Enjoy the fertile rolling hillsides of California’s Northern wine country, riding a variety of solid trail horses. This ride will allow you to discover California’s Wine Country with its rugged and breathtaking scenery while enjoying local wine tasting including an organic and bio dynamic winery and a private tour of an award winning local vineyard.
Your base for the week is the lovely and recently restored Tallman Hotel nestled in the heart of historic Upper Lake. This area is home to the largest natural lake in California, home of the Bartlett Pear, organic walnut orchards, estate vineyards and wild rice fields. Lake County has a very long and storied history with the local Native Americans and early Pioneers, early 1900’s resort history and pre-prohibition wine production. Lake County has such a wide variety of terrain and historic sites you get to see something different every day!
The horses are all experienced ranch and trail horses that are comfortable for the varied terrain and the fun days in the saddle. These gentle horses are the owners’ personal ranch horses ridden year round. They are a dream and many clients fall in love with their mount and want to bring them home! Their dispositions make them ideal for experienced riders, and folks just getting into trail riding. Each day you will ride out on a new trail and see countryside unlike the previous day, all the while enjoying the smooth and wonderful cadence of your horse beneath you.
The trips each day take you on park trails and historic paths that allow you to soak in the amazing countryside. You will see many types of birds including the majestic bald eagle, herons, egrets and a wide assortment of California wildlife. The rolling hills with the tall swaying grasses leave you with the feeling of being one of the first explorers in this area. When you come around the bend and see the crystal blue waters of a lake, with neither a boat, nor a person in site, you truly do feel like you are a pioneer just discovering this area.
The packages are 3-night and 6-night riding vacations that include luxurious accommodations at the hotel, evening meals taken at a variety of local restaurants coupled with wonderful local wines acquired during the many wine tastings experienced during your stay (guests may bring their own wine or purchase wine at the restaurant as adult beverages are not included in the package).
This ride is appropriate for riders of varied ability levels. While the riding is superb, there are plenty of other activities available for non-riding family members such as hiking, fishing, boating, kayaking and nature exploration.
2012 Dates: May 13-19, June 10-16, June 24-30, July 1-7, Aug. 12-18, Sept. 2-8, Sept. 23-29, Oct. 7-13
6 Night Program Rate: $1,850.00 USD per person in a shared, king bedded room
(Single Supplement: $495.00 USD)
3 Night Program Rate: $950.00 USD per person in a shared, king bedded room
(Single Supplement: $250.00 USD)
*Transfers are not included in this price and are $150.00 USD per person
Shorter programs available upon request, 3 person minimum
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Testimonials:
This ride far, far exceeded my expectations. It had everything: gorgeous scenery, a great horse to ride (Hocus Pocus, worlds’ sweetest quarterhorse mare), charming accommodations, and good food. I thought the wineries would be boring, but they were so much fun. Our hosts, Sam and Teri Pickering, could not have been more gracious and unfailingly good-humored. They were also very knowledgeable about the flora, fauna, and local history, which is not the case on every trail ride, and which really adds to the “local flavor.”
Thanks to everyone for everything! I had a great time.
- Rexanne Felton
The horses are extraordinary. They are very calm and attached to human beings. They are surefooted and obediant and very mellow for their ages. They are intelligent, especially Drifter (even if he is a little willful. All the smartest horses are).
[The] wranglers were excellent. They were very well informed about local plants and animals and history. They are great horse people. This is rarer than most people realize.
[The] ranch’s views are breathtaking. …a piece of Paradise and really great horses. …It is unique. I don’t think you could find a more beautiful piece of land.
Also I can tell [they] really love horses. This is a great asset. Horses have enriched my life for the last 25 years. They are mysterious and a privilege to be around.
Sincerely,
Jean Austin
The accommodations were excellent and the staff extremely gracious. There isn’t another place in that area that could have afforded us such a perfect setting with the Blue Wing Saloon right on the hotel premises. We spent most of our evenings lounging in the courtyard enjoying bottles of wine that were purchased that day.
Sam was a good outfitter and each day offered us a scenic and safe ride. His wranglers managed their duties in a professional, confident manner and were a pleasure to interact with. I enjoyed the gaited horses very much.
Overall I would recommend this trip to any rider, cautioning them to go when the weather would be cool and to ride the gaited horses.
~ Jo Waller
We had a great time and made new friends. The Hotel was very nice, the food was great, the horses were very good and Terri and Sam did everything they could to make our stay the best. Also, the mountains were beautiful and the weather was wonderful.
- Cindy and Larry Lieux