At the first vet check, I was concerned when Rascal's pulse did not seem to come down to the race criteria of 60 beats per minute after 3 or 4 minutes.  Then Cynthia Ariosta, my right-hand-everything and friend for the past six years, pointed out to the pulse-taker that her stethoscope was placed on top of Rascal's girth... making it impossible for her to hear the heart beat!  As soon as she corrected this glitch, Rascal received a "good to go" of 52 beats, within a time of 5 minutes.  (He was allowed 30 minutes, but no way should it take that long to recover.)  At the next vet check, he was clocked recovering in 3 minutes, much to my pleasure.
At the last vet check, we'd been trotting up hill for nine miles, 44 miles into the race, so I expected it to take him a bit longer to recover.  Nope... 2 minutes!  This phenomenal horse just gets better the farther he goes.  Many thanks are due to my staff at Ricochet for taking such great care of this supreme athlete all year, and to those of you who rode him along the trails on your vacations, conditioning him as you went.   He's now enjoying some freedom with Avantii, Whisper and Rafiki on our 300 acre Simcha pasture.

Also completing exciting rides at Chamberlain were RRR staff Carolyn Morgan on Zydeco, Rebecca Bailey on Mendocino Syrah, Aurora Clark-Grohman on her own mare, Emily Bloom on her Arabian gelding, Colleen McNight on Cynthia's "Magoo", and definitely not least, my husband Harvey on his Nature's Zhivago!  Cynthia was kind enough to crew for all of us that day, but she had many of her own accomplishments on Spirit during the year.

On a personal note, the highlight of the year was the wedding of my daughter, Kyala, with the love of her life, Jacquot La Riviere, at their 235 acres overlooking the Eel River, where they live in solar-powered bliss with three dogs and three horses.    I've got about 750 photos I'd be happy to share if anyone would like the full slide show...

But enough about last year -- 2007 will be even more spectacular!

February 21st-March 5th, we're returning to Australia and Fiji for the tenth spectacular Turf and Surf Vacation Down Under.  With two days cuddling koala bears and kangaroos in Brisbane before heading for the outback in Queensland's rain forest mountains, and four days on Malolo Lailai island in Fiji to soften the blow of returning to reality, our journey will last a scant two weeks.   Here's the plan:

Those who wish may ride in New Zealand or the Snowy Mountains before joining the ten of us in Brisbane on the 21st of February... I'm happy to make arrangements for you at other venues.   Harvey and I will leave San Francisco on February 19, arriving in Brisbane on February 21st (after "losing" a day crossing the International Date Line), meeting the gang in lovely sub-tropical Brisbane for a couple days of recovering from jet lag, touring local attractions, and bonding with our group.   Then Brook and Leigh Ann Sample will whisk us off on February 23rd to ride at one of the sites of the world famous Tom Quilty 100 Mile Endurance Race Championships, which Brook has won three times, among his many other endurance racing honors.

A little history:  Since 1989, nine times I've brought folks to ride with Brook's father, Bob Sample, one of the premier endurance horse riders, trainers and breeders in Australia.  Bob himself has won the Quilty twice, and placed in every other top ten position.  Over the years I watched Brook grow up, and was delighted when he came to the States to lease a horse from me for a World Cup Endurance Race.  Brook had represented Australia with his horse Cavalier, placing seventh in the world when the World Cup was competed in The Hague, Netherlands, so he had excellent experience in international competitions.  As sometimes happens, my horse Caradino developed a hitch to his git-along, and they did not finish the US race.

But the trip was certainly worth it... while here, Brook fell in love with Leigh Ann, who worked at RRR for three years helping produce our Redwood Coast Riding Vacations.  This February you'll meet them and their two young children as they host us in Australia.  They'll have stories to tell about the decade during which they've been training and riding horses for the Sheik who owns one of the biggest stables in the United Arab Emirates.

Currently, they manage Gheerula, his Australia endurance horse ranch and stables, but also own their own farm with over 80 horses in their breeding/racing  program, appropriately named "Brookleigh".   This year, Brook placed fourth out of 305 starters on the Quilty on their own Brookleigh Mozart.

Leigh Ann and Brook both have years of experience not just with top quality horses, but also in helping produce horse riding vacations of the quality we expect at Ricochet Ridge Ranch.  I'm proud to be part of one of their initial endeavors on their own in this exciting field.  Email or call if you'd like further details... We have three spots left.

New in 2007 is the Equine, Wine and Song Redwood Coast Riding Vacation on July 16-22, 2007!

Imagine combining the one of a kind Redwood Coast Riding Vacation with the Mendocino Music Festival and a Mendo Wine Tour, with lodging at the lovely Hill House Inn!

Lodging all week is provided by the lovely The Hill House Inn of Mendocino, a luxurious hotel and restaurant with the warmth and charm of a small bed and breakfast. The convenient hilltop setting overlooks historic Mendocino Village and Northern California's stunningly beautiful Pacific coastline. Mendocino Headlands State Park and Big River Beach surrounds the tiny town located on a peninsula jutting out into the ocean. Garden Rooms at the The Hill House Inn offer polished brass beds with cozy comforters and elegant furnishings with modern bathrooms. The Hill House Inn is located just outside town, within walking distance to the many restaurants, galleries and shops that the village has to offer. Upgrades to ocean view rooms are available.

The Mendocino Music Festival is a cultural event which brings world class musicians, both classical and contemporary, and music lovers from around the world to a summertime tradition in our most picturesque town of Mendocino. Evenings under the heated big tent by the ocean on four nights include breathtaking concerts featuring the Festival Orchestra, chamber music ensembles, dance, blues, world or folk music, culminating in the magnificent full Opera.

The Equine, Wine and Song Riding Vacation includes the luxurious accommodations, full hearty breakfasts, daily lunches, elegant restaurant dinners, four nights at the Mendocino Music Festival, an all day Mendocino Wine Tour, and five days of riding.  Full details can be found at here. But here's a preview:

Day One: A three and a half hour drive from San Francisco takes you through famous Sonoma and Mendocino Counties wine country to Pacific Coast Highway One. Come to Ricochet Ridge Ranch and enjoy a get-acquainted ride on the beach after an orientation and riding demonstration. After your ride, check into the lovely Hill House Inn in Mendocino, followed by a lovely three course dinner with wine at the Hill House Inn's restaurant. After dinner, your evening is free to relax and stroll around the lovely village of Mendocino.
(photo of Michael's choice!)
Day Two: After breakfast at the Hill House Inn, head to Jackson State Forest, California's largest state forest, a 54,000 acre gem of redwood and Douglas fir canopy. This day's ride includes ample opportunities to trot and canter along old stagecoach roads and along Indian Springs Trail, fording the headwaters of the Noyo River. These old trails whisper of history and of a time forgotten.

After the ride the group will head to the Noyo Harbor for a post-ride dinner at Chapter & Moon restaurant. Perched on the pier overlooking the river, we will have the opportunity to watch as fishing boats bring in their catch of the day, while opportunistic sea lions await their arrival. After dinner, our first night of the Mendocino Music Festival awaits.

Day Three: A leisurely breakfast leaves you energized and ready for today's ride, a dream come true for many guests. Meet your horses and your guides for a ride on Ten Mile Beach. After warming up the horses with a visit to Seal Rock, the group strikes north to open, deserted beaches where we can trot and canter for miles and miles. Once reaching the Ten Mile Estuary, the group will take a short break before looping around and turning back towards the ranch, with opportunities again to trot and canter for miles along the ocean's edge where seals and cormorants cavort offshore.

After your ride, enjoy a few short hours respite, before convening again for an early supper at the Bay View Café, the local's favorite restaurant for outstanding views overlooking the Mendocino Bay. After dinner, enjoy a private wine tasting with the owner of the Wine Shop in Mendocino, just across from the Music Festival Tent. Taste interesting wines and explore rare varietals with Dan and his staff, before heading to the festival tent for another evening of remarkable music.

Day Four: Today, your limousine will meet you at the Hill House Inn to take you on a exclusive tour of the Anderson Valley Wine country, visiting four award winning boutique wineries. Experience the magic of Mendocino County's undiscovered wine country. Local wine guides will lead you in style to the lairs of some of the best- and least-known of California's North Coast vintners. You can kick back and sip sparkling wine as you enjoy the Anderson Valley's beautiful scenery. A gourmet lunch will be served al fresco at one of the wineries. You can taste as many wines as you want during the day without the hassle or hazard of driving. Your visits to wineries will afford opportunities for barrel and reserve tasting, behind-the-scene tours, discussions with the winemakers, and discounted case pricing. You will also be able to purchase limited production wines not available to the general public.

Upon returning to Mendocino after this magical excursion, dine at the Mendocino Café, local favorite for ethnic and Thai style food. After dinner, return to the Music Festival tent for another enchanting evening of song.

Day Five: After breakfast, it's back to the horses! Today's ride will include a "mock endurance ride" where you learn how to check your horse's cardiac and respiratory recovery rates, capillary refill, skin response, muscle tone and gut sounds, just as it's done at a "vet check" on a competitive trail ride or endurance ride. Ride along ridge tops with mountain views, and down into the river valley beyond. Lunch is under a grove of giant redwood trees. After lunch, those who would like to may ride an optional additional loop, trotting and cantering as one might do in an endurance ride. A hearty dinner awaits you at Fort Bragg's finest Italian restaurant, in the heart of downtown. This restaurant boasts a well thought wine list, with a global focus.

Day Six: Our last day's ride begins at the Orca Pasture, a vast cattle ranch overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Today you'll canter up a long gradual trail to the very peak of the mountain, where you are literally "on top of the world" ...the views are absolutely spectacular. And that's just the beginning... After lunch on the top of the mountain, basking in the view, we head back to Ten Mile Beach for an hour long canter in the surf. After today's exhilarating ride, dine at the Hill House Inn once again, before heading to closing night at the Music Festival where the Opera awaits.

Day Seven: Enjoy one last breakfast at the Hill House Inn before checking out. Farewell to Mendocino.

And of course, we have a full agenda of our regularly scheduled Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, as well as infinite variety of private riding holidays of any duration available.

• Lodging Monday through Saturday nights
• Full hearty breakfasts Tuesday through Sunday mornings
• Superb dinners, including fine wines and dessert, Monday through Saturday evenings
• Live entertainment Wednesday and Saturday evenings
• Party on Friday
• Hot tubs provided at your lodging every night except Wednesday, but available in town that night also
• Trail rides on beaches Monday and Wednesday
• Full day rides with lunch on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Lunch at the Bay View Cafe in Mendocino on Wednesday
• Snacks and beverages, including beer and soda at the end of each ride
• Wine with lunch 2 days
• Fully guided, with choice of English, Western, or Australian tack
• Exceptional horses, well trained for all experience levels
• Rides may be divided according to experience level of riders
• Prices do not include gratuities for trail guides

Happy trails, Lari

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