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Has it really been that long? 30 years of adventure? I used to be the youngest on my own trips when I started AdventureWomen in 1982, and now... 30 years later..., I still "FEEL" like the youngest!
Check your mailbox after Labor Day for our NEW and EXCITING 2012 brochure! You don't want to miss it!
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Of course I am a bit prejudiced. I own two Icelandic horses in Montana, and I think that they are wonderful. I bought them after my first trip to Iceland over 15 years ago, where I rode my first Icelandic horse and fell in love.
They've been a bit wild over the years however, which comes from the fact that in Iceland, they run with the herd of horses, and get to be real horses, until they are 4-5 years old. Then they are trained for riding. But they always seem to keep that wild streak, no matter how much they are trained.
So going to Iceland to ride horses in their homeland is one of my favorite horseback riding trips. Well, actually, one of my all-time favorite trips, period.
Bringing in the herd
from the pasture in the morning
Susan Eckert and Torre,
my favorite horse on the ride
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We just returned from our 2011 Iceland riding trip. The horses were the best trained horses I've had on any previous trips, our Icelandic guide, Bjork, was wonderful, and our group of 12 AdventureWomen was not just up for the challenge, but far surpassed what even THEY thought they could do. Great riders, they were all up to the task, in addition to being great fun and a pleasure to ride with and be with! We’re called the YaYa girls, which in Icelandic means "Mount Up"!
One of our riders said that in this photo we look like the Wild Bunch. I'd like to add that we look like the Wild Bunch on our way to rob a bank!
Our Icelandic guide, Bjork, with
one of her beautiful horses
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"You have to challenge yourself now and then to discover what you can actually do. I'm not sure what horse trip I can take now because I believe I have reached the pinnacle," said Sally Quigley, the youngest and most fit 70 year old that I know. You go Sally!!
Sally Quigley
"It's a game changer for me, that much I know. ... I don't know [how I can] describe such a magical experience. Tennis in Florida after riding horses in Iceland? That's not going to work too well!" - Cyd Pearl, who set up a fantastic Shutterfly site so we could all share our photos of the ride.
She also created a You Tube video that really brings the ride to life. It's often difficult to explain what it's like to ride these legendary equines through Iceland's stunning panoramas, and also bring a herd of horses along with us. You can see it here:
Carol Koesel (left) and Cyd Pearl
For some women, it was even MORE than the riding. "Could there be any better way to appreciate the landscape and culture of amazing Iceland than riding with the herd of Icelandic horses over fields and highlands, through streams and rivers, to lovely farms and unique geological features?" - Carol Koesel, who rides dressage on a very large horse at home!
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"The trip was amazing and I had such a wonderful time! I learned that the Icelandic horse is closely related to the beautiful landscape of Iceland, and the ability to experience that relationship and be a part of it was truly inspiring." - Debbie Tancik, who couldn't stop smiling the entire trip.
Debbie Tancik on her gorgeous pinto mare
Linda Bly and her trusty "steed"
Riding through the countryside
with the herd in front of us
3 sisters who came together:
(l to r) Robin Young, Kristie Lilienthal,
and Jennifer Cullen
A great way to end an awesome trip: relaxing in the Famous thermal waters of the Blue Lagoon (with silica mud on our faces, and sporting the Vulcan peace sign for "Live Long and Prosper.") We did, of course, all come home looking 10 years younger...
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AdventureWomen normally runs this trip every 5-7 years, but we're going to do another Iceland ride in 2013. Can't wait to go back. The new ride will be in western Iceland on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula. Ride through mighty lava fields and wide-open stretches of beautiful sand beaches, with the glacier-covered cone volcano, Snaefellsjokull always in view. Its mythical atmosphere became famous through Jules Verne's novel "Journey to the Center of the Earth!" The peninsula is called "Iceland in a nutshell" due to its diversity of landscape.
If you are a strong intermediate horseback rider and missed this last opportunity, get on our Earlybird list NOW!
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We have some pretty SPECIAL trips planned for our 30th year. Check them out, and see our website at www.adventurewomen.com for Full Details and Itineraries on all of our 2012 Domestic and International Vacations for Women!
1.
January 29 - February 4
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