WHAT'S NEW AT UNICORN TRAILS
Browse through some of our news here at Unicorn Trails. See what new horse riding holidays we've added lately, news from the Unicorn Trails office team, news from the tour in
far outposts of the world, and news from recent guest trips.
-
NEW for 2007
Loyalty rewards for repeat clients: receive £50 off the third ride booked in 2 calendar years. We also offer 5% discount if you go on the same horse riding holiday a second time. See our News and Specials pages for more information or more details below
- You can now check availability and book most of our horse riding holidays online. With a secure server and most major credit and debit cards accepted booking your riding holiday couldn't be easier. See any of our rides.
- BBC's Radio 4 explores riding holidays world wide with Wendy Hofstee,
founder of Unicorn Trails, Christina Dodwell and Robin Hanbury Tenison.
Hear this program again on www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/excessbaggage
the web site of the program read more...
- Eastern Europe is the next hot place on the traveler's list - visit
one of our rides in Romania, Hungary or Poland and explore rural read
more...
- Meet Leah Gravell who joined our team in January 2006 read
more
- Grand horseback adventure in Ecuador. Read a book about 3 girl friends
who bought horses and went trekking through the Andes read
more
- Every year we add exciting new horse riding holidays. This year we have added
new rides in Spain, Finland, Sweden, Poland, USA, Canada, Kenya, Namibia, Brazil,
read more
|
|
Coming soon....
BBC EXCESS BAGGAGE EQUESTRIAN TRAVEL
For
centuries, before the arrival of the motor car, the main means of individual
travel over any significant distance was on horseback. Nowadays there
are plenty of people who like nothing better than to saddle up and ride
on their holiday from pony trekking to equestrian exploring. Sandi Toksvig
talks to three keen riders who have travelled thousands of miles across
all the continents.
Travel writers Christina Dodwell, Robin Hanbury-Tenison and equestrian
holiday organiser Wendy Hoftsee are all members of a club called the Long
Riders' Guild. They recount tales of nights under the stars, robbers,
horses rescued from the knacker's yard and discuss the bonds they've formed
with the animals that have carried them on their backs.
Presented by Sandi Toksvig
top
|
Eastern Europe
Eastern
Europe is the next hot place to visit. The countries out there are fast
adapting to the western values, but particularly in the countryside retain
an almost medieval way of working the land and a very distinct culture.
This is a startling contrast. Many of these countries have recently joined
the European Union and are easily accessible by many low cost airlines.
In general these areas are far more rural and less mechanized. They rely
on horses to do regular work and even for transport in rural areas. Consequently
almost everyone has some knowledge of horses, much like the UK 100 years
ago. The countryside is also very horse friendly, with minimal fences,
fields criss crossed with tracks and paths suitable for horses and an
acceptance of horses a a means of transport. No problem then to find a
pub that has a place to tie your horse, or a B&B with stables or a
field. Horses also provide a handy conversation topic with locals. Talk
of a nice sized horse that is a "good doer" or a good farrier
is as common as a motoring conversation in England.

On the cultural side there are two aspects to Eastern European countries.
One is the post Soviet culture. Behind the iron curtain there was a the
completely different world of communism and collective farms. The legacies
are still clearly seen and a hot topic of conversation with the locals.
On top of this many countries are now rediscovering national identities
long suppressed by Soviet culture and revelling in expressing them. National
dress, food and traditions are more strongly supported than ever. This
makes for a fascinating mix.
Post
Soviet cultures did not have many consumer items and goods and their economies
were not as monitized as ours. Consequently goods and services tend to
cost a lot less out there. This era of cheap travel in Eastern Europe
won't last forever. As these countries integrate their economies into
the EEC prices will rise and eventually largely equalize. Since joining
the EEC, the labour markets have opened up and hundreds of thousands of
young Eastern Europeans come to Western Europe to seek well paid jobs.
These jobs are only well paid by their standards, by regular UK standards
they offer an excellent hard working, well educated service at low rates.
Most send their money home and after a few years go back, buy or build
a nice house and start their own businesses, raising standards and prices
in the process.

This mutual fascination is a two way exchange. The increasing numbers
of Eastern Europeans coming to the UK not only work hard and earn money
to improve their lives back home. They also take back with them a taste
for UK culture - music, clothes and consumer lifestyles. While all this
accelerates the rate of economic development in these countries, it also
heralds the decline of the traditional lifestyles and dilutes cultural
differences and increases costs. Given this, it makes sense to visit these
fascinating places now while they are still very different, easily accessible
and low cost.
See our rides in Hungary,
Romania, Poland and keep an eye
out for additions.
top
|
Welcome Leah!
Meet
Leah Gravell, who joins our team in January 2006. Leah grew up in rural
L
|
Unicorn Trails
17, Acorn Centre, Chestnut Avenue, Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, SG18 ORA, England
Tel: +44 (0)1767 600606 Fax: +44 (0)1767 312555
Office hours 9am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 1pm Saturday
Email: enquiries@unicorntrails.com
http://www.unicorntrails.com
This Website and all of its contents are copyright of Unicorn Trails.
Under no circumstances is any part of this site to be copied or used without written permission.
|
|
|