Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
I AM not sure it's possible to write something this week that would have anything near the profound effect that last week's article on glanders victims generated.
Thank you to everyone who mailed, texted and personally commented on what was written, it means so very much to know what a huge impact these ponies had on everyone that came in contact with them, they will always be loved and remembered.
So what can I say ... there is, as everyone knows, little going on in the equestrian scene at the moment. It's summer time, generally too hot to ride very much unless in the early hours of the morning or in the evenings if there is any breeze.
Horses find themselves inside during the day out of the sun, and standing in A/C or by fans. Twin Palms has a horse that has taken residence on the washstand, just waiting for someone to come along and shower their own horse, he only has to look at you with those huge eyes and he gets a shower too... not daft ... showered constantly by someone or another the whole late afternoon and evening till its cool enough for him to wander off to find his dinner.
You will have read in the Whisperer column that the Dilmun Club is running an indoor equestrian event for riders, with a quiz night, fab idea, and an amazing first prize in the raffle for a lucky rider to win.
Another winning idea as thoughts turn, or firmly concentrate, on to their holidays ... horse holidays! How much fun and there are so many holidays to be had on horseback in just about any and every country you go to.
l Africa - safari rides, how wonderful. I would love to experience a safari ride, or a trail ride, Botswana to Zambia, tents to lodges and trial rides, game parks, mountains and valleys, beach rides, cattle drives, working ranches. Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa - there are holidays for all ages and abilities of riders.
l Asia - riding in Mongolia seeing sights from the grassland and treeless steppes, mountain ranges and sand dunes to mountain forests, plus trail expeditions and rides in Tibet and India.
l Australia - gives you bush and beach rides to rides in the snowy mountains and there is New Zealand too with Warrior Trials, Tekapo Expeditions, Coast-to-Coast rides, Explorer Trails and farming fun.
l Europe - where you can have a relaxing riding holiday or learn to ride in a week in the Azores, visit the Vienne Randonees in France, or a camping expedition and trial or mountain ride in Georgia. Iceland offers fast challenging rides, trial rides, magnificent water springs and glaciers.
There are also Italy's fabulous horses and Portugal's lovely Lusitano horses offering an amazing opportunity to ride these superb animals along the coast. Romania offers the Transylvania Trail, fast and challenging. Spain, with its beaches and national parks also offers riding and training with Antonio Corales, who trained with the Royal Equestrian School in Jerez.
l North America - see the Grand Canyon on horseback, the Redwood Coast, the Rocky Mountains in Canada, visit a working ranch or do a cattle drive in Colorado or Montana, or a Renegade Ride in Wyoming.
l South America - across the Andes or the Continent in Argentina, or play a bit of polo, plus pioneer rides through Patagonia. There is exotic beach riding in Brazil, or visit the canyons, waterfalls or rain forests and the Coffee Trail!
Chill out in Chile and admire the stunning landscapes in the national parks, or the spectacular glacier views. Relax on a Costa Rican trail ride and take time out to visit the Arenal volcano. Ecuador is amazing from cattle round-ups to lush green valleys and trail rides round snow-capped volcanoes.
Mexico is a fiesta of different riding experiences and Peru an odyssey of tough desert terrain and stunning landscapes and valleys. Uruguay allows riders to tackle shifting sand dunes and to explore the shores of the wetlands and palm groves.
And, as for the UK, well there are a host of riding holidays to be had in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales from pony trekking, trail riding, beach hacks and just about every and any sort of hacking and trekking you can imagine.
For the discerning rider there are pony camps and clubs offering dressage, show jumping and cross country. Beginners to intensive courses, alternative courses, you name it and you will find it.
There are opportunities for rusty to remarkable riders, with or without your own horse. Discover hills, highlands, lochs and coastlines, valleys and mountains. Every style and type of riding is catered for, for any age and ability. Wonderful!
So there you have it - horse holidays, fantastic, of course, but as with any holiday its always nice to come home ... especially when it's to your own horse.
