Welcome to our first globetrotting e-zine
Explore, dream, discover the world on horseback in 2010!
Happy New Years to all of our www.globetrotting.com.au clients, followers, adorners and wannabes, we hope you enjoyed a languid and refreshing holiday over the Christmas and New Year period whether it involved horse riding in your own backyard or swapping your riding boots for a pair of thongs and flip flopping to the beach.
To get straight to the point, the purpose of our globetrotting ezine’s are to keep you informed about all of the guided rides that we’re offering in 2010 and beyond, let you know if we’ve added any new rides to our globetrotting portfolio that may whet your horse holiday appetite and update you on any special flights or deals that are being offered by our outfitters that are too good to be missed.
And finally, to share the first hand experiences of our globetrotting clients who have taken the plunge and completed a ride with us and what their thoughts were of their riding holiday.
We’ve also uploaded a bucket load of new images from our recent rides onto Flickr and YouTube so that you can get a feel and understanding of each ride through the photos and videos. Click here to visit our Flickr account or click here to visit our Youtube account.
Globetrotting’s New Rides
destination BRAZIL
I explored Brazil for three weeks throughout September last year, I counted three days when I wasn’t in the saddle, the remaining time I had a grin from ear to ear whilst in the saddle exploring the country that completely blew away my preconceived ideas. It’s not the dangerous country that you hear about in the news, yes you have to have your whit’s about you when travelling through the major cities like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janerio, but isn’t that the same in any major city throughout the world?
I found that Brazil is a country that has a magical rhythm to it that inspires any visitor to dance right along with it. New comers become inspired to absorb the Brazillian way of life through their open and unabashed love for life. The country offers a plethora of landscapes from the mysterious Amazon to the Pantanal, the biggest wetland in the world, to the Atlantic Forest that is rich with history right through to the eclectic, groovy Bahia region where the chilled out coastal way of life is infectious. This country really should come with a warning: you will fall in love with its people, culture, wildlife and landscape time and time again.
Click here to find out more about the four rides that we offer in Brazil or click here to see more images of my Brazilian trip on Flickr.
destination ARGENTINA
Argentina is very much in vogue for Australians at the moment, ever since Qantas opened their flight doors for direct flights into the heart of Buenos Aires everyone wants a piece of this Latino phenomenon. And I can’t blame them? I lived in Argie for six months and it’s a country that gets firmly under your skin especially for those that have a love for horses or polo fanatics. In Argentina the horse is still king and your horse riding holiday emphasises this. If you turn the clock back on Australia by fifty years this is Argentina today. A country that would make any Australian landowner blush: estancias with oodles of grass, endless amounts of water and fat, happy cattle. Argentine’s still live and breathe horses whether its mustering sheep and cattle, playing polo, breeding horses or going to an amateur race meet, horses are truly an integral part of their everyday lives.
I was fortunate to stumble across a fantastic estancia in the Cordoba Provence in September that offers top class riding, accommodation, food and hospitality. A true secret that I’m bursting to share with you all.
This exceptionally well-run estancia is located in the Sierras Chicas, which is a mountain range north west of Cordoba city in Argentina. It’s a 6,500-acre working cattle and stud farm which has been in the same family for four generations. Exploring this property on one of the eighty horses is an absolute delight. The horse breeds’ range from polo ponies to the traditional Criollo breed to the Paso Peruano, which is a fifth, gaited horse.
The estancia also offers polo weeks three times a year which are specifically aimed at the beginner, novice or occasional player who wishes to learn how to play, brush up their skills or just have some fun in an informal and friendly environment.
Dates of Polo Week for 2010
March 22 to 29
November 8 to 15
November 22 to 29
There is also an eight-day, seven-night long distance ride available three times a year, which explores the beautiful Sierras Chicas.
Dates for Long Ride
February 13 to 20
February 27 to March 6
October 23 to October 30
Click here to find out more about this Argentinean estancia or here to see more images on Flickr.
destination AUSTRALIA
After having our first globetrotting stand at the Warwick Rodeo and Campdraft in October last year we’ve realised you our clients are interested in exploring your own backyard on horseback. So, we’re working very hard to find special riding experiences for you throughout Oz.
What we’ve come up with so far is a riding property in New South Wales just south of the coastal town of Ballina where you can bring your own horse, stay and ride for a couple of days with accommodation in a self-contained cabin.
Steven and I took our two horses down for a week in January to see if the facilities were up to scratch to pass onto our clients and we’re pleased to announce that they are.
The beach is a short ride away from the property where you ride onto South Ballina beach and have the opportunity to gallop, trot and play in the ocean with your horse. Its also competitively priced and is perfect for a group of riding friends or a family that ride. The property also has a natural grass dressage arena and a paddock full of jumps so when you get sick of the beach riding you can opt for these alternatives. We took polo sticks down to the beach on low tide and had a stick and ball session which was fun. We fell into a routine of riding early in the morning and late in the afternoon when it was low tide and then during the day we would either go for a surf at Lennox Head, explore the hinterland town of Bangalow, drive down to Evans Heads, all of these coastal and hinterland towns are a short drive from this riding property.
For more information email us at kate@globetrotting.com.au
In 2010 we’re road testing rides in the Kimberley’s and the Snowy Mountains, watch this space for updates.
Globetrotting’s Guided Rides for 2010
Destination Masai Mara migration ride in Kenya
when July 20 to 30,2010
There are only 5 saddle spots left for this awe inspiring ride that takes riders into the heart of the Masai Mara for ten days where they become a part of the most phenomenal wildlife migration of its kind in the world. Expect to canter alongside thousands of zebra and wildebeest, ride through panoramas that are synonymous with Africa, plains that are endless where acacia trees mushroom from the ground, giraffes elegantly lope across the earth and ride past young Masai herders wrapped in bright, coloured shukas. It’s a honey-pot for big game which amps the adrenalin up a notch.
This is without a doubt a once in a lifetime ride for riders, but hurry up time is running out to secure your own saddle for this ride.
Click here to find out more via our website or click here to see more images of this ride.
destination Argentina and Brazil
when December 2010
Keen to explore South America with a group of like-minded riders and a guide that knows both countries inside out? This guided group ride will take riders to the best riding estancia’s and destinations that Argentina and Brazil has to offer.
To find out more or register your interest email us on kate@globetrotting.com.au
Globetrotting Client Experience
Client Name: Karina Larsen
Destination: Northern Patagonia, Argentina
Country of origin: Denmark
I was supposed to stay at the estancia in Northern Patagonia for three weeks, and then move on to Brazil for another riding adventure. But I ended up staying six weeks. And in time of writing (a month after my return to Denmark) I’m planning on returning to the estancia in a few weeks. Why? It simply stole my heart. Kate did warn me about that. ”This estancia is paradise on earth”, Kate said in awhispering voice as if revealing a delicate secret. She urged me to go during a breathtaking desert ride in Namibia. And back then, riding through stunning desert landscapes, I doubted that the estancia in Northern Patagonia could be that amazing.
But Kate didn’t exaggerate. The estancia is like a dream come true for anyone who loves mother nature and has an insatiable love for horses. It’s just one of the most beautiful and peaceful places on earth. You can ride for days exploring the amazing pure landscapes without meeting a single soul. And you can feel totally safe in the saddle – no matter if you’re helping driving a herd of 200 hysterical cows and calves through break neck terrain, or when crossing the roaring river, that isolates the estancia from the real world. No need to worry when you climb the steep rocky mountains or canter across the green endless meadows making the cows run for their lives. The horses are fabulous, loyal and strong – they will escort you anywhere, any time.
I know it may sound to good to be true. But its not, and I can only urge you to go see for yourself, and let you gabe over the stunning scenaries, the majestic condors circling around, and feel the goosebumps.
But when you come back, lighthearted, happy with renewed energy and about to blow up by the urge to tell the whole world about this amazing place – remember to spread the word quietly. It is a unique beautiful place – that acutally should be kept as a secret!
I know now why Kate mentioned this estancia in a whispering voice. And THANK YOU Kate for sharing and making a dream come true. Thanks for arranging everything from booking excellent accommodation in Buenos Aires to bus tickets, pick ups etc. You know how to make a crazy horse-girl very happy.
To read the full version of this testimonial click here.
