by Heather Wallace

I am a self-styled “Timid Rider.” I love horses, ride often, but lack confidence in my own abilities. So those who know me were shocked when I announced that I would be participating in The Gobi Desert Cup to camp in Mongolia and document the equestrian endurance race across the steppe. Beyond being a self-described “timid rider,” I’m neither a risk taker or a camper for that matter.

This was not an impulsive decision. I did my research before accepting the position as the writer and photographer who would be covering the event. In particular, I was concerned about horse welfare and traveling to an undeveloped country with people that I do not know. For those who may not know, Mongolia is a smaller country sandwiched between Russia to the north and China to the south. Compared to either of its neighbors, Mongolia would be considered a small country. My trainer asked me, “You aren’t riding, are you?” to which I scoffed because of course, I would not be riding in a 300-mile endurance horse race on Mongolian horses across the Gobi Desert. I barely have the stamina to jump a course without needing a beer and a nap afterward.

After speaking with the Co-founder and Ride Director Camille Champagne via Skype at great length, the 3* endurance rider set my mind at ease. A seasoned international rider, Camille’s passion for Mongol culture and the race was incredibly contagious. While only going into its second year, Camille had competed internationally and even completed the Mongol Derby, which gave her the opportunity to meet with and fall in love with the Mongol culture. It was clear that she wanted to support the local nomadic community and invite a select few riders each year to experience it with her.

Read more: Gobi Desert Cup - Equestrian Adventures in Mongolia

By Jenna Arnett

The Gobi Gallop is the longest annual charity horse ride in the world. As Jenna Arnett explains, you think you’re ‘ride fit’ until you tackle 700 kilometres on horseback in twelve days.

I didn’t start to panic until the Chinese Airways flight took off from Sydney. I was lucky to have a good seat with space, so my adrenaline-fuelled panic attack went fairly unnoticed. I had met up with the two other Australians — Kylie Gracey from Darwin and Anita McNamara from Hughenden, Queensland — earlier at the airport. I felt as though they were my spirit sisters; there is a certain sort of kinship that forms automatically between those about to undertake an adventure such as ours.

My fascination with the Mongolian horses began in my early twenties. I was riding for an endurance stable in southeast Queensland with a large number of international workers. The Mongolia horses’ endurance, stamina and the ancient culture of the nomadic herders that shepherd them is famous across the world and I had been looking for the opportunity to experience this for myself.

The Gobi Gallop is the longest annual charity horse ride in the world, covering more than 700 kilometres across the Mongolian steppe and Gobi Desert. Run by the Veloo Foundation, in conjunction with Horse Trek Mongolia, the Gobi Gallop raises money and awareness for the children of the Peak Sanctuary.

Read more: The Gobi Gallop

BY MIKE GRUDOWSKI

Beyond luxury accommodations, great food, and first-rate service, these resorts are a Southern equestrian’s dream Casa de Campo, Dominican Republic

“Make no little plans,” said the architect and city planner Daniel Burnham more than a century ago, and the owners of Casa de Campo, a sprawling seven-thousand-acre complex on the Dominican Republic’s southeastern shore, seem to have taken that creed to heart. The resort’s manicured grounds—so spread out that guests are issued golf carts at check-in—contain a yacht marina, three waterfront golf courses designed by Pete Dye, 1,800 private villas, many of them built in opulent Mediterranean or Balinese style, and 185 hotel rooms and suites. The long roster of famous names who have passed through ranges from Oscar de la Renta and Beyoncé to Clintons and Bushes. Little wonder, then, that Casa de Campo’s equestrian opportunities are also writ large. Guided rides along grassy trails provide postcard views of the Caribbean, and visitors can sign up for lessons in riding, show jumping, or even rodeo stunts. The showstopper attraction: They can also take part, as spectators or students, in polo. With three playing fields, fifty ponies, and frequent matches and tournaments, the resort has staked a claim as the sport’s Caribbean epicenter.— casadecampo.com.do

The Fork Farm and Stables, Norwood, North Carolina

Tucked away in the gently undulating hills of North Carolina’s Stanly County, east of Charlotte, is a horse lover’s gem. The Fork—situated at the junction of the Pee Dee and Rocky Rivers—boasts plenty of serious equestrian cred: a fifteen-stall main barn, a lineup of riding camps and clinics, two all-weather arenas, and facilities worthy of hosting eventing trials. (One this April will attract medal-winning international competitors for a spectator-friendly, three-day triathlon of sorts, combining dressage, cross-country, and show jumping.) The stable staff also gives instruction, for novices and seasoned riders alike, and provides boarding for those who bring their own steeds. Even if you’re content to leave the riding to others, the nine-room Fork Lodge makes for a pleasantly restful getaway. Its welcoming interior, done up in lots of knotty pine, complements a spacious rocking-chair porch that overlooks idyllic fenced pastures. Additional draws for guests of the inn and day-trippers: thirty-five miles of trails for hiking and mountain biking, duck and quail hunts, and a shooting center that includes five-stand and trap along with one seven- and two fourteen-station sporting clays courses.

by Wendy Murdoch

Step back in time when life was simpler. Where your day begins with coffee served in your tent, the sun rises over the edge of the earth and a full-monty breakfast is served before the morning ride.

Be surrounded by Kenyans who treat you as honoured family with no pretense and who genuinely care for you, their country and each other, while sleeping in the loving embrace of your canvas tent under a moonlit sky protected by Masai Warriors.

Ride on the vast open plains with only your horse's hooves between you and the earth. Feel your heart beat a little faster when you ride up on a herd of elephants and gallop with the wildlife, as they undulate through tall grasses.

Feel the warmth of the sun, the wind on your face and the breathtaking sights and sounds of the Masai Mara (Kenya-Africa). Leave all the stress of a hectic modern world behind and be rejuvenated by this magical land as you watch herds of impala, wildebeest, topi, gazelles and birds pass by you.

A riding safari holiday with our owners/guides, Gordie & Felicia Church of Safaris Unlimited, takes you back in time to experience the true Safari of old where your crew and horses are your family traveling over 200 km across the Mara. The memories of adventure, the game and horses stay with you, and the experience of belonging strikes a deep chord in the human soul that lasts a lifetime.

Established 1971 and Celebrating 45 Years, Safaris Unlimited is located in Nairobi, Kenya. Visit them online at www.safarisunlimited.com.

Read more: Safari With Horses in Big Game Country - Africa

Written By: Bonnie Marlewski-Probert

As more and more of our forested areas and parks are being shared by bikers, hikers and horses, it is more important than ever that all horsemen understand the rules of the road.

Below are some tips that will make your next trail ride safer and more fun for everyone:

1. Invest in a good fitting helmet for the sake of your horse. For the die-hards out there who refuse to wear a helmet, answer this question; In the event that you get dumped and hit your head, who is going to keep your horse from causing a problem for other trail users or worse, from getting hurt? Frankly, I don’t think wearing a helmet is as much about keeping you safe as it is about keeping everyone else, especially your horse safe.

2. Never ride alone on the trails and be sure to choose riding partners who are safe, responsible and considerate. I have always told people that I will horse show with Jack the Ripper, but I am very picky about my trail-riding companions. The reasons are simple; horse shows are designed to be a controlled environment wherein the ring is dragged, fences are in good repair, the ring crew is there to make sure all is well, and there is a judge watching everything, but on the trails, anything goes. It is because of the unpredictability of nature that I only trail ride with people I trust.

Read more: Seven Summertime Tips for Fun on the Trails