dream horse vacations newsletter 2010
DESCRIPTION
Including the Great Anatolian Horseback Ride from EquitoursTRANSCRIPT
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and across varied terrain zig-
zagging east and west as Evliya
elebi himself did. The ride will
end in the historic city of
Ktahya the ancestral home of
Evliya after following the tracks
of the famous traveler along the
way experiencing the culture
and people of Turkey.
The intriguing thing
about the vacations offered by
Equitours is the great care in
the selection of trips. The desti-
nations cover the globe and
utilize the equestrian experi-
ence as an end to explore ex-
otic destinations, the food, the
people and the culture.
This unique ride fol-
lows as closely as possible the
early stages of the final journey
of Evliya elebi, a seventeenth
century Ottoman traveler, who
recorded his pilgrimage to
Mecca in the Book of Travels a
ten volume chronicle of his
journey.
The Great
Anatolian Horseback
Ride begins in the
village of Souksu
south of the Marmara
Sea. From there the
trip heads through
dramatic landscape
T H E G R E A T A N A T O L I A N H O R S E B A C K R I D E
A J O U R N E Y T H R O U G H N O R T H W E S T T U R K E Y
The countryside is
wide open with few fences or
walls to restrict movement.
Being enthusiastically wel-
comed is part of the immense
attraction of riding in this en-
chanting region. Passing
through towns and villages and
visiting sites that Evliya records
in his Book of Travels and
meeting the people of the re-
gion who make their living from
the land. Many of the villagers
will be busy with the harvest the
basis for this rural economy.
Encountering lakes,
rivers and mountains, the
sights include the distinctive
stone and wooden architecture,
a stone paved Ottoman road,
historic bazaars and the Roman
obelisk at Kikilita. All are ab-
sorbed at the slow equestrian
pace.
NE
WS
LE
TT
ER
J U L Y 2 0 1 0
V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 4
D R E A M H O R S E
V A C A T I O N S
F E A T U R E D R I D E
F R O M
E Q U I T O U R S
T H E G R E A T
A N A T O L I A N
R I D E
1
C A N Y O N
E X P L O R E R T R E K 2
G R A N D C A N Y O N
W I N T E R
P A S T U R E S
2
L O N G V A L L E Y
C A T T L E D R I V E 3
N A V A J O L A N D 3
T H R E E P A R K
S P E C T A C U L A R 3
B O O K R E V I E W
J O S E P H I N E
4
H I G H L I G H T S
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Guides that
know the
country, the
horses and most
important, the
history
T H E G R E A T A N A T O L I A N R I D E
Page 2 D R E A M H O R S E V A C A T I O N S
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Evliya elebi was
born on the 25th of February
1611. His Book of Travels
shows his interest in the
characteristics of the coun-
tries he journeyed and the
people he met. His writings
cover the historic events of
the 17th century and is an
invaluable account of stories,
history and geography written
in a lucid style of the spoken
language of the time.
A passion for for-
eign lands began as he lis-
tened to the many adven-
tures of his father who had
served many sultans from
Suleyman the Magnificent to
Ibrahim. Through heredity
many an adventure and ex-
perience was passed to our
humble servant from his
grandfather and father, he
writes to explain his curiosity
and devotion to a life of
travel to distant lands.
A beautiful voice
and knowledge of music,
Evliya was also a calligrapher,
decorator and poet.
ing and 7 nights in hotels.
This intermediate ride
which is mostly walking with
some trots and slow canters
is offered twice in 2010.
From August 29th to Septem-
ber 14th the ride will travel
from Istanbul to Ktahya. Or
from September 14th to Sep-
tember 30th reversing the
trip back to Istanbul.
The depth and beauty of
this ride offers 11 1/2 days
of riding on this 17 day trip.
There are 9 nights of camp-
The cost is $4,100 -$4,500
per person depending on the
number of riders (maximum
is 10).
To learn more about this
exciting equestrian trip
please contact Nancie Vion-
Loisel at Equitours at 800
545-0019 or via e-mail at
P R I C E S A N D D A T E S
A C C O M M O D A T I O N S
Riding through the
rich farmlands and traveling
through the markets provide
rich choices for the tradition-
ally crafted Turkish special-
ties prepared by the chef
that travels with the group.
Turkey is famous for its ka-
bobs, mezas (appetizers),
fish dishes and hand-made
pastas and hand rolled filled
pastries. Or enjoy lunch in a
small caf along the route.
Seven nights are
spent in hotels including on
the day exploring Istanbul
and nine nights sleeping
under the stars in tents on
thick foam mattresses along
the journey.
Perhaps enjoy
the local
rahvancis or
pacing races in
Ktahya
Page 3
E V L I Y A E L E B I A 1 7 T H C E N T U R Y T R A V E L E R
V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 4
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Dream Horse Vacations
PO Box 1675
Glen Ellen California 95442
Phone: 707 328.3192
Dream Horse Vacations is a new
company and website catering
to the adventure and luxury
equestrian travel market. Ex-
perience in delivering a vacation
appealing to the discriminating
adult has brought us to this
unique place where we will rep-
resent world class equestrian
travel vacations, tours and ex-
periences.
Thank you for your interest in
Dream Horse Vacations. We will
be pleased to help you with your
equestrian travel needs to in-
sure that you have a dream
horse vacation.
N E W S L E T T E R
W W W . D R E A M H O R S E V A C A T I O N S . C O M
www.dreamhorsevacations.com
B O O K R E V I E W
Josephine A Tale of Hope and Happy End-
ings
By Bunny McLeod and Roni
McFadden
Josephine, a great-
granddaughter of the famous
racehorse Seabiscuit, loses her
mother days after her birth. This
is her inspiring true story that
touches the hearts of the young
and old alike. Josephine is a
moving tale for anyone who has
lost someone they have loved
but has succeeded in finding a
new start and the courage to
love again. This read aloud
book is perfect for young horse
lovers or as a gift for someone in
need of something special from
a young filly who faces one of
lifes great challenges with the heart of a champion.
I remember the day
Josephine was born. The week
before we had taken a group of
guests to Ridgewood Ranch to
tour the estate of Charles How-
ard and then to ride on the trails
that Seabiscuit had recovered
on with Red Pollard. When we
got to the mare barn Lacy was in
the first stall and like all expec-
tant mothers, she was wait-ing. After lunch and a wonderful
ride I returned to check on her
and we exchanged the knowing
glances only mothers can share.
I assured her that she would not
be the first mare to be pregnant
forever!
The following week
when we arrived at Ridgewood
there was a hustle and bustle at
the mare barn and we rode off
thinking that by the time we
came back in the afternoon
there would be a new lil biscuit to see. But we returned to an air
of serious concern rather than
joyous excitement and we main-
tained a respectful distance. By
dinner I heard that Lacy and her
new foal were on their way to UC
Davis. A few days later the news
arrived that my dear friend Jac-
queline had lost Lacy and my
heart strings tugged knowing
that just the year before she had
lost Bronze Seas mother. I was though not in the
least surprised that Jacqueline
put all of her own grief aside and
put Josephine and that sweet
foals needs ahead of her own. The next time I saw Jacqueline
she had that beautiful exhaus-
tion of all new mothers who had
been up all night nursing her
newborn. A few days later she
brought Josephine home and
relinquished her own role to
Midnight I think only because Josephine could already run
circles around her!
But this is the story of
Josephine and the beautiful
bond that develops between
her and Midnight her new
mother. And as Midnight gra-
ciously steps into Lacys horse-shoes she teaches Josephine
that Lacy will always be in her
life but ones ability to love has no bounds.
I now look forward to
seeing Josephine on each visit
to Seabiscuits home. Under Jacqueline and Midnights care she has grown into a beautiful
young lady. But this enchant-
ing book chronicles those first
few precious weeks of her
young life and is a rare gift to
us all.
This delightful book
can be purchased while touring
Ridgewood Ranch, Seabiscuits home in Willits, California
where Josephine is currently
entertaining the guests racing
around her pasture. Or you
may obtain a copy from The
Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation
at
www.seabiscuitheritage.org.
The proceeds from
the sale of this book support
the Ridgewood T.R.A.I.L. Riders
Association, a therapeutic rid-
ing program, and The Frank R.
Howard Foundation raising
funds for a new Howard Hospi-
tal in Willits.