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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 vacation on Northern California's rugged
Mendocino Coast. This is an area of great beauty,
rich in wildlife, where time flows at its own pace;
the ghosts of Russian, Spanish and English
adventurers tenaciously cling to this isolated part
of the world. Lari Shea, winner of dozens of
endurance events, including the prestigious Tevis
Cup 100 Mile Endurance race, breeds Akhal-Teke,
Russian Orlov crosses, and Arabians, many of whom
have excelled in dressage and jumping, as well as on
competitive trails. Her Appy and Quarter horses
round out the stable of wonderfully well-trained
horses, for both English and Western style
enthusiasts. You won't believe the quality of the
horses! The Redwood Coast Riding Vacation ranges for
many miles along ocean beaches, through a working
cattle ranch, the giant Redwood forests and up into
the coastal mountain range, richly covered with
towering conifers, offering views that stretch to
eternity. Lodging is in unique B&Bs along the ocean
and at the luxurious and historic Mendocino Hotel -
all complete with elegant dining including fine
California wines, delightful hot tubs under the
stars, and internationally acclaimed musicians
entertaining you at night.
 IRCA01
Rates include accommodations, meals,
evening entertainment, 6 riding days (4 full days,
6-7 hours; and 2 half days, 2-3 hours)
7 days/ 6 nights $ 2,245
Single: + $ 350
High
Season +$120
2008 Dates:
05/12-05/18 06/16-06/22
07/07-07/13
07/14-07/20
08/18-08/24 09/08-09/14
09/29-10/05
...
additional dates are available for 4+ riders
throughout the year (without eve. entertainment)
Special "Luxury Ride"
with Wine Tour and Music Festival
July 14 to 20
$ 2,795
availability & reservation
Horses:
Quarter, Akhal-Teke, Russian Orlov crosses,
and Arabians
Meeting: Fort Bragg
Airport: San Francisco or Santa Rosa
This trip begins Monday at 2:00PM near Fort
Bragg and ends with breakfast Sunday.
Tack:
Western, English, Australian
Pace:
Moderate with long trots and canters.
Level:
Groups are
divided into different groups according to their
riding level
Min/Max Riders: 2-24 - riding groups are
divided into small groups of 6-7 riders
Transfer:
Rental car from Santa Rosa, San Francisco or
Oakland.
There is a bus service from San
Francisco to Santa Rosa and then to Fort Bragg once
a day. Departure SFO airport 12:35 pm. Arrival
should be Sunday. Departure then on Monday (extra
nights). Sometimes clients car pool - enter
your name on our "Buddy Finder" at
www.hiddentrails.com/buddy/ .
Note: Guests of the
July ride will be treated to a night of
entertainment at the Mendocino Music Festival . This year's events and performers
have yet to be finalized, but here is an "example"
of the type of musicians that perform: "The
Persuasions: This venerable a cappella
quintet brings their incredible, octave skipping
street corner harmonies to an array of musical
styles, including jazz, soul, gospel, rock n' roll
and rhythm and blues."
Riding helmets are highly
recommended. We have helmets of all sizes to
borrow free of charge.
You will be staying at the
following inns:
Cleone
Gardens Inn
(Monday and Tuesday)
The Hill
House Inn in Mendocino (entertainment Wednesday eve)
Howard
Creek Ranch
(Thursday to Sunday)
Itinerary
Monday: Check in
at the lovely Cleone Gardens Inn around 1:30 PM. Then
meet at the riding center at 2:00 PM for an
orientation and first trail ride on the beach.
During orientation, you will learn a bit about your
guides, the other riders, and the horse you will
ride during the week. After the orientation and
riding demonstration, we head down the beach for a
lovely first day of riding, giving you an
opportunity to "audition" your horse and tack before
heading out to the forest for an all day ride
tomorrow. After your ride, a three course dinner
with wine awaits you at the Cliff House restaurant,
a lovely cliff side establishment with views over
the Noyo Harbor, bay and ocean.
Tuesday
morning, your breakfast will be served out of doors
on the deck at the Cleone Gardens Inn. After
breakfast meet up with your horses and build your
lunch from a wide variety of lunch meats, lettuce,
tomatoes etc.
On this day, we head out to
Jackson State Forest, and ride all day in this
54,000 acre gem, the largest State Forest in
California. We 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. After the ride, return to the
Cleone Gardens for an early evening hot tub, before
heading to Silver's at the Wharf Restaurant. At the
Wharf, we will watch sea lions in the harbor, as
fishing boats cruise in and out of the bay. Your
three course dinner with wine can include the
freshest catch of the day...right out of our
pristine waters.
Wednesday morning, after
breakfast on the deck, you will check out of the
Cleone Gardens Inn and head out on a shorter,
leisurely ride along the bluffs overlooking the
ocean on a different section of beach trail. Make
sure to bring your cameras along, as this is a
fabulous day for photos. After your ride, head to
Mendocino. The afternoon is free to explore the many
art galleries, shops and beaches in the town used as
the location for over thirty movies and TV shows,
including "Murder, She Wrote". The elegant Hill
House Inn provides lodging overlooking picturesque
Mendocino Village with pianist Susan Archuletta
performing her original compositions in the evening.
Thursday morning, enjoy a hearty
breakfast before checking out
and heading back your horses. After building your
lunch, everyone will receive a stethoscope and learn
how to take your horse's resting pulse rate. Then
we're off to Ten Mile Beach, where we can canter on
for miles and miles. At the estuary, we strike
north, passing virgin redwood trees thousands of
years old, and heading to the top of Simcha Ranch,
with fabulous 360 degree views overlooking the river
valley and the Pacific Ocean. And, there's a
surprise at lunch! After lunch, there are more
opportunities for long trots and canters before
heading to our trail head at the Orca Pasture Cattle
Ranch. Here, your cars will meet you, so that you
will transport yourselves the last miles to the
"Lost Coast" at Howard Creek Ranch, a charming,
renovated Victorian farm and carriage house Inn on
60 acres next to the ocean, surrounded by miles of
beach and mountains, with excellent dining. We will
stay here the next three nights. The Farm has
recently added a massage studio; therapists are
available on site, by appointment for a variety of
treatments. Their beautiful out-of-doors hot tub is
high on the hill, with a spectacular view of the
ocean, and the indoor hot tub is convenient to all
our rooms. An up-grade to a spectacular suite with
private Jacuzzi tub is also available.
Friday morning, after another
wonderful country breakfast, meet your horses at the
Orca Pasture. Today's ride can include a "mock
endurance ride", where we teach you more about sport
horse conditioning and veterinary skills. You'll
learn to check your horse's 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, 3 day
event, or endurance ride. We 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,
folks 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, We
return to the Orca Pasture via Abalobadia Gulch, an
ethereal fern canyon complete with a babbling brook,
giant trees and incredible light. The hot tub awaits
you, as does a long walk on the beach, before another four course
meal. Tonight is Talent Night, and you get to show
off your stuff....sing a song, read a poem, tell a
joke. Or just sit back and relax, and let the others
entertain you.
Saturday morning after
breakfast, we ride through the vast Orca cattle
ranch. Today we'll canter up a long gradual trail to
the very peak of the mountain, where we are
literally "on top of the world"....the views are
absolutely spectacular. Forging on, we 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 respite
for bird watching along the river banks. After
lunch, dreams come true as we canter for miles along
Ten Mile Beach, arriving back at the stables in a spirit of camaraderie. After your ride,
it's back to Howard Creek for one last hot
tub before our farewell dinner celebration and
entertainment for renowned local musicians at our
last night boogie!
On Sunday after
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,
enjoying 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 the arrangements for you.
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"Count on spending at
least five...hours in the saddle cantering
along endless beaches, climbing through
redwood forests, and picking your way along
razor-backed ridges with views that,
depending on which way you look, seem to go
all the way to Nevada or Japan. The Inns on
the horse trek are chosen by the quality of
their hot tubs. The rational: 'We ride hard
enough to deserve them.'"
---DIVERSION
Magazine
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