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Ride Andes horse riding tours in
South America are highly recommended in all the major guidebooks.
Below are some journalists’ comments.
click
here to view Horse magazine April 2009 full article
“The riding is fast paced, with exhilarating gallops
along miles of empty beaches… skilled gauchos…
good food, wine… and a few thousand photos.”
Horse and Hound , Uruguay
July 2007
Read
full article here.
“A dream horse… his
canters felt like I was sitting on a swaying sofa…I
want to thank Sally for another wonderful ride. She is outstanding…”
Today's Horse Trader , Ecuador
July 2007
Read
full article here.
“Horses and guides are
top notch.”
Lonely Planet Guide
“The ride of my life!”
Jennifer Gordon Smith, Horse
and Hound (Europe ’s largest riding magazine)
March 2007
Read article
by Paula Hammerskog
Tara magazine (Swedish)
Ecuador, 2006.
“Sally runs Ride Andes
with staggering enthusiasm and efficiency … “
Gillian O’Connor, Financial
Times
January 2003
“This was one of the most
wonderful trips that I have ever been on.”
Lucy Yeomans, editor, Harpers
& Queen
March 2002
“You have created a unique
and marvellous experience – and you manage it beautifully.”
Sir Max Hastings, former editor
of London ’s Evening Standard & The Daily Telegraph
February 2002
“Unfailing friendliness
and courtesy with which our group was treated by everyone.
Thank you Sally … “
Arnold Garvey, editor, Horse
and Hound.
March 1999
“I felt so honored to be
able to stay at some of the best haciendas in Ecuador
.”
Sally Leeson, Harpers & Queen
photographer
March 2002
“The best two days of my
life.”
Rosie Walford, travel writer/photo-journalist
talking about the cattle round-up.
November 1998
Articles about Sally Vergette
“Riding
High with Sally Vergette”
Dorothy E Noe, Today's Horse
Trader, September 2007
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| URUGUAY
‘I really enjoyed our trip
…very entertaining and I hadn't laughed so much for
ages. When people here ask what was the best bit of the
whole trip I seem to be remembering all our fun beach rides
and lunches and the laughter.
And thanks to Sally for finding excellent horses for me
- you will have noticed I bonded closely! And also thanks
for the organisation that went into the trip. I found everyone
I met in Uruguay
very friendly and liked the feel of the country, and in
particular all the people you are working with are very
special. It was a treat to be with people who so willingly
shared their knowledge of the history and wildlife. …definitely
be planning a return trip - perhaps next year...’
Chris, ‘06.
ECUADOR
‘I can’t tell you
how much I enjoyed the week riding with you. Your horses
and staff were fabulous …I feel very privileged to
have seen the wonderful Andean landscape, had a glimpse
of local life and stayed in beautiful haciendas. We’re
already discussing when and where to book to come and ride
with you again!’ Sarah Oct ’06.
ACROSS THE ANDES, CHILE
TO ARGENTINA
‘Surely , if at the end
of a holiday you feel you could do it all over again without
a second though or break, it's because it was just perfect.
Riding through the Puela Valley in the South of Chile and
into Argentina was just that, perfection.
Everyday brought new adventures and spectacular scenery
in this magic and remote area. Our horses, ‘baqueanos’
( cowboys) and organizers were there to guide us up and
down mountains and across rivers, lakes and valleys, I don't
think I can exceed the wonders of this ride, but I'm going
to try and match with another adventure with Ride Andes.’
GEM, Mar ’06.‘Our week in Ecuador exceeded expectations
in every way. The horses were a perfect fit, the terrain
was varied, and the sights along the way were striking…’
Robert, July ‘06.
TORRES DEL PAINE, CHILE
‘With regards to the ride,
it was everything that I had hoped for. Wonderful organisation,
incredibly surefooted horses, which was a relief considering
some of the obstacles that we went down and through! Breathtaking
scenery, huge landscapes dominated by the mountains and
in particular the towers, lakes of all known shades of blue,
extraordinary glaciers and beautiful woods and wild flowers;
it must be one of the last wildernesses left on earth. We
saw not a soul except at the refugio. We all had a thoroughly
good time. Look forward to the next ride.’ Pip, Jan
´04
URUGUAY
‘…thank you for the
great organisation of the Uruguay
trip… I had never enjoyed riding as much as I did
during our trip.’ Francisco, ‘06.
ECUADOR,
CATTLE ROUNDUP
‘A truly magical experience,
wonderfully trained, good looking, strong horses, beautiful
Haciendas in stunning locations, plenty of good tasty food,
culminating in a once in a lifetime opportunity to be involved
in an authentic Ecuadorian experience - the cattle and horse
round up. Nothing was too much trouble for Sally, the attention
to detail was impeccable, this truly was a fantastic, exhilarating
riding holiday.’ Iola ’06.
RIDING LESSONS
in Ecuador, with professional
European instructor ‘I would be astonished if there
was anything she didn’t know about horses and riding.
Anything! Her love of horses and the sport shines through.
She was a wonderful teacher, patient and very helpful. She
took a person who hardly knew one end of a horse from another
and after only one afternoon’s work felt confident
enough to go out on an afternoon’s hack.’ CH,
Sept ’06.
ECUADOR
RIDING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES ARRANGED BY RIDE ANDES
‘I had a fantastic vacation
thanks in a large part to you well managed, professional
but fun-loving outfit.’ LE, Sept ‘06
ECUADOR,
CATTLE ROUNDUP
‘Thanks again to ... I had
an absolutely amazing time and it really was one of the
highlights of my 5 months travelling in South America. The
riding around Cotopaxi was amazing enough, but the cattle
round-up was just fantastic - the adrenalin rush when hurtling
after the cattle and trying to keep the Spanish fighting
bulls in check was such a thrill. The horses were all amazing,
as were all the guides and all of you 'support' team.’
Adam, Nov ’07.
URUGUAY
‘…Uruguay
is an absolute gem. The lure of galloping along deserted
sandy beaches caught my imagination and the reality was
just as good. As well as glorious beaches, the ride takes
in a variety of landscapes and activities, making no two
days the same.
Horses are well schooled and adept whatever the terrain.
They are expertly matched to each guest and certainly all
the horses I rode had character and sparkle, giving a responsive
and fun ride. The charming Gauchos that accompanied us were
fascinating, steeped in tradition and skilled in their work.
The accommodation and food were superb. It was a special
touch to stay at a working estancia as guests of the owners.
I have wonderful memories of humorous banter and smooth
wine, as we dined with them around the family table. All
the local people we met were unfailingly friendly and welcoming.
Clearly this ride has been meticulously planned and was
run most efficiently, yet the atmosphere was relaxed and
we had lots of fun. It was a great team that looked after
us, taking care of every aspect and with nothing being too
much trouble.’ Stephanie, ‘05.
ACROSS THE ANDES, CHILE
TO ARGENTINA
‘Even by Ride Andes standards
this trek was remote. We rode into another world –
where the water in the turquoise rivers tasted (almost!)
better than the Chilean wine clinking on the pack ponies,
where the road had ended three days ride ago and the condors
had no competition from planes in the spotless sky.
As always, Sally had found us diverse and unexpected places
to stay, from a pioneer’s wooden house overhanging
the moonlit river to a deluxe cabin complete with French
cuisine on an island in the lake.
The courtesy and charm of the people we met in this pioneering
land was only surpassed by the perfect manners of our glossy
Criollo horses! We were heartbroken on the last day, as
we climbed aboard the boat that would take us into Argentina,
to see our wonderful horses and vaqueros cantering homewards
across No Man’s Land and into the cloud forest.’
Karen, Mar ‘05
TRIP REPORT –
ECUADOR
Hidden Haciendas!
‘I went out to Ecuador
for 6 months as a Ride Andes “helper”. Not being
entirely sure what this might entail when I left the UK
I have been utterly thrilled with how my time here has turned
out.
Working with Sally and her fantastic 14 or so horses I have
visited beautiful haciendas in gorgeous valleys, devoid
of tourists where typical sights are colourfully attired
locals, happy clucking chickens, fields of hand-sown potatoes
and happy pigs in muck.
Sally’s
tours take guests north to the famous market town of
Otavalo. Then after enjoying some bartering on the market,
which sells just about everything from livestock, local
weaving, art, embroidered cotton shirts to corn on the cob
and fresh picked beans, we spend the night at a hacienda
nearby. There is plenty of choice in accommodation - of
all types - for a visitor to Otavalo, however by far and
away my personal favourite has to be a hacienda hidden away
in a beautiful
valley
This hacienda
is the property of Andalusian horse enthusiast Oswaldo and
his wife Diana. As guests of Oswaldo and Diana, we eat locally
produced food, cooked by Diana - incidentally Diana cooks
the best ‘tres leches’ dessert I have ever eaten
- and look out into the yard of their working dairy farm.
Our hosts always join us for drinks, and conversation will
range from farming, Spanish stallions, Ecuadorian schooling
(Oswaldo and Diana have four beautifully behaved children)
to Oswaldo’s prestigious herd of fighting bulls, which
many guests like to visit.
After dinner the eucalyptus trees rustle in the evening
breeze and the days’ light slowly seeps from the valley
to leave a silent midnight blue sky littered with stars.
The hacienda is an old property which has been improved
in recent years to provide beautiful bedrooms, a large lounge
and separate dining room. Branding irons, traditional tack
and fighting bull memorabilia, along with cosy open fires
are found throughout the house and in the guests’
bedrooms. My favourite thing, when tired after a long day
in the saddle is to sneak back to my room, and with the
fire crackling in the corner, snuggle down under the warm
wool blankets, my feet searching for the elixir –
a hot water bottle!
To the west of the Pan American Highway which bisects Ecuador
from north to south is another utterly hidden
treasure of a hacienda which can be reached by road
– just!
This hacienda is nestled in the western side of the mountain
from which it takes its name, and is surrounded by acres
of protected natural cloud forest. The owner, another Oswaldo,
saw the property for sale as a young man and saved up his
1,000 Sucres to buy the property. However the owner raised
the price to 2,000 Sucres, so Oswaldo went back to work
to raise more money. Returning a year later the owner again
raised the price – this time to 3,000. This could
have gone on for some time, but finally a deal was struck
and Oswaldo came to own and care for this unique cloud forest
which in so many other parts of Ecuador
has been all but destroyed by farming.
Oswaldo and Mariana clearly love their home both for its
secluded hillside location with views over the folding Andes
stretching as far as the coast, but also for the way of
life the cloud forest offers them.
The hacienda is unique and a completely undisturbed treasure.
Arriving at the hacienda is an utter treat [guests can also
ride to the hacienda on a private 2 or more day tour]. Exotic
plants trail over the rough road, brightly coloured flowers
of intricate shapes, large and small give the green cloud
forest splashes of immense colour. Oswaldo proudly took
us around is organic garden, from which we picked a lettuce
for tea and ate some home grown Chinese gooseberries. Then
brushing strands of young bamboo aside Oswaldo, who is after
years of observation, a complete expert on the plants, trees,
their fruit and the general symbiosis needed to create and
maintain his cloud forest – took us on a tour. It
is worth noting that this can be enjoyed as much by a horticultural
nobody (myself) as by a far more informed person –
the beauty in the place and Oswaldo’s enthusiasm for
this ancient ecosystem is obvious. Bromeliads, three species
of fern trees unique to this area and a mind-boggling array
of different orchids grow in the forest. And Oswaldo knows
every leaf to turn to show them to you.
The hacienda itself is made from stone and wood, and although
has no permanent electricity supply – Oswaldo and
Mariana’s personal lifestyle choice – is warm
and comfortable. Pre dinner drinks are enjoyed watching
the sunset through a huge window in the lounge in front
of an open fire, when the light has gone candles are lit.
The evening meal is prepared by our hosts and might typically
include home made cheeses, local meats and a home-grown
organic salad.
The other treasure of a hacienda that I visited is markedly
different and really off the beaten track [part of the Around
Cotopaxi tour ]. The furthest South of the three, near-ish
to Cotopaxi, but miles from anywhere, this hacienda sits
in the bottom of a smooth wide valley surrounded by stunning
hills and stark mountains. On my first visit, which required
a 4WD vehicle, I could hardly believe that we would ever
find a hacienda at this mysterious place. Whether you horse-ride
in or drive in, the scenery is like the condors which soar
overhead - stunning, large and utterly wild.
This working farm is the ultimate in getting away from
it all, spotting other people or houses is a game finished
in 5 minutes. You can sit 100 yards from the house on a
tuft of grass in a patch of sun, and hear nothing but the
wind and the faint trickle of the small river which cuts
into the banking behind the hacienda. Bring a rod and wire
and if you’re lucky perhaps your guide will take you
trout fishing.
The hacienda (like several others) is used exclusively
by Sally and a mindful eye kept over the property by a local
chagra (cowboy) who lives up the far valley side. Inside
the hacienda is rustic, with dorm bedrooms and one twin,
bathroom and shower, lounge and kitchen area. Although you
will spend little time indoors as the outdoors bears down
on you from large windows on all sides of the property,
compelling you to go outside and drink in the view. Although
there is a generator, gaslights and candles my favourite
way to spend the evening was to light a bonfire outside
the house, enjoy the stars and maybe a little tot of the
warming local spirit.’ Shirley, Jan ’07. |
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