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Last Update: 06 Aug 2010

Riding Holidays | California

Often known as ‘The Golden State’, California is the third largest and most populous US State. It has the lowest and highest geographical points in the USA with Death Valley set at 282 feet below sea level and Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada mountain range standing at 14,505 feet above. California has an impressive variety of landscapes, from dense pine forests, open grasslands and pretty hills to deserted sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean.

Horse riding is very common with riding stables, racing yards and breeding studs throughout the state. Many riding centres offer both English and western style riding. Trail riding is popular with endurance riding particularly gaining a lot of interest. Many people attend events such as the annual Trevis Cup, a 100 mile ride held in Placer County and considered by many to be the toughest endurance race in America. Northern California is the best place to visit for endurance riding due to its temperate climate and good riding terrain.

Lari Shea, an experienced endurance rider runs the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation near to the town of Mendocino in Northern California. She has completed over 5,500 miles in endurance races of 50 or 100 miles winning 27 races, and finishing in the “top ten” 99% of the time in the past 15 years along with winning many ‘best conditioned horse’ awards. In 1989 she won the Tevis Cup. With Lari riders can join week long trail rides or shorter stays enjoying riding one of her incredibly fit and responsive horses, many of whom have competed in professional endurance rides. There are plenty of opportunities for beach rides, taking the horses splashing through the surf or for long, exhilarating canters on the sand. The trail rides also take you up into the Redwood forests to marvel at these impressive and breathtaking trees. Riding is English style and the tack is mainly traditional endurance saddles and webbing bridles.

This area of California is also a haven for wine lovers - in fact the route from San Francisco to the start of the ride passes through the middle of this famous wine country so providing the perfect place to relax either before or after your riding holiday.

The southern half of California has a Mediterranean climate more suited to ranch stays. This is where we find the big agricultural and cattle ranches. California is also home to the world renowned horse trainer Monty Roberts and his Equestrian Academy at Flag is Up Farms is located in the heart of the wine country near to Santa Barbara.