What's the best way to experience a new destination? There are of course lots of good ways, but one way that we really like is to experience different places from horseback. It's actually something I'd like to do much, much more often! Today we thought we'd tell you about some exciting horseback rides we've done on different trips - including Mongolia, New Zealand and Iceland.
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Horse riding in Mongolia
One of the first times we rode together was on the steppe in Mongolia in 2006. We were staying in a yurt (Mongolian tent) for one night and during the day our guide asked if we wanted to try riding the Mongolian horses? Of course we did and a Mongolian (who didn't speak English) took us on a little ride.
I grew up riding horses for many years and feel very confident on horseback, but the Mongolian still wanted to take the reins over the horse's neck and hold it (I was a woman and a bit helpless, gubevars). Peter, who didn't have much riding experience then?
Oh, he was a man! The Mongolian passed the reins to him immediately and rode up beside him to offer him a cigarette. That Peter shouted to me "Where is the stop button and how do you turn?", he did not understand ...
Horse riding in New Zealand
Six months later, in winter 2006-2007, it was time for horse riding again! This time we got to ride in the fantastic nature of the North Island of New Zealand. We also (finally!) got to ride big horses. Ponies, Icelandic horses and Mongolian little things in all honour, but I really like to ride real big horses.
Horse riding in Iceland
Then it probably took until 2012 before we went on a riding trip abroad again - this time it became a horse riding in Iceland. If there's anywhere to experience nature from horseback, it's Iceland! The horses took us out into a nature filled with hot bubbling springs and hissing geothermal activity. You can't even get here by car, so horseback is the best way to go!
Horse riding in Sweden
But can't you go horseback riding in Sweden? Well, of course you can! When we did our "Norrlands-tour" with the camper van together with two teenage boys (youngest son Billie and his cousin) in the summer of 2010, we went horseback riding in Idre. It went great even though the horses were Western dressed and very much wanted to go backwards from time to time (and on one occasion so much that both Billie and his horse fell into a ditch ...).
Do you like horses and have you ever gone horse riding while travelling? Please tell us! When we went to Peter's niece Dessi's wedding last summer, I "won" one of the 12 monthly tickets, which means you have to do a certain activity in a certain month with the bride and groom. I drew "April" and the ticket said "horse riding" ...!
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Mr Steve says:
You always find something extra when you're travelling. Horse riding sounds great.
So women are seen as extra needy even in Mongolia. Yes, yes.....
I mostly play on horses, but I've also ridden, or should I say tumbled because it was riding on Icelandic horses. For a few years when I lived in Uppsala, it was a recurring activity on weekends. Instead of going out and playing golf, I went out and tölt. Very pleasant and relaxing.
24 January 2017 - 6:48
Lennart says:
Mongolia is a nice memory!
24 January 2017 - 6:48
Lena - good for the soul says:
Hehe, yes, that Mongolian horse certainly looked a bit small for Peter.
Hug Lena
24 January 2017 - 6:52
Motorhome Helge says:
Horses, not for me, but beautiful to look at. In my youth, I went riding with a friend. She insisted that I should try it. Up on horseback, and I shouted Take me down! That's what it means to be afraid of heights!
But a suitable predictor in nature
Have a good time
24 January 2017 - 8:12
Marina says:
I belong to the crowd who never rode as a child and was never that horse girl, but with a daughter who got that interest (plus got a horse), I actually tried to learn the noble art of riding. The term at riding school with big horses was a term that I do not look back on with longing eyes, it was very nice when it was over. On the other hand, I have done some semesters on an Icelandic horse which was much nicer, plus it is in that genre the daughter is in. Riding in Iceland is a dream that I will someday manage to fulfil!
24 January 2017 - 8:38
admin says:
Steve, yes, or is horse riding traditionally male in Mongolia? What do I know? Icelandic horses are cosy! And they have the usual gaits as well (walk, trot and canter) even if they also have two extra (tölt and passage) Cool horses 🙂.
Lennart, Mongolia is a special memory! Unfortunately, we dropped the camera during the ride and the horse stepped on it, so we couldn't go any further (but it was possible to get the pictures out of the camera).
Lena, haha I know! But it seemed strong 😉
The motorhome Helge, I know that not everyone likes to ride. But interesting that you talk about fear of heights! I'm very afraid of heights myself, but have never thought about it in connection with horses, but more in connection with ski lifts and high buildings!
Marina, tough of you to learn to ride when your daughter did! And if you get the chance, you should definitely do a horse riding tour in Iceland!!!
24 January 2017 - 8:50
Ama de casa says:
What a great ride! I grew up with horses and love these amazing animals. Nowadays, however, I settle for patting them 🙂 .
Anders is not nearly as enthusiastic. However, I have managed to take him on one ride when we were travelling. It was in the Pantanal wetlands in Brazil. Then he came along and rode the Icelandic horse in Sweden as well. An agreement:
- If you start training, I'll join in and ride," he said.
I was so desperate to get away and train. And he came along and rode.
Now Anders has not ridden for many years, so it is his fault that I do not train! 😀
24 January 2017 - 9:35
Goatfish says:
The Mongolian horse would have been something for me 😀 but I'm not afraid of heights, but I want the control and it doesn't feel like I would have it on horseback. The only thing I have ridden is a camel 😀.
However, there have been horses on the farm and the girls have been horse crazy of course.
The Icelandic image with the hot springs is wonderful!
24 January 2017 - 9:37
Renate's travels says:
Wonderful! I would think all these riding trips were wonderful experiences, and nice ways to see the country and nature. 🙂 I myself have ridden in the USA, Iceland, Macedonia, Jordan, Brazil, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Faroe Islands, Cuba, Sweden, and of course here at home in Norway. I also love being on horseback! 😀
24 January 2017 - 10:10
Ditte says:
Travelling on horseback is fun and a great way to experience nature up close. I have not visited Mongolia but if I go there I will ride and the same if I go to Iceland. Wonderful pictures and experiences you have from riding. Good that Peter got a bigger horse.
In China, I tried riding a bit and in the areas around the Great Wall of China it was really exciting with both a lot of uphill and downhill.
I have probably taken shorter or longer rides in most of the countries I have visited and quite a few in Sweden in different places. A wonderful experience was when I was out on a multi-day ride in the Camargue in southern France.
It's certainly fun to ride and you see a lot, and you get fresh air and excitement as well.
24 January 2017 - 12:14
Annette says:
My husband and I hired horses in France ages ago, maybe 1998, and rode out with a Frenchman in north-east France. Patrik says that the Frenchman asked if we wanted to ride a little faster, and that the Frenchman and I galloped off with Patrik walking behind. I don't remember any of that 😉 When we drove around in Scotland, I thought it would have been an even greater experience to ride around among mountains and valleys, to be one with nature in a different way than you get by car. And speaking of tour riding with Icelandic horses, I think that the time when anyone could ride on Icelandic horses will soon be over, unfortunately. Breeding in Sweden takes place on hot and temperamental Icelanders that are suitable for experienced competition riders, but not at all for beginners or as family horses. It's a shame, because it was precisely the small size that made many people dare to ride. Friends of ours have asked if their children can ride our one Icelandic horse, she looks so sweet and calm in the paddock. I usually answer that no children are put up, but if the adults want to feel what is happening at Cape Canaveral, they are welcome to try 🙂 .
24 January 2017 - 13:06
Ruth in Virginia says:
The only time I've been on horseback was when I was little, and Uncle Karl lifted me up on the dock, and when I was on so-called contingency work.
on a farm during the war and was allowed to ride home after driving the
drag racing in the field. The horse was so wide, you almost had to walk.
in the splits. No saddle, of course.
I have never felt like riding. The horses are so heavenly high. As well as
Peter, I think they should have buttons to press. 🙂
24 January 2017 - 13:46
Cattis says:
Haha excuse me for laughing but I got such a funny sight in my mind of horses going backwards and dropping into ditches...hope it went well for both horse and Billie.
I'm not a horse person unfortunately, I tried riding twice in my childhood but it wasn't for me?
24 January 2017 - 14:10
BP says:
What a fun post! I like Peter's sceptical facial expression, to say the least...
I have never sat on a horse. It was enough with a visit to a riding club and going into the stable where the horses were fortunately in stalls. The smell there was not to play with, I can say; -)
However, I have been in various "teams" at work and played at V75 a few times.
24 January 2017 - 16:18
Matts Torebring says:
One of our employees entered in our iCal one day. Vah! Horse care!
24 January 2017 - 18:41
admin says:
Ama de casa, riding in Brazil sounds like a cool experience! Then I think your deal was a good idea, you should take it up again! 😉
Geddfish, camel sounds even more exciting! 🙂 If you are not used to riding, you can of course feel that you do not have control. I usually compare with a car and think that on a horse you do not need to have full control. It would never run straight into a rock wall or something like that! 😉
Renate, wow! What cool places you have ridden! 🙂
Ditte, riding in the Camargue sounds fantastic! The horses there are sooo beautiful 🙂.
Annette, how interesting! Do you have your own Icelandic horses? I didn't know about the breeding of temperamental horses. But at the same time, I wonder if there are any tour riding stables with calm Icelandic horses? I mean, demand usually controls ... But as I said, I have no control at all. Let's see if we get a ride this spring. Ideally, I would ride on ordinary half-bloods. We have a bit of mixed riding experience, so I don't know how to organise it really...
Ruth in Virgina, buttons haha, that would be something. I am probably a bit the opposite, because I am very bad at driving things with buttons (cars and other motor vehicles). I have come to the conclusion that I do not trust myself in such contexts, but I trust the horse 🙂.
Kattis, haha, it went well! The horse was so terribly obedient, so when it thought Billie was telling it to go backwards, it went backwards (but in fact he just wanted it to stop). Both were probably equally surprised when they landed in the ditch ... I've learnt that you have to sit up quickly so you don't get scared, so I made sure he got on the horse quickly. It went well!
BP, V75 smells a little less, I guess 😉 When I was in the stables, they said "I'd rather smell horses and shit than beer and liquor", but that was before my teenage years... 😉.
Matts, haha, horse care! It was new! 😉
24 January 2017 - 18:58
Linda, 155cm.se says:
Love horses! Mongolia is one of my dream places to ride. However, Peter and the little horse do not feel optimally matched in size, but maybe the horses there are not bigger?
26 January 2017 - 21:58
Annette says:
Yes, there are still calm Icelanders, but when they get old, they have to be replenished with new talents, and unfortunately, uncontrolled Icelanders are not bred anymore, because they are so difficult to sell. Everybody thinks they want horses with good pedigree, even though they are much more difficult for the average person to ride. And tour rides are being cancelled one by one, due to the lack of profitability.
But there's a horse riding centre I've only heard good things about: http://www.prinsensaraber.se/default.asp
I was doing distance riding on Arabian horses for a while, and then I discovered the Prince's Arabians. Incredibly beautiful horses with a lot of soul. I saw on the website that they still offer tour riding, if you are looking for a tour ride on beautiful horses, I would choose that option. A tip 🙂
26 January 2017 - 22:14
admin says:
Linda, glad you also like horses, and Mongolia is really fantastic! The horses there are quite small, but I got the impression that they are strong.
Annette, I understand! Thanks for the great explanation! And thank you so much for the tip! I will definitely check out that place! 🙂
27 January 2017 - 17:02