Where Did Our TES Staff Ride This Summer?

Working with horses every day doesn't mean our staff leave their love of riding behind when they go on vacation! This summer, two members of the TES team took their riding skills on the road—and had some memorable equestrian adventures.

Amy, who teaches for both TES and Star Horses, returned to one of her favorite vacation destinations, Hunewill Guest Ranch in Bridgeport, California. Located on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada near Yosemite, Hunewill is a historic working cattle and guest ranch where horses are at the center of the experience. Guests ride through beautiful open meadows and mountain country and can even have the opportunity to work cattle. One of Amy's favorite memories from this year's trip was loping across the open fields on a lovely dapple gray mare.

Andrea traveled quite a bit farther from home—to Iceland! She made the trip with Kelly, her best friend since high school and a fellow rider with whom she has shared other equestrian vacations. Together, they checked off a bucket-list experience: riding Icelandic horses in their native country. The farm where they rode was home to an incredible 300 horses.

Andrea also had the opportunity to experience the famous tölt, one of the gaits for which the Icelandic horse is known. The tölt is a four-beat gait in which the horse always has at least one hoof on the ground, creating an exceptionally smooth ride even at speed.

Iceland's horses also have a fascinating history. Horses were brought to the island by early settlers more than 1,000 years ago, and the importation of horses into Iceland has been prohibited since 1882. The country's strict rules have helped protect its unique horse population from outside diseases and preserve the breed. The rules are so strict that once an Icelandic horse is exported from the country, it can never return.

Where Will Riding Take You?

Equestrian vacations aren't just for riding instructors! Over the years, we've had many TES clients come to us specifically because they were preparing for horseback riding adventures of their own. We've helped riders get ready for dude ranches, cattle drives, rides across Scotland and Peru, and even horseback safaris in Africa.

Riding is one of those wonderful skills that can open the door to adventures all over the world. Whether your dream is cantering across a California meadow, tölting through Iceland, joining a cattle drive or exploring another continent from horseback, your time in the saddle at TES can help you develop the strength, confidence and riding skills to make the most of the experience.

Have a dream horseback riding vacation on your bucket list? Let your instructor know—we'd love to help you prepare for the adventure!