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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Is Peru on your Bucket list?
Why is the Paso Peruvian horse so special?? Article courtesy of FEI and written by Patricia Salem The Peruvian Paso breed is known for its ultra-smooth gaits and willing personality, and it has been a part of Peruvian history and culture for centuries. Did you know? The Peruvian Paso wasn’t originally native to Peru, and the horses arrived in the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors brought horses from Europe to South America for transportation [...]
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 [...]
Iceland the land of ice and snow
The Land of the Vikings It was meant to be the start of summer but as I stepped off the plane I could feel the cool Icelandic temperature. Driving from the airport to Reykjavik the terrain appeared like a moon scape with molten volcanic lava covered in moss and steam in the distance from the nearby Blue Lagoon. Upon arrival in the capital, Reykjavik, I participated in a walking tour and learnt that the total [...]
Listen to “From the Horses Mouth” with Sonja Johnson, Olympic Eventing rider
Snaffle Travel talks to Sonja Johnson about her amazing eventing career. Sonja is an Australian eventing rider, Olympic Beijing team silver medallist team member in 2008 and Bronze WEG team member in Aachen in 2006, She has also represented Australia in Trans-Tasman events and has a long list of many riding achievements. Follow the Link: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=346772552988256&ref=watch_permalink
The White Horse of Uffington, UK
The White Horse of Uffington, near Oxfordshire If you stand in the valley near the village of Uffington in Oxfordshire, England, and look up at the high curve of chalk grassland above you and you will see an enormous white, abstract stick figure horse cut from the chalk itself. It has a thin, sweeping body, stubby legs, a curiously long tail and a round eye set in a square head. This is the Uffington White [...]
Kentucky Three Day Event
Kentucky Three Day Event, USA DATES: 28th APRIL - 1 May 2022 The Kentucky Three Day Event, is an eventing competition held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington. Kentucky is a 5-star eventing competition and this is the highest level of competition in the sport, and higher than the level of the competition held at the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. This event is sponsored by Land Rover. Although the event's name continues to [...]
The Irish National Horse Stud
Located just over an hour’s drive from Dublin city centre is the centre of the country’s horse industry and Ireland’s finest Japanese Gardens. The Irish National Stud Farm located in Tully, Co. Kildare, the beating heart of Ireland's thoroughbred industry. Home to several of Ireland’s finest thoroughbreds, the stud also features some of the most magnificent gardens to be found anywhere in the world in the Japanese Gardens and St. Fiachra’s Garden. Created between 1906 and 1910, [...]
Suggested Packing List
What to pack on your Horse Riding Holiday will vary according to your destination, and we will send you a full and detailed list once your holiday booking is confirmed. As a general guideline though, here’s the Packing List we recommend for every Horse Riding holiday: An AUS/NZ approved riding helmet suitable for the climate you are heading to (i.e. lightweight for hot climates) A shade hat with strap, or woolly hat for cold climates [...]
Tips to staying healthy when flying
Pre-travel medical examinations It is recommended that international passengers seek a pre-travel medical examination and advice on vaccinations, safety precautions and information on the current situation at the destination, before and for the duration of the trip. Whilst traveling Air travel may have physical or psychological effects: stress, abdominal distension, ear pain, sinus congestion, leg swelling, body ache, airsickness, jet lag and, in rare cases, deep vein thrombosis. Some recommendations to keep in good form [...]
Lipica Horse Stud Farm, Slovenia
Lipica is a village in the Littoral region of Slovenia, close to the border with Italy Slovenia's Karst region and it is known for the Lipica Stud Farm, the origin of the Lipizzan horse. The Lipizzan breed as known today was fully developed in the time of Maria Theresa of Austria, whose husband was greatly interested in horse-breeding. During the Napoleonic wars and after an earthquake the stud farm was moved several times. In the 1960s, Lipica was opened to tourists and new development began. In 1996, [...]
Lusitano Horses and Portugal
The Portugal experience can be many things. History, great food, cobblestone villages, idyllic scenery and beautiful coastlines are just the beginning. Amongst all this, Portugal is also famous for its beautiful Lusitano horses. Many years ago, I visited Portugal and stayed in a sleepy fishing village in Algarve, a popular haven with the British tourists. This time, I visited Portugal on an exploration trip to see horses, equestrian centres and visit the famous Portuguese riding [...]
Transylvania Trail, Romania
The Rustic Charm of Romania By Tania Huppatz, Snaffle Travel - www.snaffletravel.com.au A trek into the pages of Tolstoy, Tania Huppatz from Snaffle Travel shares her riding experience of the five day escorted tour through the historical landscape of Transylvania, which has remained unchanged for more than one hundred years. Set against the backdrop of the Carpathian mountain range, this unforgettable horse riding holiday tours Europe’s last pristine landscapes and preserved medieval villages in a seemingly forgotten [...]
Christmas time at the London International Horse Show
More correctly known as The London International Horse Show, this popular festive show takes place at London Excel every year just before Christmas. It is a pre-Christmas ritual for the vast majority of the British horse world. A brilliant place to get into the festive spirit, while also doing a last-minute spot of Christmas shopping, the London International Horse Show really does have something for all members of the family as well as riders of [...]
IL Paretaio – Italian Riding Holiday
I had a wonderful holiday in Italy and on part of my stay, I visited Tuscany and stayed at the beautiful Il Paretaio Equestrian centre in Tuscany. The property is located in the wine country perched on a hill with stunning views across the valley. The centre is also located close to Siena, Florence, Pisa as well as San Gimignano and some other beautiful towns. Italy is an amazing country to visit with so much [...]
South African Lipizzaners
Did you know that there are Lipizzaners in South Africa? It is a little bit different to other classical riding schools, whereas only women ride and train the 40 odd Lipizzaner stallions. Public performances take place every week on Sundays in Kyalami near Johannesburg. There is also an affiliated stud farm that provides horses for the academy as well as preserving a valuable genetic pool for European studs. The roots of the South African Lipizzaners trace to two individuals, both immigrants to [...]
