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Vacation on horseback is probably a dream come true for many equestrians. One of the riders who has tried many riding-styles and been in many countries by horse is Mathilde Gregoire. Mathilde is living the dream and what you would call a travelling equestrian. She has, in connection to this, also started her own business “World On Horseback” where she sells tours to some of the most beautiful destinations – on horseback of course.
“I have travelled most of my life. I have lived in nine different countries, visited more than 40 nations and ridden in 20 of them. My family and I moved to Egypt when I were eight years old because of my father’s job. It was at this time I started riding and developed my taste for adventure and journeys: Just at the foot of the great pyramid in Giza in Cairo. During the years, my passion for horses and travelling has developed combined with all the moving we did when I was a child. As an adult I kept going on trips both through work and vacations. Every time I had the chance to ride a horse in a new country, I took it. I always enjoy experiencing a new country from a horseback. It gives a unique view of a culture and you get the chance to discover many places you would not have been able to from a “normal” perspective."
Also read: Part 1: Horses in the World – First as Horsepower Today a Popular Sport.
“I love so many places and many take my breath away. But I have to admit the most breath-taking adventure was a few years ago in Kyrgyzstan. It was a two week trip in the mountain in Central Asia. We rode long distances on the horses during the days and slept in tents and local cottages in the evenings. We were bathing in cold lakes and witness the most beautiful sky I have ever seen. This country is a sparkling diamond, and it has a lot of untouched land and very few tourists.”
“However, you cannot avoid the fact that the horses are treated very differently. The general knowledge about horsemanship and taking care of an animal is very different here than in Europe."
“Since I started my business; World On Horseback, I have thoroughly investigated every destination and riding centres before I decide to go. I make sure they follow protocol for safety and offer the horse good living conditions and care. I always Google places and reviews for example on TripAdvisor plus I look them up on social media. All this gives me an insight in the place I am going. I also talk closely to professionals in my network, and I have also been places I have deselected later on, because I did not feel comfortable with the surrounding and structure. I have a responsibility to my followers on Instagram – they trust my recommendations a lot, so I have to live up to their expectations."
“My main focus is to find unique places where the riding experience is first class, and the horses are treated well. No matter if the trip is focusing on trekking, dressage or show jumping I aim to find unique stables in a beautiful and traditional area with amazing landscape. I usually attend the trips myself so I can plan extraordinary experiences for my guests."
"Out of all the places I have visited around the world, my all-time favorite place to ride is indeed the South of Spain. I have lived there for a few years and fell deeply in love with their culture, their language, and of course, their stunning Andalusian horses. The South of Spain offers many opportunities for dressage and/or nature lovers to enjoy the best of what Spain has to offer, and a lot of my riding holidays (special retreats) take place there. One of the places I love going to the most is at the entrance of the horse lovers’ town El Rocio, which opens up to the Doñana Natural Park, one of the largest parks in Europe with incredible biodiversity."
"It really started about 2 years ago- and it kind of happened serendipitously. The opportunity arose when a new riding holiday company in Spain asked for my help to get a group of riders together for specific dates they wanted to advertise. The idea was that if I got a group together, I would also be able to join the ride. After I started advertising it on Instagram, this holiday sold out in just a few days. Bringing attention to this dreamy location was all that was needed to encourage people to book. There was also the added bonus for me to create new friendships with my followers joining me on this trip! One of the girls had left her country for the first time in her life, and was overjoyed to explore beyond her comfort zone in order to live this incredible experience with other riders sharing the same passion. It was a sign to me that there was a market for these group activities, and that I had found my niche. I have since then incorporated my company in Canada, and my mission is to inspire women and solo travelers to embark on equestrian journeys around the world, as I organize and host these riding holidays and invite riders from around the world to join me."
"For many of my guests, these retreats are once-in-a-lifetime experience, where they get to live something unique by discovering a new culture, a new way of riding, and sharing that experience with a group of riders that share a common passion. So far, the most popular destination and experience I offer is in the south of Spain, where we ride stunning Andalusian/Spanish and Lusitano horses who can perform the most elaborate dressage figures, including piaffe, passage and pirouettes. It is an incredible and unique experience in a beautiful setting. One of the riding centers is located next to the iconic sandy town called “El Rocio”, specially designed for horses and riders. In this town, people go around on horseback to the bars, restaurants, and live about their daily lives with horses. The men are dressed in traditional “Vaquera” style (similar to Western), while the women, “Amazonas”, wear colorful flamenco dresses and ride with a sidesaddle. In some street intersections, there are even round pens that you can use to lunge your horse! You really have to see it to believe it. With one of my stable partners, I also offer include a show at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Arts in Jerez, as well as a private backstage access to the stables, where some of the most incredible Spanish horses in the world are trained."
She shares her photos and videos on her Instagram account, and you can of course read a lot more about her on her website.
