Horse riding 101

To be honest, pretty much any theory you learn is mostly useless in practice since horse riding is a skill that can only be picked up by doing in my opinion. Even if you know how you’re supposed to sit in the saddle that doesn’t mean you’ll have the strength to do it. Not to mention this blog entry will probably be useless to anyone who has already had a few lessons. Still, this might interest you if you are thinking of picking up on horse riding as a hobby, or if you want to take a horse-back tour, but never even sat on one before.

1. Exercise

Yeah, if you think all you have to do on a horse is sit, put it in first gear and turn the steering wheel you will be quickly disappointed. It may look easy, but it can be petty tiring. Any gait above a simple walk requires almost every part of your body to work. Not to mention if you get a stubborn or easily-startled horse where you’ll either have to nearly jam your feet into him to make him move, or will have to hold back his reins so he doesn’t flip out.

So, before starting, it doesn’t hurt to have well-developed inner thigh muscles that will primarily help you stay on the horse and keep its movements controlled. While the reins mostly control the direction a horse will go, your legs are the one thing making him move by applying the right amount of pressure.

Secondly, you should also train your stomach muscles.  Horses hate a rider that will constantly bounce up and down on their backs, so being able to keep your movements as calm as possible is essential. The stomach basically keeps your upper body centered by lightly leaning forward or back, depending on the gait.

Lastly, the arms. Some horses can get out of hand quickly, so you’ll have to be strong enough to pull the reins to get them to calm down or slow down. It will also help you keep your hands calm while riding. I’m sure you wouldn’t enjoy being constantly pulled on the mouth for no apparent reason, and rest assured, horses don’t like it as well.

2. The right clothing

If you don’t practice horse riding, you mostly likely don’t have the correct equipment like riding pants and riding boots or gaiters. Some ranches provide some equipment, some don’t. So I suggest that you think about this before you leave for the tour, since a poor choice of clothing might end up being more bothersome than you’ve thought.

Riding pants are tight, have little to no stiches on the inner side of their thighs where the padding is as well. This is because the inner thighs are the ones pressing up against the saddle and constant rubbing might irritate your skin. If you happen to have pants that have no stiches inn that area they’ll probably be ideal, but comfortable sweatpants can also be used. DO NOT wear shorts!

Also, under no circumstance forget socks, especially if you do not have high boots or gaiters. The stirrup will rub against your ankle and I might actually leave quite an injury.

The top is a bit more flexible. T can be a simple t-shirt or tank top if it’s hot, or a sweater if it’s cold. As long as you’re not wearing a tunic, something with really wavy sleeves or something you’ll wear to your hotel dinner, you should be ok.

Important: If the ranch doesn’t provide helmets, at least bring a bike helmet along.

3.Before riding

Before you get on that saddle, it doesn’t hurt to stretch a little bit, especially your legs and hips. Getting to know your horse is a good start too. Ask the horse owner or whoever is responsible for it about the horse.  Things like how easily it gets scared or how does it get on with other horses can be very important. If he’s easily startled, you’ll have to act in advance and pay attention to anything in your proximity that might scare your equestrian friend. If it is a bit more aggressive towards other horses it probably prefers to have its space. Make sure to keep distance from other horses. If you think the horse will be too much for you to handle, ask for another one.

4. Approaching a horse

Horses in the wild used to graze on open fields where they were an easy target for predators, so you should respect that instinct when you approach it. If not absolutely unavoidable, never approach a horse from behind if you want to keep all of your teeth.  It won’t see you, so when it suddenly feels your presence it will buck in self-defense. However, if you are in a situation where this is unavoidable and there is no one to help, repeatedly make sounds like calling its name so it knows you’re there. Get to the side as much as possible and carefully put your hand on the horse. if it’s a domestic horse, it probably won’t act  aggressively as long as you are letting it know your whereabouts.

The best way to approach a horse is from the side, where it will see you clearly. Don’t run to it, just calmly walk up to it and show it you mean no harm. A little treat like a carrot or a kibble is usually a good peace offering. Also, pay attention to the horse’s body language as you approach him, especially its ears. If they are standing up, it means he is content with you and will accept you. If they are moving around, it’s likely that he’s in slight alert. Don’t worry, he’s probably just curious about you, or there is some commotion near you it wants to check out. just walk slowly, call its name and it should be fine. What could be problematic is if its ears are pulled back and flat on its head. That is a clear sign of anger and aggression. A horse is likely to snap at you or try to buck you. If this happens, seek help from someone with more experiences or the horse.

5. Posture

The way you sit on the horse is like a first impression. If you are slouching or are fidgety and nervous, he won’t take you seriously and might not respond to you. When you get in the saddle, sit confidently with a straight back, keep your movements as calm as possible and don’t shift your weight around too much if not necessary. However, don’t be a stone-faced tyrant, show it some love. Horses usually like to be rewarded with a light tap on the neck. If you’re confident enough, you can even lean forward and hug it. Just don’t put too much weight on it. Nobody likes a pain in the neck- pun intended. You can also talk to it. It helps to calm down you and the horse.

 These are about all the tips I have. Remember, even if you think you understand everything it will be a completely different world as soon as you get in that saddle. Just stay calm and confident. Pay attention to your horse ad to your instructions and you will most likely have an experience you won’t forget.

My favorite vacation activities

Holidays are no fun if all you do is sit around and stare at your 5-star ceiling, so I decided to list some of the activities I personally really enjoy and look forward to the most.

Horse riding

Now, this of course has some major requirements, but if there’s a horse ranch near you, I suggest you take the opportunity and book at least a little tour. Riding can be incredibly relaxing and gives that extra majestic feeling to an average sight-seeing expedition. It is also great regardless of the location. I still remember how beautiful it was to ride in the snow at night or how exciting it was to gallop down a beach and take the horse for a quick swim in the ocean afterwards.

However, certain things do require some amount of skill. So if you are interested in something more than just a small tour and never moving faster than a simple walk, I suggest you sign up for a few classes before embarking on your trip.

Diving and snorkeling

No better activity to get further in touch with your marine surroundings than a little diving trip on a boat. Sometimes, what might appear as just a boring body of water becomes much more exciting when you take a closer look. If that is not an option, snorkeling will at least let you admire the fish that are brave enough to come near you, and maybe find some sea shells scattered on the sea floor.

Adventurous tours

I should explain why I mean by that title; these are the tours that usually feature some unique way of getting from point A to point B, and might get you more involved than simply being a spectator of history. These tours might involve being chauffeured around the desert in a land-rower, walking through a steep valley to an oasis or maybe taking a small tour on a camel’s back.

As you see, my experiences with such tours tend to be centered more regions of northern Africa, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a more unique way to survey the Alps. Perhaps you might think about combining this with horse riding.

Sledging

Now for something a bit cooler, although I still argue you could still do this off the side of a great sandy dune.

If you are vacationing in a ski resort, chances are they also have a sledge track as well. Don’t just cross it off as being a little hill where you run up and down all day long. A lot of the ones I’ve been on led through a nice little forest where you could admire the snow-covered nature as you sided by. If you weren’t too focused on beating your friends that is. 

Comfortable travel: ship vs. hotel

A key aspect to a good and exciting vacation you’ll fondly treasure in your memories is choosing the accommodations. Some people have no problems as long as they have a roof over their head, some do appreciate or even need the comfort that a well-furnished hotel room provides them. For the later types, staying in a nice hotel resort sounds like the only option, but there is another one I find to be over-looked: a cruise ship.

I have experiences with both and would like to compare the two based on my experience. Perhaps you might consider some of these points before planning your next trip.

 The price tag

Neither of them has a price that would be affordable to anyone, but there is a belief that cruises tend to cost more than a hotel. Or at least, that’s what I thought. However, if you just look at the staying price, you realize that the hotels can be a lot more expensive. What usually ramps up the cost of a cruise is the transport to and from the ship itself.

Ships can also be a cheaper option for a family vacation. In hotels, you mostly lose the status of ‘child’ at 14 and have to pay full price from then on out. On a cruise ship, that status lasts up till 18 years, and children can stay for free.

Of course, I advise you to check that before booking the vacation, as it may differ depending on the company or hotel.

Accommodations

Personally, I didn’t notice a jarring difference between a cabin and a hotel room. Most ships could be described as floating hotels anyway. The main difference might be just the size as cabins tend to be a bit smaller. However, there is still plenty of room for you to get all dressed up and ready and the cabins do have their very own bathroom, so there are no worries about having to share.

Although, if you are in need of a lot of space and like spending a lot of your time in your room, I suggest the hotel.

Food and drinks

Ah, very important, but a very subjective topic. Some people can eat anything while others are more selective of their menu. Thus, I won’t discuss the taste and quality of the food, as it is too specific, but I can say that so far I’ve always found something delicious to eat in both a hotel and a ship.

I will mention the presentation however. So far all the ships I was on had a self-service restaurant and an “a la card” one.  The self-service was your typical restaurant, laid-back and all, but the “a la card” one was something that stuck with me the most. You received your own table and each table had a waiter appointed to it. Thus you never had to wait long for service.  You had a three-course menu, each course having different dishes to choose from. Spending on the occasion, you might even receive a little show, as was the case when all the waiters brought in a Baked Alaska cake and set it aflame in front of us. It was very tasty too.

I don’t have any memory of such a grand display at the dinner table in any hotel resort I’ve been to. There was usually a theme for the dinner every night, but nothing so grandiose and eye-catching. The best case I can make for hotels in terms of food display is a time at a hotel where they would serve a big cake e very night, usually shaped like a figure. Like a lizard or a crocodile or a snake for instance.

What is there to see?

If you are searching for a way to see as much as you possibly can in the most comfortable manner, I would say you should choose a ship. Hands down.  Not only will you wake up in a different city every day, but you’ll also have a good night’s sleep while getting there. The ship company also offer guided tours on land, but you are also free to go off-board on your own and take some time to explore at your own pace. Just keep track of the ship’s schedule.

However, if you plan on getting deeper into the local culture or just wanting to go out on an evening stroll into town whenever you feel like it, then the hotel might be a better option for you. If nothing else, you won’t have to worry about forgetting the time and it sailing off without you. But that does mean you won’t see Venice today and Barcelona tomorrow.

Order of conduct

I’m only bringing this up because a lot of people believe that cruises are for the rich that dress in evening gowns and tuxedos as soon as the clock hits 6 and enjoy their friendly banter with a glass of champagne with golden flakes in it.

That is not true. If a cruise is in your budget, you won’t have to worry about having to spend extra money on formal wear for every evening and take classes on posh behavior so you’ll know with which spoon to eat. Most of the time guests just go about in regular t-shirts and shorts. They might dress it up a bit for the evening dinner, but you certainly won’t get kicked out of the restaurant if your suit is not a custom-tailored brand. Minor elegance is enough should be enough, like just wearing a plain shirt. However, if you do want to wear that gorgeous dress you had to buy for this one occasion and think you would never have the chance to wear it again; pack it by all means.

Yet, I have to say the hotels usually are less formal, at least the resorts I’ve been to.

Conclusion

As you may have noticed, I am highly in favor of ships. If you don’t have a problem with sea sickness, I see almost no reason not to go. They are probably the best option for family vacations with teens, as they offer an environment where parents won’t feel guilty for loosening the leash and the teens will appreciate a bit more freedom to go to ship’s discos or pool. They are also great for comfortable travel and exploring.

A hotel on the other hand might be better for families with smaller children, as they offer a bit more room for them to run around, and they often include water parks. They’re also better for people that want to really get into the local culture and will take time to thoroughly explore the area, or just want to kick it by the beach.

So, I hope this helps you when you plan your next dream vacation.

Me pot o' Ireland!

This summer I went on a little trip across the English canal and visited the green, green land of Ireland. There, I picked up a few things that have stayed in my memory.

“Let’s go to the pub!”

If you go to Ireland and don’t visit a local pub, you haven’t seen Ireland at all! Pubs are a big part of the local culture. I would best describe them as a mix between a restaurant and a bar, full of Irish spirit. I was surprised that even in such a vast city such as Dublin the pub is still the number one place to go as it gets late. Thus we were also treated to an evening dinner with some traditional Irish food, washed it down with a glass of fine-foamed Guinness and enjoyed the lively tunes of traditional Irish music.

“My goodness, my Guinness!”

I am not fond of alcohol, despite I was born in a culture whose drinking habits could rival or even surpass the Irish. I am an incredible light-weight and can hardly handle anything more than a glass of wine. That aside, even I was convinced into trying the dark-colored beer with the incredibly fine and thick foam.  A small glass, but a glass none-the-less.

This was an amusing thing for me as we traveled the Irish island. Regardless of the region, there was always a spot for at least one sort of Guinness beer on the menu. And it didn’t stop just there. A lot of pubs or restaurants we went to had small, usually humorous banners, promoting the genuine Irish brand. Even the title of this very segment was taken from a banner were a poor man helplessly exclaimed those very words as a kangaroo was hopping away with a few bottles of beer neatly stored in his pouch.

“Here we see a church. And also there, there, there, there…”

Alright, there weren’t THAT many, but is true that the Irish are known for being loyal Catholics. Not that they would just shout it at you.  It was a lot more subtle, with the use of the signature Celtic cross or the patron saint St. Patrick and his clover featured on several locations. The thing was, most of the time you weren’t sure if they were used to symbolize the catholic branch of Christianity or Irish nationality. I think those things are pretty much glued together by now.  Still, I have to wonder if they tweaked the rules a bit and, instead of the traditional wine, they serve Guinness at mass. I need to look into that next time I’m there.

“If I drop a penny, how long will it take to fall into the sea?”

Not as much a cultural thing, but the Irish cliffs are no less Irish and no less amazing. Sitting on the soft, green grass a top of cliff with the waves rushing underneath is one of the fondest memories I had this summer. We also visited the famous Cliffs of Moher, which were less sunny and less warm, but still a majestic sight to see. The experience is made all the better as you hear the different legends surrounding it, like the legend of the Hag’s head or the Golden city.