and across varied terrain zig-

zagging east and west as Evliya

elebi himself did. The ride will

end in the historic city of

Ktahya the ancestral home of

Evliya after following the tracks

of the famous traveler along the

way experiencing the culture

and people of Turkey.

The intriguing thing

about the vacations offered by

Equitours is the great care in

the selection of trips. The desti-

nations cover the globe and

utilize the equestrian experi-

ence as an end to explore ex-

otic destinations, the food, the

people and the culture.

This unique ride fol-

lows as closely as possible the

early stages of the final journey

of Evliya elebi, a seventeenth

century Ottoman traveler, who

recorded his pilgrimage to

Mecca in the Book of Travels a

ten volume chronicle of his

journey.

The Great

Anatolian Horseback

Ride begins in the

village of Souksu

south of the Marmara

Sea. From there the

trip heads through

dramatic landscape

T H E G R E A T A N A T O L I A N H O R S E B A C K R I D E

A J O U R N E Y T H R O U G H N O R T H W E S T T U R K E Y

The countryside is

wide open with few fences or

walls to restrict movement.

Being enthusiastically wel-

comed is part of the immense

attraction of riding in this en-

chanting region. Passing

through towns and villages and

visiting sites that Evliya records

in his Book of Travels and

meeting the people of the re-

gion who make their living from

the land. Many of the villagers

will be busy with the harvest the

basis for this rural economy.

Encountering lakes,

rivers and mountains, the

sights include the distinctive

stone and wooden architecture,

a stone paved Ottoman road,

historic bazaars and the Roman

obelisk at Kikilita. All are ab-

sorbed at the slow equestrian

pace.

NE

WS

LE

TT

ER

J U L Y 2 0 1 0

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 4

D R E A M H O R S E

V A C A T I O N S

F E A T U R E D R I D E

F R O M

E Q U I T O U R S

T H E G R E A T

A N A T O L I A N

R I D E

1

C A N Y O N

E X P L O R E R T R E K 2

G R A N D C A N Y O N

W I N T E R

P A S T U R E S

2

L O N G V A L L E Y

C A T T L E D R I V E 3

N A V A J O L A N D 3

T H R E E P A R K

S P E C T A C U L A R 3

B O O K R E V I E W

J O S E P H I N E

4

H I G H L I G H T S

Guides that

know the

country, the

horses and most

important, the

history

T H E G R E A T A N A T O L I A N R I D E

Page 2 D R E A M H O R S E V A C A T I O N S

Evliya elebi was

born on the 25th of February

1611. His Book of Travels

shows his interest in the

characteristics of the coun-

tries he journeyed and the

people he met. His writings

cover the historic events of

the 17th century and is an

invaluable account of stories,

history and geography written

in a lucid style of the spoken

language of the time.

A passion for for-

eign lands began as he lis-

tened to the many adven-

tures of his father who had

served many sultans from

Suleyman the Magnificent to

Ibrahim. Through heredity

many an adventure and ex-

perience was passed to our

humble servant from his

grandfather and father, he

writes to explain his curiosity

and devotion to a life of

travel to distant lands.

A beautiful voice

and knowledge of music,

Evliya was also a calligrapher,

decorator and poet.

ing and 7 nights in hotels.

This intermediate ride

which is mostly walking with

some trots and slow canters

is offered twice in 2010.

From August 29th to Septem-

ber 14th the ride will travel

from Istanbul to Ktahya. Or

from September 14th to Sep-

tember 30th reversing the

trip back to Istanbul.

The depth and beauty of

this ride offers 11 1/2 days

of riding on this 17 day trip.

There are 9 nights of camp-

The cost is $4,100 -$4,500

per person depending on the

number of riders (maximum

is 10).

To learn more about this

exciting equestrian trip

please contact Nancie Vion-

Loisel at Equitours at 800

545-0019 or via e-mail at

nancie@equitours.com.

P R I C E S A N D D A T E S

A C C O M M O D A T I O N S

Riding through the

rich farmlands and traveling

through the markets provide

rich choices for the tradition-

ally crafted Turkish special-

ties prepared by the chef

that travels with the group.

Turkey is famous for its ka-

bobs, mezas (appetizers),

fish dishes and hand-made

pastas and hand rolled filled

pastries. Or enjoy lunch in a

small caf along the route.

Seven nights are

spent in hotels including on

the day exploring Istanbul

and nine nights sleeping

under the stars in tents on

thick foam mattresses along

the journey.

Perhaps enjoy

the local

rahvancis or

pacing races in

Ktahya

Page 3

E V L I Y A E L E B I A 1 7 T H C E N T U R Y T R A V E L E R

V O L U M E 2 , I S S U E 4

Dream Horse Vacations

PO Box 1675

Glen Ellen California 95442

Phone: 707 328.3192

info@dreamhorsevacations.com

Dream Horse Vacations is a new

company and website catering

to the adventure and luxury

equestrian travel market. Ex-

perience in delivering a vacation

appealing to the discriminating

adult has brought us to this

unique place where we will rep-

resent world class equestrian

travel vacations, tours and ex-

periences.

Thank you for your interest in

Dream Horse Vacations. We will

be pleased to help you with your

equestrian travel needs to in-

sure that you have a dream

horse vacation.

N E W S L E T T E R

W W W . D R E A M H O R S E V A C A T I O N S . C O M

www.dreamhorsevacations.com

B O O K R E V I E W

Josephine A Tale of Hope and Happy End-

ings

By Bunny McLeod and Roni

McFadden

Josephine, a great-

granddaughter of the famous

racehorse Seabiscuit, loses her

mother days after her birth. This

is her inspiring true story that

touches the hearts of the young

and old alike. Josephine is a

moving tale for anyone who has

lost someone they have loved

but has succeeded in finding a

new start and the courage to

love again. This read aloud

book is perfect for young horse

lovers or as a gift for someone in

need of something special from

a young filly who faces one of

lifes great challenges with the heart of a champion.

I remember the day

Josephine was born. The week

before we had taken a group of

guests to Ridgewood Ranch to

tour the estate of Charles How-

ard and then to ride on the trails

that Seabiscuit had recovered

on with Red Pollard. When we

got to the mare barn Lacy was in

the first stall and like all expec-

tant mothers, she was wait-ing. After lunch and a wonderful

ride I returned to check on her

and we exchanged the knowing

glances only mothers can share.

I assured her that she would not

be the first mare to be pregnant

forever!

The following week

when we arrived at Ridgewood

there was a hustle and bustle at

the mare barn and we rode off

thinking that by the time we

came back in the afternoon

there would be a new lil biscuit to see. But we returned to an air

of serious concern rather than

joyous excitement and we main-

tained a respectful distance. By

dinner I heard that Lacy and her

new foal were on their way to UC

Davis. A few days later the news

arrived that my dear friend Jac-

queline had lost Lacy and my

heart strings tugged knowing

that just the year before she had

lost Bronze Seas mother. I was though not in the

least surprised that Jacqueline

put all of her own grief aside and

put Josephine and that sweet

foals needs ahead of her own. The next time I saw Jacqueline

she had that beautiful exhaus-

tion of all new mothers who had

been up all night nursing her

newborn. A few days later she

brought Josephine home and

relinquished her own role to

Midnight I think only because Josephine could already run

circles around her!

But this is the story of

Josephine and the beautiful

bond that develops between

her and Midnight her new

mother. And as Midnight gra-

ciously steps into Lacys horse-shoes she teaches Josephine

that Lacy will always be in her

life but ones ability to love has no bounds.

I now look forward to

seeing Josephine on each visit

to Seabiscuits home. Under Jacqueline and Midnights care she has grown into a beautiful

young lady. But this enchant-

ing book chronicles those first

few precious weeks of her

young life and is a rare gift to

us all.

This delightful book

can be purchased while touring

Ridgewood Ranch, Seabiscuits home in Willits, California

where Josephine is currently

entertaining the guests racing

around her pasture. Or you

may obtain a copy from The

Seabiscuit Heritage Foundation

at

www.seabiscuitheritage.org.

The proceeds from

the sale of this book support

the Ridgewood T.R.A.I.L. Riders

Association, a therapeutic rid-

ing program, and The Frank R.

Howard Foundation raising

funds for a new Howard Hospi-

tal in Willits.