJ3p5I-pG/s1600/IMG_9104.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzHVo_HmIn0sxTaxdo1JxzMkyrw6mX89RSUtrptRiHmLJPwJ9sxPL-LWZs-6ZzYYpPrP6GRDZ3JkLYC5I2dgjjU48VPlKGw8c5Ll-3phu-h_-ngFNDLluE3dNqzJ3HtiY8dkyBJ3p5I-pG/s400/IMG_9104.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513971963071720770" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Karin, Denise and Noreen<br /><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span>Riding in Iran, featured in the Straits Times on </span>13 April<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic83k7Yz1nagyFABLfEr-hVW1uROg00jm1vOH597Kxzobj-7G9bNrh4Zm5HjzTcQoRH1kM-s8pq7w0TYOjDr34DjNbEH40U55GWClk1ZTp-QBN1oUNVWSOKwObwKK1p0svhR99VqnsG0Mr/s1600/IMG_9097.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic83k7Yz1nagyFABLfEr-hVW1uROg00jm1vOH597Kxzobj-7G9bNrh4Zm5HjzTcQoRH1kM-s8pq7w0TYOjDr34DjNbEH40U55GWClk1ZTp-QBN1oUNVWSOKwObwKK1p0svhR99VqnsG0Mr/s400/IMG_9097.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513972908157955970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-75136568802741087962010-09-06T17:14:00.000-07:002010-09-06T17:46:34.189-07:006 Days at the Fly Spur Ranch, Oregon USA<span style="font-style: italic;">by Marketa Flossova</span><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ztwy2Ot5dyziaHci56L7umS97RIvO9m81icQBOa-XYEiHsFpU8yPvYGeyMCWOz86eXNTFYuUpCz3XKRHUt-y0mGPm2F618HEQpDHWkO9JuoKHvCWLPofs7UqGGkSp8Bkvn_-akRTbKrF/s1600/gorgeous+scenary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Ztwy2Ot5dyziaHci56L7umS97RIvO9m81icQBOa-XYEiHsFpU8yPvYGeyMCWOz86eXNTFYuUpCz3XKRHUt-y0mGPm2F618HEQpDHWkO9JuoKHvCWLPofs7UqGGkSp8Bkvn_-akRTbKrF/s400/gorgeous+scenary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513964677598001746" border="0" /></a><br />These had been some most beautiful 6 days of my life – every day with horses, from dawn to dusk. I have spent half a year in the States, where I did an exchange program at the University of Oregon and I decided that it wouldn't be a complete American experience without staying at a horse ranch. Here in Oregon, there are so many of them and people seem to be keeping horses here as pets or companions, at the backyard of their house.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3TGkoNI_QVgSs4jYWqqG0vC2_VnvUu5e7lgsJkfMRAQ5pMZMGxh5xp5xTX9TwalX8JLGsV4ih9vmLZtDyWk9fxTHsvYm0XUlUHbKSniXOTiO8mAPKyfH_8aKZVW2qotVkBwsZzn4953_/s1600/the+ranch.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3TGkoNI_QVgSs4jYWqqG0vC2_VnvUu5e7lgsJkfMRAQ5pMZMGxh5xp5xTX9TwalX8JLGsV4ih9vmLZtDyWk9fxTHsvYm0XUlUHbKSniXOTiO8mAPKyfH_8aKZVW2qotVkBwsZzn4953_/s400/the+ranch.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513965740906048450" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Fly Spur Ranch</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"> I decided to stay at a Fly Spur Ranch which is at Bend, central Oregon. Because huge dude ranches were out of my budget, I offered my help at this ranch for an exchange of discounted stay and free, unlimited riding. This ranch had 16 horses and was specialized in western, leisure riding on trails.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROLDDXw_jHwXVzg3NpDZtIa3In03Qs89X8K3mvbLTLgWuIIrEpEtK5a1lczlDpxesK8INKBCsmSJRAob-FIKuIANHu7xyvyXTHuOhChw5eNxXvYc_uRWUU2MHVJmvNrOagW0TtEzV3O_C/s1600/the+barn.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROLDDXw_jHwXVzg3NpDZtIa3In03Qs89X8K3mvbLTLgWuIIrEpEtK5a1lczlDpxesK8INKBCsmSJRAob-FIKuIANHu7xyvyXTHuOhChw5eNxXvYc_uRWUU2MHVJmvNrOagW0TtEzV3O_C/s400/the+barn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513962561764725042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The Barn<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvov5T9Lh23UURS9iYBl8YEzuee0gYAOljNlpF0KpT2-nNqjHjm7dS-GiVb6-eI4EJq9LrfP-2iNM-NfE4o7KpXlNByFwIIu-OGxlWPiReIE9dWXSZ5y0vyAiqNq2Gixo4EHEhDLMYnlt/s1600/sisco+a+palomino.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvov5T9Lh23UURS9iYBl8YEzuee0gYAOljNlpF0KpT2-nNqjHjm7dS-GiVb6-eI4EJq9LrfP-2iNM-NfE4o7KpXlNByFwIIu-OGxlWPiReIE9dWXSZ5y0vyAiqNq2Gixo4EHEhDLMYnlt/s400/sisco+a+palomino.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513962693961950114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Sisco, a beautiful Palomino</span><br /></div><br />I have been riding for 5 years prior to the stay at this horse ranch, but my previous experience consisted mainly of dressage riding and a bit of jumping. This was totally different. I would say that the main difference between English style and the western style is that in the western style, the focus is more on the horse and less on the rider. I have learned some amazing horsemanship skills and things about horses that I had never really known before. For example, there are so many exercises which we can do with horses on the ground, without even riding them in order to build a deeper connection with them and a mutual respect. They are so much nicer to ride after that. It is not all just about getting the horse 'round', 'on the bit' or 'collected', which I used to think when I did dressage all the time. There is so much more to it, so much going on just between the horse and the person. There is also no such thing as a horse 'misbehaving' or 'doing things on purpose'. If they are, it's just because they have not been given enough training, love, attention and care.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>The horses are kept outdoor almost all the time and they consume mainly hay and grass and sometimes other supplements if they had done more work during the day. I fed them twice a day and it was the most tiring and at the same time the most touching moment of the day. I would wake up before 7am to feed them and the horses would greet me loudly while shaking their heads. They were so excited each time I would bring out the hay. They were just so cute. I would then clean and oil saddles in the morning and ride later in the day. I must say that western saddles are really so complicated, heavy and nice looking. They were so heavy that I would pull my muscle each time I tried to swing it up the horse. I would then groom the horses and got them ready for rides.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL0UziBFBR0W2tdQQPuwYFa1Tg94jFR7-I7OnO8mJ15yeGagD4F8ZJxbhXjwDvlpQud7e4UTddiUHlCc9H-R9ij3dxqbcMz5B2W-Yh4wn1hjkcEb-kfrE_jqJxgl3gNSOdBuH7jyKkH72/s1600/ready+to+go.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqL0UziBFBR0W2tdQQPuwYFa1Tg94jFR7-I7OnO8mJ15yeGagD4F8ZJxbhXjwDvlpQud7e4UTddiUHlCc9H-R9ij3dxqbcMz5B2W-Yh4wn1hjkcEb-kfrE_jqJxgl3gNSOdBuH7jyKkH72/s400/ready+to+go.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513963036228349298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting Ready to Go</span><br /><br /></div>Then there was the riding. I would spend around 3 hours each day in the saddle, mostly going out on trail rides which would consist of walking, trotting, cantering and occasionally galloping.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL7Cy_IVA2MIcARiQHGeDbzNhZmojUAl-s8WFGbWITEBb-uVrhWnuZ4rHv-CMYmvBy0g2mVzkmSlEQNn4UbKv4qTfQmhLXLUTFbQKPBlrzIuxbMZWwXHDUYl7J_nh1nubyUgq5ok7OgBE/s1600/buddy+arabian+with+scenary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL7Cy_IVA2MIcARiQHGeDbzNhZmojUAl-s8WFGbWITEBb-uVrhWnuZ4rHv-CMYmvBy0g2mVzkmSlEQNn4UbKv4qTfQmhLXLUTFbQKPBlrzIuxbMZWwXHDUYl7J_nh1nubyUgq5ok7OgBE/s400/buddy+arabian+with+scenary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513966078507480930" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Riding Buddy, an Arabian<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQbLKMuhG5yVH6aTC5DB1leuz9AbURznVA14QxaLrQxcsXf9dxFN5JR5m2ijD7MGxqwWknkw1-QiLi9IaTZjaqs0Hg32BCvHsXCiglZPVixwJHTF_RfXusBWU1TmHfX6f8HClOVvWPEFg/s1600/on+horseback+greenery.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEQbLKMuhG5yVH6aTC5DB1leuz9AbURznVA14QxaLrQxcsXf9dxFN5JR5m2ijD7MGxqwWknkw1-QiLi9IaTZjaqs0Hg32BCvHsXCiglZPVixwJHTF_RfXusBWU1TmHfX6f8HClOVvWPEFg/s400/on+horseback+greenery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513964348664036322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Therese, the ranch owner, and I on our favourite horses</span><br /><br /></div><br />My favorite horse was a brown Tennessee Walker. I totally fell in love with this breed. They have very smooth paces and feel so comfortable to ride. They do not have a trot, only a somewhat fast and extended walk which feels like a moving boat, their canter is smooth and comfortable and they can gallop really fast if they want to. This breed was created for traveling long distances across the natural landscape and so this breed needed to be comfortable to ride and enduring for hours of riding. The Tennessee Walker also has a very mellow and friendly nature and these characteristics make him a great trail horse.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbpIezgpkOl1pJUYv7kJHrz0UBi5sa9zmj3rYr2NNirpF0BC0AgvQJJxHAe5a-JALFlpJOQlTbC3GxkRhueG74PT9zUmpgSRnkEauOLC2VPi1IUXZX32y9DVQVG2_O3KxpmT_tTpRFFa5/s1600/two+horses+at+barn.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbpIezgpkOl1pJUYv7kJHrz0UBi5sa9zmj3rYr2NNirpF0BC0AgvQJJxHAe5a-JALFlpJOQlTbC3GxkRhueG74PT9zUmpgSRnkEauOLC2VPi1IUXZX32y9DVQVG2_O3KxpmT_tTpRFFa5/s400/two+horses+at+barn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513963404654162946" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Two very cute Tennessee Walkers- Scout & Rhythm<br /></span></div><br />I told myself that I definitely need to come back to this ranch some time in the future. The 6 days at the ranch have been a transforming experience for me and have shined a light on what I would like to do in the future. Setting up a horse ranch is definitely on of my future goals. I would also recommend a stay at a horse ranch to anyone as a form of therapy. Living on a horse ranch, spending so much time with horses and doing a lot of physical activities totally draws one into the experience and makes one forget about anything else. It therefore effectively works as a form of psychological and emotional therapy.<br /><br />If you would like anymore information about the ranch, please facebook me (you can find me on facebook under Marketa Flossova) or e-mail me at mafloss@yahoo.com.sg<br /><br />For more information about Fly Spur Ranch, click <a href="http://www.flyspur.com/index.html">here</a>thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-65796191361888938282010-09-06T16:29:00.000-07:002010-09-06T17:58:59.912-07:00Equine Adventures in Iran- Featured in the Straits Times on Tuesday, 13 AprilHeadline: Equine adventures<br />Byline: RACHEL LIN<br />Publication: ST<br />Date: Tuesday, 13 April 2010<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photos courtesy of Karin Lai</span><br /></span><br />We called him Space Mountain. He was a tall bay Arab stallion, long-legged, his neck gracefully arched.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1FMgq5H9RO7Mosrgq4P572i02TXp6dbQk6bVOr6rNuS6zvJD0kTxEKofvsSHjydxMabMALPDEzYNOM2nE2nMiaX8DodHWnMtc0frep_47ehxh9db76x0GKGv4i641DpXha1A9kECyIsX/s1600/spacemountain.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1FMgq5H9RO7Mosrgq4P572i02TXp6dbQk6bVOr6rNuS6zvJD0kTxEKofvsSHjydxMabMALPDEzYNOM2nE2nMiaX8DodHWnMtc0frep_47ehxh9db76x0GKGv4i641DpXha1A9kECyIsX/s400/spacemountain.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513967716222136834" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Space Mountain- not for the faint hearted</span><br /><br /></div>Of course, Space Mountain was not his real name, but it was an apt description of his personality. He was what riders call a “hot horse”: volatile, sensitive, spirited – and very high-strung.<br /><br />Riding him was like taking a lesson in applied physics. When he took off, it was in a burst of explosive acceleration. The subsequent velocity was heart-stopping.<br /><br /><br />Space Mountain’s stable-mate was a white Arab gelding we called Roller Coaster. The name, I think, explains itself.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedDGelpeNtYRKNxBGS4LAKDHS7bwnfLu9TOL3HTCG6-DmPvg_BvviD557VWQflaXtrkRdkWA5UofiW_-3wZAr_Bs8NOIwOLw-B7inn2bwKKlgPtZXs0nG6GgQjOgzpA8ETPFxHCsyQv4I/s1600/rollercoaster.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedDGelpeNtYRKNxBGS4LAKDHS7bwnfLu9TOL3HTCG6-DmPvg_BvviD557VWQflaXtrkRdkWA5UofiW_-3wZAr_Bs8NOIwOLw-B7inn2bwKKlgPtZXs0nG6GgQjOgzpA8ETPFxHCsyQv4I/s400/rollercoaster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513953627352773762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Roller Coaster<br /></span></div><br /><br />These two equine speed demons live in Nur Ali Beyg stable not far from Saveh city, 100km from Teheran. The ranch is run by Mr Hossein Ali Khani; his stable manager, Mr Saeed, leads groups of would-be adventurers out on day treks in the surrounding desert.<br /><br />We had learnt of the stable by way of Mr Y. Mousouloo (Mos, in short), a 46-year-old Iranian who runs Amigos Horse Riding in Pasir Gudang, Johor. Eager to introduce riders from this part of the world to Arab horses in his native country, he volunteered to be our guide and resident cowboy.<br /><br />He had gone to Saveh a week earlier to recce the ranch. His report: The saddles and bridles were in good condition and there were enough horses for our team of five. The price: $35 an hour a horse.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Mos’ plan was to have us go out on three day-treks, lasting three to four hours each time. In between, we stayed with his Iranian relatives.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The stable was done up frontier-style.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hYdYK1hHjBmFocnsnUa9RIaThcK9kHelgZlYmcoaQ81BxqJ0A6MbHUhJkLHlLNMYQjEiHUxF3sBcIHwNx8JCnpD0mTpgLbkWXz30sJqGr21LJhXcJV4AdHPoawJPwVTLjngvtwR8e4nS/s1600/the+stables.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hYdYK1hHjBmFocnsnUa9RIaThcK9kHelgZlYmcoaQ81BxqJ0A6MbHUhJkLHlLNMYQjEiHUxF3sBcIHwNx8JCnpD0mTpgLbkWXz30sJqGr21LJhXcJV4AdHPoawJPwVTLjngvtwR8e4nS/s400/the+stables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968045082552962" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">White-washed stalls each held one or two horses.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZM8tqD6n9m7qpaK0C1vFRCMP4jz5QFS7gE-LUAGVMnjrQsxD0eOMjaSjCOSbllDy19SysJ5dyIBdZ02hj4gzurGTNf_BQoMPU3lSMvVV7VqtB4ynCVMb6BgZ5eT-6iazhHJxdVrHqgsE/s1600/inside+saveh+ranch+stables.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyZM8tqD6n9m7qpaK0C1vFRCMP4jz5QFS7gE-LUAGVMnjrQsxD0eOMjaSjCOSbllDy19SysJ5dyIBdZ02hj4gzurGTNf_BQoMPU3lSMvVV7VqtB4ynCVMb6BgZ5eT-6iazhHJxdVrHqgsE/s400/inside+saveh+ranch+stables.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968287652357010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JiWHcozfbAaXfT9R6X-es9S66cLKwuchCxckJ0kgYPpo9qkOG59XpbyQV7MlH-j-spMy7_Ow9nNk3BIn6zbLnKHOqv9yPAEscgLeqUkWSAz2qBoWzqNKTbtxc58nrO21paLJwySsxCX/s1600/barn+horses.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4JiWHcozfbAaXfT9R6X-es9S66cLKwuchCxckJ0kgYPpo9qkOG59XpbyQV7MlH-j-spMy7_Ow9nNk3BIn6zbLnKHOqv9yPAEscgLeqUkWSAz2qBoWzqNKTbtxc58nrO21paLJwySsxCX/s400/barn+horses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513954033520834210" border="0" /></a>The breeding stallions occupied their own row, stamping and snorting every time a mare was led past.<br /><br /><br />All the stable-boys were expert riders. We saw one leap onto a pacing, bucking stallion and attempt a series of higher and higher jumps, defying all his horse’s attempts to throw him off.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YyZr3DjOVpCy1DwdNvxRiHC-UaIPJ5HSldEjUwU3tawkuvxS_QOXOGOb44Ojp7tUjNIyi3X0M3ll1C6Ypq5z2OWb24Sd45NFlON0_6V_mBYZK-bAagMcwJqlKJumJYObXTlJBHPYW-to/s1600/trying+to+jump.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 227px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YyZr3DjOVpCy1DwdNvxRiHC-UaIPJ5HSldEjUwU3tawkuvxS_QOXOGOb44Ojp7tUjNIyi3X0M3ll1C6Ypq5z2OWb24Sd45NFlON0_6V_mBYZK-bAagMcwJqlKJumJYObXTlJBHPYW-to/s400/trying+to+jump.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968584904166034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9m9WGZvfyDdrlbW-xK2hWIZQhQyhyphenhyphenyZg92vt2leJcpqD8bhL8Z3svWCsC21xTWHSmXYUGT7QeFoKpWMlUMgrx0Gsl0cbaNzFW2NHSVyEq4OliyfZXD80LKjouuZaPOe2CCg1oQ9BcHX9/s1600/jumping.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 343px; height: 194px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9m9WGZvfyDdrlbW-xK2hWIZQhQyhyphenhyphenyZg92vt2leJcpqD8bhL8Z3svWCsC21xTWHSmXYUGT7QeFoKpWMlUMgrx0Gsl0cbaNzFW2NHSVyEq4OliyfZXD80LKjouuZaPOe2CCg1oQ9BcHX9/s400/jumping.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513968697611895586" border="0" /></a><br />Just outside the ranch was a long stretch of flat ground where we tested our horses. One of our group soon discovered that her horse had an unbalanced gait; this was the result of a birth defect, Mr Saeed told us.<br /><br />Another found that his horse – we called him Polo Boy – had a bad habit of tossing his head. The rider compensated for this by adjusting the reins, to avoid being jerked forward.<br /><br /><br />But no amount of riding “on the flat” would have prepared us for the experience out on the arid kavir, the Iranian word for desert.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq_HV_ezTCDt6n_svi8x369WmwA1y78rCdf2wvZbkPx-M1QurDkIwpuAZu8ob7QeUi8v8lOy_Y1vHhp932nD1jOqQwziG9r5dk4G87bDnx-8RUNXl2OkqgMJkASYvwZMR1SjAIbB6PyRv/s1600/mos+and+his+girls.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqq_HV_ezTCDt6n_svi8x369WmwA1y78rCdf2wvZbkPx-M1QurDkIwpuAZu8ob7QeUi8v8lOy_Y1vHhp932nD1jOqQwziG9r5dk4G87bDnx-8RUNXl2OkqgMJkASYvwZMR1SjAIbB6PyRv/s400/mos+and+his+girls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513969202498851538" border="0" /></a><br />Nur Ali Beyg is ringed by a series of steep hills, covered in rocks and tumbleweed. With no trees or buildings to break the skyline, the whole prospect looked like a vast desolate sea. It is almost too much for the eye to take in.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgROxnhXhhKePTQ4yv85yLpzYvkFMieJNmF4bRj3pe-u3341AotuhHj-NKNo_I7j7V3Bg6se8GAqa20itm23l44uiE4QxChbXQDLEEMJ34a4WiGvENzvvxBIE0vPYQ7TtU6Xd1dmoCAMX/s1600/trail.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzgROxnhXhhKePTQ4yv85yLpzYvkFMieJNmF4bRj3pe-u3341AotuhHj-NKNo_I7j7V3Bg6se8GAqa20itm23l44uiE4QxChbXQDLEEMJ34a4WiGvENzvvxBIE0vPYQ7TtU6Xd1dmoCAMX/s400/trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513969046688313298" border="0" /></a><br />In the distance, Saveh city shimmered like a mirage. I could imagine what it was like centuries ago, mud-brick buildings almost floating on the sands, a welcome sight for Silk Road merchants steering their caravans through Persia.<br /><br />The fickle early-spring weather added to the drama. It was March. On our first day of riding, the temperature was 18 deg C; on our second trek a week later, it dipped to a chilly 5 deg C.<br /><br />Above all, the silence. Apart from the occasional snort and tramp of hooves, the stillness was absolute. It was very real, very tranquil isolation.<br /><br />With nothing but rocks and scrub, with no sounds of civilised life to guide us, it was easy to get lost – which we promptly did, on our second day trek out. By then, dusk had fallen and it was as dark as pitch. We had to pick our way back to the ranch by following the dim outlines of the white horses.<br /><br />And it was in the desert that the horses really came into their own. Arabs are built for speed and endurance and a four-hour ride up and down steep, rocky slopes did not faze them.<br /><br />Mos took the two more experienced riders off on canters and gallops. Roller Coaster hurled himself up hillsides like a manic albino, kicking up dust clouds as he ran, grey mane flying.<br />Space Mountain’s speed made me think of a particle accelerator. I swear, if the Americans ever needed proof of Iran’s nuclear ambitions, they had only to look that horse up.<br /><br />On the second trek he was too much for me and after he spooked and bolted twice, nearly throwing me off, I decided to try another horse in case I got smashed to atoms.<br /><br />But that was not enough adrenaline for Mos. As we left Saveh to make a loop around the Caspian coast, we made a stop at Langaroud, a seaside town with riding on the beach.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb04BaT70jEUKonphQn6VeJsoQY1DVhO_tT1PK2L39MCsDmF4eSrjLBe2fQzrFSvcBzNa4p6gfkWWC3plIBp2ukUTmSnFfz6an_I_D5nsXf4sBgUWlIW_Y2yAw94qAFSjPQVd4P11C48DL/s1600/caspian+sea+scenary.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb04BaT70jEUKonphQn6VeJsoQY1DVhO_tT1PK2L39MCsDmF4eSrjLBe2fQzrFSvcBzNa4p6gfkWWC3plIBp2ukUTmSnFfz6an_I_D5nsXf4sBgUWlIW_Y2yAw94qAFSjPQVd4P11C48DL/s400/caspian+sea+scenary.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513957347186600850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The horses we rode on the beach were Caspian ponies, a small breed native to Iran, more densely built and stolid. They had grown scruffy over the winter and their tack was of the rough-and-ready variety: rope for bridles, blankets for saddles.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbRQxtzUlHE48WaQLegGJylLfy9jHL2KOmq6iq21H0ZnhQEDloSJ_buMb4v8-jbdzbxtN36KUH1dVLgnWA15k0DpwfHjAtNa5qORR8U7dmjThQ-tni6FYeVenVX992hdO5qu5OZ1sC-Vv/s1600/riding+caspian+ponies.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPbRQxtzUlHE48WaQLegGJylLfy9jHL2KOmq6iq21H0ZnhQEDloSJ_buMb4v8-jbdzbxtN36KUH1dVLgnWA15k0DpwfHjAtNa5qORR8U7dmjThQ-tni6FYeVenVX992hdO5qu5OZ1sC-Vv/s400/riding+caspian+ponies.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5513969548476392818" border="0" /></a><br />It was, essentially, $30-an-hour bareback riding. A somewhat more challenging proposition, since there were no saddles or stirrups to anchor us on the horse.<br /><br />It was also more perilous for the men, anatomy-wise.<br /><br />A bomb could have gone off in front of those horses and they would not have noticed, they were so accustomed to human traffic. The Caspian coast is one of the Iranians’ favourite holiday spots and, given that we were there over their New Year vacation, it was packed to the brim with picnickers.<br /><br />Despite car boom boxes cranked to full volume, gunning motorcycle engines, screaming children and impromptu football games, the horses gamely trotted on up and down the crowded beach. It was, perhaps, less a scenic ride than a chance to make a sociological study of the average Iranian holiday-maker.<br /><br />I found myself missing Space Mountain, but I knew better. Riding without the ability to control a horse with confidence endangers the lives of all riders on the trip.<br /><br />It is not as easy as it sounds. Basic lessons in a riding school are definitely not sufficient preparation.<br /><br />Our last morning in Iran was spent on horseback. I had a new horse this time, a white mare which was, of all things, in heat. She was not as skittish as Space Mountain, but she also loved to run.<br /><br />As I guided her back in a lively trot, the first of the spring rains started to fall, coaxing some of the desert shrubs into tentative bloom. The silhouette of Nur Ali Beyg mountain was dim in the mist.<br /><br />Man, I thought, it is for times like these that I would gladly risk my life. Even on a crazy horse.thekneeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553051211362832481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-50688397562902072212010-07-15T03:36:00.000-07:002010-07-15T03:36:30.989-07:00BacklogHi everyone!<br />
<br />
No we haven't forgotten, though we've been quiet for a while (work work work). There's a bit of a backlog we're working on for some articles and two new ones in the works from Finland and Norway!LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-7372839270787547552010-05-22T18:49:00.000-07:002010-05-22T18:52:20.264-07:00Morocco 2007When I told them where I was going, a lot of people asked me, “Why Morocco?” I can’t say I really knew how to give a straight answer. It was a mix of wanting to go somewhere, and somewhere that was different. Morocco, with its air of exoticism and its unique blend of the Middle East and Europe, seemed to be it. I was travelling solo, and friends and family were worried that there’d be trouble, seeing as it would not be a well known, developed country. As it turned out, it was one helluva adventure and besides being ripped off all over as an ignorant tourist, I was never seriously harassed. <br />
<br />
In any case, I spent quite a few days taking in the sights, and the riding section of my trip was an 8 day jaunt that I booked with Hidden Trails. In the end, I was the only person on the trip, enjoying the services of a cook, a groom, a driver and a guide. Talk about extravagant. The stable was owned by a Swiss lady - Renate and her Moroccan husband, and she was my guide for the 8 days. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl_KJlMVROKksY3vN71z4PEMlgALP1hYYLftfy2ZmVqMVs4fL9Mui0pHnzLVR2HVHKNDwTGDnIbC1XcnlqW2wq3Ec5fUeshZmU3tpU7N5sq3h6vZlswdp8XDkheVg9w6xAoqnPv7U7Jg/s1600/Mahera1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXl_KJlMVROKksY3vN71z4PEMlgALP1hYYLftfy2ZmVqMVs4fL9Mui0pHnzLVR2HVHKNDwTGDnIbC1XcnlqW2wq3Ec5fUeshZmU3tpU7N5sq3h6vZlswdp8XDkheVg9w6xAoqnPv7U7Jg/s320/Mahera1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The horses were rough and tumble horses - small, lean, and strong. It scared me how skinny they were compared to ours but I came to appreciate that it was a build of hardiness and endurance. Mine was called Mahera, a sweet mare who was responsive and steady. We also had with us a greenhorn called Etken on the trail, who was there to gain experience.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Tc-VEbsEcYdVSlVjxOq58n-JVL1MLgDPackhpQNZ60Nnkf0xqDcm3YUOQ8c0UStUXKU7Ioqesii6zmqI1Ufq3rUEvjFqmMz0ngJUd26TT0_EXH2cgIJDcPplf8S9y_mfXekCvap6H0/s1600/mahera2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR8Tc-VEbsEcYdVSlVjxOq58n-JVL1MLgDPackhpQNZ60Nnkf0xqDcm3YUOQ8c0UStUXKU7Ioqesii6zmqI1Ufq3rUEvjFqmMz0ngJUd26TT0_EXH2cgIJDcPplf8S9y_mfXekCvap6H0/s320/mahera2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The trail took us through some incredible scenery and narrow trails along sharp drops that were not for the acrophobic. There were mountains and deep ravines, streams and farmer’s fields. A section even took us to a village perched on a mountain side which I was told, could not be accessed by vehicles. The horses brought us to beautiful abandoned villas, where we picked fresh figs from the trees. We watched the sunset camped next to Roman ruins and had ice cream in the holiest city in Morocco. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh659_wcr9RyTmskPHdhFUFM4vTXt7R5dSH3tk0ub8P6l5iuVyQxlOkCpYy7xanO82RBykcQcLtX2dqVPg9dpono-eCrMboaCBecG6UjEfLidIGjGUou9F3K395bTFDncOgJ7m2NfHD1Po/s1600/ravine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh659_wcr9RyTmskPHdhFUFM4vTXt7R5dSH3tk0ub8P6l5iuVyQxlOkCpYy7xanO82RBykcQcLtX2dqVPg9dpono-eCrMboaCBecG6UjEfLidIGjGUou9F3K395bTFDncOgJ7m2NfHD1Po/s320/ravine.jpg" /></a></div>Our nights were mostly spent in tents and sleeping bags. Washing water came from jerry cans and light from candles and lamps. Mahera would be tethered nearby and as I lay down I could hear her chewing and snuffling at her hay. As the ride consisted of fairly long hours in the saddle, and lots of galloping and cantering, I slept like a baby through each night and could never really finish most of my diary entries! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2gQzkx_7rdlkptmoBP_Fypiqla2Jn_lkFIlLUKg86i-9KyN0XYTRtZN74vtGsRlqWjITyHIL5IjraWX0qpSqsTNCRcGOlfLXEPaqPEMOdYf4dRaFk4nsrV4ytRImPZ-Py6vZ4b0aejk/s1600/accomodation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2gQzkx_7rdlkptmoBP_Fypiqla2Jn_lkFIlLUKg86i-9KyN0XYTRtZN74vtGsRlqWjITyHIL5IjraWX0qpSqsTNCRcGOlfLXEPaqPEMOdYf4dRaFk4nsrV4ytRImPZ-Py6vZ4b0aejk/s320/accomodation.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB96m26WkPjGrCjupaIGlVm1SNNL3BUVUBOFz4Bh-OlC8h3sm3W5u9-l8ar28RXanxFXSDkcJk6CDK4O0ahj8Pe7Ughd7yU9pjYKdeeVkK_j-TehutBupCJG2dUi1su48Bl4Aayk9Sew/s1600/drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcB96m26WkPjGrCjupaIGlVm1SNNL3BUVUBOFz4Bh-OlC8h3sm3W5u9-l8ar28RXanxFXSDkcJk6CDK4O0ahj8Pe7Ughd7yU9pjYKdeeVkK_j-TehutBupCJG2dUi1su48Bl4Aayk9Sew/s320/drinking.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjLSpvRqpQHJuLMM5ADHRVBlMni0iF76UnslwkwGmGQOpNDuhNBKlGU2wsdb2CBI4GqLhfGsiaFp_D2rYi5xa0jyYwQmdbi1j7OpsVmPDDjud_r282APmUXAVjLrWo4pL6K6u8FGq7Nc/s1600/ravine2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqjLSpvRqpQHJuLMM5ADHRVBlMni0iF76UnslwkwGmGQOpNDuhNBKlGU2wsdb2CBI4GqLhfGsiaFp_D2rYi5xa0jyYwQmdbi1j7OpsVmPDDjud_r282APmUXAVjLrWo4pL6K6u8FGq7Nc/s320/ravine2.jpg" /></a></div>Meals were simple and I don’t know if it was the exertion of travelling, but it was some of the most delicious food I have ever had. I put it down to the fact that their food is incredibly fresh. A chicken in the market is selected live, and then killed, stripped and plonked in front of you in a few minutes for you to take home for dinner. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8wLCyXbViVVAxhPUNq57DrYRxzyWNbb9T9tzIxy5gC-JyfLkYwNyxYS4auTcWxlh4biApYz8h1pY1EWwVJ8yZvSfKr-s__4lseIgQtdlJQf6ON77VvOTacU6pz7sAAEtNy7oBpmwL-I/s1600/couscous.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis8wLCyXbViVVAxhPUNq57DrYRxzyWNbb9T9tzIxy5gC-JyfLkYwNyxYS4auTcWxlh4biApYz8h1pY1EWwVJ8yZvSfKr-s__4lseIgQtdlJQf6ON77VvOTacU6pz7sAAEtNy7oBpmwL-I/s320/couscous.jpg" /></a></div> There were so many moments and so many experiences that the few photos hardly do the trip justice. They don’t capture the whooping cries of the farmers urging you to race faster as you gallop by them. They don’t show the children following you through the village (and occasionally throwing rocks!) They can’t quite express the warmth and hospitality of the people. Most of all, there’s the simple and personal joy of spending time with your horse and the rush of adrenalin as she surges forward and gives you wings. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFuMA1yoq6t0TpZ7B2mh-C5Lu8dWD7aMOgbgURUZF4aRSG0pB3p6BDi5BS43eE2BWzaGEcfORdFQKBY3wcp7OjjaT0DzqDZ_IJ79QbBC_v8H6esGTZZmmrcXY4J-yF8aDg02pWXh0Xqg/s1600/galloping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFuMA1yoq6t0TpZ7B2mh-C5Lu8dWD7aMOgbgURUZF4aRSG0pB3p6BDi5BS43eE2BWzaGEcfORdFQKBY3wcp7OjjaT0DzqDZ_IJ79QbBC_v8H6esGTZZmmrcXY4J-yF8aDg02pWXh0Xqg/s320/galloping.jpg" /></a></div><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Li-LSmrEzR0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Li-LSmrEzR0&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br />
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yb5Msz7oK4k&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yb5Msz7oK4k&hl=en_GB&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-79321057790905985942010-04-19T10:38:00.000-07:002010-04-21T05:40:44.002-07:00Christchurch, New Zealand - Part 2<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><strong>Day 2 at Kowhai Riding School</strong></span></span> <br />
by Pauline Wong <br />
<br />
We had a 2-hour lesson in the morning and a 3-hour trail ride in the afternoon. The team of 15 riders was led by the chief instructor who was an elderly lady (at least in her 60s) who rode in shorts, no chaps, and had a military-style training regime...<br />
<br />
Riding with such a large group was already quite a challenge but on top of that we had to canter together in single file. It was fast, and at times we accelerated into a gallop. 90% of the trail was in fast canter, over open farmlands, along footpaths, up a treacherously steep cliff and down again and then charging across plains. For 3 whole hours, we cantered and galloped, with 15 energetic horses and some nervous riders, the thundering hoofbeats and howling wind behind us adding to the excitement and thrill. It was a nerve-wrecking ride and I had to admit I had my heart in my mouth the whole time, with every muscle tensed and wanting it to end.<br />
<br />
Remember Opal the obnoxious bossy horse? I had her the day before and had such a good relaxing ride on her that the hack was a breeze. That day it was the same horse, in the same place, doing the same thing, but I didn't enjoy the ride because the instructor was yelling at us and scaring us out of our wits. In fact I was so happy to have my feet on the ground again after the 3-hour hell-ride. I thought long and hard about the vast difference between the 2 days and came to a realization: That your confidence can be taken away from you within a short encounter and we must be careful not to let that happen. I am a good rider (in my own rights) and I will always love riding.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Day 3 - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.rubiconvalley.co.nz">Rubicon Valley</a></span><br />
I returned to Christchurch and called up another horse ranch at Rubicon Valley to book a 3-hour trail ride for NZ$120. They provided free return transport to Christchurch City Centre. The owners were a nice friendly couple who owned only 18 horses.<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJSarkhhl28npsIAh_VcrgaFo2XfJsikD1lLaftw4796vIz3te4etiaY9gRy8xkKthfU3Js8Uss_YjDzQ1tZXuQm5ob8DtbPI7UQmJW6919u88gzjDeO_ggTanidKYyKqRhyuG9LEK88/s1600/nzd1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461907490061259154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJSarkhhl28npsIAh_VcrgaFo2XfJsikD1lLaftw4796vIz3te4etiaY9gRy8xkKthfU3Js8Uss_YjDzQ1tZXuQm5ob8DtbPI7UQmJW6919u88gzjDeO_ggTanidKYyKqRhyuG9LEK88/s400/nzd1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> <br />
I had a standard-bred named Monty. I’ve heard a lot from my friends about how awkward riding such horses can be because they “paced”. I soon got a feel of what they had been talking about! Instead of trotting in diagonals, he sort of went parallel, so it felt like he was wobbling and it was impossible to sit to the “pace”. But I soon got the hang of it and stood up when he paced and then kicked harder to make him go into canter. They used a stock-saddle (similar to a western saddle) and the horses go on a loose rein, so once Monty knew I was game for a fast ride, it became a breeze getting him to canter. Oh how we cantered! Besides myself there was a Canadian rider who last rode many years ago and was both rusty and nervous. But she was soon smitten by the cantering bug when she saw me having a whale of a time charging across acres of farmland, amid scattering and bleating sheep, until we reached the gate and Monty would automatically slow down. Yes, there were many gates, and the guide had to keep hopping on and off her horse.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkK1hlW5p4MIiWizjEu4CTLt3OB8Y1r-sWo4BivfvaXJpwzSal7TUDFEDb7BNKGDo4BrRoaSWmcg6mVYE-UjVmMX0R5JtKERK0MXGc8K24csos4K_63vYgkvzlXV9IM3lZ3Wnn8ZPH9o/s1600/2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461907864286206914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzkK1hlW5p4MIiWizjEu4CTLt3OB8Y1r-sWo4BivfvaXJpwzSal7TUDFEDb7BNKGDo4BrRoaSWmcg6mVYE-UjVmMX0R5JtKERK0MXGc8K24csos4K_63vYgkvzlXV9IM3lZ3Wnn8ZPH9o/s400/2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 224px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The weather had taken a turn for the worse that day and it began to pour minutes into our ride. But it became a rare treat because we got to wear the famous "dry-as-a-bone" raincoat. It was a long trench coat and there was a buckle at the calf. Besides the thrill of looking like real cowboys, it also kept us dry and out of the wind. I don’t think I could have continued the ride without the coat because despite wearing a jersey and a windbreaker, I was shivering and my hands were numb in my soaking-wet gloves. My nose was also runny by then. But we kept going and decided that nothing was gonna stop us! The trail was much more rugged than the one at Kowhai; there were broken branches strewn everywhere, prickly wild plants sprouting up here and there, and most interestingly, we occasionally ran into sheep and goats. They were really a playful lot, dashing around us as we approached.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oMQk1wB3f9n16x-KZ2dPG3k9LzqfEkoU3zZto_90bstfH1g1oxpiTxMi6B4Gtw7WeRoYXoal6UaFr_N0ti19DdbnUjXfHRLBKQOpP3fsgWR4lMw_pXnp84RMOsVntkz1x5yU3AdGGMU/s1600/3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461908874430583330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8oMQk1wB3f9n16x-KZ2dPG3k9LzqfEkoU3zZto_90bstfH1g1oxpiTxMi6B4Gtw7WeRoYXoal6UaFr_N0ti19DdbnUjXfHRLBKQOpP3fsgWR4lMw_pXnp84RMOsVntkz1x5yU3AdGGMU/s400/3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 205px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>We stopped midway to take pictures and to marvel at the long winding Kamawari River(I think it means freezing cold). The guides had packed scones and hot cocoa in their saddle-bags and we were supposed to stop by the river for tea. But because it was raining quite heavily, we just stopped for a short while and only had tea back at the barn at the end of the ride.<br />
<br />
Because it was the rugged outback, it was inevitable that we had to be careful not to have our eyes poked by prickly branches and to have to duck low-hanging ones. So alertness was of paramount importance. At times we had to trust our mounts and let them gallop up the cliff and other times, we had to sit far back with long reins to let them manoeuver their way down the cliff. We had to maintain our distance between horses and at the same time, ensure that they did not run down the slope because they would tumble head down and we would all be a mangled mess if that happened. (Ok, that was a bit of an exaggeration.)<br />
<br />
All too soon, we were back at the barn - cold, tired and hungry. They had prepared tea for us and what a lovely treat it was to warm our hands and body with some piping hot cocoa and home-made scones! We lingered a while longer, took more pictures with Monty and the guides and then we hit the road again, with cold feet in wet boots, and warm hearts...<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind0nqTPS8qUJuB_LG5EM5PHaD9SCnXOOXJVOywQv6oNPTtHa54leI4g1zSLNQn1hex_mtzpOgUqawIBt7rUC74gef_PbjlMsPOZfALWnNAN2GAhQTBS5dCOgmgr4c1vwDCUu6qlDaPOY/s1600/5.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461909322617789714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEind0nqTPS8qUJuB_LG5EM5PHaD9SCnXOOXJVOywQv6oNPTtHa54leI4g1zSLNQn1hex_mtzpOgUqawIBt7rUC74gef_PbjlMsPOZfALWnNAN2GAhQTBS5dCOgmgr4c1vwDCUu6qlDaPOY/s400/5.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "; font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />
</span></span></span>deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-38442455641470419122010-04-19T02:18:00.000-07:002010-04-19T02:18:33.812-07:00What's Up Next!We are working on a review of Morocco, and hopefully one on Gallop stables in Singapore (depending on work!)LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-71126109237878610652010-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:002010-04-20T07:51:08.511-07:00Christchurch, New Zealand- Part 1<span style="text-decoration: underline;">Equestrian Adventure- Part One<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></span></span></span><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">By Pauline </span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:";font-size:100%;" lang="EN-US" ><br />I took off for NZ Christchurch at a whim on New Year's Eve last year with boots, crop and helmet. I stayed with a host family in Oxford which was only an hour's drive from Christchurch City Centre and a 10 min drive to Kowhai Riding School which I chanced upon on the internet. Being accessible was one big draw, being inexpensive was another. A day’s ride ( 1 lesson+1 trail ride) including lunch cost NZ$215.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAfvoxnzYcz8dr0eN5XZuBt7aUXpvLxMvMAC2odo415MWNs2xTPEZ08LJD4hPd3Pk50LtDc65vSByLpZz3NN7AuiBz2NLzKeJSCElHxXIHxwnBWz16ukL24pok1JCpGzOsdNuKrk3dhE/s1600/pic1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459121811886955650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlAfvoxnzYcz8dr0eN5XZuBt7aUXpvLxMvMAC2odo415MWNs2xTPEZ08LJD4hPd3Pk50LtDc65vSByLpZz3NN7AuiBz2NLzKeJSCElHxXIHxwnBWz16ukL24pok1JCpGzOsdNuKrk3dhE/s320/pic1.jpg" style="display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" width="400" border="0" height="226" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Day 1: Kowhai Riding School</span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> </span></span><br /><br />I arrived at Kowhai (which is the name of a small yellow flower) at 9 am and it was back-breaking hard work from then on !<br /><br />There were about 30 riders that day as it was a public holiday and we were put into groups of 4 to 6 according to age and/or riding experience. First, we each had to catch our own horse from the paddock. Under the guidance of our instructor, we each grabbed a handful of barley and a halter and went looking for our assigned horses. It was indeed overwhelming for riders like me who were so used to stabled horses and were always waited on hand and foot by stable helpers. There were some 80 horses in the paddock and they were amazingly peaceful and harmonious! We did not have to worry about being kicked or bitten so it was so exciting to be in such close proximity with so many horses. We soon located our ride and the instructor gave us a demonstration on how to put the halter on the horse’s head while they were happily munching on the barley. This was but the first of many more demonstrations to come.<br /><br />We led our horses back to the yard and I had a big tall dark bay mare named Opal. I soon learnt that she was like the Alpha female and both of us have something in common- greedy and obnoxious! More on that later... We had to learn to tie a special knot with the halter rope around a pole at the yard and attach it to our horse. We had to be careful to attach it to the raffia string (which tears easily) and not to drop any metal part on the horse or they might injure themselves if they spooked and tried to pull away.<br /><br />After spending a long time figuring out how to tie the wretched knot ( they call it the butterfly knot i think), we had to go to the barn to collect a brush, a curry-comb and a hoof-pick to groom the horse. It was literally back-breaking trying to do Opal’s hind legs. She would rest her weight on me and swish her long thick tail across my face! I swear she was giving me two tight slaps across my face, left then right, and it hurt! I proceeded to put the saddle pad on, then the saddle (you had to be quick yet gentle because the saddle was both heavy and expensive) and lastly the bit which soon became a tangled mess in my hands. The instructor helped me with it and finally we were ready to mount. We had taken a total of 1.5 hours doing all that!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguISRvZlNLS1T7HNRr0VieWop7H7j8H6lpeQRNvhZE70rp4pfNfnjDv-eOJtsoe2vX8kEdRDHinbULJvFbmiYR3wzdudsllInPESXI3SHaLIQexnu4rWryaJQ9yOh72NKFbIr2axSnIE/s1600/pic2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459122201094796194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhguISRvZlNLS1T7HNRr0VieWop7H7j8H6lpeQRNvhZE70rp4pfNfnjDv-eOJtsoe2vX8kEdRDHinbULJvFbmiYR3wzdudsllInPESXI3SHaLIQexnu4rWryaJQ9yOh72NKFbIr2axSnIE/s400/pic2.jpg" style="display: block; height: 227px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The lesson lasted about 2 hours, in an arena which was just hard ground and not sand-filled, so I had a good mind to stay on the saddle no matter what... It was a pity that the lesson soon became boring and laborious for me because they actually put 2 beginner-riders with me and another experienced rider. The experienced ones were asked to canter in the later part of the lesson and boy, that alone made all the hard work in the morning plus the boring bit all worth it! Opal was very forward-going and she had such a lovely gait that it was almost effortless cantering her and we just went on and on, for some 10 rounds, on both the left and right rein. Unlike those horses we get so often in the regular riding schools where you have to kick and push so much, especially round the corners, horses at Kowhai are a joy to ride! They are so lively and so well-schooled that it’s no wonder many of their relatively new riders are able to go on a cantering spree in the open farmland as compared to our local riders who probably had to take many many lessons before they could even get to transit into canter. That’s why people often say a good horse actually teaches you a lot more than you teach the horse.<br /><br />After the ride, we had to untack the horse, give it a sponge bath, clean the tack with soap and water, and feed our horse. After a quick lunch, we went out to prepare for the afternoon hack and we had to do the morning chores all over again! Yes, everything and this time Opal decided to give me some variety: she pooped! Oh my! it was such a huge mound that I had to empty the shovel (which was darn heavy) 4 to 5 times before the ground was clean again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihifxUtMz8Tg3mzielS8i3aO4nIARGf-yAck4uWSitpLtlssNAlr8KxJr_CcquYaNwWgHhzJ47T-JkRz3y27pNL78P3AmTZgJnXeYOvhZrPnwr0qpeIqSzYPZu697f8QebrwiOmJrukto/s1600/pic3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459122908882186146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihifxUtMz8Tg3mzielS8i3aO4nIARGf-yAck4uWSitpLtlssNAlr8KxJr_CcquYaNwWgHhzJ47T-JkRz3y27pNL78P3AmTZgJnXeYOvhZrPnwr0qpeIqSzYPZu697f8QebrwiOmJrukto/s400/pic3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">My group went up the Canterbury hills and it was simply delightful! While the morning was blazing hot, the afternoon was cool and breezy. In fact, it got rather chilly up on the hills and the wind was making a ghoulish howl. Opal was her usual greedy self. She simply had to eat all the way, all the time! If I so much as paused for one second, she would pull the reins out of my hands and stretch her neck for whatever she could stuff into her mouth. Then she would chew on the grass as we moved along. There was no point trying to resist her, she did not take “no” for an answer; she would bend her ears and show you how mean she could be when she got upset! </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogi6rspNAiR00axfnJINZG7ZijSRMour8pOmxiqfXoPMuC3_lxbeGtLjydyw-obZDKKNfBPBzZOQhJmS0JS8F3mtYWFATVugWqAfmdUd5ygKJ2q4f7u9CYIF2SyNbqXuXPraW7tXhhSY/s1600/pic4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459123437932271458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogi6rspNAiR00axfnJINZG7ZijSRMour8pOmxiqfXoPMuC3_lxbeGtLjydyw-obZDKKNfBPBzZOQhJmS0JS8F3mtYWFATVugWqAfmdUd5ygKJ2q4f7u9CYIF2SyNbqXuXPraW7tXhhSY/s400/pic4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:100%;">I had brought along my new Canon Powershot waterproof camera and was merrily snapping pictures with one hand while holding the reins in the other. This was a big no-no but I didn’t want to go home without any evidence of my wonderful time with Opal and my new-found friends. It was extremely relaxing as we trotted up the winding path to the top of the hills. The view was breathtaking; all we saw below was large squares of farmland and as we were lucky to have a clear sky that day, we could see miles ahead to Christchurch! Canterbury Plains has the the flattest land in NZ, so we had an unobstructed view all the way to Christchurch.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj7KG50VzSorUNcoyVK47zccM2hr9XOrxtqM_loTaPOBLFPmjSigJ7Q8rJFogncYlEgOsVkO9Ll8wRiTWo7gycNcmAZPe_sYik2mk7Juy_f76ZnSgFGMhpIz_uN9J0cXqkU9gikL22Bs/s1600/pic6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459124243396180322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVj7KG50VzSorUNcoyVK47zccM2hr9XOrxtqM_loTaPOBLFPmjSigJ7Q8rJFogncYlEgOsVkO9Ll8wRiTWo7gycNcmAZPe_sYik2mk7Juy_f76ZnSgFGMhpIz_uN9J0cXqkU9gikL22Bs/s400/pic6.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 227px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I did some good cantering, though not as much as I would have liked. The trail lasted about 2.5 hours and after that, we had to repeat the chores yet again! After the horses were sponged and clean again, we released them in the field by the river. There was a trough of water in there and that obnoxious, bossy horse of mine actually chased away 2 others who were drinking there. She simply bent her ears and “elbowed” her way between them and the 2 horses briskly moved away; they didn’t even try to “argue” with her. Opal got her way, all the time, but I was so proud of her and also felt such an affinity with her. She could have been my twin!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy93XpI1iYZZVf74civ2JmMTk0QxiVygoi2YhVuxWNUksVmrxz3jbs0dOHrq8U4XP0nyFda-nhGppS8-wTfV5jfd-ezguYVowvwqLqnKm0TC3sdXMYcn2TApvMnuUyckkg8LoqepHbP6g/s1600/pic7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459124898624876258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy93XpI1iYZZVf74civ2JmMTk0QxiVygoi2YhVuxWNUksVmrxz3jbs0dOHrq8U4XP0nyFda-nhGppS8-wTfV5jfd-ezguYVowvwqLqnKm0TC3sdXMYcn2TApvMnuUyckkg8LoqepHbP6g/s400/pic7.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPtAXE9mvIaa74uuQen_lcu3lggTvnGvGcWVvetlJSuoEVjzf-hMsxKlKp64zhcDa4SQqvgV4K_nGm1gwcU8wzTQZeECWfI6FRaJDjDNEYaFhIwa7WuQfgZlz_Co8styM6kiUUTSDBOU/s1600/pic8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5459125372991411410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPtAXE9mvIaa74uuQen_lcu3lggTvnGvGcWVvetlJSuoEVjzf-hMsxKlKp64zhcDa4SQqvgV4K_nGm1gwcU8wzTQZeECWfI6FRaJDjDNEYaFhIwa7WuQfgZlz_Co8styM6kiUUTSDBOU/s400/pic8.jpg" style="display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For more information and rates:<br /><a href="http://www.kowhai.co.mz/">Kowhai Riding School</a>deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-20656407505960111122010-04-08T08:34:00.000-07:002010-04-13T03:01:00.324-07:00Mongolia<span style="font-style: italic;">Photos and text courtesy of Noreen<br />
</span>One good thing about riding in Mongolia- the local ponies are small and are less intimidating to ride than horses...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCMBWygjpjRHQhbHMlO_T0T-khvuvI2Ka18dTCpnCMufXsDEoYaMzjvSDGkdcKiHEBG1Xkb8GIgwfGPfGmwpzt90h4_vcWxfgMkJBpJo29rZOQoCL-8rIsTeVMGZgu_h0w-TvAHf99YM/s1600/Mongolian+ponies+don't+judge+them+by+their+size+they+are+strong+and+sturdy1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457814450132916946" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcCMBWygjpjRHQhbHMlO_T0T-khvuvI2Ka18dTCpnCMufXsDEoYaMzjvSDGkdcKiHEBG1Xkb8GIgwfGPfGmwpzt90h4_vcWxfgMkJBpJo29rZOQoCL-8rIsTeVMGZgu_h0w-TvAHf99YM/s400/Mongolian+ponies+don%27t+judge+them+by+their+size+they+are+strong+and+sturdy1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Mongolian ponies. Don't judge them by their size- they are strong and sturdy</span></div><br />
<br />
The local riding style is different but not too difficult to pick up. To get the ponies to move faster, we say “chu” instead of walk-on, trot or canter. Also, the saddle may take some getting used to- it’s very unlike the English or Western saddles we are accustomed to. Traditional Mongolian saddles are actually made of wood (ouch!) Thankfully, for us tourists, they have custom-made saddles with cushions, which made it more bearable to sit on!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHOW_HQS1tWU6uVO9lfVaRk3Jyz89xQW4o_bclx1-MP8xi3q9Igq6UO9Hz6ueYauyMkE_EeQK7MtmHGE2_Y_4FCuLsEWn_52OKwrsB10jjW8EO5nLrqWeMI050SYbJALzXXFoVFNolPQ/s1600/Mongolian+Saddle-+made+of+wood!+Does+not+look+very+comfy+indeed..JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457812069542767954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHOW_HQS1tWU6uVO9lfVaRk3Jyz89xQW4o_bclx1-MP8xi3q9Igq6UO9Hz6ueYauyMkE_EeQK7MtmHGE2_Y_4FCuLsEWn_52OKwrsB10jjW8EO5nLrqWeMI050SYbJALzXXFoVFNolPQ/s400/Mongolian+Saddle-+made+of+wood%21+Does+not+look+very+comfy+indeed..JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A traditional Mongolian saddle. Made of wood and does not look comfy at all</span></div><br />
Initially, we planned for a 3 day, 2 night ride but because of the rain, we only managed to do a 2 day, 1 night ride and a separate half-day ride.<br />
<br />
The half-day ride brought us past Lake Khuvsgal and up to a hill where we picnicked on local “curry-puffs”, which were yummy and reminded me of Singaporean food. The view was amazing and the horses (ponies actually) were calm- maybe a bit too calm as we were hoping to go faster at some places.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oMV6Br4FwB1Ab7nqjmNqCSNSnLffQ0vraK2P7fhg1kQ3uN6k0WkjuFnKHvmywRmNf1Z5Ijw123F4XkVmZKdUrJ1e5ofoPTRreBZ0LMEhmDJtW5PrYbt4B6-dmKJejExugPjiFiBqb-U/s1600/Another+view+of+the+breathtaking+Lake+Khuvsgul.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457825751990108370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oMV6Br4FwB1Ab7nqjmNqCSNSnLffQ0vraK2P7fhg1kQ3uN6k0WkjuFnKHvmywRmNf1Z5Ijw123F4XkVmZKdUrJ1e5ofoPTRreBZ0LMEhmDJtW5PrYbt4B6-dmKJejExugPjiFiBqb-U/s400/Another+view+of+the+breathtaking+Lake+Khuvsgul.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WyTAyRQOQ4H_fX5SKPmtFfrrHRfULxBgTduHIFP0zuXnaluLhxDaxfoajwnCJLVyoU0zzomDsmzyp-1zWucSjar6UCoHwisrxPEbDvymUJIdCds3uqoxrjBFCUuGhgEpTLzWqVcEoSk/s1600/Mongolia+-+Lake+Khuvsgul4.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457831641924092802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0WyTAyRQOQ4H_fX5SKPmtFfrrHRfULxBgTduHIFP0zuXnaluLhxDaxfoajwnCJLVyoU0zzomDsmzyp-1zWucSjar6UCoHwisrxPEbDvymUJIdCds3uqoxrjBFCUuGhgEpTLzWqVcEoSk/s400/Mongolia+-+Lake+Khuvsgul4.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The breathtaking view of Lake Khuvsgal from horseback</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0feLm5kMAovmE_6jrcCEiDuCoVJoSadgfgMBjO_OERIVoOVIE8PYT1XrajF2GGGxXl7VdoTD2rbS1GSonr0UwwcxS4PTcnaR53_r04hBW2e3qF18BbAoG5kMJ9ZvDa59hs91Da6Q05I/s1600/half+day+ride+pic1.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457817128478440962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0feLm5kMAovmE_6jrcCEiDuCoVJoSadgfgMBjO_OERIVoOVIE8PYT1XrajF2GGGxXl7VdoTD2rbS1GSonr0UwwcxS4PTcnaR53_r04hBW2e3qF18BbAoG5kMJ9ZvDa59hs91Da6Q05I/s400/half+day+ride+pic1.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Our trusty steeds<br />
<br />
</span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnnrHBtllG8o2PKSHtCLtNpA37QzgupKisb4JldfN10YPqsC7eGy7LES6F5jxtD-o-ljnUOtvlzBlf3iVW6C8oNcEI4yFBPPN2w9mpTblfQ-Z84gwuS0uJ7IXa4cp0HFXlXwF0N37ltE/s1600/half+day+ride+pic2.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457819119621486882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnnrHBtllG8o2PKSHtCLtNpA37QzgupKisb4JldfN10YPqsC7eGy7LES6F5jxtD-o-ljnUOtvlzBlf3iVW6C8oNcEI4yFBPPN2w9mpTblfQ-Z84gwuS0uJ7IXa4cp0HFXlXwF0N37ltE/s400/half+day+ride+pic2.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
Sadly, we didn’t get a chance to canter much, as (a) the ponies don’t seem to know what canter is. (b) some trails are only 30cm wide (by the cliff!) so it’s pretty dangerous to canter.<br />
We were also introduced to the local flora, most of which seemed to have medicinal properties to cure sore throat, fever, flu etc. Amazing right?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX0NUtDPxwLuXv7FYqr2fS1vqVePwqeXmv_H27vix4xW7N1LGpVu53d2Fg0vGuxl675v8Wd0PvEDUnLbJOQsFvtN-uJHXihQ40tpw3UJJpKA2U3YUcwXh5iJGlJuCzkVnsyZodyNOVjY/s1600/Plenty+of+green-+just+a+riding+haven!.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457833188863468322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAX0NUtDPxwLuXv7FYqr2fS1vqVePwqeXmv_H27vix4xW7N1LGpVu53d2Fg0vGuxl675v8Wd0PvEDUnLbJOQsFvtN-uJHXihQ40tpw3UJJpKA2U3YUcwXh5iJGlJuCzkVnsyZodyNOVjY/s400/Plenty+of+green-+just+a+riding+haven%21.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Gorgeous green trails- a haven for riders</span></div>Our guide, Jaime, spoke great English. The owner of the horses also joined us, along with his dog which followed us throughout the trail.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZPVDOUWqHAJp4IBIE0p0gA2X9-JlbUDq5Og7uYRE4cDFsLCSn7hCqEMiLgTypfdYzr7Bh9X84ar8fzRcgj4S-qo9SFg-B85P2BSFvlJeTfjQcAzMXr0ViRhFxoEFSOk_Is50RM8jaDk/s1600/taking+a+break.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457839289936618178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7ZPVDOUWqHAJp4IBIE0p0gA2X9-JlbUDq5Og7uYRE4cDFsLCSn7hCqEMiLgTypfdYzr7Bh9X84ar8fzRcgj4S-qo9SFg-B85P2BSFvlJeTfjQcAzMXr0ViRhFxoEFSOk_Is50RM8jaDk/s400/taking+a+break.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Taking a well-deserved break</span></div><br />
<br />
We started off the 2 day, 1 night tour by driving to see a reindeer family. And yes- they do have real reindeer! Apparently, they aren’t easy to ride (and normally no one rides them) because they have loose skin and it’s difficult to keep a saddle in place on their backs. After the reindeer expedition, stayed with a local family. We spent the time chilling and exploring the Mongolian woods. The night was cold, but luckily we had our own “heater” in the house, which was fuelled by fire-wood.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqwhMDKuD9tS3MT8MD6hU8vH_pwsjEH4WcKsW6QnOvr6hyphenhyphenMOemaUCP-sVeRat5llIO9QgLR2PrgesRHRJktZ0JbVNUAekgO-Lr4_F6-zcDPNpf2AdlTACyt2cdJI01Hchpdtak9i1WJs/s1600/Mongolian+houses+aka+gers+-+a+common+sight.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457821816127795202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXqwhMDKuD9tS3MT8MD6hU8vH_pwsjEH4WcKsW6QnOvr6hyphenhyphenMOemaUCP-sVeRat5llIO9QgLR2PrgesRHRJktZ0JbVNUAekgO-Lr4_F6-zcDPNpf2AdlTACyt2cdJI01Hchpdtak9i1WJs/s400/Mongolian+houses+aka+gers+-+a+common+sight.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">A common sight along the trails - traditional Mongolian houses or "gers"</span></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
</span>The next morning, they brought over our ponies- all 6 of them (2 for us, 1 for the guide, 1 for the herd leader and 1 young foal that just tagged along the entire way). The weather wasn’t on our side and it started raining not long after we started riding. At one point, the rain got so hard that it got difficult to see! Luckily, we had our rain jackets which kept our bodies dry and warm. Alas, our rain jackets could only do so much- our breeches and gloves were soaking wet by the time we arrived at our lunch check-point. Thankfully, the family who hosted us for lunch had a big “heater” and we were able to dry ourselves a bit and fill our tummies before getting back into the saddle! We continued on in the rain; which was, thankfully, not as heavy as before and only reached our camp-site in the early evening.<br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div>That pretty much sums up our riding experience in Mongolia. Here’s some information about how we planned our trip:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Time of travel</span> - Aug 2009 (for 16 days)<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />
Place</span> - Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar, Gobi Dessert, Terejl National Park & Lake Khuvsgul<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Cost :</span> Around S$4000 in total<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Air Tickets:</span> We booked our air tickets in Singapore (you will have to go from Singapore to Beijing to Ulaanbaatar- we paid around S$1500 altogether)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Accommodation:</span> Hostel style. There are lots of hostels to choose from in Ulaanbattar itself (e.g., the Gobi hostel, UB hostel, Golden Gobi etc)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic;">Tour Agency: </span>In Ulaanbattar, we used <a href="http://get.to/khongor" style="color: #3366ff;">this agency</a>. It’s run by an English-speaking couple. They were very helpful in arranging for accommodation and tours, which range from a few days to several weeks. You can contact them for more information.<br />
<br />
We took the following tours:<br />
- Gobi Desert tour (6D5N) – no horse-riding on this tour<br />
- Terejl National Park – day trip. I would not recommend it. We did a 2 hour trail ride which was only so-so.<br />
- Lake Khuvsgul, also known as the Switzerland of the East. It was really beautiful and we did a lot of horse-riding here. The duration of the tour is pretty flexible and you can choose how many days you want to ride.deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-14697634100588539092010-04-08T06:47:00.000-07:002010-04-08T07:35:32.360-07:00The Happy Ranch, Siem Reap, Cambodia(Adapted from Rachel's 2008 Cambodia travelogue. Unfortunately there are no photos!)<br /><br />There's something vaguely, charmingly dodgy about Cambodia. The roads are dusty, the traffic is of that genially lethal quality that you get when large numbers of insouciantly ridden motorcycles are combined with rattle-deathtrap cars running on the village's bootleg fuel. The fields were undulating, a verdant emerald green that made you think of Vietnam war movies, dotted here and there by a pensive water buffalo. The people were almost uncommonly friendly: I don't think I've ever had a child wave a giant spider at me by way of greeting before or been treated to a lengthy discourse on corruption in schools by a driver named Phat. <br /><br />Most people go to Siem Reap to take in Angkor Wat, but after three days of sculpture and stone we were quite templed out and other diversions were accordingly sought out.<br /><br />Accordingly, we went riding on two of the days, our nice guides and instructors hailing from Siem Reap's Happy Ranch. Everything in Cambodia is called "happy something" for some reason; I theorised that this is because being "happy" is something of great novelty and importance after the Khmer Rouge. <br /><br />The Happy Ranch, founded by Mr Sary, touts itself as "the only Western-style horse ranch in Cambodia" and is 20 minutes away from the main streets of Sieam Reap by tuk tuk. The tack was of good quality, though a bit makeshift: some of the horses had rope for bridles and stirrups that looked like they were made out of what used to be rubber tyres. The horses were of a small, intelligent Cambodian breed, and there were well fed and groomed.<br /><br />The first occasion was a rather ambitious one for the Boyfriend, him being the equestrian virgin than he was. We went on a two-hour trail ride together with two Cambodian guides to Wat Athvey, a cluster of small temple ruins way off the beaten tourist track. The ride took us through landscape that looked like it came out of The Killing Fields, with paddyfields as far as the eye could see; random loud ethnic music, complete with drum and cymbals, issuing from a house under construction in the middle of nowhere; some guy riding a motorcycle to which a horse was conveniently tethered. There was the odd water buffalo wading through the paddy. It was utterly beautiful in that rustic simplicity sort of way.<br /><br />The countryside was dotted with all sorts of interesting sights, from plots still being de-mined to roadside vendors hawking all sorts of weird and wonderful things. We passed Nissen huts donated by Japanese charities, boys leading cows to the fields and then back home again, children leaping into muddy pools and pulling out small fish, women carrying their babies and shouting out the usual litanies of "Hello! Bye Bye! Bonjour!"<br /><br />Unfortunately the Boyfriend got into several sticky situations, especially one involving the horse tethered to the motorcycle. His mount, a horse named - yes, you guessed it - Happy, decided it didn't like the tethered chap and they both got into a bit of an altercation. Nevertheless, Boyfriend managed to stay on and look appropriately terrified. <br /><br />The second time we went, it was for a lesson with one of the European instructors. Unfortunately I cannot remember her name, but she was relaxed, competent and - a rare quality in riding instructors - not at all shouty. It was mostly flat-work, and the Boyfriend picked up a lot while I aptly demonstrated my rustiness with the canter.<br /><br />The Happy Ranch provides several trail and lessons options for its riders, including day trips to Phnom Krom. More experienced groups can canter and gallop, but less confident riders are also catered for and have the option of enjoying the scenery at a comfortable trot. My only regret is that I didn't get to ride for longer!<br /><br />For Information and Rates:<br /><a href="http://www.thehappyranch.com">The Happy Ranch, Siem Reap</a><br /><br />Trail rates start from US$19 for an hour to US$64 for four hours<br />Classes start from US$19 for a one-hour group lesson to US$25 for a private lessonrachelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08324008613005742398noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-75074931166821390632010-03-31T10:37:00.000-07:002010-04-01T07:07:04.920-07:00Leisure Farm JohoreWe have just been informed that there has been an infectious outbreak affecting the horses at Bale Equestrian Club at Leisure Farm, Johore. The infection is likely to be zoonotic, a type of infectious disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans, or from humans to animals. <br /><br />Riders who are planning to ride at Leisure Farm are advised to shower thoroughly, disinfect/ clean riding gear (especially chaps, boots, breeches etc) before riding at other stables. <br /><br />We are still in the process of trying to get more information about the horses at Leisure Farm. From what we know, they had to put down True Master, one of the school horses. Most of the other school horses are affected, but in stable condition. We will update the blog as soon as we find out more. Meanwhile, if you have information about the horses at LF, please do not hesitate to email us at the admin account riderswithoutborders (at) gmail dot com or send updates via the facebook group.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwq4UXpuxDppPvELoxXIjtHVUhbmZT0wVOC5tysARlKxVobJBHIWU06DEBc_5Z8hmN5KbP9-uwQkCOtKjAiMdSkZM3Ebj-dOVrCXsaq7epKaUmqRw10q_zPXJe9FsnoWIY3ITZyeRxC8/s1600/True+Master.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwq4UXpuxDppPvELoxXIjtHVUhbmZT0wVOC5tysARlKxVobJBHIWU06DEBc_5Z8hmN5KbP9-uwQkCOtKjAiMdSkZM3Ebj-dOVrCXsaq7epKaUmqRw10q_zPXJe9FsnoWIY3ITZyeRxC8/s400/True+Master.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455167036324594322" /></a><br /><br />R.I.P. True Master. You were silly and stubborn at times, but always thoroughly loveable. We'll remember all your silly moments, like the time when you dragged your feet and pretended to be lame in the arena, and then mysteriously got better once we led you back into the stables. Or that time when you freaked out on the polo field and ran whinnying back to the stables (without your rider). I will always remember how you would impatiently paw the ground for more carrots, or stop right in the middle of the arena and try to nuzzle me when I was trying to teach a beginner (you big bully!) You taught me so much about riding and about horsemanship- I'm forever grateful.deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-38490785378188594162010-03-27T09:25:00.001-07:002010-04-10T21:51:13.903-07:00Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre- another update<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s been around 4 months since we’ve started riding at STCRC and I must admit, I’ve been quite happy with our rides there so far. For one thing, the horses are a lot calmer and better-schooled than before. The instructors have been doing an excellent job of training the horses, especially the off-the-track thoroughbreds. And yes, the jumps are finally in- no more barrel-jumping for us! Class sizes are usually pretty small- they can accommodate up to 8 riders per time-slot, and they usually split the riders into 2 groups (adults and kids). All the instructors I’ve had so far have been excellent- they are generally very positive and encouraging, but firm enough to get things accomplished. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">The only real problem we are facing now is the lack of consistency from one lesson to the next- we get different instructors and horses almost every lesson, and very often different/ new riders joining our group as well. Plus, my friends riding in the novice classes are often unable to book lesson slots as the demand for novice lessons is currently very high. Then again, it is a public school catering to lots of riders (like us) who wouldn’t get a chance to ride in Singapore otherwise. If you want to ride in Singapore and you don’t have the cash to afford a club membership, this is definitely the place to go. Just remember to book your lessons waaaaay in advance (you can book lessons up to a month in advance). </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: small;">Info about STCRC can be found in the earlier post. You can only register in person now, and you’ll probably have to pay for 1 trial lesson before the instructors determine which level to put you in. </span></div>deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-31387981198373076062010-03-27T08:53:00.000-07:002010-04-10T21:53:49.499-07:00Polo Shirt up for order!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0IjiTbglTEXDtS-cQKXoLIKOuYIq7h-2DmVdZd7TBiih8vceVQrwaIl7RJQZelYcpzbQnv6nODsDyyGg6bh5Gk1klrZGX7v7ROeJYHDSBa9WAp8_Kl-ZLZLJ9YOozKTNoK1iHhTrkBA/s1600/Riders+Without+Borders+Polo+Front.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a>Get your very own customized Riders Without Borders Polo Shirt! It comes in both men's and ladies' sizes, and in a variety of colours.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0IjiTbglTEXDtS-cQKXoLIKOuYIq7h-2DmVdZd7TBiih8vceVQrwaIl7RJQZelYcpzbQnv6nODsDyyGg6bh5Gk1klrZGX7v7ROeJYHDSBa9WAp8_Kl-ZLZLJ9YOozKTNoK1iHhTrkBA/s1600/Riders+Without+Borders+Polo+Front.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453342772668931042" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU0IjiTbglTEXDtS-cQKXoLIKOuYIq7h-2DmVdZd7TBiih8vceVQrwaIl7RJQZelYcpzbQnv6nODsDyyGg6bh5Gk1klrZGX7v7ROeJYHDSBa9WAp8_Kl-ZLZLJ9YOozKTNoK1iHhTrkBA/s400/Riders+Without+Borders+Polo+Front.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 332px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 369px;" /></a>Front- Embroidered logo and free name embroidery<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YrHnh_9bi4HfdQd5LPa0f75fMxSBP1qnSEPpGr8JShY28Yx_KsQ_X4ynW8Vpn1c8Lhyhbw_HiEuiHfqtlviq-9LReBXEyb4kNoNpBY0hBpCrIhLUf_Cpz9XXvPj7epYJ_12D8M3Fm1Q/s1600/RidersWithoutBorders_polo_back.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453343098743301522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YrHnh_9bi4HfdQd5LPa0f75fMxSBP1qnSEPpGr8JShY28Yx_KsQ_X4ynW8Vpn1c8Lhyhbw_HiEuiHfqtlviq-9LReBXEyb4kNoNpBY0hBpCrIhLUf_Cpz9XXvPj7epYJ_12D8M3Fm1Q/s400/RidersWithoutBorders_polo_back.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 260px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 299px;" /></a>Back of shirt<br />
<br />
Only S$20.50 per shirt! Please email Denise at deee_liu at yahoo dot com dot sg for more info/ orders or check out the group's facebook page!deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-3835300806213947002010-02-06T16:30:00.000-08:002010-02-06T16:32:24.434-08:00Quick Update on STCRCWe were able to do a basic jumping lesson in the advanced class! We don't know if this means it will be a regular feature yet, and the equipment was quite rough - but still it was a lot of fun!LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-46968084397465886562010-01-29T02:15:00.000-08:002010-01-29T02:17:29.517-08:00Riding in Wadi Rum, Jordan, Dec 09Okay, so we promised this one and it's been a long time coming. Put it down to the start of a new year with jobs being incredibly hectic and barely enough time for ourselves! Ironically it was a return visit to the Moroccan cafe at Bussorah St. with its fantastic Middle Eastern food that finally galvanised me to finish this.<br />
<br />
This one's about a ride done in early December 2009 when I visited the Middle East. It was a whirlwind self drive two week tour of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Israel in which I "cunningly" allotted myself some time to take off on my own and indulge in some horse time where Lawrence of Arabia once rode with the Bedouins.<br />
<br />
Even if you don't get to ride there, Wadi Rum has to be one of those 100 places to see before you die. The vista is incredible and pictures hardly do it justice. Taking it in with the good company of a horse and a guide is icing on a rich cake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkgo93o3iUm_Bx09vl_3DOjXm2jYBd42-NjRSU4mT0ukiQXQM2F8GOLOKt-0Cw0n38zLwBLLElJmo1aten31VuMk9D2fQB3Eg_TZvCNVZYvG0fP0uEzoDoHkxnANn6G0q0VKt2glKQAU/s1600-h/Mideast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkgo93o3iUm_Bx09vl_3DOjXm2jYBd42-NjRSU4mT0ukiQXQM2F8GOLOKt-0Cw0n38zLwBLLElJmo1aten31VuMk9D2fQB3Eg_TZvCNVZYvG0fP0uEzoDoHkxnANn6G0q0VKt2glKQAU/s320/Mideast2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The horses are Berber and housed in an outdoor paddock. That and the environment they live in I think, makes them well muscled and strong. Ra'ad (Thunder in Arabic, and affectionately called Bubu) - my horse for the few hours, more than proved he had a lot to give. As we started to trot and canter on the trail, his powerful strides outdistanced my guide's filly and I swear it was because he was a "gentleman" as my guide described him - that I could hold him back, and even then, I was hard pressed. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZbFJyfIMQQVYVwip9PMZeKk43j7b2XLaTj23UtO8fRXXXPUlLnN-1WMf3X6sMWxE9nIvtG_T9OaKcpEa3-DWClfjTmk8Dvc2vWhHZxbD34tbU1C4giKNTidnnGSMjm_JG350-UpcTJs/s1600-h/Mideast3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHZbFJyfIMQQVYVwip9PMZeKk43j7b2XLaTj23UtO8fRXXXPUlLnN-1WMf3X6sMWxE9nIvtG_T9OaKcpEa3-DWClfjTmk8Dvc2vWhHZxbD34tbU1C4giKNTidnnGSMjm_JG350-UpcTJs/s320/Mideast3.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<br />
Out there in the desert though, I had no worries about him racing away. My guide was not keen on galloping that day, and that was probably the only reason that I strove to hold Bubu in. Otherwise I would have been deliriously happy to just let him go. Even if he bolted, there was no worry about roads, traffic, trees or people. Only camels and sheep.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6ce4nt7YL-rZSSc6v2KYvuPkbKscJDhwU4svExHWlXKithKtiaRxakBcsVNxOw5_-d6wFO_NwLNuN_cJl_FqLEuyv44Xal87TIhXRVcNE_aidO38l36QYEV0ererqmyqSgrBYHdSKqU/s1600-h/Mideast1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6ce4nt7YL-rZSSc6v2KYvuPkbKscJDhwU4svExHWlXKithKtiaRxakBcsVNxOw5_-d6wFO_NwLNuN_cJl_FqLEuyv44Xal87TIhXRVcNE_aidO38l36QYEV0ererqmyqSgrBYHdSKqU/s320/Mideast1.jpg" /></a></div>Though it was supposed to be a full day ride, my guide was worried about the weather. As luck would have it we were rained on the day before at Petra, and true enough as we ended the 2 hour morning ride at the stable, it began to drizzle. Lunch was a simple eggplant stew with canned tuna and pita bread and after that, it was decided to cancel the afternoon ride, much to my dismay. <br />
<br />
My ride was with Jordan Tracks, a company recommended by Jordan Jubilee which is a travel info blog that I used for research when planning the trip. The company founder, Mr Saleem was my guide for the day. He was a friendly and affable companion and tried to teach me an Arabic song as we rode. Their sweet hound dog Wardah came along to be our companion for a while when we stayed over at their campsite in the desert. The company does six or seven day trips as well and it is my fond hope that one day in the future I will return to ride in the desert.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TO-KbhBJwnKk_Shbcquw_4UVyCL9t6_15PmW-NajxDRHl4yWLYCL-uX_RxF1MW3MFkI-uZeYIUIQvtsHiErqzOBDQptT-lccvWqwjNd2xC5anB0hV_wFTa23i8H_TXZGtFy6I97ltjk/s1600-h/Mideast4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TO-KbhBJwnKk_Shbcquw_4UVyCL9t6_15PmW-NajxDRHl4yWLYCL-uX_RxF1MW3MFkI-uZeYIUIQvtsHiErqzOBDQptT-lccvWqwjNd2xC5anB0hV_wFTa23i8H_TXZGtFy6I97ltjk/s320/Mideast4.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Information and Rates:<br />
It is best to visit the website or email Jordan Tracks for current rates.<br />
My one day with overnight was quoted at 100 JD. <br />
Website: <a href="http://www.jordantracks.com/">Jordan Tracks</a><br />
Email: <a href="mailto:saleemali@jordantracks.com">saleemali@jordantracks.com</a><br />
<br />
Website: <a href="http://www.jordanjubilee.com/outdoors/riding.htm">Ruth's Jordan Jubilee</a>LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-42925413777162623372009-12-17T00:50:00.000-08:002009-12-17T00:52:46.791-08:00The Middle EastBack from the Middle East and a ride in the Wadi Rum in Jordan. Will be doing a write up on that. Also coming - some words on Riders Lodge, which we've not done yet!Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12136105352239468045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-52552542861144256142009-11-26T10:00:00.000-08:002010-04-09T20:46:51.801-07:00Singapore Turf Club Riding Centre (STCRC)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZu3S2Uf-dGPZOXiybkEzRWb-Vq5f1Nhwh5YfEGN_EzjM-8v4lza3t5pjF4o7rlQedD4bxOC61pHcWHHrdYzudwKl3AbZ1CVZd1zQBRZhT8HnzAl3-z0zO9ww_w2DhD4Pn14gg6fQ2m0/s1600/IMG_2108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZu3S2Uf-dGPZOXiybkEzRWb-Vq5f1Nhwh5YfEGN_EzjM-8v4lza3t5pjF4o7rlQedD4bxOC61pHcWHHrdYzudwKl3AbZ1CVZd1zQBRZhT8HnzAl3-z0zO9ww_w2DhD4Pn14gg6fQ2m0/s320/IMG_2108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408479198220055906" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >After months of anxious anticipation, numerous phone calls and admin hiccups, we finally got a chance to ride at STCRC last Sunday. I must admit, the facilities are indeed world-class. The sheer size of the indoor arena was utterly luxurious, if not a little overwhelming.</span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44QSSzu4wVrkQY4BnexpJ3f9ef0EUayCCpy1iWd-x1VWJtjsaedIci2P-rgxHQ1Wkhur0-r1bSlB5hkqWV2TaHWEhPT4V-ODtubnbXj8T3lEqVB_TKN1nj4owJzFZwTk2cNdDoLWEvBE/s1600/IMG_2110.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg44QSSzu4wVrkQY4BnexpJ3f9ef0EUayCCpy1iWd-x1VWJtjsaedIci2P-rgxHQ1Wkhur0-r1bSlB5hkqWV2TaHWEhPT4V-ODtubnbXj8T3lEqVB_TKN1nj4owJzFZwTk2cNdDoLWEvBE/s320/IMG_2110.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408479206852412770" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFjt7AesaGv_Uim_z-z_D4OD11csjIjdq3FiFr7zGVXKwjEa5W4xE4p50y7iqp50H2xmxJlulKfrdL5Wd5lN_1tVgM9cviJ22j0rYbU_k8Cmt0FLX5iK1cMYNyIaIH3xZOWk4U0WquA/s1600/IMG_7985.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFjt7AesaGv_Uim_z-z_D4OD11csjIjdq3FiFr7zGVXKwjEa5W4xE4p50y7iqp50H2xmxJlulKfrdL5Wd5lN_1tVgM9cviJ22j0rYbU_k8Cmt0FLX5iK1cMYNyIaIH3xZOWk4U0WquA/s320/IMG_7985.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408484577642747202" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">In any case, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about glove tan-lines or wet weather riding anymore. And talk about being spoiled- even the sand on the ground was made out of some synthetic material which was virtually dirt-free but hell to get out of our clothes and boots (it came out in weird clumps). What more- the syces walked our horses right down to the arena, helped us mount, and then took the horses back to the stables for us after we finished our ride. Personally, I'd prefer helping to tack up / bringing my horse back to the stables... but unfortunately the riding school's policies don't allow for that... </span><br /></span></p><p face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwZQSZHIFg3dCwn2Av25hcOH0UlI1GI2Ch_gYTG7mFFX99zW3DMQA6yQN4r2GZPGBpaSRRna8Wg5cqU5TXiMqEp84W7vS2U7KgmJ7awsQ1WTTG_333kzHWH_O_61y-5N1G3Z8IOU5L2A/s1600/IMG_7989.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 344px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwZQSZHIFg3dCwn2Av25hcOH0UlI1GI2Ch_gYTG7mFFX99zW3DMQA6yQN4r2GZPGBpaSRRna8Wg5cqU5TXiMqEp84W7vS2U7KgmJ7awsQ1WTTG_333kzHWH_O_61y-5N1G3Z8IOU5L2A/s320/IMG_7989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408477873165210642" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" face="trebuchet ms" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQM2T14cLN_ZmKZBnGKRV7wFHWmJBXLeguViLv0TpMVGsR2wGq01blOSUSCdB5CdqHjEeiF932S5CA3PqVGx2otOASx1nFVTg7u16kzlgoKLKRb8HPP1FQXO6-0XE2YpY7vM-jBiLzx4/s1600/IMG_7988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrQM2T14cLN_ZmKZBnGKRV7wFHWmJBXLeguViLv0TpMVGsR2wGq01blOSUSCdB5CdqHjEeiF932S5CA3PqVGx2otOASx1nFVTg7u16kzlgoKLKRb8HPP1FQXO6-0XE2YpY7vM-jBiLzx4/s320/IMG_7988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408484587870100914" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;">The horses were all a little fresh and excitable. Mine was ultra sensitive and kept bolting at a certain corner of the arena and wanting to break into a canter, probably a reflection of my inexperience in riding highly-trained, non-school-master type horses rather than a problem with the horse’s schooling. The other advanced riders seemed to have pretty good rides, and the instructor seemed competent as well. It was just a little unnerving watching two riders (both kids) fall within the span of two lessons- one of whom was a novice rider who had a syce holding onto her pony when it bolted. <o:p></o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">That being said, the horses and ponies <i style="">are </i>very new and will need time to settle down before they get used to the new place. Hopefully things will improve when all the teething problems get worked out (including the extremely vexing lesson booking policies). <o:p></o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">Unfortunately, riders are not allowed to visit the horses at the stables unless they book stable management classes. That means no post-ride carrot-feeding, showering the horses or hanging around the barn after lessons- a huge pity imo!<o:p></o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Information:</span></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal">Check out their <a href="http://www.stc-ridingcentre.com/index.html">website</a> for more information<br /><o:p></o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Type of riding: </span>Mainly dressage. Jumping for Advanced riders only. <o:p></o:p></p> <p face="georgia" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic;">Riding fees</span>: $60 per 45 min for public riders ($15-35 for students, see website for more details). <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="font-family: georgia; font-style: italic;" class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Location:</span> </span><st1:street style="font-family: georgia;" st="on"><st1:address st="on">10 Woodlands Avenue</st1:address></st1:street><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:trebuchet ms;" > 3. <a href="http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_5922/travel_site_123744/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Map</span></a><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >STCRC is a 10 to 15 minute walk from Kranji MRT. If you’d like to take the bus instead of walking the whole way, cross the road (from Kranji MRT), take almost any bus and alight after 1 bus-stop and walk.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-89927078013633142342009-11-22T22:43:00.000-08:002009-11-22T22:48:46.844-08:00Can Jou in Catalonia, Spain (2004)Some of these accounts go back a few years and there’s a little catch up going on with older travel journals. One of these was a trip I made to Spain in 2004. This was the first big trip I’d made solo and I think I went a little overboard in making sure everyone knew where I was going and what I was doing – just in case anything happened. <br />
<br />
After a look around the internet, I found a company called Hidden Trails (incidentally I’ve used this company for two trips so far and found them reliable and good with service.) and I picked the Mountain to the Sea ride in Catalonia, Spain because... it was on special due to it being a low season trip.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOqnolsmnTyouwjNBmENjpULh1jZxk4bH6lHWugaM-TXJcfdeanTYFPFY8zOFuzHbtBV-QbZ4KxcPW2AcrUR9tTI4AhD2iHTCnqzrSsBqDtWdrrMqN_qJM7togwEHsT5MekoqC_OMhHo/s1600/sagrada1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOqnolsmnTyouwjNBmENjpULh1jZxk4bH6lHWugaM-TXJcfdeanTYFPFY8zOFuzHbtBV-QbZ4KxcPW2AcrUR9tTI4AhD2iHTCnqzrSsBqDtWdrrMqN_qJM7togwEHsT5MekoqC_OMhHo/s320/sagrada1.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Flying into Barcelona, I spent my first three days exploring the city, gazing at Gaudi’s masterpieces and eating seafood. On the fourth, I was picked up from the airport in Barcelona and was joined by two Swedish ladies travelling together and two German ladies who were also going solo. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfllZ43s1ZINnragckAPXHObkApt0_qCD-3raZelKfyEU5t80r-yQIqFBkg45a3-dgIq8csk-vEf2Vv6xw1tKf2wFJAKjREv9jGk4bl22sgHAA51GewIeM-lGHYzb2AKlwQaNiNyYupQs/s1600/canjou10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfllZ43s1ZINnragckAPXHObkApt0_qCD-3raZelKfyEU5t80r-yQIqFBkg45a3-dgIq8csk-vEf2Vv6xw1tKf2wFJAKjREv9jGk4bl22sgHAA51GewIeM-lGHYzb2AKlwQaNiNyYupQs/s320/canjou10.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>It would be too long to do a blow – by – blow account of the trip. My first night there was spent in the beautiful country house of Can Jou, the ranch where we started the ride. We were introduced to the horses who would carry us over six days, (mine was a bay pony called Estrella) and our guide Rudy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL8-EHfBU0g81PUFDKM3wD9EjpwHM2kx5gAHjDNuQlKfD3I-FJOt6cNlWbOq3BlICvXi-ivYbRh8zjEzt1tgSjXrnMONeKEe_NS-9DqG8Td1IbEaCgAuymh-nnUpI1s39sprEqgyIbGQ/s1600/canjou12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL8-EHfBU0g81PUFDKM3wD9EjpwHM2kx5gAHjDNuQlKfD3I-FJOt6cNlWbOq3BlICvXi-ivYbRh8zjEzt1tgSjXrnMONeKEe_NS-9DqG8Td1IbEaCgAuymh-nnUpI1s39sprEqgyIbGQ/s320/canjou12.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Memorable moments included going up the hills on the first day and getting rained on – a cold, slushy rain, with frost gathering on the ground. Having wine, cheese, bread and ham on the side of a meadow in the hills and then catching a flu from being soaked and cold. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDeKhKkkiOTYmuCAM8Gw8HRVvYR8R9s021EA4uq9wZGzy1bSFEQKy5NxTzZ0d0AtCHo5mcauNBC-QBN0_zRGYWk_HYCoq7vvw6JC7piymfmsZ1rTEn2UOQ-Fr4OhrEcvQvdUJEbWPnCw/s1600/1day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioDeKhKkkiOTYmuCAM8Gw8HRVvYR8R9s021EA4uq9wZGzy1bSFEQKy5NxTzZ0d0AtCHo5mcauNBC-QBN0_zRGYWk_HYCoq7vvw6JC7piymfmsZ1rTEn2UOQ-Fr4OhrEcvQvdUJEbWPnCw/s320/1day3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>But I think one of the amazing moments of the trip happened on the second day. We started our ride from the mountains to the Bay of Roses and we passed through the forest and a village, our horses’ hooves ringing out on the road. After a short stop in the village to pick up provisions for lunch, we left through the surrounding fields. The village was on the floor of a valley and as we rode across the valley the wind began to pick up. The fields began to sway and the rush of wind whistled past us. The horses were alert, their ears pricked. The sun still shone into the valley through the clouds, creating a bright glow across the floor. On top of this golden glow, dark grey thunderheads sat and we knew that they would soon be sweeping down on us. Rudy called us to gallop – we had to make it to the other side of the valley before the storm came down. With a cry of “Allez!” we were off, six horses and riders, racing across the swaying fields with a storm bearing down, illuminated by the air. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO259M85unhawSnZxUOP1s8DlCxplPVHoa4lZnCv3M2x8fltxHZ_U0_72ymtQ3hqE3LYPQYx2ErjBAjryYBloRc0CW3DNxElF1VYhYYC7bDmiKphcAhKYfmVtksmdU5uiIgJr2EVUhRUw/s1600/3day15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO259M85unhawSnZxUOP1s8DlCxplPVHoa4lZnCv3M2x8fltxHZ_U0_72ymtQ3hqE3LYPQYx2ErjBAjryYBloRc0CW3DNxElF1VYhYYC7bDmiKphcAhKYfmVtksmdU5uiIgJr2EVUhRUw/s320/3day15.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8n4AVnjQ3TwFFZTlwftb_btTS4rTIG1tcdmiZX9ZD_jN6zSwdOgo708kdZ0_hOIg6ts_QtffVHCaPHVY0vw8MAxqqw3zTYghdm7JeG1dCETlijuzMfYdUqhoV4WbZdC7Cxj7gB8sWv8/s1600/5day14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8n4AVnjQ3TwFFZTlwftb_btTS4rTIG1tcdmiZX9ZD_jN6zSwdOgo708kdZ0_hOIg6ts_QtffVHCaPHVY0vw8MAxqqw3zTYghdm7JeG1dCETlijuzMfYdUqhoV4WbZdC7Cxj7gB8sWv8/s320/5day14.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>The ride description advises that riders be in fairly good shape for this ride, and they are not joking. We were on horseback for at least five hours most days, and one day we were on for eight hours! For a part of the trail we got off the horses and hiked uphill and down, leading them for about half an hour. We had long gallops that made us groan for the ache in our backs even as we were exhilarated to race down the trail. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVnko2AtvCvzki0n9Romxz8Orkl-cILDFnmM91-XziApArGnv8SAoHlmwfxazUCABvpYGRFo8O19J0M26Y8Rkm1IGraUfg_XNOn_9a4KyMGM1-Zfb-xxrOjCyCWMUStC8VpAVvCyu1gA/s1600/2day8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVnko2AtvCvzki0n9Romxz8Orkl-cILDFnmM91-XziApArGnv8SAoHlmwfxazUCABvpYGRFo8O19J0M26Y8Rkm1IGraUfg_XNOn_9a4KyMGM1-Zfb-xxrOjCyCWMUStC8VpAVvCyu1gA/s320/2day8.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>Yet despite riding with a cold, and aching from the physical exertion, it was an incredible experience that was well worth it. The accommodation was in very comfortable country style hotels and the meals were excellent. There were lunches in the countryside, and the meal I remember best was a lamb stew dinner at an old farmhouse hotel we were staying at. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe50t4sPpn4m56IAp51V9ur5acZygOuQL7hnQ7CPTJjPdiDCoc10KAYK4dfQ7fX_yW4Oke8ynnDutmwn_-49_kes1pM7UywTqK8x0T09kvv-uNg893wK9BeX0Q2io9RsBA0CCNsZ-gEiE/s1600/4day11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe50t4sPpn4m56IAp51V9ur5acZygOuQL7hnQ7CPTJjPdiDCoc10KAYK4dfQ7fX_yW4Oke8ynnDutmwn_-49_kes1pM7UywTqK8x0T09kvv-uNg893wK9BeX0Q2io9RsBA0CCNsZ-gEiE/s320/4day11.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pMb4zDJ1IILVrudRFECFW3dSBDtyR-CQgrtZeOALbQ64o5M1jSLtgMQkm4O3cALVTbGBGdkl3xOvxdCH5PyJU3RImdSqBJZo3n6URa1QEiLfH39rvgJHeGtSa6jjQdYp3jqV0825n2A/s1600/5day21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pMb4zDJ1IILVrudRFECFW3dSBDtyR-CQgrtZeOALbQ64o5M1jSLtgMQkm4O3cALVTbGBGdkl3xOvxdCH5PyJU3RImdSqBJZo3n6URa1QEiLfH39rvgJHeGtSa6jjQdYp3jqV0825n2A/s320/5day21.jpg" /></a><br />
</div>After riding through the old villages and forests, and galloping across the grey beach and into the waves, we ended with a champagne celebration back in Can Jou, a bubbly finish to the adventure.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj7UwgZGZoW6r4Bnu2nrTHjNw0PYnceA3kk4EzhAuYnqAJSZeNaJPYrqlduOS4PhulaifMnpMkPAev33S83wfrdPf-EQJrP8Sp5pRgR0Lb4YD1hM85W7ss6h1C4A_KzK0qwv_TNiYFr8/s1600/P3251658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvj7UwgZGZoW6r4Bnu2nrTHjNw0PYnceA3kk4EzhAuYnqAJSZeNaJPYrqlduOS4PhulaifMnpMkPAev33S83wfrdPf-EQJrP8Sp5pRgR0Lb4YD1hM85W7ss6h1C4A_KzK0qwv_TNiYFr8/s320/P3251658.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BSSQHXZsfFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BSSQHXZsfFM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">For more information:<br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.canjou.com/cavalls/">Can Jou (the ranch)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.hiddentrails.com/">Hidden Trails (the trail riding company)</a><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div>LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-11834460613217073042009-11-22T05:15:00.000-08:002009-11-26T10:49:37.754-08:00Amigos Horse Riding- Pasir Gudang, Johor<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-style: italic;font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >C</span><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:100%;" >antering through the lalang on calm, collected horses in the company of great friends (and a little dog!) – who could ask for more?</span><br /><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hG4u8VOy-IYS3G0U9rkqBvNQ96t0dD1i1Gyz29-TdhpWcpULS7bBltySdYuXl0ISPzT37fN_9Kv3kYyvuJfR62QrCFwhN5IGltB7ohBTOG5vTOGQQuaSgPG3gkLdv98pWpZ-dPUvNdY/s1600/jungle.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406921345249112050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0hG4u8VOy-IYS3G0U9rkqBvNQ96t0dD1i1Gyz29-TdhpWcpULS7bBltySdYuXl0ISPzT37fN_9Kv3kYyvuJfR62QrCFwhN5IGltB7ohBTOG5vTOGQQuaSgPG3gkLdv98pWpZ-dPUvNdY/s320/jungle.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a>When I first heard about Amigos, I was just a tad skeptical about riding at a <i>Western </i>place. What would an English rider like me do at a ranch? Ride on a funny-looking saddle with a saddle-horn and sit to the trot all the time? Nah. Not really my thing. (Or so I thought!)<o:p></o:p><br /><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">What more, I haven’t exactly had the best experiences on trails. Horses tend to like taking off with me or galloping away when I least expect it, leaving me clinging on for dear life and/or screaming my lungs out, much to the chagrin of my poor riding companions, who usually have to chase after me or wait until my horse tires out and comes back. <o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">Amigos Horse Riding dispelled some of the weird notions I had about Western riding, and gave me the confidence to really enjoy a trek through the jungle for the first time in a really long time. For one thing, the Western saddle grew on me. It is way comfier than an English saddle and the saddle horn does come in handy at times. Just remember, don’t lean forward and impale yourself! And besides, you *can* rise to a trot in Western saddle. You probably wouldn’t want to if your horse doesn’t have a bumpy trot though, since it’s pretty comfy to sit to a trot in a Western saddle.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">In any case, the owner of the place, Mousouloo (or Mos) combines techniques from both English and Western riding.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBFOJslGBy3paIAONaJRtLRJ-CarojMJTDpAHUhWljBFyID6YrWLUEFQKQrnc6_p6dPjxcmwkBG9Lm1Lrshok1orjHj5AFdkMA536VpvAtYjca-JpZPiaczXx74Rmb_mBCry1etvfG3k/s1600/mos.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406921866289113074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBFOJslGBy3paIAONaJRtLRJ-CarojMJTDpAHUhWljBFyID6YrWLUEFQKQrnc6_p6dPjxcmwkBG9Lm1Lrshok1orjHj5AFdkMA536VpvAtYjca-JpZPiaczXx74Rmb_mBCry1etvfG3k/s320/mos.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; text-align: center; width: 265px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">He also prides himself in his “herd” of well-trained Thoroughbred trail horses.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4evmSfqJSBltrQV5cX1ZklWNreLHsLv3GpVJ-0G6lIA-sQXdx9ssQ1SnzAIGSCDSgY2K5Maqsm_RmmhJUSLEZZb3ys4QTJJsDbq5jVEXAeJmZjO_LBEudGNCtiL7go4mwjxhE42FIJF0/s1600/herd+of+horses.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406921587887567442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4evmSfqJSBltrQV5cX1ZklWNreLHsLv3GpVJ-0G6lIA-sQXdx9ssQ1SnzAIGSCDSgY2K5Maqsm_RmmhJUSLEZZb3ys4QTJJsDbq5jVEXAeJmZjO_LBEudGNCtiL7go4mwjxhE42FIJF0/s320/herd+of+horses.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 239px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f50Ec5aREN6zG-BaJBdrgJQu5McusrqsMHUwRvL4yXnrc6rJyVUFVCX6a1YBlR4j2mRUnRJnwNT6fSEwmOYp9FzB9EoSlDs63XGzz6ODShbrl8m-D-qT4ULZrmafwPfApZRPnjTv4zI/s1600/horsie.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406922813974607362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8f50Ec5aREN6zG-BaJBdrgJQu5McusrqsMHUwRvL4yXnrc6rJyVUFVCX6a1YBlR4j2mRUnRJnwNT6fSEwmOYp9FzB9EoSlDs63XGzz6ODShbrl8m-D-qT4ULZrmafwPfApZRPnjTv4zI/s200/horsie.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; text-align: center; width: 150px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">His motto? “Don’t worry, enjoy!” He has full confidence in his horses, and his confidence is definitely well placed. His horses are true-blue trail horses- they follow Mos’ horse to the tee. Which really isn’t a bad thing- you don’t have to be worried that your horse will run away with you or decide to race with the horse in front (which incidentally, always happens to me!) Mos also managed to find a fine balance between fun and safety- he let us canter a fair bit but was always mindful of each individual rider, turning around to check on us from time to time throughout the trail.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">We usually go for the Jungle Trail ride, which takes you through the oil palm plantations to a vantage point where you can see the <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Johor</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Straits</st1:placetype></st1:place> and Pulau Ubin.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a aiotarget="false" aiotitle="" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_waTcsZWlcQoDhr3b3McCsnrpyri1V9LfV4ZzNrE8Nwtb9TzFYTeCbr0Qbhm8c1U2WCJn3Lm4CgXOmO3qs2CNJAxRDcPnRCCsx18VI0GYdhZR1b9bLw4OuJ4Qwi7QDEaDcQsfclkp3y8/s1600/amigos1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406919781348041058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_waTcsZWlcQoDhr3b3McCsnrpyri1V9LfV4ZzNrE8Nwtb9TzFYTeCbr0Qbhm8c1U2WCJn3Lm4CgXOmO3qs2CNJAxRDcPnRCCsx18VI0GYdhZR1b9bLw4OuJ4Qwi7QDEaDcQsfclkp3y8/s320/amigos1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">The best part? Experiencing the sheer exhilaration of cantering through the <i>lalang, </i>with the wind whipping on your face as your horse leaps through the tall grass.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQJYV6Gu1j3CTa0_LOsE5Y3srqqqKz5ijvB45sYfQQuR3pbmbvU1rdUK9xvhrfPkPmPixFdOS_gg2Oq5-kGbfH24jnZiuj5I1WV1casvln3dZDwi1pz7a6nXOQIKyfxCxfMkMFFssRXg/s1600/lalang!.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406922318444873394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDQJYV6Gu1j3CTa0_LOsE5Y3srqqqKz5ijvB45sYfQQuR3pbmbvU1rdUK9xvhrfPkPmPixFdOS_gg2Oq5-kGbfH24jnZiuj5I1WV1casvln3dZDwi1pz7a6nXOQIKyfxCxfMkMFFssRXg/s320/lalang!.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" border="0" /></a><br /><o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">Amazingly, the little doggie that follows us on the trails manages to jump through the grass and keep up with the cantering horses- without getting stepped on.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCeESyGKTsjOhtgNvO-LEIOUud7Rc8V3NCgpQsGDC4724jDoe2jEZCP-jTHXETgz1QzZMMBNltiI2iTlt3IOSvOjYeCNhE-QDiK5YZGoH_4Kvpw5bI6pa-yrLxviVLo-WxhTVEjnuBkE/s1600/amigosdoggie.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406923622401376226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCeESyGKTsjOhtgNvO-LEIOUud7Rc8V3NCgpQsGDC4724jDoe2jEZCP-jTHXETgz1QzZMMBNltiI2iTlt3IOSvOjYeCNhE-QDiK5YZGoH_4Kvpw5bI6pa-yrLxviVLo-WxhTVEjnuBkE/s200/amigosdoggie.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 179px; text-align: center; width: 238px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia">The only downside? The trails are a little limited. We went on the same trail all 4 times we rode there. Unfortunately, there’s quite a bit of construction going on as well. The horses were completely unfazed though!<o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" face="georgia"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;">Amigos is not just for experienced riders. My novice friends had a great time walking and trotting through the trails under Mos’ guidance. Mos also conducts a 8-session riding course for beginners.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;">Happy riding!<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQnVCaWq4zrgtXN1w3hg_ZXaDLSyynYwhjAUNAJspev171CD5UqqU0f8Z1eG0h7EylIPmYh-CbloJ3G8ADgr-t6RzdYN6_ry4FbuWiJAqnMQgWFtfbHw8DSN7d9Z2uov6GrRBMXsl5TY/s1600/brian.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406923211153389154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQnVCaWq4zrgtXN1w3hg_ZXaDLSyynYwhjAUNAJspev171CD5UqqU0f8Z1eG0h7EylIPmYh-CbloJ3G8ADgr-t6RzdYN6_ry4FbuWiJAqnMQgWFtfbHw8DSN7d9Z2uov6GrRBMXsl5TY/s200/brian.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; text-align: center; width: 200px;" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:180%;">Information:</span><o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Location: </span>Amigos Riding is located within Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort, in Pasir Gudang, Johor. It takes about 45 min to drive there from <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Singapore</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Price: </span>Jungle ride –rm100 for 45 min to an hour. Basic riding course – rm800 for 8 lessons (45 min each)<o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Getting there: </span>We usually grab a cab from the checkpoint, near <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">City Square</st1:address></st1:street>. It’s around rm30-35 per way and roughly a 30-45min cab ride. Alternatively, Mos can help you arrange for transport from JB or <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Singapore</st1:place></st1:country-region>. <o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Website:</span> <a href="http://amigoshorse.tripod.com/">http://amigoshorse.tripod.com/</a><o:p></o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: georgia;"><o:p> </o:p><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Contact information: </span>you can call Mos at </span><span style="font-family:georgia;">+6012-7966 806 or email him at </span><a href="mailto:mousouloo@gmail.com" style="font-family: georgia;">mousouloo@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br /></div>deehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543281149050485655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-80210669163063245782009-11-16T22:19:00.000-08:002009-11-16T22:19:06.989-08:00IntervalWe have a few reviews coming up, we've just been so bogged down with work lately that they're taking a bit of time to write! Watch this space for rides in Spain and more in Malaysia! :)LinZhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16110134949647274604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8824375731271588783.post-30563351193961847022009-11-03T20:04:00.000-08:002009-11-26T10:55:28.268-08:00The Umalas Equestrian Resort Bali<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ9hHXi4soptuzllwNi57ETatnspptMvBh2xHJ-hbxJdZLS4ApETg-2IMXR7aQyn-2bwH7_L1QCnq7r0RQ_LLvTP0ldavUCp-eZfNAOeMdCQzrezQhyFSn00R5zEpE6CWCF2UVqDy1eg/s1600/Bersakih+temple+with+mount+agung+behind.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ9hHXi4soptuzllwNi57ETatnspptMvBh2xHJ-hbxJdZLS4ApETg-2IMXR7aQyn-2bwH7_L1QCnq7r0RQ_LLvTP0ldavUCp-eZfNAOeMdCQzrezQhyFSn00R5zEpE6CWCF2UVqDy1eg/s200/Bersakih+temple+with+mount+agung+behind.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408446602278103218" border="0" /></a><br />Repost of Original Article: Used with Permission (MANY THANKS! :) )<br />Photos courtesy of Noreen<br /><br />How to Look Good Riding<br /><br />by Rachel Lin<br /><br />Task: Four days on horseback in Bali. Watch sunburnt tourists flee in your path as you gallop down Seminyak beach and get yelled at in what seems like a friendly fashion by villagers.<br /><br /><br />Equipment: New riding stuff for the Boyfriend, old riding stuff for me. Sunscreen, the fabled striped Stussy dress and an emergency supply of lip balm.<br /><br />The Team:<br /><br />Rachel "I've been bitten" Lin, who seemed to attract all manner of blood-hungry insects.<br /><br />The Intelligent Boyfriend, who decided to splash out on an all-polo outfit but was unable, in the end, to escape with his lower body entirely unscathed.<br /><br />Four days is definitely not enough time for a fully featured Bali trip. There were many things we missed out on: the traditional dances, the beautiful temples, the cultural and artistic excesses of Ubud or the verdant slopes of Gunung Agung. Despite waking up obscenely early in the morning and going to bed obscenely late at night, we hardly made a dent in the island's sights. We didn't manage to thoroughly explore even Kuta or browse through the shops in Seminyak. We rushed in and out of Denpasar with no time at all to visit the museum or take in the hectic, dusty town. There was no time to trawl the bars properly, though we did drop into this delightfully squalid dive called the Espresso bar, which featured a fantastic local band performing odd renditions of popular rock hits in a strong Indonesian accent and sarong-clad waitresses doing their cheesy utmost to cozy up to overweight and slightly drunk white patrons. There was no time to investigate the infamous Double Six club, with its very own bungee jump, though we did loiter outside and soak in the night-time beach.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ7aW2az8SYMISbvjkS-mOZA9FmAfx6OyaMxk0WuouQ06_yoqsgR15fS8SitX5DS3Fy_XyH27iyHlgaVgIXGu0ImU2ceMWtozTO2j96D5xo7N3-XaG02Mm6dhIe29gulmHODXVZhTUFs/s1600/nightbeach.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 247px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpJ7aW2az8SYMISbvjkS-mOZA9FmAfx6OyaMxk0WuouQ06_yoqsgR15fS8SitX5DS3Fy_XyH27iyHlgaVgIXGu0ImU2ceMWtozTO2j96D5xo7N3-XaG02Mm6dhIe29gulmHODXVZhTUFs/s200/nightbeach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408446607385491746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0069MGqvYqa31sBrYKEBmunrEAPVIEyZWRjluPYK-iPNc85MG32mSvXOdGr75Y0ZL_GeZNCmkbvQp66wpf5NjvmQTbilTmE_80_Xaus-n1dbDIatiSpJXHMpKhUx0DS3DL1CRopNwqg/s1600/sunset+at+Tanah+lot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 245px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0069MGqvYqa31sBrYKEBmunrEAPVIEyZWRjluPYK-iPNc85MG32mSvXOdGr75Y0ZL_GeZNCmkbvQp66wpf5NjvmQTbilTmE_80_Xaus-n1dbDIatiSpJXHMpKhUx0DS3DL1CRopNwqg/s200/sunset+at+Tanah+lot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408446624084850930" border="0" /></a>But what we lacked in breadth of experience we made up in sheer equestrian overload; it was a riding holiday after all, and ride we did. Oh, how we rode. We rode till the Boyfriend's knees went funny and he managed to get abrasions on his arse, pained patches on his bum that I tried to bandage before he revisited his mounts for yet another go at a trail or a lesson. We rode till I winded myself doing jump after jump after jump on this pretty palomino horse named Romantis during a much-anticipated lesson, trying hard not to look too tired because my efforts had attracted an audience of Japanese tourists. We rode for hours every day, crossing rain-swollen rivers, scattering chickens in charmingly rural villages, passing roadside stalls selling "100% halal" petrol, galloping down the beaches to the accompaniment of crashing surf - and my word, the surf was truly gorgeous - and frolicking feral dogs. Wales was intense, yes, but this was somehow crazier.<br /></div><br />The horses at Umalas:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW2WNyyZJCKe-u-M8iGeNuIfA4RX4kOkSurfM-6vfh3Gz67JTaZe7kbUG3pPricZSmjGeRJL0Ee8b82LOiLnneYT1ntakpWi7V3ITO2Wca1HYogBNbGPbDqTZZYZoR1z6j_KI5CSC9D8/s1600/umalas.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 216px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQW2WNyyZJCKe-u-M8iGeNuIfA4RX4kOkSurfM-6vfh3Gz67JTaZe7kbUG3pPricZSmjGeRJL0Ee8b82LOiLnneYT1ntakpWi7V3ITO2Wca1HYogBNbGPbDqTZZYZoR1z6j_KI5CSC9D8/s200/umalas.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408445021237751122" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm28ZJEI18CHMdML7BSC8Os_K86jqhRshXeZQLCPYb8hhcWDmHQNwFDw1MMcpPWEcIrMIf5_W52xm3gG2mr70E8BPNjGCFjbDlkcusJd4EN601CcFJrOd_wLKhFxWsYBVqaNxhXL0j5WQ/s1600/umalas3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 282px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm28ZJEI18CHMdML7BSC8Os_K86jqhRshXeZQLCPYb8hhcWDmHQNwFDw1MMcpPWEcIrMIf5_W52xm3gG2mr70E8BPNjGCFjbDlkcusJd4EN601CcFJrOd_wLKhFxWsYBVqaNxhXL0j5WQ/s200/umalas3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408445007334444034" border="0" /></a>Zorro- Big, black and beautiful.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZKDBfvK4_pW1yOGt0NpOnleR8D7NI_nrUE3zqT2Hw6M6nAZEJO1z4E0Tz29FdRoDlNOJ9xMAzW4nVVTW89uMMrqHzIVtJnCj2ZiCmDJWxiDTUzHlJSnBeH5arEse6lbgHjJaz7WQ4uo/s1600/umalas4.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 207px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZKDBfvK4_pW1yOGt0NpOnleR8D7NI_nrUE3zqT2Hw6M6nAZEJO1z4E0Tz29FdRoDlNOJ9xMAzW4nVVTW89uMMrqHzIVtJnCj2ZiCmDJWxiDTUzHlJSnBeH5arEse6lbgHjJaz7WQ4uo/s200/umalas4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408445015222171762" border="0" /></a>Xena<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JNgOMxXOjnrOq2tXuLNUsvS1CVzo_bUbe1JyH0Ld-82WLlSO72fA76uNYIm7yhD1yW5xFYDjCsLs57Na_V_n82_FEAn_Kx3mTl1CRaNG8KWR2gDXeDk6IqAi33cq5hUp9EXUyIklMlE/s1600/umalas2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 212px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JNgOMxXOjnrOq2tXuLNUsvS1CVzo_bUbe1JyH0Ld-82WLlSO72fA76uNYIm7yhD1yW5xFYDjCsLs57Na_V_n82_FEAn_Kx3mTl1CRaNG8KWR2gDXeDk6IqAi33cq5hUp9EXUyIklMlE/s200/umalas2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408445005119114898" border="0" /></a><br /></div>It was crazier because Bali has that frenetic riotous edge to it that you get when development steams ahead like an express train gone haywire. Villas, shops, stalls, random buildings were springing up everywhere, for rent to whoever would believe the promises of "beach view" or "close to rice fields". Signs along the road beckoned you to all sorts of businesses: massages both dubious and delightful, food both delicious and diarrhea-ific, car repair and motorcycle repair and sofa cleaning and laundry and god knows what else, all advertised on bits of board with painted letters scrawled on them. Random vehicles stood by the roadside with a makeshift "for rent" sign on them; there was even a well in a courtyard with a "for rent" sign balanced over its mouth. It was calmer, more organised than Siem Reap, for sure, but you could almost feel the thirst for development, the burgeoning possibilities of cash and business and enterprise. The waitress at the restaurant at which we breakfasted every morning asked us if we wanted to hire a motorcycle from her. The taxi driver who took us to Denpasar one afternoon gave us his name card in case we needed another ride.<br /><br />And then you had the contrast between tourist comforts and local life. Next to trim, landscaped resorts that stank of sleek money there were ramshackle huts housing sun-bleached fishing boats. Walking down the beach from Canggu we passed tanned Australians surfing in the wild waters on one end and a browned Indonesian father and his two sons splashing in a small river on the other, passing a lovely Vesak Day celebration along the way. It seemed so otherworldly, the Balinese dressed in their religious best having a feast on a rock perched right next to the roaring waves, sharing the same beach with surfers and bikini-clad strollers. Riding through the villages around Kerobokan - one of them was called Batu Belig, I think - we saw small family-run provision shops, usually with one or two barely-dressed children tumbling around the place shrieking with laughter, right next to swish villas with imposing stone walls and full security features. From the window of our room we could see the farmers at work in their plots, digging new trenches in the field or, more puzzlingly, shooting hay at a screen.<br /><br />To cut a long story short, it was magnificent. It was great. I've wracked my brains and sincerely cannot think of something that went seriously wrong, apart from the Boyfriend's sore bum, and even then it was a source of more mirth than misery. Most of it was thanks to the lovely people at the Umalas Stables and I have no hesitation in plugging them here. We had the opportunity of staying at the stables during our whole trip, just above a row of horse boxes: there's something to be said about hearing equine snufflings at night! The room was really pretty and had windows that opened out onto a road. Even better, the arena was nestled in the midst of some rice fields, which gave us a lovely view every time we went for lessons; random villagers also tended to walk past in the evenings, some carrying firewood, others pushing fluffy dogs around on baby strollers, of all things. They gave us breakfasts too and we had fantastic bacon and eggs at the attached restaurant, the Lestari. And it was also at that restaurant where we had an amazing all-you-can-eat grill. We stuffed ourselves absolutely silly on the food, which was mind-blowingly tasty; I also had my first taste of arak there, a most potent dram which put everything in a kind of pleasant haze from the start.<br /><br />The riding was excellent: it was such an experience cantering or galloping in the froth and spray of a beautiful beach that stretched for miles, navigating the streets of Batu Beling and exchanging smiles with the innumerable construction teams at semi-work or stealing glances at the emerald green rice shoots as we ambled past the paddy fields. Even the lessons in the stable arena, which more than anything else worked to tire me out, were fantastic; the Boyfriend learnt a massive amount and even got to cantering by the last lesson, while I tried my hand at jumping after a hiatus of way, way too long. The horses were wonderfully well-tempered, though each had their own endearing personality quirk. Apart from Romantis I rode Asgan, who was technically the Boyfriend's horse for the four days, and Manny, who rather irritatingly disliked being on the beach and charged straight into the beachfront lawn of some hotel, a move that earned me a rebuke from the elderly gardener and much embarrassment. The Boyfriend had Asgan, who put him through his beginner's paces with a surprising amount of drool; Kiko, an even-tempered chap who had no problems being put on a lead rope; a skewbald horse whose name I forget, but means "two-toned" in Balinese; and Jawa, who traumatised the Boyfriend on the last day by being a bit too forward-going and bouncy. But they were all lovely mounts and the Boyfriend is now as assuredly a riding addict as I am. On the Seminyak beach I met an Australian couple who had lived next to the Olympic dressage coach; they paid me an immense comment in saying that I looked lovely on horseback, which was very unexpected and gave me a happy glow for the rest of the day.<br /><br />Everything else seemed to wonderfully charmed as well. The food was mouth-watering and one of the only reasons why my brain registers that I'm back in Singapore is that my meals suddenly aren't as tasty as they were in Bali. The gargantuan rijstaffel in the Poppies Restaurant, the insanely delicious lemon meringue pie in the Kopi Pot, my first sampling of Balinese style burbur ayam in Made's Warung - my word, I get hungry whenever I think of them. The highlight, though, was our search for babi guling, something that the Boyfriend had insisted upon from the beginning. The nice people at the stables recommended us a warung in Denpasar, one of those roadside dives that was sort of like a kopitiam around here, but more claustrophobic. As for the food: well, what can I say? I have no idea what spices they used or exactly how they cooked it, but my word, it was one of the most delicious roast pork dishes I'd ever eaten in my life. Even the Boyfriend gave it his "Wong stamp of approval", which coming from a Cantonese man is high praise indeed.<br /><br />The people there were really nice, so nice I almost felt bad for being a decadent tourist. I mean, I really didn't feel like I deserved to be pampered so thoroughly in a spa, given flower petal baths and rub-downs with herbs. I didn't feel like I was entitled to have a nice woman lather my hair in cream and massage my head, only to encounter a nice man who then blow-dried it all and complimented me on my piercings. The spa experience was all so blissful that I felt distinctly guilty even amongst all that relaxation. At the stables, the staff were nothing short of encouraging and helpful. They called taxis for us, helped the Boyfriend with his laundry, were always ready with a smile and a greeting. Some of the stable lads looked positively dashing and had an easy informality about them that made everything somehow breezier: Kadek in particular was quite the roguish character who rode a horse named Ben Hur and somehow ended up calling the Boyfriend "Eliot"; while Churliyanto (if that's his name) definitely broke the mould of scary, demanding riding instructors that I was used to. He was so calm and friendly during the lessons that it was a positive joy being taught by him.<br /><br />What more can I say after all that? It was a thoroughly enchanting four days and I had lots of trouble tearing myself away from the place. I mean, it had loads of lovely horses, fantastic people, delicious food, wonderful scenery, that crazy mix of city and country life, that clash of cultures that keeps things interesting. Nothing more that I could ask for, really. There was so much left unexplored, so many nooks and crannies we hadn't poked into, that I feel as if I've left unfinished business behind. And there was just something about that place, the chilled atmosphere and the unforced cheerfulness of the people there, that made the whole thing feel so dreamlike, so wonderful, that I couldn't find it in me to go back to Singapore.<br /><br />I seriously have to visit Bali again. This time, we'll probably strike out further north and see the bits we missed: that is, if we can find the time or the resources next to all the other destinations we have planned!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgVokEXNEDmBgTSHjXDqsBvmbXLpJNLJKCklMtI_rG7hlVqi8p5sehZuCWau0_WE3sg6r48iK6-ZMKppdmjrRI_Uv9y5-Kl-u4LScC_UIVyNlYCiZrKQuaN56SWXIGz_MgT3As7cKAXQ/s1600/horses+biting.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 321px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgVokEXNEDmBgTSHjXDqsBvmbXLpJNLJKCklMtI_rG7hlVqi8p5sehZuCWau0_WE3sg6r48iK6-ZMKppdmjrRI_Uv9y5-Kl-u4LScC_UIVyNlYCiZrKQuaN56SWXIGz_MgT3As7cKAXQ/s200/horses+biting.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5408446616798025602" border="0" /></a><br /><br />For Information and Rates:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.balionhorse.com/">The Umalas Equestrian Resort Bali</a><br /><br />Rates and packages (from the website):<br />US$369 (S$517) for 2 nights (riding plus accommodation) to US$952 (S$1,334) for 7 nights.<br /><br />Lessons offered:<br />Dressage, jumping and beginners’ lunge lessons.<br /><br />Trail rides offered:<br />30 min rice field tour (for beginners and children)<br />2 and 3 hour beach tours.Adminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12136105352239468045noreply@blogger.com1