Blog & Info

Blog & Info2023-09-19T12:48:00+10:00

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 [...]

Some Essential Travel Tips

I have learned a thing or too having travelled to so many places travelling for business and on family holidays. Below are some of my essential travel tips that can save you a lot of headaches. SCAN, PRINT AND EMAIL COPIES OF YOUR PASSPORT AND IDENTITY PAPERS Just in case you lose your passport or just may need it and not having it on hand, always bring a copy. Having a copy scanned and ready [...]

11 things to carry in your Day Pack

When you travel you are far from home, you need to ensure you have all your important and handy belongings are all together. It can be a bit annoying knowing that if you forget to take something with you, it is probably 12,000 km away before you realise you need it. I have a number of things I always keep in my travel day pack to make sure I am not caught short.  I also [...]

Combine Horses & Travel in Italy

Have you ever DREAMED of travelling to Italy!! Italy has so many amazing sights, ancient history, magnificence art, sumptuous food, wonderful wine and so much more.  Had you thought of combining this with a visit to an Equestrian event or combining this with a riding holiday? Snaffle Travel loves visiting Italy and we have discovered some amazing places you could visit to combine with your travel experience depending when you are visiting. Every year in [...]

Is Peru on your Bucket list?

Why is the Paso Peruvian horse so special?? Snaffle Travel talks virtually about Peru on Wednesday the 4th of November Live on our Facebook page at 7:30pm (AEST).  We talk about what Peru is famous for including Machu Picchu, the Amazon Jungle, and so many other amazing places.  We also talk about the amazing horseback trek to Machu Picchu and about the Peruvian Paso horse. Article courtesy of FEI and written by Patricia Salem The [...]

The Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel

Do you like to stay in quirky hotels or hotels with some historical significance? he name of the hotel hints at its history: The Imperial Riding School Renaissance Vienna Hotel. Located at Ungargasse 60.  The hotel has been using this name since 2008, the facade of the hotel gives the impression of an old building and once inside you will see some features that remind you of the imperial past. The hotel’s logo featuring a horse [...]

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