Horseback Riding in California
REDWOOD COAST RIDE |
This ride truly provides a combination of beautiful landscape and quality riding. The contrast of the majestic redwood forests and the long, sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean in this rural area of northern California affords some wonderful opportunities for long canters. The horses are exceptionally fit and a joy to ride.
Your ride organizer and guide has over 25 years experience as a riding instructor, headed the Horsemastership program at the College of the Redwoods for a dozen years, and specialized in dressage and endurance riding. She has completed over 5,250 miles in 50 and 100 mile endurance races, placing in the top ten in 99% of the races, and winning 1st place on 27 of those races, including the Tevis Cup 100, the Lake Washoe 100 (twice) and a 100 mile prep-race to the Pan American Championships. More importantly, her horses have won over 21 Best Conditioned Horse Awards since 1989. On this ride she will share insights and anecdotes gathered over years of sport horse conditioning, care and competing.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Plan to arrive at the stable by 2:00 p.m. (dressed to ride) after checking into the nearby Inn after 1:30 p.m. There will be an indoor orientation, a riding demonstration by the ride organizer, and an introduction to the horses followed by a ride on the beach. Dinner will be at a restaurant overlooking the Pacific, with beautiful views of the harbor and sunset. End the evening with a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi. Overnight at the Inn. |
| Day 2: | Ride through Jackson State Forest, along the headwaters of the Noyo River, under the towering redwoods. Enjoy a picnic lunch in the forest, followed by a long afternoon ride along the old Indian Springs Trail. There are ample opportunities for long trots and canters while exploring the ridge tops and forests. Dinner will be at a wharf restaurant returning to the Inn for overnight. |
| Day 3: | Meet at the stable for a short leisurely ride on a different beach. Lunch will be at a local café, overlooking the Mendocino Bay. The afternoon is free for all to explore the charming town of Mendocino with its many craft shops, galleries and beaches. Spend the night at the elegant Hill House Inn, where many episodes of the TV show, Murder, She Wrote, were filmed. After dinner enjoy a private concert just for your entertainment. |
| Day 4: | After breakfast, begin a long day's ride along the bluffs and sand of Ten Mile Beach, where riders will thrill to some beautiful long canters. Turn inland by the river and climb back into the redwoods. Lunch is high on a ridge top with a commanding view of the ocean to the west and the forests to the east. After lunch there are opportunities for more long trots and canters before arriving at trail head where your vehicles will be waiting for you, so you can transport yourselves the last 4 miles to the farm where you will spend the next few nights. This is a lovely end to the day with a wonderful meal, hot tub and overnight lodging. |
| Day 5: | Meet your horses and begin an adventurous ride that takes you along ridge tops with mountain views and down into the river valley beyond. Lunch is along the Ten Mile River, or among a grove of giant redwoods. Learn more about the conditioning of the sport horse on an optional long distance trek with mock endurance ride vet checks. Riders not wishing to participate can relax at the lunch spot a while longer and depart earlier for the return ride to the trailhead, and transfer to the farm. Dinner and overnight as the previous evening with a party get-together to complete the day. |
| Day 6: | Riding back through ranchlands and canter up a long gradual trail to the very peak of the mountain where you are on top of the world. Head back toward the ocean following different forest trails before stopping for a picnic lunch in the sand dunes along the estuary. After lunch, ride on the beach for another 8 miles, cantering in the ocean spray while looking for whales and seals off shore. Return to the farm by vehicle for a final night, with a dinner celebration and entertainment by well-known Mendocino musicians. |
| Day 7: | Departure after breakfast. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Fort Bragg |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 6 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Strong Intermediate Intermediate Novice |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-25 |
| Riding Per Day | 3 - 7 hours |
| Pace | Moderate |
| Tack | English and western |
| Horses | A variety of stock is available, including Arabians, Thoroughbreds, Russian Orlov crosses, Quarter Horses and a few gaited horses |
| Weight Limit | 230 lbs |
| 2009 Dates | May 11-17, June 15-21, July 6-12, *July 20-26, Aug 24-30, Sept 14-20, Sept 28-Oct 4
*Includes Music Festival |
| 2009 Price | $2,295
*$2,695 July 20-26 Music Festival week (reduced by $100 high season supp.) |
| Single Supplement | $420, $535 July 20-26 w/Music Festival |
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