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1ISSUE2/2025Theworldthroughthehorses’earsEQUITOURRidingHolidaysthrough:SouthAfricaPortugalBulgariaDjerba-TunisiaSouthAfricaSpecial
A horse is your mirror. It never flatters you. It reflects your temperament. It also reflects your mood swings. Never get angry with your horse; you might as well get angry with your reflection. l l a o K e n n o v Y : o t o h P Rudolf C. Binding 3 3
ThewholeworldonhorsebackDearriders,Inthisissue,wefocusonanextremelydiversecountrythatisadreamdestinationformanytravellers:SouthAfricaevokesimagesofsun,adventure,wildlife,beaches,bushlandandenjoyment.TheEQUITOURoffersareasdiverseasthecountryitself,andwepresentsomeofthemhere.NorthAfricaisalsoworthavisit:withTunisia,wepresentanotherbeachparadise.Portugalisalsofamousforitsbeaches,buthasmuchmoretooffer.That'swhywe'representingthecountrywithadifferentfocusthistime:dressageandPortugal'snationalparkinthenorth.There'salsosomethingfortrailridersthistime:withitsrichnatureandculture,aswellasgreataccommodationandcuisine,Bulgariaoffersidealconditionsfortrails.Enjoybrowsing,dreamingandriding!YourEQUITOURteam
Interview with Franziska Vaas Part of the EQUITOUR team since October 2024 Franziska Vaas studied equine management and then spent two years working and travelling, mainly on horse farms. From South Africa to Chile to Finland, she got to know a wide variety of people and horses on her travels. She has been a product manager at EQUITOUR since October 2024, where she can put all her experience to good use. Which of your previous travel destination impressed you the most and why? Adventure in Chile There are many countries that I liked and that left a lasting impression on me. But if I had to choose, I would pick Chile, for a variety of reasons. Chile combines all of the world's climate zones in a country that stretches from desert to subtropics, from the high mountains of the Andes to the arctic fjords in the south. You can experience extreme heat and cold, sometimes on the same day. It is a land of extremes with, fortunately, still much untouched wilderness. Flora and fauna are rich in species. But the hospitable and warm-hearted people, the delicious cuisine and the moving history of the indigenous people also make the country unique. Horse riding culture is firmly rooted in the population here; horses are everywhere, especially in Patagonia. I can recommend travelling through Chile on horseback to anyone with a thirst for adventure. What is so special about discovering a country on horseback? Horses connect all the different riding cultures and equestrian sports. A passion for horses opens doors. It gives you a deep insight into different cultures. You don't necessarily have to speak the same language; you can still understand each other. In addition to the cultural aspect, a riding holiday is a very sustainable way to observe nature. Without noise and haste, you can cover vast distances and overcome natural obstacles where humans on foot or in cars would fail. You leave hardly any traces behind, and wild animals feel less disturbed. Travelling on horseback opened up a whole new world for me. What can we learn from the customs and treatment of horses in other countries? That sufficient exercise for horses is underestimated. Even during our studies, we analysed the lack of exercise for most horses in the German speaking region. A horse should cover at least thirty kilometres a day, which they hardly manage to do, even in open stables. On the farms where I worked during my working holiday, the horses were constantly moving in various ways during the day and some of them also had large paddocks at night. The general fitness and health of the trail riding horses – regardless of breed or country – was impressive. In my opinion, we can generally learn from other countries and cultures. Photos: Franziska Vaas, private Do you still have a "to-do list", and where will your next horse riding trip take you? Even though I've travelled a lot, my to-do list is long, and there are still many destinations around the world, including non-equestrian ones, that I would like to visit. One of my big equestrian dreams is to take part in trail rides and cattle drives in Canada and the USA. I haven't had the opportunity to immerse myself in the equestrian world of North America yet, but it's something that really interests me. If you had your own horse, what would be your dream horse? I like many breeds, but I am particularly fond of Iberian horses. Their people-oriented nature, their willingness to perform and their eagerness to walk convinced me in Spain and Portugal. Also, I am not very tall, so the standard size of Iberian horses is perfect for me. Thank you very much, Franziska! 5
CONTENTS8SouthAfricaWhereheartsbeatfaster10TravelreportSouthAfricaWildCoastCoastalTrail14LandofconfidenceInfoSouthAfrica,EQUITOURProgramme16FloraandFaunaThewildlifeofSouthAfrica17EnosMafokateTheHorseWhispererofSoweto18TravelogueSouthAfricaWinecountryattheCape20WalkerBay22ThehorsesofSouthAfrica24TravelreportSouthAfricaHorsebacksafariforconnoisseurs28OncearoundSouthAfrica30Asharedloveofhorses6
32PortugalDreamholidayondreamhorses34TravelreportAlcainçaHigh-leveldressage36TheartofridinginPortugalInterviewwithMarioCardoso38Travelreport:NorthernPortugalWildhorseadventuretrail42HorsecountrywithheartInfoPortugal,EQUITOURprogramme44BulgariaUnderthespelloftheBalkans46TravelreportBulgariaDevetakiPlateauingallopPhotos:AlcainçaEquestrianCentre,GabrieleBoiselle,LloydGillespie,Julie-AnnGower,GabrieleKärcher,AngelikaKaiser,YvonneKoall,MariaToneva,FranziskaVaas750TreasuretroveoftheBalkansInfoBulgaria,EQUITOURprogramme53ApachiFromsemi-wildhorsetotourcompanion54TunisiaDjerba–IslandoftheGoldenSand56TravelreportDjerbaDunes,palmtrees,gallopingalongthebeach60UnderthesouthernsunInfoTunisia,EQUITOURprogramme6263HolidaygreetingsfromourguestsBookandcalendarrecommendations64Fun&FactsInterestingfactsfromtheworldofequestrianismtoamazeandamuseyou,EQUITOURWebInfo66ImprintEQUITOURMagazinePreviousissues67Previewofthenextissue
South Africa Where hearts Paradisical landscapes, white dream beaches, wild animals and cheerful people. This is the face of South Africa. Experiencing all this on horseback is unbeatable riding bliss. 8 8
10InthegreenhinterlandFascinatedbythesurfTravelogueSouthAfricaWildCoastCoastalTrailBeach,adventure,wildlife,comfort–LaravonBreidenbachwantstoexperienceallfacetsofSouthAfricaonhertrip,andshewantstodoitinthesaddle.TherightathomeontheWildCoast.10
After a full day's bus journey from Durban to East London, I am warmly welcomed by Julie-Anne. In a moment in a jeep loaded with horse feed to her farm, about an hour from East London. From the very first second, I feel at ease in Julie-Anne's company, and after a stay in Johannesburg, it's like a breath of fresh air to get out into the great outdoors. At the remote farm, we are greeted by lots of little dogs and four volunteers who are spending their working holidays there. I quickly feel at home. The next morning, I take a look at the farm in daylight: nestled gently in the hills, it blends into the green surroundings.Around 30 of Julie-Anne's horses are on the farm, along with cattle grazing in the farm's meadows. The stable is directly adjacent to the paddocks. On this sunny morning, I ride into the surrounding area with Nicky, our riding guide. We pass herds of cattle, see large spider webs and cross the green hills that surround the Lodge surrounded. I am thrilled with my horse and the McClellan saddles and enjoy galloping across meadows and through the bushes. In the meantime, the hostess prepares a hearty lunch for us, during which we meet Emma from France, the second rider on the Wild Coast tour. Full of anticipation, we head to Kei Mouth, where Julie-Anne's other horses live in paddocks overlooking the sea. In addition to multi-day trails, these horses are also used for short beach rides. Back at the farm, our horses are already saddled up and ready for the tour. We ride towards the coast, pass through the tranquil village of Kei Mouth, and then cross the Kei River with the horses on a ferry. What an experience! Emma and I are certainly more excited than the horses, who have been passengers many times before and have even Once they travelled as stowaways when they discovered a hole in the fence of their paddock in the middle of a tour and walked home on their own... In any case, it was an amusing sight: cars, people and horses together on a ferry. Break in the rock face The horse ferry 11 11
12WindaroundthenoseandnostrilsRockclimberRelaxationinthejacuzziNowweleavecivilisationbehindusandsetoffonourfirstlivelygallopalongthebeachintheafternoonsun.Fantastic!Thehorses,someofwhicharetrainedforlong-distanceriding,seemtobeenjoyingitjustasmuchasweare.Theyareforward-going,well-trained,absolutelysure-footedandreliable.Whatisunusualarethecattlethatcanbefoundinmanyplacesonthebeach,seekingthecoolerairandfewermosquitoesthaninthehinterland.Inthefollowingdays,wehardlymeetasoul.Oncewemeetthreeboysloadingwoodontoadonkeycartandthenafewlonelyanglers.Inthissense,theWildCoastistruly"wild",relativelyundevelopedandpurenature.Fromtimetotime,weheadinland:first,wecrossalushgreenlandscapewithpalmtreesandrichvegetation.Thefurtherweventureinland,thedrieritbecomes.WeroamthroughsmallvillagesofcolourfullypaintedroundhutsandexperiencethefriendlinessoftheXhosa,anindigenousBantupeople.Wecrossriversseveraltimes,whichappearlikebloomingoasesinthedrygrasslands.Thesightoflargesanddunesmakesusfeelasifwehavebeentransportedtothedesert,onlytheforesttoweringbehindthemlimitsthisimpression.Wecrossthisforest,whichlookslikeaprimevalforestandrevealsanotherfacetoftheWildCoasttous.Werideundisturbedonsandypaths,meadowpathsandseveralsectionsofbeach.LocalbeachguestsTypicalroundhut
All riding days follow a similar pattern: we set off at around 9 a.m. and ride for a good three hours, then take a long lunch break to relax and, refreshed, get back in the saddle in the late afternoon. The length of the ride depends on the destination. One morning, we set off very early because we want to cross a river that is only passable with horses in the morning due to the tides. As a reward for getting up early, a sumptuous breakfast picnic awaits us. with a view of the sea. Our first accommodation is Trennery's Hotel, a hotel complex by the sea. The pool invites you to take a dip, and the buffet is so artfully arranged that you hardly dare take anything. One afternoon, we treat our horses and ourselves to a break and relax at the Wavecrest Hotel, where we are staying for two nights. We take a boat trip through the mangroves, unwind by the pool and in the jacuzzis, pamper ourselves with massages and, after a sundowner and a hearty dinner, play a round of billiards.Finally, we retire to our cosy round huts with sea views. The accommodation is traditional on the outside and comfortably designed on the inside. From Wavecrest, you can also go for long walks on the beach and through the dunes, as well as canoeing. When it rains, there is a luxurious lounge with a fireplace and a TV room. Our last accommodation is the Cook Inn Guest House. Tam, the owner, welcomes us with coffee and home-made cake. We are allowed to choose our rooms: there is the Guinea Fowl Room, an African round hut, an antique-style room, the Lavender Loft, and a "Flaw & Feather" room. Each of the rooms is furnished according to its respective theme. The main house has a unique flair. It is lovingly decorated with inherited items. The basic The property, with its buildings and swimming pool, feels like an oasis of peace and relaxation. Tam treats us like royalty. She cooks herself, and her four-course meals are a symphony of flavours! Nowhere else in South Africa have I eaten as well as at the Cook Inn. You can feel the attention to detail and that Tam is a hostess with heart and soul. On the last day, we will be picked up by car from the Cook Inn and driven to the nearby Endalweni Game Reserve, where five more of Julie-Anne's horses are waiting for us. Here, an exciting ride awaits us, with sightings of wildebeests, curious giraffes, zebras, antelopes and other wild animals. This horseback safari completes our African experience. By the way: non-riding partners can be transported to the various accommodations in the support vehicle during the tours. These offer plenty of leisure activities and are mostly located by the sea, so non-riders will never get bored. In addition to the tours, Julie-Anne also offers working holidays. Volunteers live on the farm and help with the daily chores. I myself meet a volunteer who had booked two weeks and extended her stay to three months after just one week. Working with the horses, spending time with other volunteers and occasionally accompanying them on the trails doesn't feel like work at all. My riding adventure on the Wild Coast was an unforgettable experience: I made some lovely friends, got to know many different aspects of the Wild Coast, relaxed in unique accommodation, enjoyed the seclusion from the rest of the world, indulged in culinary delights and rode some fantastic horses. Lara von Breidenbach www.equitour.com/wcs008.htm 1153 13 Photos: Julie Ann Gower
14SouthAfricaLandofoptimismLifepulsatesatthesoutherntipofAfrica.Despiteitsdarkhistory,thecountrytodaysparkleswithjoy,hopeandhospitality.TheCapeofGoodHopeisthesoutherntipoftheAfricancontinent.Andhopeisthefeelingthatsustainsanddrivesthecountryforward.Withitspicture-perfectlandscapes,picturesquedreambeaches,moderncitiesandhugewildlifepopulation,itisconsideredparadiseitselfbymillionsofvisitors.NatureloversexplorespectacularnationalparksandgoonsafaristospotAfrica'swildlife.ConnoisseursliketoheadforthewineregionaroundCapeTownandsiptheworld-renownedfirst-classwinestoaccompanydeliciousFourorfive-coursemenu.Theentirecoastalregionisidealforswimming,sunbathing,surfing,divingorevenwhaleanddolphinwatching.Sportsenthusiastsandadventurerswillfindthrillsthroughoutthecountrywithriverrafting,mountainclimbing,bungeejumpingandeveryotheractivityimaginable.AndthoseinterestedinAfricanhistorycangetapictureoftheculturaldiversityinboththecityandthecountryside.IndigenousAfricanethnicgroupssuchastheNdebele,Zulu,Xhosa,Khoisan,Sotho,SwaziandVendasharethecountrywiththewhitedescendantsofthecolonialrulers.SouthAfricaisatruemeltingpotofcultureswithelevenofficiallanguagesandnumerousotherregionallanguages.Thesaderaofapartheidhasbeenovercome,butart,museumsandmemorialsarefullofcautionaryreminders.Tourismisthemostbeautifulbridgebetweencultures,andSouthAfricans,whetherblackorwhite,understandthiswell.Thecountryisknownforitshospitalityanditsluxurioushotels,resortsandlodges.Eveninthebush,comfortablecamps,first-classserviceandthecareofcheerfulhelpersawait.Horseridersarealsoenthusiasticaboutthediversityofthecountry.ExperiencingthisonhorsebackistheicingonthecakeoftheirSouthAfricantrip.PEGASUSoffersthirteenridingprogrammesindifferentregionsofSouthAfrica,aswellasacombinationwithneighbouringBotswana.Whetherit'saridingtour,starridesoraleisurelyholiday–onethingisguaranteed:theholidaywillneverbelongenough.Butevenasyousaygoodbye,youcanbeconfidentthatyouwillreturntothelandofhope.VineyardsintheCaperegionSafariinKrugerNationalPark14
15FursealsonDuikenIslandFormerlypowerstationtowers,nowobjectsforgraffitiandbungeejumpingandlandmarksofJohannesburgTheWittebergMountainsinthenortheast15Photos:GabrieleKärcher,Pixabay/Igormattion,SparklingGirl,privateEQUITOURRIDINGPROGRAMMEEQUITOURoffersitscustomershorseridingholidaysinthreeattractiveregionsofSouthAfrica:theinlandhighlands,themountainsandthecoastalregion.Onhorseback,youcanimmerseyourselfinthescenicandculturalhighlightsofyourpreferredregion.Whetheronthecoastorinland,youalwayshavetheopportunitytoexperienceAfricanwildlifeonsafaris.www.equitour.com/suedafrika.htmCountryinfoSouthAfricaSize:1.22millionkm²Population:62millionCapitals:Pretoria,CapeTown,BloemfonteinLanguage:English,Afrikaans,Bantulanguages,Zulu,Xhosa,etc.Religion:MajorityChristian,alsoMuslim,JewishandtraditionalAfricanreligionsCurrency:RandClimate:Mediterraneanclimateinthesouth-west,temperateclimateinlandandsubtropicalclimateinthenorth-eastBesttimetovisit:MaytoOctober
LesswellknownthantheBigFivearetheLittleFive,whosenamesarereminiscentoftheBigFive:theelephantshrew,thebuffaloweaver,theleopardtortoiseandtheinsectsknownasthelionantandtherhinocerosbeetle.Andwhocanresistthecharmoftheclevermeerkatsorthecuddlyrockhyraxes!Youcanexperienceboththebigandsmallanimalsinnofewerthan24nationalparkslocatedinvariousregionsofSouthAfrica.ThelargestandbestknownisKrugerNationalPark.Coveringaround20,000squarekilometres,itisroughlythesizeofHesse.Soyoucanandshouldplantospendseveraldaysvisitingit.Elephantofthe"LittleFive":SpringbokInadditiontothenationalparks,therearealargenumberofprivategamefarmsofferinggoodopportunitiesforwildlifeviewing.ThetypicalimageofSouthAfrica'swildernessalsoincludesitscharacteristicflora,withover20,000plantspecies.Theserangefromthefine-leavedfynbosinthewesttotreesavannahfromacaciatreestotropicalforestsintheeast.Typicalplantsincludeproteas,silvertrees,heather,succulentsandaloes.Inthedryzonesofthenorth,youwillfindthemightybaobabormonkeybreadtree.Itowesitsnametothefactthatmanymonkeysloveitsfruit.Themonkeys'favourite:thebaobabmonkeybreadtreeBrightredfynbos.Fynbostranslatesas"finebush"Thecuddlyrockhyrax,alsoknownasthedassieGiraffefamilyontour16FloraandfaunaThewildlifeofSouthAfricaDocumentariesaboutAfrica'swildlifeareamazing,buttheyarenothingcomparedtoexperiencingitforyourself.Let'sgoonsafariandseeTheBigFive:elephant,rhino,lion,leopardandbuffalo.Raredwarfantelope:theklipspringerThebuffaloweaverPhotos:GabrieleKärcher,Pixabay/Alexas_Fotos,AndreasGöllner,Brand-itbeautifully,GerhardRomero,JürgenBierlein,Kapa65,private
EnosMafokateThehorsewhispererofSowetoDefyingallapartheidlaws,EnosMafokatefromSowetohasbecomeasuccessfulshowjumper.Today,hegratefullypassesontheopportunitieshewasgivenasachildtopoorkidsinSoweto.AsthechildofafarmerinJohannesburg'spoorneighbourhoodofAlexandra,Enosgazedlonginglyacrosstheriveratthehorsesbelongingtoawhitefamily.Despitebeingforbiddentodoso,hebefriendedtheirsonJohnandwasallowedtoridehispony.Fromthenon,hisheartbelongedtohorses,andhistalentinthesaddlequicklybecameapparentwhenJohntaughtEnoshowtoride.Thankstohisunderstandingofhorses,helaterfoundworkasagroomonthetournamentcircuit.Europeanshowjumpersrecognisedhistalentandencouragedhim.Withenormouswillpower,throughperseveranceandexceptionaltalent,heachievedinternationalfameasablackshowjumper.Hewasonlyallowedtocompeteinhisowncountryafterapartheidwasrelaxed.Today,heistheonewhogivesblackchildrenaccesstowhatisstillanelitesportdominatedbywhites.Withdonations,hehasbuilttheSowetoEquestrianCentre,alargeridingcentreonatwo-hectaresite,whereheteacheschildrenandyoungpeoplehowtohandlehorses.Hiscommitmentalsoextendstoneglectedhorses,whichherescuesfrommiseryorsavesfromtheslaughterhouse.Manyofhishorsesareformercarthorses,someofwhichweredonatedtohimbecausetheirpreviousownersweredissatisfiedwiththemassportorracehorses.Withlove,skillandpatience,Enoshasturnedthemallintocontented,reliableridinghorses.Andinordertoimprovethefateofworkinghorses,healsoteachestheirownersthebasicsoffeeding,shoeing,correctdrivingandrespectfulhandlingofhorsesfreeofcharge.Enos'ridingcentreisahavenofhope.Childrenofallagesarriveinwornshirtsandtrousers,butwithbeamingfacesastheyswingthemselvesintothesaddle.Enosteachesthechildrenvaulting,ridingandjumping,butaboveall,hegivestheirlivesameaningfuldirection.HappySowetoKidsvaultingteamHetrainsyoungpeopletobecomegroomsorfarriers.Whentheycan,hisprotégésgivehimafewrand,butEnosisnotaboutthemoney.SomeofhisridersandvaultershavemadeitHehasalreadymadeitintotheSouthAfricannationalteam.ThatisthebestrewardforEnos.GabrieleKärcherPhotos:GabrieleKärcherHorseGirlsinSouthAfrica17Enos'Photos:GabrieleKärcherStillconfidentinthejumpingsaddleHorsegirlsinSouthAfrica17
18TravelreportSouthAfricaWinecountryattheCapeJuliaWiesvisitstworidingstablesintheCaperegion.First,shevisitsLouisGeyer'sestate,just45minutesfromCapeTownAirport.Nestledamongvineyards,forest,gardensandorchards,thisregionforconnoisseursshowsitselffromitsmostbeautifulside.1Thefirstparttakesuspastvariousfruittreesatallgaits,throughsmallwoodsandfinallythroughvineyards.OurhorseseagerlyclimbuptheSimonsberg,andweenjoymagnificentviewsofthevalleyandthesurroundingmountains.2Atmidday,wereachtheBocksbergvineyardthroughthevinefields.Theneatlylaidoutplantgardenisreminiscentofpicturesfrom"Home&Garden",andthescentisbeguiling.3Wearegivenatourofthewineryandmarvelatthehugewinebarrels(thesmalleroneshold300litres!).Ofcourse,wedoawinetasting,andeveryonetriesfivewinesoftheirchoice.18Photos:GabrieleBoiselle,JuliaWiesHostandridingguide4LouisGeyer,charming
19Ahighlight:sightingarightwhale5Afterashorterride,duringwhichwewerepeatedlyencounterguineafowlsandbushbucks,wefinallyreachthestable.Wesaygoodbyetothehorses,whichreturntothepastures.6ThelandscapeontheCapePeninsulaischaracterisedbytablemountains,onwhoseslopesthegrapesforthefamousSouthAfricanwinesripen.7Acooldrinkontheterraceoverlookingthepastures,whereBonniethemareroamswithherfoal,offersjustasmuchrelaxationasasiestainahammock.8Intheevening,wedrivetoFrenchhoekfordinner.Thefoodisdelicious,rangingfromfreshfishtoMediterraneanpasta.Thedessertisalsoexcellent,arealtreat!Linktotheprogramme:www.equitour.com/cwrsta.htmWecontinueontoHowardatWalkerBay.19
WalkerBayWalkerBayisanaturalparadise.EQUITOURpartnerHowardoffersfantasticridesalongthecoasttotheCapeofGoodHopewithhissemi-wildherdofhorses.2Wemountourhorsesandsetoffthroughthefynboslandscape.Weridealongnarrowpathsandtrails,sometimescross-country,atallgaits.Variousflowers,shrubsandeucalyptustrees,aswellasnumerousbirdspeciessuchastheyellowbishop,areathomeinthisbiotope.1Thehorsesgrowupclosetonatureinthereservebeforebeingtrainedastrailhorses.Theyaresure-footedandunafraidofbirds,noisesorobjects.3Werideuphillthroughbushesandforest.Thenthelandscapechangescompletely,andwereachaseaofsanddunes.Oncewearriveatthebeach,wecanenjoysomegreatgalloping!204Weareluckyandspotsomefountains,finsandevenahumpbackwhalejumping,anabsolutehighlight!Wealsospottedsomefromhorseback,amagnificentExperience.WalkerBayisfamousforitsrightwhales.Manywhalecalvesarebornhereandgrowupbeforetheherdsmigratetodeeperwaterswherethereismorefood.
215Westayinthislodgefortonightandthenextnightlodgerightbyalagoon.Theroomislargewithadoublebed,kitchenette,bathroomandaterraceoverlookingthebird-richlagoon.7Thehorseseagerlyclimbthedunestothelagoon.Theretheywadethroughthewaterandthenontothebeach.Andwhatcouldbebetterthangallopingalongawide,desertedbeach?Ithinkthehorsesenjoyeditjustasmuchaswedid.9It'stimetosaygoodbye!Iamparticularlyimpressedbythenatureandwhalewatchingonhorseback.ThankyouHoward,thetourwasgreat.Afterthetrail,thehorsesstayintheextensivenaturereserveforaweekortwotorecover.8WefollowtheFisherTrailalongWalkerBayatabrisktrot.Thesunisshining,thewaterisazureblueandthefirmsandygroundinvitesustogallop.SomeSealsbaskinthesun,andseagullsroamthebeach.Weenjoyonelastgallopbeforeheadingoverthedunesandrocks.AreportbyJuliaWiesInfo:www.equitour.com/wal007.htmPhotos:JuliaWies,21Pixabay/suesun6Ridingparalleltothelagoon,wepassanincrediblenumberofflowers,shrubsandtrees.Thenativeroitkraanztreeis200yearsold.Thistreesofferanimalsprotectionfrombushfires,asitdoesnotcatchonfire.
The horses of South Africa The southern tip of Africa was actually just a stopover for merchant ships travelling between Europe and Asia, but it was here that the history of South African horses began in 1652. The Dutchman Jan van Riebeeck landed off Table Mountain in 1652 to claim the region for his country. In the same year, the first horses arrived in South Africa from Asia, more precisely from the island of Java. It is unclear whether they were Arab-Berber horses or descendants of Mongolian and Persian horses. In any case, they played a significant role in the settlement and development of the Cape region and later also in the expansion of Europeans towards the north and east. More horses were imported, including Andalusians and even Criollos from South America. The horses were called Kappferd or Boerperd (Dutch for farmer's horse). Both are now official breed names. The breed continued to develop. When South Africa came under British control, English thoroughbreds were imported. British expertise in horse breeding had a positive effect on the Cape horse. Refined by the thoroughbred, it still combined the qualities of all the breeds whose blood flowed in its veins. It endured climatic extremes, was enduring and sufficient. In addition, it was strong, sure-footed and fast, and also had an extremely friendly, cooperative nature. the Boerperds Breeder's Society of South Africa, which sought to create a distinct South African riding horse modelled on the old Cape horse by crossbreeding certain breeds such as Arabian, Hackney, Thoroughbred and American Saddlebred. Today's breeding goal is a comfortable, smooth-moving, stylish horse with good action, which should also be robust, enduring and harmoniously built. What began with the Norfolk Trotter was furthered by crossbreeding with the American Saddlebred: the talent for four- and five-gaits. Boerperd profile Size: Conformation: Colour: Character: Charachteristics Suitability 142 to 163 cm at the withers Medium-sized, strong, elegant All basic colours, no grey Persistent, undemanding, well-balanced Hard-working, easy to ride, good gaits Endurance riding, leisure and trail riding In the 19th century, other breeds were introduced. Friesians, Norfolk Trotters, Hackneys and Cleveland Bays were crossbred, primarily to improve the draught horse characteristics. The Norfolk Trotter contributed the genes for special gaits, and even today, Boerperds are comfortable and enduring distance and trail riding horses thanks to their tölt. Boerperd breeding suffered three devastating setbacks. First, African horse plague wiped out a large part of the population, then came the Boer Wars and finally the First World War. Disagreements among breeders and within the breeding association threatened to cause the first high-quality type to disappear completely. It was not until 1957 that 22 Photos: Gabriele Kärcher
Kaapsehoop wild horse Not all travellers to Africa are looking for lions or elephants. Near the famous Kruger Park, horse enthusiasts set out in search of the wild horses of Kaapsehoop. The town of the same name has a significant history as a gold mining town. Settlement. Right here, on the northern edge of the Drakensberg Mountains, considerable quantities of the precious metal were discovered and mined. After the gold deposits had been exploited, the mountain air over Kaapsehoop became still again, but what remained were the horses of the fortune seekers. Between one and two hundred roam the meadows and forests of the Drakensberg Mountains, and some also stray into the remaining village of Kaapsehoop. It is likely that it is not only the descendants of the gold prospectors' horses that have settled in the region, but also those of escaped or released farm horses. The region, which is rather inhospitable for humans, offers horses everything they need: nutritious mountain meadows, water and undisturbed wilderness. The Kaapsehoop horses resemble Boerperds, but they certainly have the blood of different breeds running through their veins. Living in the wild gives horses a special resilience. The greatest danger to them today is traffic around Kaapsehoop, but also poachers. The Kaapsehoop Wildhorse Fund is committed to the protection and preservation of the horses. It considers the herds to be the new, living and breathing gold of Kaapsehoop. Gabriele Kärcher Vigilance Ranger Security 23
24TravelogueSouthAfricaHorsebacksafariforconnoisseursAngelikaKaisersetsoffintotheAfricanbushonhorsebackandinajeeptoseeasmanywildanimalsaspossible.Theabundanceofexcitingencountersexceedsherwildestexpectations.OnthesafarilLuxuryinthebushWeseeourfirstwildanimalsduringthefive-and-a-half-hourdrivefromJohannesburgtoourlodgeineasternSouthAfrica.Therewearegreetedwithacooldrinkandenjoythebeautifulviewofthesurroundinghillylandscape.Afterthelongjourneybyplaneandhirecar,it'stimetorelaxbythepool.Theroomsarespaciousandhaveabeautifulterrace.Weareslowlygettinghungryandlookingforwardtothefour-courseeveningmeal.Weendthedaywithaglassofwineandfinallyfallintobed,happyandcontent.Duetotheheat,wesetoffearlythenextmorningonourfirstexploratoryride.Myhorse,Pasha,iswell-balanced,easytorideandhappytogallop.24Ontheway,weencounterasmallherdofgiraffeswithyounganimalsabouttwomonthsold.Theyarealreadyquiteindependentandkeepupwellwiththebiggiraffes.Weseeelandantelopesandwildebeests,whicharehardlydisturbedbyusastheyfeed.Theyareobviouslyusedtovisitors.Weareontheroadforagoodtwohoursanditisalreadygettinghotter.Ataround9:30a.m.,wearebackatthestables.Adeliciousbreakfastawaitsusatthelodge,leavingnothingtobedesired:fruit,cheese,sausage,freshbreadandeggscookedtoorder–whatmorecouldyouwant?Intheafternoon,wearefreetochooseanotheractivity–mypartner,whodoesnotride,wouldliketotryhorseriding.Anothercouplejoinsus,sowegoonaleisurelyrideatawalkingpace.Aftertheride,thetwomenaresurprisinglyfitanddonotcomplainofsoremuscles.
After the ride, there is still time for a cool dip in the pool before we enjoy another delicious four-course meal. From the restaurant we can always see Gnu and eland antelope grazing once again. An incredibly peaceful scene in the African bush. We go to bed early, because the day starts early in the South African summer. A special morning awaits us – my partner sets off on a bush walk with his guide Chamu and two other Germans. Pasha is saddled up for me, and the three of us go for a leisurely ride. Again and again, we see antelopes, zebras and families of warthogs crossing our path. In the morning, it is still pleasantly cool, so we can gallop and trot for longer. After an hour and a half, we arrive. We don't know exactly where yet. We dismount, and at the same time, a bushwalk group arrives as well. 25 25
26Photos:AngelikaKaiser,IsabellaStepskiOstricheshaverightofwayOneoftwocheetahsinthereserveEarlythenextmorning,wehavetosaygoodbyetothelodge,ourlovelyhostsandthehorses,aswecontinueontoThandaCamp.Thecampisimpressive–atentedcamp,butwhatacamp!Comfortabletentswitheverythingyoucouldwishfor:acosylargebed,abathroominaseparatetent,anoutdoorshowerandabeautifulterracewhereantelopessometimesstray.Thereisalsoalargepool,abarandarestaurant.Andallthisinthemiddleofthebush!Thesafarisetsoffatfiveo'clockinthemorning,andtherangersknowwhattheyaredoing.TheyfollowthetracksofElephants,untilweseethemcrossingtheroadrightinfrontofus:ahugebullelephantandseveralcalveswalkingpastourjeep.Theyarenotbotheredbyus.Wecontinueourlionhunt.Suddenly,thejeepstops,reversesalittleandourrangerpointstotheleft:weallstarespellboundintothethicketandholdourbreath.Aleopardiscrouchinginthebush.Thisbigcatisveryrarelyseen.Momentsofamazement,thentheleopardrunsaway.Thesafaritakesusfromonehighlighttothenext.Therangerscontinuetosearchforliontrackswhensuddenly,afewmetresaheadofus,alionjumpsfromatreeandlandsrightinfrontofusonthepath.Hewasprobablyonthelookoutfordangerandisnowtrottingbacktohispride.Seeingthesemajesticanimalsupcloseisawonderfulexperience.Onthewayback,weencounterahugeherdofbuffalocoolingoffinthewater.Backatcamp,thenexthighlightawaitsus:adeliciousmealintheboma–aroundopen-airspace,usuallywithacampfireinthemiddle.Wesitcomfortablyattablesfortwo,whichisveryromantic.Agroupoftraditionallydressedlocalwomensinganddanceforus.Thisisfollowedbyasumptuousbuffet.Anabsolutetreatforthetastebuds.Anotherfulfillingdaycomestoanend.Ourconclusionofthestay:agreatmixofbeautifulhorserides,fantasticaccommodation,warmhostsandfirst-classfood.AngelikaKaiserwww.equitour.com/pab008.htmOnlynowdoweseewhatawaitsus:arichlylaidtablewithallkindsofdelicaciesinthemiddleofthebush.Weenjoyourmealandthestillpleasanttemperatures.Afterbreakfastinthebush,weridebacktothestablesandtakeashortsiesta.Wehaveonemorewish:archery!Thisisoneoftheactivitiesofferedbythelodge.Wereceiveabriefinstruction,andeveryoneisallowedtotryshootinganarrowatatargetattachedtoawallafewmetresinfrontofus.Atfirst,wearehappyifweevencomeclosetohittingthetarget.Afterwards,wealwayshavetocollectthearrows,andmorethanoncewehavetosearchalittlelongerbecausethearrowshaveflownincompletelythewrongdirection.Afterafewattempts,wefigureoutthetacticsandevenhitthebullseye.It'sgreatfun,buteventuallyourarmsgettiredandweendourattempts.Intheafternoon,weplantovisittheAmakhosiBigFiveReserve.WehavetheopportunitytogoonagamedriveandsetoffwithagroupofEnglishtourists.Weareverylucky.Duringthethree-hourjeepsafari,wenotonlyseegiraffes,zebrasandlotsofantelopes,butalsorhinosandalargeherdofelephantsdrinkingrightnexttousatawaterhole.Theblackrhinosarehiding,butweseeafewwhiterhinosgrazingandareabletogetquiteclosetothem.Thehighlightoftheafternoonisthecheetahs.Withfullbellies,theyliepantingontheground.Apparently,theyhavejusteatenandarenowresting,fullandcontent.Thereareonlytwocheetahsintheentirereserve,sowearereallyluckytoseethesefascinatinganimals.Aneventfuldaycomestoanend.Lionfamily–averyrare,enchantingsight
InthesilenceofAfricaCouldtherebeamorebeautifulplacetodine?TheobligatorysundownerBetternotdisturb!Bushgallop27Twiceasdelicious:breakfastinthebush
28WashingdayinthebushOncearoundSouthAfricaThereareexperiencesthatchangeeverything.Notsuddenly,notdramatically,butquietly,deeplyandpermanently.IsabelandLloydGillespie'sjourneyonhorsebackisonesuchexperience.Over7,400kilometres,ayearandsevenmonthsonthesaddle,undertheopensky,oftenatthelimitsofourstrength,butalwaysdrivenbyagoalthatisgreaterthanourselves.WewanttoraiseawarenessaboutAfricanhorsesickness,aviraldiseasetransmittedbymosquitoesthatisoftenfataltohorses.Manyfarmerscannotaffordthevaccination.Wefamiliarisethemwithprotectivemeasuresthatdonotinvolvevaccination,suchaswind,stablehygieneandmosquitosprays.Aboveall,wewanttofindoutwhathappenswhenyoucommityourselfcompletelytoacountry,anidea,anadventureandeachother.Atthattime,Lloydisnotyetmyhusband,butmyboyfriend.Somepeoplethinkwearecrazytoembarkonsuchajourneyasanewcouple.Inaremotearea,weoncemeetanoldmanwhosaystouswithabroadgrin:"Ajourneylikethisisprobablythehardesttesttofindoutwhetheryoureallybelongtogether."Heisabsolutelyright.WestartinDurbanandridenorth,alongtheborderwithMozambique,thenwest,accompaniedbythelife-givingriversLimpopo,MolopoandOrange–linesthatseparatenotonlyaridlandscapesandcountries,butalsohabitats,storiesandrhythms.Alongthewestcoast,theroutetakesussouththroughsanddunesandvastexpansestothefoothillsofCapeTown.Thenweturneastwards,alongtheGardenRoute,thewildeastcoast,theTranskeiandfinallybacktoDurban.Everysingledayisadecision.Tokeepgoing.Tokeepriding.Notbecauseit'seasy,butbecauseit'stherightthingtodo.Theheatburns,thewindblows,andsometimestherainlashesdown.Thelandscapechangesfrombarrendeserttosteamyhumidity.Wesleepintents,undertrees,onoldfarms,inabandonedhuts–andsometimesontheground,withourbacksleaningagainstasaddle.Once,ononeofthosescorchinghotdays,anoldpickuptruckpullsup.Afarmerhandsustwoice-coldbottlesofCoca-Colathroughthewindowwithabroadgrin,justlikethat,withoutsayingmuch.Atthatmoment,thedrinkisthebestwe'veeverhad.Anothertime,Iwakeupinthemiddleofthenightwithmywholebodyitching.Tomyhorror,mybodyiscoveredwithblack,crawlingdots–overahundredticks!Lloyddoesn'thaveasingleone.Iburstintotears.Justwanttogiveup,don'twanttorideanyfurther.Contagiouscheerfulness
29BOOKTIPIsabelGillespiehaswrittendownthewholeexcitingandtouchingtravelstoryinherbook.SOUTHAFRICAFROMTHESADDLE270pagesavailableonAmazonEncounterwithbuffalosPhotos:IsabelandLloydGillespie,AdrienneFriedlaenderRideinthewaddenseeintheeveninglightOnlywhenallthetickshavebeenremovedandthesunrisesovertheseadoesmycourageslowlyreturn.It'soneofthosedayswhenyourediscoveryourselfthroughdisgust,painand,intheend,perseverance.Andthenthere'sFever,myhorse.Asensitiveanimalwithaheartthatseemstobeatforme.Oneday,alorryracesaroundabendmuchtoofast.Inasplitsecond,Feverjumpsasideandsavesallourlives.WedismountandIreadinhiseyes:"I'vegotyou."Sincethen,Ihaveknownthattrustisnotaword,butabond.Ourhorses–tenintotal–becomepartofus.Theirpatience,theirinstinct,theirquietendurancecarryusinthetruestsenseoftheword.Therearenightswhentheybreakoutanddisappearintodangerousareas.Andmomentsofexhaustionwhentheylookatmethateverythingisalright.Welearntolisten,notwithourears,butwithourhearts.Wearedeeplytouchedbystrangerswhowelcomeus,whoprovideuswithahotshower,orbyfamilieswhosharetheirmealswithus.Childrenwhorunbarefootalongsideourhorsesandlaughasiftheworldwereallright.Thiswarmthcarriesusthroughsomecoldspells,bothinternallyandexternally.Afterourreturn,onethingiscleartous:wewanttosharethisexperiencewithothers.Notasabigshoworanorganisedadventuretour,butasaninvitationtobeauthentic.Today,weofferhikingandadventureridesourselves,nottoguidepeoplethroughthecountryside,buttoreconnectthemwiththehorses,withthemselves,andwiththemoment.Themostimportantthingforusisalwaysthewell-beingofthehorses.Theyareourpartners.Wepayattentiontotheirneeds,theirpace,theirfeelings.Thosewhoridewithuscanlookforwardtoadventure,butalsotomindfulness.Towhathappenswhenyouletgoofcontrolandallowyourselftotrust.Wedon'tridetogetsomewhere.Weridetobeonthemove.Andwewantotherstoexperiencethisfeelingtoo:therhythmofthesaddle,thehorse'sbreath,thewindinyourfaceandtherealisationthatlifeisoftenclearestwhennothingstandsbetweenyouandtheworld.OurjourneytookusnotonlythroughSouthAfrica,butalsotoourselves–andultimatelytoeachother.Becauseyes,thetestwashard.Butitshowedusthatwecanbearwhateverlifethrowsatus.Andthatwhatisrealremains.Today,weliveinBotswana,intheTsweheWildlifeReserve,surroundedbynature,animalsandwilderness.Here,wecontinueourlivesintunewiththerhythmofthehorsesandinviteotherstobecomepartofit.WithourUbuntuHorseTrail,aneight-dayridingadventureinthebush,wegivepeopletheopportunitytoexperienceAfricafromthesaddleascloselyandpurelyaspossible.It'snotjustaboutriding.It'saboutlistening.Aboutmarvelling.Aboutcommuningwiththehorse,natureandotherriders.Ubuntumeans:"Iambecauseweare."Andthatisexactlywhatwelivehere.Ineveryride.Ineveryencounter.IsabelWolf-GillespieLinktotheUbuntuTrail:www.equitour.com/ubu009.htm
A love of horses brings people together We understand each other "Friendly people" – alongside reliable horses, nature and culture, it is they who inspire EQUITOUR customers. EQUITOUR editor Gabriele Kärcher talks about her connections with horse lovers all over the world. EQUTOUR customers can explore more than fifty countries on horseback. The horse belonging to the host becomes the guest's horse for a few days. The shared affection brings people together, whether in familiar countries or in distant, exotic cultures. Added to this is the joy that a friendly, respectful group of riders brings when encountering locals. Horses are able to break the ice and make friends. I have had these enriching experiences on horseback riding tours in Spain, Ireland, France, Botswana, Morocco and the USA. My curiosity about horse people and riding cultures ultimately led me on a two-year expedition to important horse and riding countries on every continent. In order to explore the mystery of the relationship between humans and horses, I try to adopt other perspectives instead of my own familiar ways of thinking. I immerse myself completely in the foreign culture, without prejudice, without judgement, without comparison. I believe this is the key to finding meaning and happiness in travel. It is important to me to look at the big picture. I don't just look at riding styles, performances or competitions, but always at horse husbandry, which is the most important part of a horses life. 30 Of course, the way horses are treated in many countries does not correspond to our understanding of species-appropriate or animal-friendly. But countries such as Mongolia, the American West and Argentina have so much land that the free, natural life of horses compensates for one or two rough edges. In any case, I am careful not to accuse or proselytise. I am sure that because I treat people with an open mind, interest and respect, I have gained valuable friendships and insights around the world. A travel destination becomes my second home: the US state of Montana with its big skies and endless prairies. I am very impressed by the relaxed style of riding and the natural relationship with horses. The horses live on hundreds of hectares of pasture like wild horses. This wild life does not make the horses wilder, but rather content and, under saddle, balanced and reliable. Of course, these horses receive less care. "The vet only really comes for the cows," says ranch owner Larry. But living in the fresh air and freedom also makes the animals healthier and more robust. The ease with which the cowboys train and ride their horses is impressive and can be summed up simply in Larry's words: "A horse is a horse."
Fairytale:ArabcultureInternationalunderstandingonhorsebackTogetherthroughMongoliaRolemodels:UteandherridinggroupinIndiaLarrybelongstotheCrowIndiantribeand,likehisancestors,hasanintuitiveunderstandingofhorses.Fearofaccidents,injuries,illnessesandtheassociatedcareoravoidancestrategiesisforeigntonature-lovingpeoples.Theirtrustinthemselvesandthehorsesisreflectedinthehorses'trustinhumans.Ipickedupthisfearlessattitudethere.CountriessuchasIndiaandTurkmenistanhaveaveryuniquerelationshipwithhorses.Theyareeitherregardedaslowlyworkanimalsorhighlyrevered,evensacredstatussymbols.IfoundbothcountriestobeveryopenandeagertolearnaboutGermanridingandtrainingmethods.AmbitioushorseownersbringEuropeantrainersintothecountrytofurthertheireducationinequestriansports.Thisalsobringsculturestogether.AtPushkarMela,theIndianfullmoonfestival,Iseemanyriderswhoarenotexactlyridinginahorse-friendlymannerastheyracearoundthearena.Ute,theGermanridingguideforatourgroup,doesnotlectureorreprimand–sherideswithhergueststhroughthearenawithasmileandinexemplarystyleoncontented,calmhorses.Hermottois:"Makepeoplecuriousinsteadoflecturingthem."TheIndianswatchinadmiration,andperhapsoneortwoofthemaresoimpressedthattheydecidetoimprovetheirridingstyleontheirowninitiative.Thechangethencomesoftheirownaccord.Turkmenistan'snationalholidayisalsoHorseDay.EverythingrevolvesaroundtheprideoftheTurkmenpeople:theAkhal-Teke,thegolden"heavenlyhorse".Inthisotherwiseisolatedcountry,thehorseworldcomestogether,fromCanadatoChina,fromSaudiArabiatoEngland.Thereisamazement,Photos:GabrieleKärcher/www.sorrel.de,privateDemonstration:Turkmenartisticridersboast,anddeal.Presentationsofart,culture,pompandsplendourgiverisetofriendships,traderelationsandreciprocalinvitations.Horsesaresometimesbetterpoliticians.Manycountrieshavelongbeenrepresentedherebytheirhorses:ArgentinabytheversatileCriollos,theUSAbyQuarter,PaintandAppaloosahorses,SpainandPortugalbytheirproudBaroquehorses,andtheArabworldbyOrientalhorsessuchasBerbersandArabs.Friendsofimportedbreedseventuallyfeelthedesiretovisitthehomelandoftheirbelovedanimals.Thisallowsthemtolearnnotonlyabouttherespectivehorsebreeding,butalsoaboutthecultureandtraditionsofthepeoplewhocreatedthesebreeds.IwasthrilledbytheproverbialArabhospitalityinMorocco,aswellasthetraditionalwayoflifeofMongoliannomads,indigenouspeoplessuchastheMaori,Aborigines,NativeAmericansandtheBasotho,tonamebutafew.WithinEurope,thefascinationishardlyanyless.Icelandwithitsrobust,lovabletwo-andfour-leggedcreatures,thedisciplinedBritishwiththeirwealthofdifferenthorsebreeds,orthehot-bloodedSpaniards–thediversityintheloveofhorsesbroadensthehorizon.Respectandgenuineinterestinhorsesopendoorsandhearts.Peopleexchangeexperiences,storiesandopinions.CustomersofPEGASUSReiterreisencanattesttothis.Theknowledgegainedabouthorses,peopleandculturesgoesfarbeyondholidaymemories.Asharedpassionforhorsescreatesauniversalbond.31Realandleasuregauchos
Portugal Dream holiday 32 32 In addition to secluded beaches, unspoilt natural paradises and exquisite cuisine, Portugal offers the added pleasure of riding genuine Lusitanos in their country of origin. Photo: Carlos Frescata
Travel report Alcainça High-level dressage Angelika Kaiser has set herself a big goal: she wants to significantly improve her dressage skills in just one week. If there's anywhere she can do it, it's in Alcainça. Lusitano – master of collection My seat and my subtle aids definitely need improvement, and I want to ride well-trained Lusitanos and get a feel for dressage lessons. So I set off from Basel to Lisbon, where I meet my driver Henrique at the airport. Sunshine and warm spring temperatures welcome me. During the drive, Henrique tells me about the history of Lisbon and its surroundings. Just thirty minutes later, we arrive at the A courtyard gate opens onto a small horse world in a wonderful idyll. Henrique shows me my freshly renovated room with bathroom, which is functional and comfortably furnished. Immediately afterwards, I am welcomed for lunch and get to know my fellow riders: an American woman and a Swedish woman who has been living in London for a long time. The The head riding instructor sits at the table and enjoys chatting with his guests. The atmosphere at the farm is friendly, and you immediately feel welcome and at home. The facility consists of 34 from an indoor riding arena, three outdoor paddocks for the horses, a larger circle where the horses are occasionally allowed to run, as well as a large riding arena, a pool and some seating areas. The perfect place to relax and have some time to yourself. The stables are home to around 18 school horses and a few private horses that are available for riding or for sale. All horses are well cared for and are looked after around the clock. Horses that are not currently being used for lessons are lunged or ridden. Every horse gets sufficient exercise. All the horses seem content, friendly and well-balanced. In the afternoon, I am scheduled to have my first riding lesson and am assigned Xisano, a handsome Lusitano. I familiarise myself with him in the riding hall and am allowed to try out my first lessons, such as shoulder-in and leg-yielding, and prove myself in all three gaits. The lesson is very intensive – just as I imagined it would be.
usitanLusitano,anaturalldancerPEGASUSAftermyfirstridinglesson,Ilookforwardtoawarmshoweranddinnerwiththeothers.Intheevening,thereisthereisusuallyfish,andmeatatlunchtime.Thefoodisextremelytasty.Lena,thechef,makesuslaughwithherhumour.Thereisacheerful,sociableandrelaxedatmosphere.Weroundofftheeveningwithadeliciousdessertandtastywine.Overthenextfewdays,Iwillhaveoneridinglessoninthemorningandoneintheafternoon.Igettotryoutdifferenthorsesandaddafewnewskillstomyrepertoire:half-pass,haunches-in,flyingchanges,passageandSpanishwalk.Ittakesalotofeffortandconcentrationtoapplyalltheaidscorrectly.Afterawhile,however,Ibegintounderstandhowtousewhichweightaidsandwhen,andhowtocontrolthehorse'sshoulders.Fromtheseconddayonwards,Ihavearatherstrictridinginstructor.HemakesmerepeatthelessonsuntilIcanperformtherequiredtaskonmyhorse.It'sexhaustingbuthelpful.Bothridinginstructorsgivetheirall–theywantyoutolearnandgetagoodfeelforriding.IfeellikeI'mimprovingwitheverylesson.WhenI'mnotriding,Ihelpgroomthehorses,watchthemastersride,orrelaxinthesunwithagoodbook.Itremindsmealittleofmychildhooddays–whenIstillhadtimetogroomandcareforhorsesalldaylongandspendtimewiththem.Onthepenultimatedayofmyweek,wepractisegalloping,andforthefirsttimeinmylife,IfeelforseveralmomentsthatIcancontrolthetempojustbysittingproperly:IhopethatIwillbeabletodothisathomeonmyownhorse.Iamthrilledwithmyprogressasariderandregretthatafterjustoneweekitisalreadytimetosaygoodbyetothewonderfulhorses,theexcellentridinginstructorsandthefunnychefLena.Iwilldefinitelytrytocomebacknextyear.AngelikaKaiserwww.equitour.com/alcsta.htmInvitingpoolPhotos:ElisabethHambrügge,AngelikaKaiser,TonyStromberg,private35LightnessinthesaddleAirystablesEQUITOUR’sOwnerDiethardFranzLusitano,anaturaldancer
36InterviewwithMarioCardosoTheartofridinginPortugalEvenasachild,MarioCardosofeltdrawntohorses.Today,helivesandteachesthePortugueseequestriantradition.AlcainçaisoneofEQUITOUR'soldestpartnerestablishments,wherenotonlycustomersbutalsotheEQUITOURteamhavecometoappreciatethefirst-classhorsesandtraining.EQUITOURownerDiethardFranzhasfalleninlovewithPortugalandtheLusitanosandhaslongownedaLusitanostallionhimself.ManyguestsatAlcainçawillrememberridingmasterGeorgesMalleroni,whoranAlcainçaformanyyears.Fortwoyearsago,hissuccessorMarioCardosohasfirmlytakenthereinsoftheridingcentreandtrainshorsesandriderstothehigheststandard.Mario,howdidyougetintotheworldofhorses?Unfortunately,Ididn'thavetheprivilegeofbeingbornintotheworldofhorsesthroughmyfamily.Buthorseshavealwaysfascinatedme,andIoftensatinthesaddleasachild.Igraduatedfromagriculturalvocationalschoolandfoundmywayintotheprofessionofridinginstructorthroughinternshipswithbreedersandprofessionalriders.Portugalisknownforitshorses.WhatisspecialaboutthehorsecultureinPortugal?WeseetheLusitanoasalivingculturalheritage,andwefeelastrongconnectiontoourhorse.Itispartofouridentityandisdeeplyrootedinthetraditionsofourcountry.Weareveryproudofourhorsebreedandliveoutourpassionforridingeverydaythroughourworkwiththehorses.Itisnotasport,butawayoflife.Iwouldsaythatthecharacterofourhorseisunique.TheLusitanoisareliablepartnerthankstoitsrideabilityandworkethic.Itisajoytotrainthesehorses.Photos:GabrieleKärcher,ChristianeSlawik
37WorkingEquitationWorkingequitationandfinedressagearenotmutuallyexclusive.Workingequitationcombinesbothintoacompetitivesportwithfourdisciplines:dressage,styletrail,speedtrailandcattlework.ThesportoriginatedfromworkingequitationinItaly,France,SpainandPortugal.Thegreatthingisthatitissuitableforallhorsebreedsandsizes,andtherearecompetitionsforbeginnersandexpertsalike.Thedisciplines:Dressage:Basicgaits,supplenessofthehorsesStyletrail:RideabilityistestedusingtrailobstaclesSpeedtrail:ThetrailcourseisriddenagainsttheclockCattlework:HerdingcattleinthecorrectridingstyleTwoyearsago,youtookoverthemanagementoftheAlcainçaEquestrianCentre,whichhasbeeninexistenceforover40years.Canyoutellussomethingaboutitshistoryandmainareasoffocus?Thisplaceisspecial;itfeelsasifthereisneitherspacenortimehere.Thefoundersrealisedadreambackthen.Overtheyears,thecentrehasdevelopedintoaplacewhereclassicalandPortugueseridingstylesaretaughtonwell-trainedschoolhorses,rightuptothemostdifficultlessons.Equitour/PEGASUSwasthefirstpartnertoofferthisprogrammeasanequestrianholiday.Today,myteamandIarecontinuingthistradition.WeenableridersfromallovertheworldtogettoknowourequestriancultureandourLusitanos,toimprovetheirtechniqueandinfluence,andtodevelopasriders.Workingequitationisbecomingincreasinglypopular.Youtakepartincompetitionsandteachthisdiscipline.Whatfascinatesyouaboutit?Forme,thepartnershipwiththehorseisthemostimportantthing–regardlessofthediscipline.Inworkingequitation,riderandhorsereallyhavetobecomeone.Iamparticularlyfascinatedbythecanterwork,theflyingchangesandtheprecisionrequiredtomastertheobstaclesharmoniously.Justasimportantasagoodridinginstructorarethehorsesusedforlessons.Canyoutellussomethingaboutthem?Becausewetrainourschoolhorseshereandridethemregularly,weknowthemverywell.Theyreflecteverymistakemadebytherider,andweknowimmediatelywhatcorrectionisnecessary.Here,too,it'sallaboutpartnership.Forme,ourhorsesarethekeytosuccess.Wewelcomeridingstudentswithverydifferentlevelsofpreviousexperience.Withthehelpofourschoolhorses,wemeetthemattheirlevelandcanoftennoticeablyimprovetheirskillswithinafewdays.Photos:AlcainçaRidingCentreDoyouhaveafavouritehorse?Whoisyourpersonalchampionandwhatmakesthemspecial?Yes,Carameloismymostimportantpartner.Hehasawonderfulcharacterandhasbeenwithusformanyyears.Heisveryclever:ifaridingstudent'stechniqueisnotquiterightforalesson,helikestoleadthemaroundbythenose.That'shiswayoftellingme,"Theridingstudentdoesn'tknowhowtodoityet."Whatkindofriderscometoyou?Whoistheprogrammesuitablefor?Asahost,itisimportanttomethatourguestsareopentoourridingcultureandreallywanttolearn.Forourdressageprogramme,guestsshouldhavebasictrainingandanindependentseatandfeelconfidentinallbasicgaits.Webuildonthis,introducethemtothelessonsandteachthemwhatpiaffeandpassagefeellike.Workingequitationrequiresahigherlevelofridingskill.Thelessonsareconductedatagallop,soridersmustbeabletoguidethehorseinacollectedgallopwithcorrectseat,maintainbalanceanduseweightaidsefficiently.Thebasisisdressage,whichmeanswealsoworkalotonthefundamentals,seatandaids.Thankyouverymuch,Mario!TheinterviewwasconductedbyMarianneLozzaLusitano:PrideofthePortuguese
38TravelreportNorthernPortugalWildhorseadventuretrailIngridLuttenbergerdreamedofwildhorses.InnorthernPortugal,sheridesnotonlyherfriendlyridinghorsebutalsomeetsrealwildhorses.38
Horseormountaingoat?Whatamoment!ThewildGarranosWhenriding,youdon'talwayssitonthehorse.Sometimesyousitingorse,andthat'snotjustthename,asIpainfullydiscover.Onaplateau,IspottedagroupofGarranos,Portuguesewildhorsesthatlivefreelyhere.Idismountedandcreptcloser.Thehorsesapproached,andIcroucheddownandretreated–intothethornyundergrowth.Ididn'tdaremove,grittingmyteethandholdingmybreathasamagnificentGarranostallioncamecloserandcloser.Radiatingpeacefulnessandcalm,hescrutinisedme.Firsthesniffsmyknees,thenhecomessoclosethathismuscularneckhoversaboveme.Slowlyhelowershisheadandbringsoneeyerightuptothecameralens.Thenhepresseshisdark,wrinkledmuzzleagainstmyleftcheekandear.Isitinthethornbushandalmostcrywithhappiness.Thisencounterwithpowerandfreedomisunforgettable.Butfirstthingsfirst:theweek-longhorseridingtourbookedinnorthernPortugaliscalled"WildHorseAdventureTrail".Forsixdays,youspenduptofivehoursinthesaddle.TherouteleadsthroughthePeneda-GerêsNationalParkandthesmallerCornodeBicoNaturePark.Thelushvegetationextendstothecoast,whichisrightlycalledCostaVerde(GreenCoast).WearestayingattheprettyQuintadoFijo,anhourandahalffromPorto,equippedwithpastures,stablesandapartments.CarlosandMaddalenatakecareoftheirguests,whileFreddyisonnightduty.Anyonewholetsthelittletomcatintotheirroom—well,inbed—willbelulledtosleepbyhispurring.Thisisverypleasant,becauseafterall,thecrucialquestionremains:willyougetthe"right"horse?RidinginstructorCarlosknowsexactlyhowcrucialthismatchingprocessis.Heknowshisfour-leggedfriends,buthehastoassessthetwo-leggedones.Therearealsosomeunorthodoxrequests("Whatabeautifulcolour!Iwantthathorse!")."You'llberidingPacifico,"Carlostellsmeatourfirstdinner."He'sveryexperiencedandcangolast."Thesecondmostimportantpositionaftertheleadhorse–I'malreadyalittleproudofhim.The22-year-oldAnnafromGermanyisdelightedbecausesheisgettingMarqesh,thehorseinherfavouritecolour.39Everyoneishappy
40SizingeachotherupImpressive:therareCachenacattlePhotostopatthechurch"Hey,Iwantabitetoo!"40Ablazeofcolourinthenaturepark
41"There'salwaysonebitchinthegroup,"CarloscautiouslysaystoMonique(63),whohascomefromAustraliawithherdaughterAllysha(29)."butPetraisagoodhorse!"Moniqueyelpsinfeigneddespair:"Whyme?WhyisitALWAYSme?"Everyonelaughs,theiceisbroken.CarlosassignsNubia,anelegantArabianmare,toLeon(22)fromGermany.Wearealreadybeginningtobuildarelationshipwith"our"horsesinourminds.Onthefirstmorning,wefinallygettointeractwiththehorses.Wetakethemoutoftheirstalls,groomthem,saddlethemupandpackapicnic:pastasaladforus,concentratedfeedforthehorses,applesforeveryone.Thenwesetoff.Residentialarea,motorway:theveryfirstpartoftherideisnofun.Butthen!Betweengardens,villagesandruins,werodeuphillintothegreenmountainlandscapetothePeneda-GerêsNationalPark,where,inadditiontotheGarranos,Cachenacattle,deer,mountaingoatsandevenwolveslive.It'sSunday.Anoldwinegrowerplaystheaccordioninhisgarden.Hiswiferushesovertosingalongwhensheseestheridinggroup.Noteeth,butlotsofheart.Dayafterday,webreatheinnature.WepassthroughmightyeucalyptusforestsandcrosssmallstonebridgesthatcouldbethebackdropforGameofThrones.Withtemperaturesreaching30degreesinOctober,theforestsectionsareawelcomesight,sofullofmossandlichenthattheyresemblesomethingoutofafairytalefilm.Wespendourlunchbreakswithourfeetinariver,intheshadeofachurchorinatinyfarmshopwithtwoconstructionworkersatthenexttable.Intheevening,ourhorsesaretakencareofinpasturesalongthetrailandstaythereovernight.WedrivebacktotheQuintaandreturninthemorning.Thisallowsustogoonanicelonghorsebackrideandstillspendthenightinasinglecomfortableaccommodation.ThePeneda-GerêsNationalParkstretchesacrosshigh,partlyrockyterrainwithmountainsreachingheightsofupto1,545metres.Thisoffersmagnificentpanoramicviewsofthelushgreenmountainrange.TheCornodeBicoNatureParkisnotquiteashighorrugged.Sandypathsleadthroughidyllicfairytaleforestshere.Theridingroutesareperfectlychosen,andthetrailisalsoverywellorganised.Thentherearetheunexpectedencounters.Theyareagift.Likeonthepenultimateday,forexample:atlunchtime,wetakeabreakinamountainvillagesodesertedthatwecantiethehorsesacrosstheroad.Thenwediveintoanotherworld.TwinsistersOliviaandRosa(80)andMaria(90)liveinasmallstonehousewithawood-burningstoveandaspringwaterbasininthecourtyard.Ourgroupofsixreceivesfoodandaffectionforanentirecompany.Thesistersblossom.Mariaproudlyopensherbunandshowsusthatshehasnevercutherhairinherlife.OliviaandRosabeamastheypetthehorses,andeveryonewantstoseephotos,photos,photos.Whenit'stimetosaygoodbye,Oliviahastearsinhereyes.ShehugsmeandwishesusGod'sblessing.Hopefully,thelightbulbLeonchangedwilllastalongtime.It'sagoodthingthatmostoftheridinggroupsconsistofwomen.Because,"Ican'ttakementothesisters,"saysCarlos,"theywouldworryabouttheirreputation."Afterall,OliviaandRosawerenevermarried.IngridLuttenbergerwww.equitour.com/portugal.htmPhotos:IngridLuttenberger,YvonneKoall41CattledrinkingspotinthenationalparkFriendsatfirstsight:Olivia,PacificoandIngridHere,youforgetthetime
Portugal A horse country with heart Its days as a maritime power are long gone. But the history of Portuguese horse breeding and equestrianism is still of global significance today. 42 42 Photos: Ingrid Luttenberger, Gabriele Kärcher, Yvonne Koall, Pixabay/Bogitw, Nathsegato,
43CountryinformationPortugalSize:92,212km²Population:10.4millionCapital:LisbonLanguage:PortugueseReligion:predominantlyRomanCatholicCurrency:euroClimate:Hotanddryinthesouth,coolerinthenorthBesttimetovisit:MarchtoNovemberTheEQUITOURridingprogrammeoffersthefulldiversityofthecountry.Secludednaturallandscapesinthenorth,charmingcoastalrides,professionaldressageprogrammesandvisitstostudfarmsbreedingthePortugueseLusitanoandAltérRealbreeds.Thecuisine,cultureandhospitalityreflectthecountry'sjoiedevivreandtraditions.https://equitour.com/portugalEQUITOURRIDINGPROGRAMMEPadrãodosDescobrimentostheMonumenttotheDiscoveriesBeautifulbeaches,natureparks,mountains,moderncities–Portugalhasmanyfacets.Theentirecoastlineisalmostonecontinuousbeachstretchingover800kilometres.Inthesouth,theseaissignificantlywarmerandcalmer–makingitmoresuitableforswimmingandbathingandthereforemorepopular.Horseriderspreferthecooler,wilderbutalsomoresecludedAtlanticfurthernorth,wheretheycangallopalongthebeachtotheirheart'scontent.InthefarnorthliesPortugal'sonlynationalpark,Peneda-Gerês.ItoffersavarietyofridingandhikingtrailsthatEQUITOURcustomerscanexploreonhorseback.Othernatureparksandreservesrevealthecountry'sscenicdiversitytovisitors.Thenorthishistoricallysignificant,asthePortoregionisthecradleofthecountry.ItwasherethatthePortuguesebecameacountryandanationinthetwelfthcentury.Impressivecastlesandchurchesbearwitnesstothepast.Porto,thecapitalofthenorth,isaUNESCOWorldHeritageSitethankstoitshistoryandhistoricoldtown.ThePortuguesearedown-to-earthandgratefulforwhattheyhave.Friendlyandcosmopolitan,theylovetospoiltheirguestswithstoriesanddishes.Andwiththeworld-famousportwine,whichcomesfromPorto.Itprobablytastesbesthere,butvisitorsliketotakeithomewiththemandthinkbacktoPortugalwitheverysip.43TypicalwindmillWiththewildhorsesinthenationalparkPortooldtown
Balkans Despite its rugged charm, Bulgaria is one of the least visited countries. Visitors can enjoy unspoilt wilderness, contrasting geology, a culture steeped in history and a pleasant climate. For horse riders, it sounds like the ideal destination. r e s i a K a k i l e g n A : o t o h P 45 45
46TravelreportBulgariaDevetakiPlateauatagallopBulgariaonhorseback–thatmeanswilderness,wideopenspacesandgalloping.AngelikaKaiserdoesn'tneedanythingelseforherperfectholiday.Endlessexpanses46UnderthemightyBalkans
After a four-hour drive from Sofia Airport, we arrive at our accommodation. We are my girlfriend and I, along with other participants in the upcoming riding adventure. Day 2 – My faithful companion Yanko The next morning, excitement is high: we get to meet our horses. After answering a few questions, I am assigned my four-legged partner for the week – Yanko, the perfect trail horse: sure-footed, calm, yet full of energy and always ready for a brisk gallop. I am allowed to ride him without a bit, which is a new experience for me. Our group consists of seven riders – a colourful mix from Germany, France, Spain, England, the USA and Canada. Different languages, different riding styles, but we are united by our love of horses, nature and adventure. We ride through dense forests, along clear streams and across vast meadows and fields. The endless expanses of Bulgaria invite us to try our first trots and gallops. The light drizzle at the start cannot dampen our spirits, even if we cannot make as much progress as we would like due to the slippery ground in places. The horses nevertheless stride forward diligently and carry us safely down the steeper slopes. Day 3 – Bulgarian culture and beautiful countryside After breakfast, we start with some culture – we visit a monastery and a cave. The Dryanovo Monastery is picturesquely situated in a narrow river valley in the Balkan Mountains of Bulgaria. It is surrounded by steep, wooded cliffs and consists of whitewashed buildings with dark wooden elements and red roofs. Along the river 47 47
4868TheBachoKiroCaveislocatedintherocksabovethemonastery.Itisanimportantarchaeologicalsitewheretracesofearlyhumansettlementhavebeenfound.Together,themonasteryandcaveformahistoricalensembleofnatureandculture.Thenwecontinueonhorseback,trottingnorthwardspastendlesscolourfulfieldsandmeadowsbeforeapproachingasmallcanyonwhoseArushingstreamaccompaniesusonourway.WereachthepicturesquevillageofKereka,whereweenjoyaleisurelypicnicunderoldtreesandletoursoulsunwind.Refreshed,wecontinueourrideandtravelafewmorekilometresuntilwereachourdestination–agreataccommodationwithadeliciousdinner,aninvitingwhirlpoolandarelaxingsauna–theperfectendtoafive-hourridefilledwithnature,freedomandadventure.Day4–ThecityofthetsarsThedaybeginswithadeliciousbreakfastbeforewevisitthehistoriccityofVelikoTarnovo,oncethecapitaloftheSecondBulgarianEmpire.In1185,thebrothersAsenandPeterledtheuprisingagainsttheByzantines,andAsenwascrownedtsar.Thecity,withover7000yearsofhistory,isbuiltonthreehills:Tsarevets,TrapezitsaandMomina,whicharesurroundedbytheYantraRiver.Tsarevetsinparticularservedasthecentreofpowerandisnicknamedthe"CityofTsars".Hereyoucanexploretheremainsofover400houses,18churches,theroyalpalaceandtheexecutionrock.Afterwards,weridealongtheYantraRiverandthroughwidefieldsandmeadows.Aftereachstageoftheride,alovinglypreparedpicnicwithsalad,hotfoodanddessertsawaitsus.Coffee,teaandotherbeveragesarealsoprovided.Simple,sumptuous,delicious:picnicinthewildernessStopandmarvelNaturalshowerunderthewaterfall
Day5–AbovethecloudsofBulgariaAfteraheartybreakfastatthehotel,thesaddledhorsesawaitus,andwesetoffinanorth-westerlydirectiontowardsthevillageofKarpachevo.Thehorsescarryusacrosswidemeadowsandfieldsatabriskgallop.SoonwereachthespectacularDevetakiPlateau,whichatanaltitudeoffivetosixhundredmetres,offeringabreathtaking360-degreepanoramaofthesurroundinglandscape–amomentyouwouldliketocaptureforever.WestopforapicnicundershadytreesnearthevillageofKrasnoGradishteandtakeinthebeautyofnature.Refreshed,wecontinueourrideandfinallyreachthecharmingguesthouse.OngulinKarpachevo,wherecosyroomsandwarmhospitalityawaitus.Afteraround35kilometresandaboutsixhoursofriding,thedaycomestoanendinapeaceful,ruralatmosphere–aperfectmixofadventure,natureandrelaxation.Theguesthouseisaformerschoolandtheroomsareimpressivelylarge.Inthehugegarden,aswimmingpoolinvitesyoutolingerandswim.Day6–Water,rocksandwondersAfterashort,briskridewithlotsofgallopingacrosswidefieldsandmeadows,wevisittheKrushunawaterfalls.–Turquoisebluewatercascadesoverlimestoneterraces,theairiscoolandrefreshing.Afterwards,weheadtoDevetakiCave,ahugenaturalcathedralwherescenesfromtheHollywoodfilm"TheExpendables2"wereshot.Day7–ThelastrideAfterbreakfast,wevisitthehorsesonelasttime.TheridetakesusfromthevillageofKarpachevoacrossthehighplateautotheimpressive,verticalGarvanitsaCave–afascinatingnaturalwonderthatdescendsdeepintotherocks.Fromthere,werideontotheidyllicLakeKramolin,wherewerechargeourbatterieswithadeliciouspicnicoverlookingthelake.Intheafternoon,wetravelthroughthevalleysoftheMagaraandKrapetsrivers,pastmeadowsandvillages.Manyhouseswithlarge,beautifulplotsoflandstandempty,asmanyresidentshavelefttheirvillagesforthecityduetoalackofwork.TherideendsinthesmallvillageofKurmiansko,whereourhorsesareloadedupandtakenbacktothestable.Wespendtheeveningrelaxingatthehotel.Sevendaysfullofnatureexperiences,beautifulrides,smallraces,warmBulgarianhospitalityanddeliciousfoodcometoanend–andremainwithusaswonderfulmemories.Day8–FarewellwithgratitudeEarlyinthemorning,wesetoffforSofia.Thereislittleconversationonthejourney–everyoneislostintheirownthoughts.Thistripwasmorethanjustaridingholiday.Itwasareturntosimplicity,totruenatureandtothefeelingofbeingpartofsomethingbigger.AngelikaKaiserwww.equitour.com/was008.htm49OurbeautifulaccommodationinOngalReststopatidyllicLakeKramolinPanoramicviewfromtheDevetakiPlateauBubblingKrushunaWaterfallsPhotos:MariaTonevaWemadeit!Tsarevets-the‘cityoftsars’withitsimposingfortress
50BulgariaTreasuretroveoftheBalkansArichculturalheritage,mildclimate,mountains,seaandgastronomy–allthesethingsmakeacountryattractivetotravellers.Bulgariascoreshighlyineveryarea.ThemightyBalkanMountainsrunhorizontallyacrossBulgariafromwesttoeasttotheBlackSea.ThenorthisformedbytheDanubePlain,withtheDanubeRiverformingthecountry'sborder.SouthoftheBalkanmountainrangeliestheUpperThracianPlain,alsoknownastheCentralBulgarianBasin.Itssouth-westernborderisformedbythehighmountainsoftheRhodopes,RilaandPirin,whicharethehighestmountainsinBulgaria.At2,925metres,MusalaintheRilamassifisthehighestpeakintheentireBalkanPeninsula.ThethreeBulgariannationalparksarelocatedintheBalkan,RilaandPirinmountains.Brightbluemountainlakes,nestledamongsnow-cappedpeaks–Bulgaria'suntouchedalpinelandscapescaneasilycompetewiththeCanadianRockyMountains.Tothesouth-eastofthebasin,theSakarandStrandzhalowmountainrangesstretchacrossthebordertoTurkey.Thankstoitsnaturalandculturaltreasures,tourismisagrowingindustryinBulgaria.OneofthemostimportanttouristregionsistheBlackSeacoast.GoldenSandsandSunnyBeachliveuptotheirnamesandareidealdestinationsforbeachholidaymakersandsunworshippers.50
Those seeking more authenticity can hike, cycle and, of course, ride horses in the vast Bulgarian lowlands. Here you will find old villages, historic towns and inviting wine regions. The cultures of the Thracians, Romans, Ottomans and Slavs are combined in art, dance and traditional costumes. Historical sights such as churches, monasteries, castles and palaces are further attractions for visitors. Bulgaria is divided in two not only geographically but also climatically by the Balkan Mountains. In the Danube lowlands, the continental climate brings hot, dry summers and cold, snowy winters. South of the mountain range, the climate is milder with moderate winters, rainy springs and warm summers. A visit to the Archaeological Museum in Sofia offers a special insight into history with precious exhibits from the Thracian period, such as the Panagyurishte gold treasure. The Krushuna Waterfalls are the largest cascade in Bulgaria Open at the top: the Devetaki Cave Built into ancient rocks: the Belogradchik Fortress The south gate of the ancient Roman fortress of Diocletianopolis 51 51
52TheruggedcharmofBulgaria'swildernessandhistoricsitesguaranteesawonderfulstayforridersexploringthecountry'streasuresfromthesaddle.EQUITOURoffersthreeridingtoursonthenorthernandsouthernedgesoftheBalkans.Allprogrammesoffercomfortablehotelsandtraditionalcuisine.www.equitour.com/bulgarien.htmEQUITOURHORSERIDINGPROGRAMMESize:110,994km²Population:6.4millionCapital:SofiaLanguage:BulgarianReligion:PredominantlyChristianOrthodoxCurrency:EuroClimate:North:continentalclimate,South:maritimetoMediterraneanBesttimetovisit:MarchtoNovemberCountryinformationBulgariaWithallthetreasuresBulgariahastooffer,ithasanotherbigadvantage:itisaninexpensivecountry.ThecostoflivingisalmosthalfthatoftheUnitedKingdom.Hotelsandrestaurantsareaffordablefortourists.AshoppingtripduringandafteraEQUITOURridingtourismorethanrecommended–andnotjustbecauseofthelowprices.EQUITOURoffersthreedifferentridingtoursthatprovideaninsightintothemanyfacetsofBulgariaonhorseback.OnthenorthernsideoftheBalkans,youwillvisithistoricalsitesandbuildingsaswellasextraordinarynaturalspectaclessuchastheDevetakiPlateauwithitswaterfallsandcaves.Ridesinthemountainsofferfantasticviews.AnothertourtakesyouthroughthelandoftheThracians.YouclimbtheSrednaGoramountainrangeonthesouthernedgeoftheBalkanMountainsandfindhistoricalculturaltreasuressuchasmonumentsandbuildingsheretoo.Thehotelsonthistourofferspaandwellnessprogrammesthataregoodforyouafterlongrides.Inthethirdprogramme,youwillridethroughthewildernessnorthoftheBalkans,whereyouwillfindsecludedpicnicspotsbylakesandinrivervalleys.Whateveryoudecide,youaresuretocollectwonderfulimpressionsandmemories.Theseareyourveryownpersonaltreasure.52AmphorafromthePanagyurishtegoldtreasureTheRilaMonastery:UNESCOWorldHeritageSite:thelargestandmostbeautifulmonasteryinBulgariaGoldenSands:beachandpartymile
DanubierhorseprofileTheBulgarianhorsebreedwasbredasaworkinghorsefrom1920onwards.InitiallyintheDanubeValley,whichiswhyDanubiansarealsocalledDanubehorses.TheirancestorsaretheHungarianbreedsNoniusandGidran.Later,afinerandmoreeleganthorsewasdesired,andthebreedwasrefinedwithEnglishthoroughbredstocreatearidingandsporthorse.Thankstothisinfluence,Danubianshaveconsiderablejumpingability.Height:150to155cmatthewithersConformation:Strong,stately,heavywarmbloodtypeColour:Predominantlybay,black,chestnutCharacter:Hard-working,reliable,strongnervesCharacteristics:Persistent,robust,sure-footedSuitability:Leisureriding,trailriding,driving,jumpingApachiFromsemi-wildhorsetotourcompanionWhenmyfatherAlexledtheThracianTrailinlateautumn2021,ridingthroughtheSrednaGoraMountains,ablackstallionappearedatWolf'sPeakandfollowedourhorsestowardsthepicnicarea.Thestallionwasallaloneinthemountains.Hedidnotreactaggressively,butratherseemedhappytomeetotherhorses.WerecognisedthathewasaDanubehorse–atraditionalBulgarianbreed.WehadalreadyhadexperiencewithafewDanubehorsesinrecentyears.Theywereallverystrong,comfortableandbrave.Thisstallionstayedclosetousthroughoutthepicnic.Soon,theownerofthefarminthenearbymountainsdrovebyinhiscar.MyfatherAlexaskedhimwhatwasgoingonwiththestallion,andthemanrepliedthathenolongerwantedtokeephisherd.Theentireherdhadalreadybeenslaughtered.However,hehadbeenunabletocatchthisstallion.Sohewastheonlysurvivorofhisherd.Alexthenofferedtobuythehorse,andthefarmergratefullyacceptedtheoffer.Theonlyconditionwasthathehadtocatchthehorsehimself.Afterthetrailrideended,myfatherandmybrotherVaskoreturnedtothemountainswithavantocatchthestallion.Aweekaftertheybroughtthestalliontothestable,hebrokeout.Hewasn'tusedtolivingbehindfences,sohedisappearedfortwowholeweeks.Friendsbroughtusthenewsthattheyhadseenhimandthathewasspendinghislifealoneinthewild,hidingintheforestduringtheday.Alittlelater,wefinallyreceivedacall.OurblackstallionwascaughtwithfortyotherhorsesPhotos:MariaToneva,Pixabay/ArvidO,Vladunis,Nextvoyageinapaddockfiftykilometresawayfromourstable.Becausethepaddockwassohuge,AlexandVaskospenttwodayscatchingthestallion.Afterbringinghimbackhome,theycastratedhim.Welearnedthathehadalreadybeenriddenalittleinthepast,somyfatherandbrotherfinishedtraininghimafterthecastration.Hehasalwaysbeenaveryintelligentandcourageoushorse,andhasnowbeenworkingonourtrailridesforthreeyears.Everyonewhohasriddenhimsofarhasfalleninlovewithhimbecauseheiscomfortabletositonandbeautiful.Allourhorseslivetogetherinalargeherd.Theyhaveahugepaddock,andApachiisoneoftheherdleaders.Heloveswaterandsometimeshereallygetsonournerveswhenhedrinksandthenwasheshisfeetinthetroughs,leavingnothingfortheotherhorsestodrink.Danubehorsesareknownfortheirstrongcharacter.Inourherd,asmallArabianistheleader.Apachieatsanddrinksrightafterhim.MariaToneva53Rightinthemiddle:Apachi,ahorsewithacharacter
Golden Sand 320 days of sunshine a year, endless beaches, noble horses. Djerba unfolds all its magic in the warm light of sunrise and sunset. s a a V a k s i z n a r F : o t o h P 55 55
Travel report Djerba Dunes, palm trees, galloping along the beach High temperatures and hot-blooded horses await Franziska Vaas in Djerba, where she is extending her summer a little longer at the end of October. 56 56
MytwofriendsandIaremetattheairportbyMajidandtakentotheridingstable.Afterteaandcoffee,weareshownaroundthefacilitiesandouraccommodation.Therearethreedoublerooms,abathroom,kitchenandloungeontheupperfloor,andanotherdoubleroomwithbathroominthebasement.ThehorsesaremainlyBarbaryandArabianstallions,buttherearealsotwogeldings,twomaresandadonkeyonthefarm.Weareintroducedtoeachhorseindividually.Wearealsoshownhowtheyarekeptandfed.Everyday,theyreceiveabucketfullofdatesthathavebeendriedinthesun.Intheafternoon,wewalktothebeachandrefreshourselvesinthesea.AttheendofOctober,temperaturesonDjerbacanstillreach35degrees,butthewatertemperatureispleasantlycool.Afterourswim,weenjoyourfirstmeal,freshlypreparedbyMajid.Everyevening,wearetreatedtothree-coursemeals.Thereareplentyofvegetables,legumesandfruit;thetraditionaldietinTunisiaishealthy.Thespicyharissapasteisamust-try.Thenextmorning,afterbreakfast,wesetoffonourfirstridethroughthecountryside.Thisgivesusachancetogettoknowthehorses.Thetrailleadsthroughnumerousolivegroves,pastoldbuildingsandpalmtrees.OurguideAligivesusanthelandscapeinanimpressivemanner.Aroundmidday,itgetshotterandhotter,sowearegladtoridebacktothefarm.WeagreewithAlitorideatsunriseorsunsetonthefollowingdaystoavoidtheheat.Thenextday,afterbreakfast,MajiddrivesustoHoumtSouk.Thetownhasabeautifuloldtownwithcharmingcafésandshopssellingtraditionalhandicrafts.HorsesinarekeptinpaddocksArider'sparadisewithpalmtreesandsandypathsInthealleysofHoumtSoukAliguidesusacrosstheisland57
OntheislandofflamingosFitouri–thereliablecarriagehorseViewofthefarmFriendsIntheafternoon,wegoonourfirstbeachrideatsunset.Here,wecantrotandgallopforalongtime,whileAliandMajid'ssontakevideosandphotos.Ridingthesix-year-oldBerber-ArabianstallionChouchen,Iexperiencethefastestgallopofmylife.Thefarmhashorsestosuiteverytaste,butmostofthemarequitefast.Oneofmyfriendsdoesn'thavemuchridingexperienceyet,sosheridesthewell-behavedgeldingNebli.Hehasacalmtemperament,butisstillquitefast.Alitakesgreatcaretoensurethatshekeepsup.Afterthisexcitingfirstbeachride,welookforwardtodinner.Thenextmorning,MajiddrivesustothetraditionalanimalmarketinMidoun,whichalwaystakesplaceonFridaymornings.Ihavevisitedmanyanimalmarketsaroundtheworldandseenalotofsadthings.InDjerba,Iwaspleasantlysurprised.Onthisday,wealsotakeagallopingsunsetridetotheFlamingoPeninsula.Thisheadlandinthenorthisanaturepark.Intheevening,thereisalotofactivity,wemeetmanyotherriderswithhorsesandcamels,aswellasquadbikers,allenjoyingthecolourfulsky.Weplansunriseridesforthenexttwodaysandgetupearly.Thisismyfavouritetimeforbeachrides,becauseearlyinthemorningwehavetheheadlandalmosttoourselves.Inthistranquillity,wehavetheopportunitytoseetheshyflamingos.Icanrecommendeveryonetosettheiralarmclockearlyandjoinasunriseride.Afterthemorningride,weareservedaheartybreakfast.Afterwards,wehavethewholedaytogoswimmingatthebeach.Onthelastday,wegoonacarriageride.Thisispulledbythehard-workinggreyhorseFitourithrough58thehinterland.ThisgivesusfurtherinsightsintothebeautifullandscapeofDjerba.Fitouriisafavouritewithmanyguests,whetherundersaddleorinfrontofthecarriage.AsapastureaccidentbetweenaBerberandacold-bloodedhorse,thispowerfulgeldingstandsoutfromtheherd.Myfriend,whohassomedrivingexperience,isallowedtotakethereinsonthecoachboxfromtimetotime.Ontheway,wetakeabreakinasmallcafé.Thistime,MajidaccompaniesusandhealsoknowsalotaboutthenatureandhistoryofDjerba.
The best time for riding: sunrise and sunset My conclusion: it is a very nice trip to get to know Djerba. Autumn is the ideal time of year. Everyone involved goes to great lengths to look after their guests, which is why many regulars keep coming back. During our stay, we also get to know regular guests during our stay who have been enjoying Majid's cooking and the energetic horses for several years. For my two friends, it is their first horse riding trip and also their first ride outside Germany. You will feel very well looked after with this programme. Djerba is the perfect place for a holiday in the sun and for anyone who dreams of galloping along the beach. we are also delighted by the hinterland with its olive and orange groves. The only downside is the rubbish on Djerba, which can be seen in many places . The beautiful Mediterranean island still needs to get this problem under control. The people of Djerba are hospitable, open and honest. The island is also recommended as a destination for women travelling alone. Franziska Vaas www.equitour.com/djesta.htm Photos: Franziska Vaas 59 59
60Historical:RuinsofthePalaisBenAyedDjerbaisthepearlofTunisiaandthedestinationoftheTunisianEQUITOURridingprogramme.TheMediterraneanSeainvitesyoutoswim,enjoywatersportsandrideonthebeach,preferablyatsunriseorsunset.Choosebetweensix-hourstarridestothebeachandthehinterlandorshorterhalf-dayridesthatleavetimeforotheractivities.www.equitour.com/djesta.htmEQUITOURHORSERIDINGPROGRAMMESize:163,610km²Population:11.8millionCapital:TunisLanguage:ArabicReligion:IslamCurrency:TunisiandinarClimate:North:Mediterranean,South:aridBesttimetovisit:AllyearroundCountryinfoTunisiaTunisiaUnderthesouthernsunPalmtrees,beaches,vibrantlife.ForEuropeans,TunisiaissomethinglikethegatewaytoAfrica,whereadeepmagicpermeatesthesensesandsoul.Tunisia,thenorthernmostcountryinAfrica,liesbetweentheMediterraneanSeaandtheSaharaDesert.Itisapopularholidaydestinationthankstoitsextensivebeaches,reliablesunshineandcultural,natural,artisticandculinarytreasures.Olivetrees,citrusfruitsanddatesthriveinthegreen,fertilenorth.Thecentreisastepperegionwithsaltflats.AspartoftheSahara,thevegetation-freesouthcoversthelargestareaofthecountry.ThevibranttownsaremainlylocatedontheMediterraneancoast.ThosewhowanttoexplorethecountrycantaketripstothedesertortohistoricalsitessuchasCarthage.Art,architectureandlifestylebearwitnessto3,000yearsofeventfulhistory.Tunisiahasonlybeenanindependentcountrysince1956.Beforethat,Berbers,Phoenicians,Romans,Christians,Arabs,OttomansandfinallyFrenchcolonialistsconqueredtheareaandlefttheirmarkonthecountry.HoumtSouk,maintownonDjerba60Photos:FranziskaVaas,Pixabay/Anis1969,GDJ,HbieserPicturesque:fishingboatsonthebeach
61FilminglocationforStarWarsonDjerbaToday,inadditiontotheruinsoftemples,entirecitiesandportfacilities,youcanalsofindreligioushistoryinmosques,numerouschurchesandevensynagogues.Marketsofferbrightlycolouredfruits,vegetablesandspices.Formany,theexquisiteArabiccuisineisanotherreasontovisitTunisia.Oliveoil,datesandspicesarepopularsouvenirstotakehome.AsarethebeautifulTunisianhandicrafts,suchascoraljewellery,glassware,richlydecoratedceramicsandBerbercarpets.Thesouthernflairhasabeguilingeffectonvisitors,whoenjoythewarmthandmagicunderpalmtreesorinlivelyfishingvillages.oftheMaghrebcountry.Specialitiessuchascouscous,tajine,brikandharissahavelongsincearrivedhere,buttheytastebestintheircountryoforigin.AreyoufamiliarwiththeplanetTatooine?ItisthehomeplanetofLukeSkywalker,theherooftheStarWarsfilmseries.ThefilminglocationforthefictionaldesertplanetistheenchantingislandofDjerba,andthefilmsetscanbevisitedtoday.TheislandofDjerbaislocatedintheGulfofGabèsandisnotonlyadestinationforStarWarsfansandbeachholidaymakers,butalsoforhorseriders.PEGASUScustomersswingthemselvesintothesaddleofnoblehorsesontheTunisianislandandletthesaltywindblowaroundtheirnosesastheygallopalongthebeach.ThewarmlightoftheislandisreflectedinthehappyeyesoftheDjerbatravellers....andtheFadhlounMosque,bothinHoumtSouk61Religiousdiversity:StJoseph'sChurch...Preciousmountsbesideshorses:Whitedromedaries
HolidaygreetingsfromourguestsWeregularlyreceivewonderfulphotosandfeedbackfromourguests,whichwewouldliketoshare.Forsome,itistheirveryfirsthorseridingholiday,whileothershavebeendiscoveringtheworldthroughhorseearsfordecades.Onceagainthisyear,manytrailhorseshavecapturedtheheartsofourguestsandcarriedthemtothemostbeautifullandscapesandpanoramas.Thankyouverymuchforallyourmessages!WestportHorseRidingHotelIreland,AugustInthephoto,IamridingMcGuire(IrishCob)andmyhusbandisridingSylvester(IrishHunter),bothofwhicharewonderfulhorses.Wewereabsolutelydelighted:veryfriendlypeopleandafamilyatmosphere.Theycateredtoourpersonalwishes.Thehorsesareverysweet,superblytrained,sure-footedandcapable,suitableforeverytasteandindividualridingability.ThecoastallandscapeofIrelandisbeautifulandvaried.Averyniceridingholidaywithgreatridesinamagnificentnaturalsetting,includingwonderfulbeachgallops.Bestregards,MihaelaToma,18thtripCiderTrailAsturias/Spain,SeptemberTheCiderTrailinnorthernSpainofferedfascinatingmountainpanoramas,cheeseandciderinabundance,fiveporcelainchecksandarainbowphotoshoot.Thequalityoftherainwearwasputtothetestduringtheride,asweredrinkingstaminaandaheadforheights.CarolaLeitner,5thtrip62EtruscanTrailItaly,JulyIhadawonderfulgroup!Itwasverysmall,andwegotalongextremelywell.Iwouldhavelovedtotakemyhorsehomewithme.Eachofthehotelsandagriturismowasunique.Wewerethoroughlyspoiledwithfood,wine,offers,etc.Thetourisvaried,andnotwodaysarethesame.RominaReith,5thtrip.Kyrgyzstan,July/AugustHereismyfavouritepicturefromthetripinKyrgyzstaninJuly/Augustthisyear.Thelandscapewassimplybeautiful.Itwassogreattoexperienceitfromhorseback.Thehorsesalsodidagreatjobandbroughtussafelyoverthemountainpassestoourdestination.Itwasanunforgettableexperience.TatjanaScherer,5thtrip
BookandcalendartipsIberianhorsesThehorsesoftheIberianPeninsulaenchantedphotographerGabrieleBoisellewiththeirincomparableappearance.Shesearchestheworldforextraordinarybeautyandimmortalisesitwithherart.HerpassionandenthusiasmhaveresultedinaphotographicodetotheIberianhorse.FOLLOWtheHORSES"Followyourheartandfollowthehorses"Hearingthisinnercall,photojournalistGabrieleKärcherfulfilledherlifelongdreamanddiscoveredhorses,peopleandequestrianculturesoneverycontinent.Herillustratedbookandcalendarsrevealmagicalmoments,ancientwisdomandaloveofhorsesthatconnectspeopleallovertheworld.BoiselleCalendar2026ThenameBoisellestandsforfirst-classphotographicartwithattentiontodetailandasparklingenthusiasmforthebeautyofhorses.GabrieleBoiselle'scalendarsshowcasethemagicofhorsesinavarietyofformats.Programme,information,orderingwww.boiselle-shop.deInformation,orders:GabrieleKärcherwww.sorrel.deGKaercher@sorrel.de63SouthAfricaforconnoisseurs,FebruaryImadeaveryspontaneousdecisiontogoonthistrip,butitwasworthit.Itwasabsolutelyfantastic!IIwouldrecommendthelodgetoanyonewholovesnatureandanimalsandwantstoexperienceextraordinarymomentsinthesaddleinaspecialplace.Spotty,withhisspottedcoat,seemedtowanttomatchthecolourofthegiraffesandwasparticularlypleasanttoride.AlexandraLotz,1sttrip
64EQUITOURFUN&FACTSInterestingfactstoamazeandamuseHorselifeundertheharshestconditionsMongolia–ColdIcywindssweepacrosstheMongoliansteppesinwinter.Temperaturescandroptominus40degreesCelsius.ButMongolianhorsesbravetheiceandsnow.Thenomads'horsesareaccustomedtotheextremeconditionsandspenddayandnightoutdoors.Theyarerobust,resilientandrarelygetsick.Camargue–swamphabitatThehorsesintheCamarguefacemultiplechallenges.Summerheatwithmistralwindsandmosquitoinfestations,coldAlpinewindsinwinter,butaboveallthedamp,marshyground,whichwouldprobablycausemudfeverinanyotherhorse.However,Camarguehorsehooveshaveadaptedtotheconstantwetness.Anotherspecialfeatureistheirdiet.Camarguehorsescanclosetheirnostrilsandsearchforfoodunderwater.Theyfeedonnutrient-poorsaltplants,sotheyarealsoextremelyfrugal.www.equitor.com/community.htmCustomerfeedbackThereisalreadyplentyoffeedbackonmosttripstohelpyouchoosetherightoneforyou.Simplyselect"Customerreviews"ontherespectiveprogrammepage.TravelcompanionexchangeNewistheEquitourHorseRidingForum(fornowon,onlyavailableingerman),whereyoucanfindfellowridersforyournextridingadventureandexchangeideasaboutthetrips.https://forum.reiterreisen.com/NewtripsTheEQUITOURteamisalwaysdiscoveringnewridingtripsforyouallovertheworld,fromMallorcatoGeorgia,thereissomuchtodiscover.www.equitour.com/neu.htmPremiumtrips"Onceinalifetime"isthemottooftheselectedPEGASUSridingprogrammes,whichyoushouldnotmiss!FromhorsedrivestoridingsafarisintheMasaiMara...www.equitour.com/premium.htmNamibia–heatThewildhorsesintheNamibDeserthavetocontendwiththeoppositeextreme.Asingleman-madewaterholewateringholeprovidesthemwithdrinkingwater,andtheyfinddrygrassandshrubstoeat,forwhichtheyhavetotravelfarfromthewateringhole.Todoso,theyenduretemperaturesofover40degrees,andtheonlyshadeisprovidedbyadilapidatedrailwaystationbuilding.Theiroriginisunclear.TheyarethoughttobedescendedfromlocalfarmhorsesandhorsesbelongingtotheGermancolonialforces.EQUITOURonthewebAlwaysuptodate–everythingataclick:TravelreportsPressreportsandtestimonialsfromaroundtheworldfromEQUITOURproductmanagersandcustomers.Youcanfindthereportsonthewebsiteundertherespectiveprogrammeorunder"Info".
Horsefestivals,equestriantraditionsHorseloversliketocelebrate.Theirpassioniscombinedwithcuriousequestriangamesandcompetitionswithtraditional,cheerfulandcolourfulfestivals.Spain:FerìadeCaballo,JerezdelaFronteraTheSpaniards'loveofcelebrationisevidenteveryMayattheFeriadeCaballointhehorsecapitalofJerezdelaFrontera.Ridersandbreederspresenttheirhorsesatbreedingshowsandsportingcompetitions.ColourfulsplendourandvanityareondisplayinGonzálesdeHontoriaPark,whereparticipantsparadeinthesaddleorincarriages.Theirjustifiedprideintheirhorsesandridingskillsisaccompaniedbyagooddoseofmachismo.FortravellerstoSpain,theFeriaisaspectacleworthseeingandagoodopportunitytoimmersethemselvesintheAndalusianwayoflife.Morocco:FantasiaorTbouridaTbouridaistheArabicnameforthetraditionalequestriangamesoftheMoroccans,knowntousasFantasia.Tbouridameans"gameofblackpowder",andthehugemuzzle-loaderisasmuchapartoftheequestriancompetitionasthenobleBerberandArabianstallions.Competinggroupsofridershavetheirhorsespranceatthestartinglinebeforegallopingforwardandfiringtheirgunsintotheairassynchronouslyaspossibleattheendofthecourse.Ideally,onlyasinglebangshouldbeheard.Thisrarelyworks,butwhatreallymattersisthefunandthecommunalcelebrationattheedgeofthecompetition.Iceland:LandsmótHestamannaThismeans"nationalgatheringforhorselovers"andisIceland'snationalequestrianchampionship,whichtakesplaceeverytwoyears.Themostspectaculareventsarethespecialgaitstöltandpaceatracingspeed.It'snotjustthebestsportingresultsthatcount,becauseatLandsmótthereisalsoawinnerofthedreamhorse,thebestGæðingur.Here,thecharacter,energyandtalentofthehorsearewhatcount.LandsmótisameetingplaceforIcelandichorseloversfromallovertheworld.horses,thebestGæðingur.Here,thehorse'scharacter,energyandtalentarewhatcount.LandsmótisameetingplaceforIcelandichorseenthusiastsfromallovertheworld.In2026,Landsmótwilltakeplacefrom5to11JulyinHólarinHjaltadal.Portugal:GolegãHorseFestivalAutumnisagoodmonthtotraveltoPortugal.NotonlytosoakupthewarmthandridenobleLusitanos,butalsotovisitthemostimportantequestrianfestival:theFeiraNacionaldoCavalointhehorsecapitalofGolegã.OnSt.Martin'sDay,thebestridersinthecountrygathertocelebratePortugueseequestrianartandtopresenttheLusitanoandAlterRealbreeds,aswellastheSorraiaandGarranonaturalbreeds.Portugalcanbeproudofitsridingandbreedingtradition.Thehardestthingaboutridingis...theground.Photos:GabrieleKärcher,AngelikaKaiser,Pixabay/francescobovolin,visitportugal65Therearemoreinlifethanhorses...therearealsoponies!Equestrianhumourhorsesonlyscaredoftwothings:thingsthatmoveandthingsthatdon'tmove.Therearemanywonderfulplacesintheworld,butoneofmyfavouriteplacesisinthebackofmyhorse.Astudentisridingonsquarefiguresonthelongecircle.Theridinginstructorscreams:Whereareyoufrom?-fromCornerstown.
Imprint:PEGASUSTheworldthroughhorseears©20254thyear,issue1CustomermagazineofPEGASUSReiterreisen–EQUITOURAGPublisher:EquiConsultEurL1c,rueprincipaleF-68130Francedfranz@equiconsult.euResponsible:DiethardFranzEditingandlayout:GabrieleKärcher/www.sorrel.deAllrightsreserved.Authors:LaravonBreidenbachIsabelGillespieGabrieleKärcherAngelikaKaiserJessicaKieferIngridLuttenbergerMariaTonevaFranziskaVaasJuliaWiesMoreexcitingtravelreportsatwww.pegasus-reiterreisen.net/reiturlaub/community/-availableonlyingermanPreviouslypublished:Issue1/2023Traveltipsforyourridingadventure!Unforgettableexperiencesfirst-handfromourcustomers.Allpreviousissuescanbeorderedfreeofchargehere:www.youtube.com/user/ReiterreisenPEGASUS/EQUITOURReiterreisenwww.facebook.com/Reiterreisen66Mediapartner:KAVALLOThehigh-qualityprintmagazinefortheequestriancommunity.www.kavallo.chIssue1/2024Issue2/2023Issue2/2022Issue1/2022Issue2/2024Issue2/2025Issue1/2025
Inthenextissue:onhorsebackthrough......Wales...SpainSubjecttochange...BrazilExtremadura...Turkey...SenegalTaurusMountains67MAY2026From