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From left, Karoll Penovaroff , Darley Newman and Mystery Peterson ride at Parker Ranch on Hawaii's Big Island, with Mauna Kea in the distance. Darley Newman rode with Maile Andrade of Na'alapa Stables at Kahua Ranch on Hawaii's Big Island, with Darienne Hannum, back left, and Samantha Glisson, back right. Riders who visit this working cattle ranch will see beautiful ocean views as they climb into the clouds. Darley Newman gallops along the beaches of Donegal in Northwest Ireland on a strong Irish Cob named Jade. Darley saddled up "The Kid" for a ride through Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah. Darley Newman rides Orca beneath the snow-capped mountains of Seward, Alaska. |
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When Darley Newman couldn't find her dream job, she grabbed
the reins and invented it. A veteran of 48 Hours, Frontline, and networks
including CBS and the WB, the Washington, D.C., native had always loved riding horses
and traveling, so she came up with a TV concept that married her two passions. Today
she is the host and producer of the PBS show Equitrekking, which follows
her as she travels around the world on horseback, exploring not only the lands but
also the cultures that develop around horses. In the show's third season, premiering
this fall, Newman and her intrepid crew venture to remote locations in Costa Rica,
Belize, Québec, Utah, Arizona, western Texas, and Kentucky to ride with locals
and finds that no matter where she is, she and other riders all speak the same language.
Newman's experiences are also collected in the book Equitrekking Travel Adventures
on Horseback, out this month from Chronicle. She also writes columns
for True West and Practical Horseman magazines and blogs for equitrekking.com.
In these videos, produced exclusively for RL TV, Newman describes her favorite
parts of her job and provides a cheat sheet of her top-ten riding destinations below.
My Top Ten
By Darley Newman
Doñana National Park, Spain: I rode the Queen of Spain's horse among
herds of fearless fallow deer and other wildlife en route to a pristine beach at
the tail end of Europe.
Haleakala National Park, Maui: I ventured down the Sliding Sands Trail into
Haleakala volcano, listening to volcanic cinders crunch beneath my horse’s hooves
as the sun moved across the sky, illuminating the rich colors of the crater. You'll
want to be on a fit horse accustomed to this surreal and harsh environment. The
altitude changes quickly as you descend to the crater floor amid the shiny and rare
Haleakala silversword plants and unearthly colors.
Cappadocia, Turkey: Cappadocia's lunarlike landscapes are a sublimely exotic
place to explore on horseback. I rode an Arabian horse through a forest of sandstone
chimneys. Along the way we explored first-century churches carved into the rocks,
Roman ruins, and seven-story underground cities.
Sea Island, Georgia: One of Georgia's Golden Isles, Sea Island is a retreat
for horse lovers who want to combine nature excursions and romantic beach rides
with spa service and gourmet meals. I cooled off with what the locals call "swim
riding"—riding bareback through the surf along the island’s private five-mile
beach.
Omey Island, Ireland: Twice a day the tides swallow the sand bridge you must
cross to get to and from this mythical tidal island in the far west of dramatic
Connemara. I felt a few shivers as I rode to an ancient holy well said to possess
healing properties and a partially excavated eighth-century stone church left over
from the island's monastic past.
Central Pacific coast, Costa Rica: Pure freedom is the only way to describe
a sunset gallop along a secluded beach on Costa Rica's Pacific side. I rode a smooth
Paso Fino horse along the shore as the sky shaded from orange to red, and small
fishing boats in the distance made their way under the neon colors of the horizon.
Antelope Island, Utah: With the snow-capped Rockies in the distance and plenty
of room to gallop, Antelope Island is a hidden gem for riders. During a bison round-up
I felt the danger and exhilaration that cowboys experience when running with a herd.
Traditional horse drive, Iceland: Leading a herd of fifty horses through
the treacherous lava fields in the wilds of Iceland was true test of my riding skills
and adaptability. The small but mighty Icelandic horse's smooth movements and surefootedness
is confidence-inspiring and thrilling.
Engineer Mountain, Colorado: On this ride in the challenging San Juan National
Forest, I found myself climbing through delicate wildflowers and among hummingbirds
to a vast expanse above the timberline. There were endless views of the surrounding
mountains, valleys, and lakes and the vivid reds and greens of Engineer Mountain
rising into the clouds.
Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica: We rode closer than any tourists will ever get
to the famously furious Arenal Volcano while riding on a private farm. I felt the
power of nature as smoke billowed from the top of the cone and bright red lava rumbled
down its side, growing brighter and brighter as the sun set behind us.
Sarah P. Hanson is an editor at Assouline Publishing and has written
for ARTnews.
Photography Credits:
1-5. Chip Ward /Courtesy Equitrekking
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