The Kelpies Horse Head Sculptures of Falkirk
Have you seen photos of large horse sculptures and wondered where they are located? If you are travelling to Scotland and heading from Edinburgh on the road between Falkirk and Grangemouth look out for the Kelpies. I am sure you won't miss them! The Kelpies are the largest equine sculpture in the world at 30-metre-high horse-head sculptures, situated in Helix Park near the M9 Motorway and are a monument to Scotland’s horse-powered industrial heritage. The [...]
Jerez Feria del Caballo such an amazing experience
I had the most amazing and colourful experience recently at the Feria de Jerez, also known as Feria del Caballo (Horse Fair) in Spain. This is one of the most important celebrations in Jerez de la Frontera, only comparable to Easter religious celebrations. Its origin is from the medieval ages when, for over one week, farmers gathered to sell and buy beautiful animals, although in Jerez mainly beautiful horses and usually drinking to celebrate the deals. Nowadays at [...]
Chantilly’s Living Museum of the Horse
Paris is only a 25 minute train journey from Chantilly, known for its picturesque castle dating back to the Gallo-Roman period, its forest and park. Today the Chantilly Chateau houses the Musée Condé, where collections of the Duke of Aumale, its last private owner, are open to the public. Raphael, Botticelli, and Ingres are only some of the impressive art treasures on display in the museum. But even these gems are seemingly upstaged by the [...]
Packing Cubes & Suitcase Organisers
PACKING CUBES Article courtesy of Zoomlite Every traveller knows that space in your suitcase is premium real estate. If you go over your limited weight allowance this can cost you a small fortune. So, we squeeze and push and sit on our suitcase to try to cram it all in. I must admit I was one of the biggest culprits until I discovered packing cubes Then along came packing cubes. They meant that all the [...]
Our tours are suitable for the “Solo Traveller”
So, you’re a solo traveller When travelling alone, a great way to make new friends is to share a room with another traveller, as well as keep your costs down. You might be anxious about going it alone, and you’re not the only one. We have had a few self-confessed ‘group tour sceptics’ and first-time solo travellers and after their first tour, they just keep coming back for more. Many have told us they have [...]
Equus Museum of the Wooden Horse’s
Are you in a need of a day trip or a weekend away? A fabulous day trip from Melbourne combining lunch with a lake view, an Equine Wooden Horse Museum, and exceptional wine. This trip is good for anyone who is fascinated by Equines and loves wine and stunning scenery. The day trip suits those from Melbourne, regional Victoria, or you may even those just passing through Victoria. You might like to make a weekend [...]
How to have an unforgettable experience in White Turf – St Moritz, Switzerland
What is the White Turf? White Turf is an annual horse race and is high on the list of all keen racegoers. The horse racing includes not just the 1,300m sprint but flat races over other distances as well. The harness races give riders 1,700m to demonstrate their skill all on a snowy track. Not to forget Skijoring, the main attraction! The event is so unusual, held on a frozen lake in the gorgeous setting [...]
Australia has 11 Reciprocal Health Care Agreements with other countries
The Australian government has agreements with 11 countries that cover the cost of appropriate medical care when Australians visit 11 countries and tourists from these countries visit Australia. Australian passport holders must check the Comprehensive Health Care Agreement (RHCA) with Australia so that each country can check whether it meets the terms of the agreement. RHCA Countries Read the terms of the agreement of the RHCA country you are visiting from the list below: Belgium Finland [...]
Want to know where to see the Heartland Filmset?
Are you a Heartland Netflix fan? Do you love the show with all the drama, highs and lows and all the horsey bits and pieces? Heartland showcases everything you love about Canada with the magnificient Rocky Mountains in the background, crystal clear rivers and stunning scenery. Many iconic films, Netflix films and TV series are filmed in and around Calgary. You might even see some Heartland actors on several series of Netflix too. Heartland is [...]
What is an Indian relay race?
So the wild west included cowboys and Indians! Can you remember watching an old cowboy and Indian movie where the cowboys were chased by a group of Indians riding full pelt? Always bareback racing across the great plains? Sometimes you would see the early settlers horse wagon attacked by a band of native Indians. The cowboys and Indians of the early west had a profound respect for the horse. The native Indians used the horse in hunting for food and especially for Buffalo on the great plains. They also used horses for travelling from reservation to reservation. The cowboy also used the [...]
CHIO Aachen Equestrian Festival
Snaffle Travel has a tour planned to CHIO Aachen Equestrian Festival in 2023. The CHIO Aachen is one of the best equestrian events in the world. Each year, about 360,000 spectators follow the competitions in five disciplines over the ten days of the event. Aachen is the westernmost city of Germany, near the borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, 61 km (38 mi) west-southwest of Cologne. The competition attracts the worlds best competitors The world’s best equestrian [...]
Les Étoiles de Pau 5-Star Three Day Event
The Les Etoiles de Pau is one of seven 5-star eventing competitions around the world and the only one in France. Pau 5-star has been an annual event since 2007, held at the end of October each year and is the last 5-star competition for the season. Despite Covid, it was held in 2020 and again this year which is great news for the riders especially with so many of the competitions having been cancelled [...]
10 facts about the Royal Canadian Mounties
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police otherwise called the “Mounties” is one of the most iconic mounted police divisions in the world. The RCMP base in Regina, Saskatchewan is well known as the home of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police training depot and the RCMP Musical stables are located in Ottawa. 10 interesting facts about the Royal Canadian Mounties The RCMP stables in Ottawa are open to the general public. The son of Charles Dickens’ (the [...]
Chagu Chagu Umakko Horse Festival
Horses have been part of Japan’s history for many centuries and there are many traditions that are still celebrated today despite horses no longer being used in agriculture. The historical CHAGU CHAGU UMAKKO FESTIVAL is one of the early summer traditions celebrated in Iwate, Japan. The grand procession is held on the second Saturday of June and is very special. It is still celebrated today more than 200 years later with many locals and tourists turn [...]
Who is the Greatest Equestrian Olympic Athlete?
Who is the greatest Equestrian athlete of all time based on Olympic Games performances? The highest-ranked equestrian at the Olympic Games is German rider Isabell Werth, who won six gold and four silver medals between 1992 and 2016. The best male all-time performing equestrian athlete at the Olympic Games is another German, Reiner Klimke, who competed between 1964–1988 winning six gold medals and two bronze. See the table below to see how other athletes ranked. Andrew [...]
What is a Dala Horse?
A Dala horse is a traditional carved, painted wooden statue of a horse originating in the Swedish province of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). In the winter of 1716, while King Charles XII of Sweden waged war throughout most of Europe, many soldiers were quartered in private homes in the Mora area of Sweden. Tradition has it that one such soldier, in his spare time, carved a Dala Horse from some scrap wood in the home where he was staying. Horses arrived in Sweden as early [...]
Chincoteague Island Annual Pony Swim
This year marks the 96th year of Chincoteague's Annual Pony Swim but sadly Covid has put a stop to this year’s annual swim. Normally every year tens of thousands of people from around the world come to watch the annual pony swim which is a fundraiser. Wild ponies have inhabited Assateague Island for hundreds of years. Some have suggested that the wild ponies of Assateague trace their origin to horses released to forage on the [...]
UK Travel Scheme
Visitors to the United Kingdom will be required to receive an electronic authorisation (ETA) prior to arrival, under a new proposal unveiled by the British Home Secretary Priti Patel. The program will be similiar to the USA Esta scheme. The system is targeted to be launched in 2024 and this would include all visitors including those from Europe. The Europe Travel and information authorisation scheme (ETIAS) is expected to be launched in 2022. See below [...]
Maryland 5 Star Eventing Fair Hill USA
NEW 5 Star Event makes seven For many years there were only six five-star rated eventing competitions in the world and the only one in the USA was Kentucky Three-Day Event. With two in the UK including Badminton Horse Trials and the Burghley Horse Trials. The other CCI***** rated events are the Luhmühlen Horse Trials in Germany, the Australian International Three Day Event in Adelaide and the Stars of Les Etoiles de Pau in France. The Fair Hill Organising Committee [...]
London International Horse Show
The London International Horse Show If you are looking for Equestrian Christmas magic together with the best riders, then the London International Horse Show is the most amazing event all under one roof. London International Horse Show is one of the UK's biggest equestrian competitions, held at Excel, London. It is best known for its show jumping, however, it also has competitions in horse showing, driving, mounted games, dog agility, and more recently dressage. It [...]
