HORSEBACK RIDING VACATIONS
By Jessie Hanson
If your idea of taking a vacation revolves around activities including a horse, you won’t be disappointed as you begin to discover the expansive selection of riding vacations offered today. In fact, deciding exactly where to go can easily be the most difficult part of your entire vacation planning! With fabulous equestrian travel opportunities available throughout many parts of the world, choosing your ideal vacation requires at least a modest investment of time and research.
Several factors will need to be discussed and criteria determined by everyone taking the trip. You’ll find that some items regarded by one person as being vitally important may be relatively insignificant to another, such as, location, riding style, cuisine, daily access to a hot shower, proximity to cultural venues, and supplementary activities.
The first step in your planning process is to determine if your travel will be domestic or abroad. If one of your life’s aspirations is to be a well-heeled global traveler, a riding vacation in a foreign country may provide much greater satisfaction than staying closer to home. However, if your idea of “vacation” simply means any place other than home, there are several domestic destinations which easily rival those located in some faraway land.
You’ll need to consider the distinctive and varied environmental appeal of “mountain” versus “desert” versus “beach.” The season in which you choose to vacation will directly affect your geographic selection. A Northern Hemisphere desert trip in the middle of summer might prove to be unbearably warm if you’re unaccustomed to this type of environment. Mountain destinations offer unsurpassed scenery, although you might prefer to avoid the “shoulder seasons” of spring and late fall when it can be colder, and possibly, even snowy. Cattle ranches typically move and work with cattle from spring through early autumn, and backcountry wilderness trips are most popular during the summer. Keep in mind that elevation impacts seasonal condition, which in turn, affects available activities. Trips abroad, and to the Southern Hemisphere, present added considerations. It’s advised to individually and specifically check with each location in this regard.
You’ll next be faced with making the mind-boggling choice of accommodations ranging from five-star lodges to quaint family-owned B&B’s and everything in between. Topping the list for creature comforts and pampering are world-class lodges which typically offer a golf course, tennis court, day spa, and cuisine to rival the finest metropolitan restaurants. Conversely, if you’ve always wanted to experience life as a cowboy, a working cattle ranch might be your calling. You won’t be pampered, but you’ll take home a saddlebag of fun and adventure with new friends to add to your address book! Guest ranches tend to cater more towards family activities and are a great choice if you’re planning to take the kids along. You’ll also find trips designed specifically for the equestrian with a heavy emphasis on riding, lessons, and horse training clinics conducted by certified instructors or notable trainers. Many places offer additional activities including fly fishing, hiking, ranch work, or cultural events.
Facilities offering riding vacations provide, of course, horses to ride. Some do, however, have accommodations for those who would like to bring along their own horse. Be realistic about the riding ability of those who will be vacationing. While most facilities have reliable, well-trained horses, the very nature of both the horse and the terrain might present challenges otherwise unfamiliar to riders who are less than experienced. Brushing up on basic riding skills prior to your vacation will go a long way to assure a more enjoyable experience for everyone. Bayard Fox, owner of the global vacation company Equitours and Bitterroot Dude Ranch located in Wyoming, says, “The first thing we do is hold a brief orientation so the guest’s riding ability can be evaluated. We want to make sure that less-able riders won’t be scared, and that riders who are more experienced won’t be bored. Guests are then grouped according to level of ability to assure that everyone has a good ride.”
Although planning your riding vacation might appear a bit daunting, the selection process is simplified somewhat as most facilities target a specific niche market. By investigating the type of facility, its main focus, and overall program, the choices soon become somewhat more obvious. Understand those items which are included, and those that are not, when selecting your vacation package. If traveling outside of the United States, allow enough time to obtain required legal documents.
Most locations offer very personalized service, and you’ll probably be able to talk directly with the owner over the phone. “The horses we ride, the exciting things we see, and the adventures that we have with our guests are of paramount importance,” says Bayard Fox. Such information can be very helpful in deciding whether a destination will fulfill your expectations. But, begin planning early in the year, as most places tend to fill their reservation book quickly.
So this year make your vacation a memorable horseback riding vacation. Happy Trails!
