<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Horse Riding Adventure]]></title><description><![CDATA[Articles]]></description><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/</link><copyright><![CDATA[Copyright Horse Riding Adventure]]></copyright><generator>sNews CMS</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Guest House Trail Ride]]></title><description><![CDATA[  The following trip is a one week itenerary based on guesthouse accommodation and ending in one of Transylvania's most precious gems, a Saxon fortified small town called Sighisoara, which is a UNESCO site located in the heart of Transylvania! The day-trips take the riders to fascinating places, experiencing beautiful raw Transylvanian&nbsp;landscape and even tasting a little bit of the Dracula myth, on the traces of Jonathan Harker, the main character in Bram Stoker's book...  
  
    Day 1   - Transfer from the airport to the lodge in Lunca Bradului, Mt. Calimani. Dinner and accommodation at the Lodge at the Equestrian Centre.  
    Day 2 -   Depart after breakfast to the nearby village of Lunca Bradului. Continue to the Fintinele Valley, riding through a mixed landscape of meadows and forest, scattered with trenches from WW I (there were battles between the Romanian Army and the Austrian-Hungarians in this area) before finally descending to the village of Rastolita, on the Mures Valley. Dinner and accommodation in a guesthouse in Rastolita.  *       *  Accommodation in our Lodge &ndash; the clients will be transferred by car to our Lodge for tonight's accommodation due to the poor state of tourism in the village of Rastolita. (20 minutes by car) You will be transferred back to Rastolita after breakfast the following day to meet your horse and continue the ride.  
        Day 3   - Depart in the morning to Lake Colibita, riding on an old path used by shepherds to take their flocks to the higher mountain pastures. On the way experience an incredible landscape and change of geographic shapes and arrive to the lake in the evening.   Dinner and accommodation in a guesthouse by the lake.  (The Red Rooster Pension 3*)   
          Day 4   - Ride along the river which feeds the lake and then continue up the Terha Pass* and along the ridge to reach Borgo Pass at the end of the day. Borgo Pass is famous from Bram Stoker's book&nbsp; "Dracula", being the starting point of Jonathan Harker's exciting experience in Transylvania.   Tonight will be spent at the Hotel Dracula 3*, which offers magnificent views over the nearby mountains.    *    Attention  : you have to dismount for &frac12; a Km to reach the Pass on a steep torrent!  
    Day 5   - Depart from the Hotel in the morning after breakfast on Dorna Valley until you reach Vorova Valley. Take this road up to Tamau Peak (1862 m) and continue on the ridge passing by a beautiful rock formation called " The Red Stones". Pic-nic in the meadow nearby and descend to the edge of the National Park of Calimani.   Accommodation in a guest-house at the border of the National Park, at the end of the village Gura Haitii  
        Day 6 -   After breakfast depart back to our Lodge, passing through the National Park of Calimani Mts, first crossing a deserted sulphur mine, which is undergoing a very complex process of reintegration in nature by a German company. You will see the miners' houses and a unique scen
    
ery of surface   mining, surrounded by beautiful mountains&hellip; Continue on forestry roads through the mountain until you reach Ilva Valley and our Lodge.  Accommodation in our Lodge at the Equestrian Centre.  
          Day 7 -   After breakfast depart from the equestrian centre on a 2h30 drive to visit the charming town of Sighisoara, with its imposing medieval citadel, overlooking the entire Tarnava Valley.   Overnight at a 3* hotel in the citadel.   
    Day 8    Breakfast and transfer to the airport.  
  
    ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES     
    ***   Please note that this itinerary may operate in the reverse direction.  
    RIDING PERIODS 2012    
  &nbsp;  
  11 MAI - 20 MAI &nbsp;&nbsp;  
  25 MAI - &nbsp;03 JUN  
  20 JUL - 29 JUL &nbsp;&nbsp;  
  31 AUG - 09 SEP  
  14 SEP - 23 DEP&nbsp;  
  28 SEP - 07 OCT  
  &nbsp;  
      GREAT NEWS  : We have dropped   10%  &nbsp;off of our 2010 prices for the next season! Why don't you take advantage of the new rates:    
  Typical pricing:  
  
  2-4 pax &raquo;   1 084Eur/pers  &nbsp;- new price:&nbsp;  976 &euro;/pers    
  5-6 pax &raquo;&nbsp;  992 Eur/pers      &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;  new price:  &nbsp;      893 &euro;/pers    
  7-8 pax &raquo;&nbsp;  9  60   Eur/pers    &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;-&nbsp;  new price:  &nbsp;864 &euro;/pers    
  
    Sgl. supplement: 133 eur    
  
  
  Please be aware of the fact that additional discounts may be available through our partners:  
  
    Equine Adventures    
    Far and Ride    
    Equitour    
    Hippo Tours    
  ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:03:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-adventures/guest-house-trail-ride/</link><guid>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-adventures/guest-house-trail-ride/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Camping Trail Ride]]></title><description><![CDATA[  &nbsp;  
        This is a one week horse riding trip through the Calimani mountains. You will experience high mountain trails of aproximately 1600m - 2000m altitude, impressive landscape and wildlife. Romanian mountains still hide one of the best preserved fauna and flora in Europe! You will meet shepherds and taste their freshly made sheep cheese and other products, you will ride in open fields, no fences to limit you and you will find yourself&nbsp; overwhelmed by the welcoming nature of the locals!  
      Itinerary description for the camping Trail Ride 2012      
          &bull;&nbsp;2 nights at the Equestrian Centre  
  &bull;&nbsp;4 nights camping  
  &bull;&nbsp;1 night in a Guesthouse on the trail  
  &bull; 2 nights in 3* hotels in Sighisoara and Cluj Napoca  
    Day 1   (D) - Arrival at Cluj Napoca airport.  Meet the local driver and transfer to the Equestrian Centre in the Ilva Valley for the 1st night&rsquo;s accommodation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;   Dinner.  
      Day 2   (B,L,D) - Ride down to the nearest village, Lunca Bradului and riding through it head up into the mountains of Calimani, part of the Eastern Carpathian mountains. The ride continues into the Fintinel basin, then crosses a few meadows and finally arrives at the camping site.&nbsp; Overnight - camping in Capatina Meadow, at 900m altitude.  
    Day 3   (B,L,D)&nbsp;- After breakfast mount up and head towards Rastolita Basin, crossing a mixed area of forest and meadows with fabulous views looking over to the Calimani and Gurghiu mountains. After a relaxing ride enjoying the view, you'll descend a fairly difficult track to the Rastolita Valley. Then take the road to North on the Valley until you pass by the dam in construction through the forest and come out on a different road. Continue North and stop in the Meadow of Gura Scurtului.  Overnight - camping at Gura Scurtului, near a forestry road.  
    Day 4   (B,L,D)&nbsp;  After breakfast set off on another beautiful day's riding, on Scurtu Valley, reaching the meadow of Poiana Lunga, which at 1300m is the highest point of the day. Continue downhill to Lake Colibita. On the way pass by a little pond called The Fairies' Pond. Overnight - in a Guesthouse next to Lake Colibita &ndash; swimming in the lake!  
      Day 5   (B,L,D) - After breakfast ride down and through the village of Colibita then take the Izvorul Lung Valley to reach Terha Pass at 1470m altitude [here we witness the ruins of the 1st WW trenches of the Austro-Hungarian army who kept up the Russian army]. From here descend along the Dorna Valley until you reach Vorova Valley. Take this valley up East and reach the next campsite. Overnight - camping by the riverside along Prislop Valley.   Attention: you have to dismount for &frac12; of Km to reach the Terha Pass!  
    Day 6   (B,L,D)&nbsp;After breakfast depart from the campsite toward Tamau Peak (1862 m) reach the beautiful rock formation called &rdquo;The Red Stones&rdquo;. Then short ride through the meadow where the pic-nic is. After the picnic take a path down the edge of the Calimani National Park border.   Overnight - camping by the riverside, at the border of the Calimani National Park   Attention: you have to dismount 2 times and walk by the horse on a torrent. First to reach the Tamau Peak through juniper bushes and then to descend after picnic to the border of the National Park  
    Day 7   (B,L,D)&nbsp;Ride towards Calimani Mountain, the biggest volcanic cone in Europe. Then cross a former sulphur mining site, a small mountain village, which was abandoned 15 years ago but which is undergoing an ecological process of reintegration to nature. Continue riding up to the volcanic plateau and then descend to Ilva Valley. Continue along a forest road to the lodge for a further nights' accommodation.   
      Day 8   (B,L,D) - After breakfast depart by vehicle on a tour to the Lipizzaner Stud Farm in Sambata.  Lunch in Fagaras, an old medieval city and then we head to the charming Saxon town of Sighisoara, a UNESCO site, with its imposing medieval citadel, overlooking the entire Tarnava Valley.   Overnight in a 3* hotel in the citadel.   
      Day 9   (B,L,D) - After breakfast we visit Sighisoara citadel.  Depart to Cluj Napoca, with lunch en route.   On request we can take you to another Stud Farm in Jucu, near Cluj Napoca, owned by a Norwegian company.   Upon arrival in Cluj Napoca tour of the old city.  C/in to a 3* hotel.        
    Day 10   (B) - Breakfast and transfer to the airport  
    What is included?    
  All meals during the trail ride - dinners are not included on the last 2 nights: the cultural extension!  
  Water, coffee, tea, 2 beers/person/day or half a bottle of wine/day during the trail ride  
   English/French speaking guide, monitor/horseman, 4x4 support vehicle, good quality double cover tents (tarp), sleeping bags and mattresses  
    Notes:    
  - During the riding periods, lunches are pre-packed (picnic type); dinners are cooked at open fire (kettle) and served fresh; Clients are welcome to participate :)  
  - The 4x4 support vehicles transport all the necessary equipment (tents, sleeping bags, mattresses, luggage) every day to the next camping site, following a separate road;  
  - Camping nights are set outdoors; the mountains we are riding in are quite wild; there&nbsp;are no camping sites, no toilets and no running water; as Calimani Mountains is a National park, it is preserved in its most&nbsp;original and natural state. We&nbsp;usually camp on a river bank and personal hygiene is made using water from the river.  
  - Our Equestrian Centre serves home made food, usually made of local fresh and ecological products, especially during summertime, when there is a large variety to choose from.  
  - The rider must take good care of his own horse and is encouraged to participate&nbsp;at the camping activities (gathering the firewood, bringing water for cooking, setting-up the tents, etc)  
    *     ITINERARY MAY VARY DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORSEEABLE CIRCUMSTANCES     
    RIDING PERIOD 2012    
  &nbsp;  
  08 JUN - 17 JUN &nbsp;  
  22 JUN - 01 JUL&nbsp;  
  06 JUL - 15 JUL  
  03 AUG - 12 AUG  
  17 AUG &ndash; 26 AUG&nbsp;  
  &nbsp;  
  &nbsp;  
  &nbsp;  
      GREAT NEWS  : We have dropped&nbsp;  10%  &nbsp;off of our 2010 prices for the next season! Why don't you take advantage of the new rates:    
  Typical pricing:  
  
  2-4 pax &raquo;   1,032 Eur/pers   &nbsp; - new price:&nbsp;  929 &euro;/pers    
  5-6 pax &raquo;&nbsp;  9  6  2 Eur/pers      &nbsp;  &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-   new price:  &nbsp;866 &euro;/pers    
  7-8 pax &raquo;&nbsp;  9  30   Eur/pers    &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;-     new price:    &nbsp;    837 &euro;/pers    
    Sgl. supl.   &raquo;   73     &euro;    
  
  Please be aware of the fact that additional discounts may be available through our partners:  
  
    Equine Adventures    
    Far and Ride    
    Hippotours    
  ]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 13:45:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-adventures/camping-trail-ride/</link><guid>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-adventures/camping-trail-ride/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Newborn Calf]]></title><description><![CDATA[        Later this afternoon, our cow &ndash;
Mandruta   &nbsp;  &ndash; brought to life a very pretty
calf...a most welcomed addition to our &ldquo;family&rdquo;. It couldn&rsquo;t be other than
pretty, as the word &ldquo;Mandruta&rdquo; means &ldquo;pretty&rdquo;, but also &ldquo;proud&rdquo;&hellip;and, as you can
see from the picture, she&rsquo;s looking exactly like her mother.  
  It was a special occasion as
today we celebrate Dragobetele &ndash; the Romanian version of Valentine&rsquo;s Day. Sure,
as you may imagine, everyone loved her from the very first moment.   
  We haven&rsquo;t chosen a name for her yet,
but anyway, she looked more interested about feeding right away, than to answer
to any of the names we have called her. We just hope she&rsquo;ll grow healthy and be
happy at our lodge!  
  &nbsp;  ]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 22:14:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/newborn-calf/</link><guid>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/newborn-calf/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Winter snow storm]]></title><description><![CDATA[            We have thought we've seen everything is to be seen concerning winter's caprices. We couldn't have been more wrong. Just few days ago we had such a heavy snow fall. Threes have been covered in a 10 inch blanket of snow.       
      Next day it was a bit warm and the snow started to
melt just a bit. In the evening it was very cold again, and the heavy layer of
melting snow welded to the trees branches                 . Trees were just as ice sculptures.        
      
            A very strong gush of wind during the following
day put down many of those mighty trees which were already burdened by heavy
iced snow.We've worked hard to remove the effects of such weather caprice. We gathered the fallen threes and also the remaining pine three branches.       
      We gave the branches to our horses as nourishment and vitamines supplements...and...they really anjoyed it. Now we are making plans to plant sprouces in the affected areas during next spring.         
  &nbsp;  
  &nbsp;  ]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 11 Dec 2008 09:34:27 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/winter-snow-storm/</link><guid>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/winter-snow-storm/</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Storm]]></title><description><![CDATA[        You never know what Nature has prepared as a surprise for you&hellip; this time we were getting ready for our groups in June, we did all the necessary preparations on the &ldquo;check list&rdquo; before group arrival, but 2 days before we started a storm came and pulled out the trees from the forest, blocking our way up to the meadows! We had to find a way around, but fortunately we cleared the path for the next group&hellip;  ]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2008 11:54:00 +0000</pubDate><link>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/storm/</link><guid>http://www.horseriding.ro/equestrian-centre-news/storm/</guid></item></channel></rss>
