“No hour of life is lost that is spent in a saddle” Winston Churchill.
“I’ve often said there’s nothing better for the inside of a man than the outside of a horse” Ronald Reagan.
The relationship between humans and horses transcended mere transportation or military advantage. Across continents and millennia, distinctive cultures have formed around this partnership, each developing their own traditions, techniques, and spiritual connections with these magnificent animals.
For the Mongols sweeping across the vast steppes, horses represented wealth, status, spiritual connection, and survival itself. Children learned to ride before they could walk, mastering lightweight saddles and short stirrups that allowed for their legendary mounted archery. Their small but hardy horses could survive on minimal forage, enabling armies to travel up to 100 miles per day, fundamentally changing warfare and empire-building.
As these techniques spread, they evolved to meet new environments and needs. In Japan, samurai adapted to mountainous terrain with distinctive high-cantled saddles, frequently dismounting to fight on foot. Meanwhile across the Islamic world, the Mamluks of Egypt and Syria perfected furusiyya—an elaborate system featuring complex mounted games with javelins and lances at full gallop serving as both training and spectacle.
European traditions developed along a different path, with knights sitting deep in specially designed saddles with long stirrups to maximize the impact of the couched lance. Their approach required larger, stronger horses capable of carrying armored riders, fundamentally different from the swift mounts of steppe cultures.
Perhaps most remarkable was the transformation that occurred in the Americas. Following the Spanish reintroduction of horses, Plains Indian nations developed sophisticated equestrian cultures with astonishing speed. Their distinctive forward seat with minimal equipment relied on weight shifts and knee pressure for guidance. Comanche children began riding at age five, often tied to their mounts to develop the instinctive balance necessary for hunting and warfare.
Further south, the gauchos of the Argentinian and Uruguayan pampas developed their own distinctive style. Using recado saddles layered with sheepskins for comfort during long days, they mastered tools like the boleadoras and lazo. Their horses were trained to stand motionless when reins were dropped—essential for working cattle across the vast grasslands.
Three Fabulous Riding Treks
Today, these ancient traditions find new expression through immersive travel experiences that allow modern riders to reconnect with this timeless partnership. One remarkable example can be found in Pakistan, where my brother and sister embarked on an extraordinary riding holiday created by a close friend of my niece. This adventure, run by Brit Bertie Alexander and local Taimur Noon, follows in the hoof-prints of Alexander the Great and his legendary horse Bucephalus.
The experience is a masterclass in historical immersion. Riders swim across the Jhelum River bareback, just as Alexander’s forces did 2,400 years earlier when facing King Poros and his 40,000-strong army. The journey continues with exclusive access to Taimur’s ancestral family home, where aristocratic traditions of a bygone era are lovingly preserved.
What makes this Pakistani adventure so special is its remarkable diversity of equestrian experiences. Participants join the recently revived Peshawar Vale Hunt, whose history intertwines with the Great Game played between British and Russian empires along the Afghan frontier. Officers stationed there brought hounds from across Britain, managing to pursue their sporting traditions between military engagements. After Pakistan’s independence, the hunt disbanded until being rekindled by Faiysal Ali Khan with help from Alexander.
Mornings begin with gallons of juice at breakfast, with guards passing oranges to riders along country lanes. One companion, Saif, would “absentmindedly juggle them as we rode and chatted,” my brother recalled. Even while riding with the hounds, there were opportunities for snacks “while you duck and dodge around the trees and gallop between rows.”
The experience extends beyond historical recreation to include playing chukkas at the Noon family’s private polo pitch, riding camels, and even driving miniature ponies through rose gardens. Protection guards accompany the group, adding another layer of authenticity to this journey through a region where hospitality remains paramount and traditions of horsemanship continue to thrive.
This Pakistani adventure stands alongside other remarkable equestrian journeys available today.
In Botswana’s UNESCO-recognized Okavango Delta, the Niven family has created an extraordinary experience at Cha Cha Metsi after thirty years of exploring the region’s wonders. Their camp, built by Clyde in 2021, presents a deliberate return to the sophisticated safari aesthetic of the 1920s, with elevated decks overlooking a permanent lake.
Smuggled away under a cool Leadwood and Knob-Thorn forest canopy, guests enjoy picturesque water views from all tents, while resident hippos provide both entertainment and occasional nocturnal serenades.What makes Cha Cha Metsi particularly special is its location within NG 32, the largest concession in the Delta, where the camp can uniquely offer both land-based safaris and water explorations via traditional Mokoro canoes.
The camp operates under the guiding philosophy “Touch the Earth Lightly,” employing only local guides who have lived in one of just two villages located inside the buffalo fence within the actual Delta wetland.
For equestrians, the camp partners with Ride Botswana to offer exceptional horseback safaris for experienced riders. These journeys utilize over 41 horses—ranging from thoroughbreds to hardy Appaloosas and local Kalahari ponies—all specifically schooled for safari conditions. This approach allows travelers to experience wildlife encounters impossible from vehicles, creating a profound connection with both the natural environment and the ancient tradition of exploring new frontiers on horseback.
South America
In the Andes, travelers follow ancient gaucho paths through breathtaking mountain landscapes. One rider described being “surrounded by five volcanoes and eyed by not one but five condors” during a single day’s journey through Villarrica National Park. These technical rides through diverse terrain create connections with centuries of South American horsemanship.
Through these experiences, modern travellers rediscover the primal bond between human and horse—a partnership that has shaped civilisations, crossed continents, and endures as one of humanity’s most transformative relationships.
