California Mendocino Coast, USA
Horses
Type of horses:
Akhal-Teke, Russian Orlov crosses, Arabians, Appaloosa, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horses.
Nature of horses:
Fit and very well schooled
Height of horses:
14.2hh to 16.3hh
Weight limit:
None
Tack type:
English and Western tack
Weather
Current Conditions:
Mostly Cloudy, 13 C
Forecast:
Thu - Mostly Cloudy. High: 15 Low: 9
Fri - AM Clouds/PM Sun. High: 15 Low: 11
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Redwood Coast Ride
2010 price:
High Season: July
£1564 per person (shared)
£1788 single room
Rest of year:
£1500 per person (shared)
£1724 single room
Includes six nights accommodation, all meals and riding as described.
Equine, Wine & Song Week: 19 - 25 July, includes seats at the Mendocino Music Festival on four nights; evening wine tasting and an all day wine tour.
£1823 per person (shared)
£2093 single room
Price does not include flights or travel insurance.
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This unique trail ride is located on the beautiful northern California coast close to Cleone, three hours drive north of San Francisco. The mild coastal climate delivers ideal weather for riding, around the mid to late 20's ºC in the summer months, with little rain.
Experience cantering on the deserted Ten Mile Beach, through vast cattle ranches and in the magnificent redwood forests. Your host has over 25 years of experience in offering these unique trails as well as a successful competitive career and love of dressage and endurance riding. She has competed in over 5,600 miles in 50 and 100 mile endurance races with placings in the top ten in 99% of her races since 1988, and winning first place in thirty-two 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, the horses have won twenty-four Best Conditioned Horse Awards, which is 44% of the races entered since 1989. She is happy to share this wealth of experience during the redwood coast ride. This along with her knowledgeable team of staff offer an experience of a lifetime as well as having many useful horsemanship tips to share. Advice on horsemanship, riding techniques and discipline specific conditioning methods are offered on each trail. You will also receive the opportunity to correctly measure your horses heart rate with a stethoscope and test metabolic functioning.
This super ranch offers a quality selection of horses which are both fit and well schooled, making them a delightful ride. Their diverse mix of horses offers a selection suitable for the novice rider whilst others are suited to the advanced rider. Following her passion for dressage and endurance you will find many of the horses have won high placings at numerous endurance races, dressage and horse shows. The experienced guides have designed varied and exciting routes which offer fabulous riding whether you are riding on the beach, meandering through the redwood forests or riding on the coastal grassy headlands with the waves crashing down in the distance. To experience these trails you will need a strong basic level of experience and be a confident rider. There are plenty of opportunities for long trots and good canters on this fit and well conditioned horses.
They offer week-long riding holidays and tailor made packages. This well respected ranch also has the honour of being selected by "Outside Magazine" as one of the top "25 Trips of a Lifetime", right up there with a Big 5 African safari and a suborbital flight into space!
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation is in the lovely Hill House Inn of Mendocino, this is a boutique hotel and restaurant which has the warmth and charm of a small Bed and Breakfast. It offers stunning views from their hill top setting overlooking the historic Mendocino Village and Northern California's beautiful Pacific coastline. The Inn is situated in lush Victorian gardens, among open fields with native vegetation, towering rustic redwood water towers and magnificent cypress trees. Just twelve miles south of the ranch, the convenient hill top setting overlooks the historic Mendocino Village which is within walking distance to the many restaurants, galleries and shops that the village has to offer.
Garden Rooms at the Inn offer polished brass beds with cosy comforts and elegant furnishing with modern bathrooms, upgrades to ocean view rooms are available. Spa and massage services are available daily with the in-house Metapa Massage and Bodywork.
A continental breakfast is provided four mornings at the Inn, with a full breakfast at the Mendocino Hotel on two mornings. Following breakfast, clients will select their own picnic lunch, choosing from a wide variety of meats, cheeses, condiments, fruits and vegetables, candy, trail mix, and juices. Wednesday's lunch is in the town of Mendocino at the Bay View Cafe, with an eclectic choice of menu. During the Redwood Coast Ride, evening meals include soup or salad, fresh breads, delicious entrees, dessert, and selected California wines at various restaurants. Entertainment some nights will enliven your evening. You will gather for a party on Friday evening where you will be the entertainment, so practice your act! You will also enjoy live musicians and singers on Wednesday and Saturday nights, culminating in quite a boogie on your last night together!
Activities
A fantastic place for hiking and meandering walks through redwood forests and on deserted beaches besides rivers and the ocean. There is kayaking, ocean fishing, cycling and birdwatching. Whilst you are not in the saddle there is the opportunity to eat in many different restaurants, drink fine wines and enjoy the evening entertainment that is provided. The Mendocino coast is a centre for the arts with over thirty five world class art galleries, a school of fine art and numerous live performing art venues.
Further Details
Languages: English. German, Spanish.
Health requirements: Fit and healthy
Age limit: Minimum age 6 years
Tuition: On the trail; Instruction in horsemanship, riding techniques and equine discipline/fitness conditioning methods are offered.
Included: Lodging Monday through Saturday nights, breakfasts Tuesday through Sunday mornings, dinners, including fine wines and dessert Monday through Saturday evenings, live entertainment Wednesday and Saturday evenings, party on Friday, trail rides on beaches Monday and Wednesday, full day rides with lunch on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, lunch in Mendocino on Wednesday, snacks and beverages, including beer and soda at the end of each ride, wine with lunch 2 days, fully guided tours.
Not included: Flights, insurance, gratuities for trail guides, hot tubs available Monday through Sunday (additional fee), massage available Monday through Sunday (additional fee)
Travel Information
Car hire is needed! It is necessary to spend a night (Sunday) in San Francisco before the ride starts on the Monday.
The centre is three hours away from San Francisco airport. During the week you stay in Mendocino. Not only is car hire needed from the airport but is also required for driving between the accommodation, restaurants and the stables - if you are not happy hiring and driving a car then we can try and arrange for you to car share with other riders
Airport: San Francisco International
Alternative Airport: Oakland International
Programmes
Redwood Coast Ride
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Canter along deserted ocean beaches, ride the bluffs while the Pacific crashes against rocks far below, and meander on mossy trails through the magnificent Redwood forest on this distinctive horse riding holiday on Northern California's rugged Mendocino Coast. This is an area of great beauty, rich in wildlife, where time flows at it's own pace; the ghosts of Russian, Spanish and English adventurers tenaciously cling to this isolated part of the world. This is a based trail where you will spend all six nights in the same accommodation. You will need to make your own way to and from the stables or the trail start point on certain days. You will need to have your own car or to car share in order to get to/from the rides each day. We are happy to match singles up with other riders and this is usually successful. On the first and second day you go straight to dinner after riding. Please note that this is an example itinerary and will vary slightly throughout the season. Only the scheduled dates below offer the evening entertainment. Day 1: Monday Arrive late morning/early afternoon and check in at the Inn. At 14:00 you will receive an introduction and first test ride, on arrival at the stables you will be greeted by your guides and meet the horse. Your first trail ride will take place on the beach. During your introduction you will learn a bit about the team, the other riders, and the horse you will ride during the week. After this introduction and riding demonstration, you head down the beach for a lovely first day of riding, giving you an opportunity to "test" your horse and tack before heading out to the forest for an all day ride on Tuesday. After your ride, a three course dinner with wine awaits you at the restaurant, a lovely river side establishment with views over the Noyo Harbor, bay and ocean. Day 2: Tuesday After breakfast you will make your way back to the ranch to meet up with your horses and make your lunch. Today you will explore Jackson State Forest to ride all day in 45,000 acres of redwoods and Douglas fir, the largest State Forest in California. You traverse old stagecoach roads, riding along the headwaters of the Noyo River, revisiting the trails used in the Mendocino 50 and 100 mile endurance races. As you return to end your ride, you will stop at the another restaurant for dinner. This restaurant is tucked away in a corner of Noyo Harbor where you will enjoy views out past the estuary to the ocean sunset. You can watch sea lions in the harbor, as fishing boats cruise in and out of the bay. Your three course dinner with wine may include the freshest catch of the day...direct from our pristine waters. Day 3: Wednesday After breakfast it's back to the ranch for a shorter, leisurely ride along the bluffs overlooking the ocean from another angle on a different section of the trail. Be sure to take your cameras to this view point, as this is a fabulous day for photos. After your ride, you will return to Mendocino for an afternoon lunch at the Bayview Cafe, overlooking the Mendocino Headlands and the Pacific Ocean. Following lunch, your afternoon is free to explore this historic village, relaxing on local beaches, hiking along the headlands, or delighting in the local galleries and shops. Dinner this evening is at the hotel....meet before hand for "no-host" cocktails in their friendly lounge under the Tiffany stained glass skylight. After your three course dinner with wine, you will enjoy the evenings entertainment of one of their acclaimed local musicians in a private concert. Day 4: Thursday Following your Continental breakfast at the Inn, you will meet back at ranch. After making your lunch, everyone will receive a stethoscope and learn how to take the horses resting heart rate. Then you set off to Ten Mile Beach, where you can canter on for miles and miles. At the estuary, you strike north, passing virgin redwood trees thousands of years old, and heading to the top of Simcha Ranch where you will find fabulous 360 degree views overlooking the river valley and the Pacific Ocean. There's a surprise at lunch! Afterwards, the trail offers more opportunities for long trots and canters while enjoying spectacular views. Day 5: Friday After another wonderful breakfast, you meet again at the ranch. Today's ride can include a "mock endurance ride", where you will be taught more about sport horse conditioning and veterinary management. You will learn to check your horses cardiac and respiratory recovery rates, capillary refill, skin response, muscle tone and gut sounds, just as is done at a "vet check" on a competitive trail ride, three day event, or endurance ride. You ride along ridge tops with mountain views, and down into the river valley beyond. Lunch is along the beautiful Ten Mile River, or among a grove of giant redwoods. This afternoon, those who would like to learn a bit more about the pace of endurance riding may do so on the optional Manchester Ranch loop. As always, this day includes many opportunities for trotting and cantering. You return to the Orca Pasture via Abalobadia Gulch, an ethereal fern canyon complete with a babbling brook, giant trees and incredible light. A wonderful meal in Fort Bragg awaits you. Tonight is Talent Night, and you get to strut your stuff....sing a song, read a poem, tell a joke! Or just sit back and relax, letting your new friends entertain you. Day 6: Saturday After breakfast, you ride through the vast Orca cattle ranch. Today you will canter up a long gradual trail to the very peak of the mountain, where you are literally "on top of the world"....the views are absolutely spectacular. Forging on, you head back towards the beach following a different section of forest trails before stopping for lunch in the sand dunes along the estuary, a great afternoon for bird watching along the river banks. After lunch, dreams will come true as you canter for miles along the Ten Mile Beach, arriving back at at the ranch in a spirit of camaraderie. After your ride, it's back to the Inn before your farewell dinner celebration and entertainment from the renowned local musicians, your last night to boogie! Day 7: Sunday Following your final breakfast, it is adios to the Mendocino Coast. A late afternoon flight out of San Francisco or Oakland Airport affords you the ability to stop for some wine tasting along the way in the renowned Anderson Valley wine region. If you'd like to stay on an extra day or two at the end of your trip or arrive early to enjoy a fully guided, limousine driven wine tour, or just to savor more of what the Mendocino Coast has to offer, please let us know and we will be happy to make arrangements for you. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 20 |
| Ability description: | Novice to Experienced, groups will be split according to the groups abilities. Novice and experienced riders will take different routes, meeting up for lunch. |
| Type of ride: | Trail ride but returning to the same accommodation each night. |
| Total riding time: | Six days Four days riding 6 hours |
| Departure dates: | Monday arrivals and Sunday departures: Scheduled dates 2010: 19 - 25 July (Equine, wine and song); 23 - 29 August; 13 - 19 September; 4 - 10 October. Custom tours can be arrange during unscheduled dates. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |