Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd.
These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.
Review received from ES of Hampton on 01/12/2009
Ride Review
Unicorn Trails sales staff
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Riding tour leader
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Jane and her newly-hired-for-the-season young staff led rides from the estancia (she was training them at the same time, but they were perfectly fine as co-leaders). The pack trip was led by Jane and two main gauchos, all of whom were experienced and good ride leaders.
Horses and Tack
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The horses were incredible sure-footed and very well behaved, no problems with riding nose-to-tail or cantering as a group. The tack is "traditional", often in raw leather, and sometimes looks a bit worn, and the saddles required adjusting two or three times a day on long rides; however they were the most comfortable saddles I've ever ridden in, perfect for long pack rides; I had no stiffness whatsoever after three full days in the saddle!
Meals
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Accommodation
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Miscellaneous
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Yes, I was given a fair indication of what to expect
6
I didn't find any of it scary or difficult but the pack trip did involve the steepest slopes I've ever ridden, both up and down, which novices wouldn't cope well with, and which anyone with vertigo would struggle with. I thought it was brilliant! As I've said the horses were so sure-footed that, aside from the odd slip and recovery (which requires a bit of balance from the rider not to come unseated), there was nothing to worry about. The often thick forests we rode through also proved a little tricky, with lots of dead trees and thorns which made chaps essential, full chaps a bonus, and waterproof jacket/trousers a winning combo for slipping through the vegetation unmolested! People with impaired vision or poor reaction speed would find it a struggle to miss all the branches that needed to be ducked/avoided. I might give the pack trip a 7. In contrast, the rides from the estancia were easier, in open country with (usually)gentler hills and fewer obstacles, so I'd give that a "middling" score of 5, giving an overall 6. At no stage on either the pack trip or estancia rides was there the need to jump, or to gallop, or to make sudden avoidance moves, so in that sense it wasn't technically demanding regarding controlling your horse carefully.
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So far I've had great service, helpful advice and two brilliant holidays.
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