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We custom design each
riding vacation to meet the needs and desires of our clients. Our
goal is to maximize fun and adventure while respecting the riding skills
and interests (and accommodation preferences) of our clients. Typically,
we only accept riders with some interest in or experience with Icelandic
horses or gaited horses, or experienced riders interested in learning
more about Icelandics.
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We
usually refer novice riders to a more ‘nose-to-tail’ riding
company. We do offer clinics and lessons by experienced clinician
Eloise Blau Tucker and ‘Get-to Know-the Awesome Icelandic-Horse’ experiences
as well, for those who want a learning-oriented vacation.
Because of this desire to create custom and unique experiences for our guests,
we have an infinite variety of ‘packages’ available to you. Some
examples include: |
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The ‘Jurassic Park’ Ride
One of our favorite treks
takes us into the private Green Mountain and Greenlake natural area. Imagine
Jurassic Park (without the dinosaurs)! This beautiful ancient volcanic
cinder cone is a large ‘kipuka’, meaning that lava flowed around
it historically, isolating it and protecting its wildlife and plant life from
incursions. Today, huge trees and plants flourish there, creating
a horseback riding paradise. Some of the leaves of the plants there
are as large as your horse! We ride into the ancient caldera and then swim, fish
and enjoy Greenlake, a natural pond located deep in the volcanic crater. Cut
fresh sugarcane and peel it for an on-the-spot treat! Pick your own bananas and
kukui nuts, crack open a fresh cocoanut and drink the milk right there! Fish
for tilapia and mullet, or swing from a rope right into the lake.
Surprising, beautiful and remote, Greenlake
is one of the only freshwater lakes in Hawaii. In the afternoon, we trek
up Green Mountain, a volcanic peak with panoramic shoreline views of the ocean
and eastern tip of the Big Island. Later in the day, we tolt home to Fire
Island Farm, where a delicious dinner is freshly prepared from local ingredients,
like mango marinated ribs, coconut shrimp and roasted breadfruit.
Horse ‘husbands’ and
other non-riding group members love the Greenlake trip, because they have as
much fun off the horses as we do riding. (Well, almost!) Non-riding
party members can come along on the trek in our side-by-side ATV (Kawasaki Mule)
which also carries our lunches and snacks, or they can bike or hike into the
reserve. Any way you get there, it’s great. |
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The Sacred Ride
- Wa'a Wa'a trail
This day-long or half day ride
is awe inspiring in many ways. We leave from Fire Island Farm and travel
through the jungle, papaya farms and lava flows to the ancient and historic Ali’i
road. There we follow the coastline through huge mango trees, jungle and
old Hawaiian footpaths. The trail was historically used by Hawaiian royalty,
and the rock walls which separated their road from the commoners are still visible. The
road goes by Hawaiian burial sites and heaus (sacred sites), and the hush in
the air is palpable. Offerings are often left here, including flowers and
ti leaves. We have the privledge of riding here and we wind through a hou
tree covered trail to the ocean. Sometimes the orange and yellow flowers
from the trees literally blanket the trail with color. At the oceanfront, we
can swim in tidepools carved out of the lava, and have lunch on a grassy bluff
over the ocean. Often, we are the only people there. The trail continues
to the ‘sand dunes’ park, where an ancient volcano left big dunes
of cinder at the oceanfront. The Icelandics love racing around the trails
carved out of the soft dunes, sometimes sliding down the steep ones on their
tails (if the rider is the adventurous type. . .)! This ride can last all
day and sometimes we have even traveled into the pitch black jungle night toward
home and dinner. Its ok, the horses know the trail home. On
full moons we will sometimes do this ride in the bright silver tropical moonlight. It’s
like riding on air. |
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The ‘Paniolo’ Experince,
Icelandic Style
Imagine taking one
of our daylong or overnight camping rides on one of the largest and
most history-rich private Hawaiian family cattle ranches, located on
the gentle slope of Mauna Loa volcano in the remote Ka'u district. Kapapala
Ranch, our host, offers over 30,000 acres of private riding area,
including historic cattle drive trails, ancient Hawaiian footpaths,
and miles of sunny, green open pastureland and old growth Hawaiian
forests-with stunning ocean and volcano views! Ranch rides range
from the 4,000 foot to the cool 7,000 foot elevations, offering temperatures
sure to please every rider! We can ride with the feral herds of free
ranging ranch horses and our growing herd of keikis- the broodmare
band and the young Icelandics, who are growing up in the traditional
Icelandic style, running free in their 4,000 acre pasture on the ranch. Riding
alongside free-ranging horses is an amazing and touching experience. |
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