Time for a Timeout? – Saddle Up and Set Yourself Free on a Horsey Vacay
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354 – October, 2017
by Delores Kuhlwein
You spend a lot of time with – and money on – your show horse. Why on earth would you want to spend your vacation that way? And we aren’t talking about a showcation, either.
It could be the perfect scenario for a getaway: running astride a Connemara over the rolling hills of Ireland with wild abandon, whooping it up chasing cattle in Colorado, riding on long stretches of sandy Caribbean beaches, or even reenacting a Cavalry battle on horseback. Crossing some of those dreams off your bucket list is easier than you might think, with choices ranging from riding holidays with total horse immersion to hourly or daily guided horseback tours just about anywhere in the world. You can experience luxury or you can completely rough it, ride gaited horses or jump, or enjoy time astride a genuine cowhorse.
We’ve discovered vacations to share with your possibly notso-horsey family, too, with advice from real-life exhibitors who have experienced them, so read on to sample the smorgasbord of selections to help you make your escape.
Go Abroad
Just about anywhere you can visit overseas, there’s a horse destination ready and waiting. If you want to jump in with both feet, here are just a few of the many horse-themed vacations available to you.
Take a Horse Holiday near Dublin, Ireland, at a venue like Bel-Air Hotel and Equestrian Centre, a historic estate and Manor House Hotel on 200 acres of farm and parkland. They offer intensive cross country holidays, mock hunts, and all-inone equestrian vacations. “At Bel-Air, you get the true Irish experience. We specialize in Cross Country Riding Holidays with emphasis on building your confidence over the Cross Country Course on experienced Irish horses,” explains Noni Law, Proprietor and Chief Instructor at Bel-Air. APHA Amateur Katie Beaumont Arnold of Beaumont, California, who tagged along on a cross country ride with a group of locals, had this to say, “There was absolutely gorgeous countryside scenery and the best and biggest jumping I have ever done!” (www.belairhotelequestrian.com).
Click here to read the complete article354 – October, 2017
