Greetings from Ricochet Ridge RanchWinter is refreshing the ferns and redwoods on the verdant trails in our mossy forests, where brilliant white trillium and vibrant wild purple iris will soon be in full bloom among the Redwoods. We are amazed by the bounty of riches nature provides us here on the Mendocino Coast, and love sharing that fortune with you from the back of our fit RRR horses! Harvey and I, with our great friend Eva Anderson, were lucky enough to spend a week in Malindi, Kenya this September with the Thoya Oya Children's Centre, an orphanage Harvey started with Raymond Thoyo Ngumbao and others a dozen years ago. We had met Raymond in 1990 when Harvey and I first met each other on the wonderful horseback riding safari we'd booked through Equitours to ride through the Masai Mara. Raymond at that time worked for the safari company. He had been in essence an orphan himself, a tribal member of a family with 13 siblings who at age 6 was on the streets looking for a job. Virtually adopted by a Swiss couple who ran a horse riding school in Kenya, Raymond eventually became fluent in five languages, attained a black belt in karate and became an international quality runner who went on to coach other native Africans to international success in marathons. Life brought him to the Mendocino coast, where he lived for 21 years, volunteering for various local events and befriending many children in our community churches and schools where he both coached track and entertained as a story-teller. He owned and operated a succession of successful restaurant businesses featuring African cuisine, which he also donated to local charities, but at age 50, he decided to return to Kenya to devote his time to the children at the orphanage. AIDS has created orphans. But even for non-orphaned children, traditionally girls are often "married" as young as age ten to much older men, to whom multiple wives are permitted. Raymond wants to change that, and for both boys and girls, education is the answer. But so is a loving, supportive home environment. The children at the Thoya-Oya Children's Centre are thriving, but are currently undergoing a crisis. For details, please see http://thoyaoya.org/ But know that the orphanage has recently been evicted from their home of ten years when it was sold, after funding was not found to buy the house. But the good news is that they have bought 1/2 acre, where they are now living in an unfinished six room dwelling for the 14 kids and two caregivers. Four children to each 8x10 ft. bedroom with bunk beds, an outdoor drop toilet, no running water, no furniture, a fire pit to cook on, but at least they'll have a roof over their heads. See the photos and videos on the website, and also on the facebook page. Need I say, please donate? (I hope we can put a hot link here to a paypal page, or give an address to which to send checks)
The original twelve children have been joined recently by two younger ones, Neema, age two, and Nixon Obama, four years of age. Bright mentally and physically, they both were orphaned by AIDS, although they themselves are not ill. Two of the older children at the orphanage are not so lucky, but remain in good health due to the AIDS cocktail of medications which Raymond assiduously makes sure they take daily, received from regular visits to the medical clinic. These 14 children are truly a family, supportive and loving of each other, and grateful for the assistance they have been receiving.
I could tell many stories, but perhaps this one best synopsyses why I am using this format to ask for help for these kids. On the last day of our visit, Eva, Harvey and I hired a 14 passenger van to take the 14 children, us three, the driver and his assistant, as well as interpreter and his daughter to the ocean preserve which Mel Fox's mother created three decades ago. Ahemmm... we were a bit crowded. When we stopped for fuel, Harvey suggested I sing the children a song, which I did, as they politely, quietly listened. Then I sang another of my camp favorites... which they joyously joined in singing! "Love is something, if you give it away, give it away, give it away.... Love is something, if you give it away, You'll end up having more!" They sang "Love's just like, A magic shilling. Put in your pocket and you won't have anything. Spend it, lend it, Give it away... It comes right back to you!" I was singing about "...A magic penny. Put it in your pocket and you won't have any". Cultural rhyming differences. But the "Spend it, lend it, give it way...." I sang "You'll end up having more..." They sang "It comes right back to you"... we were obviously singing our hearts out, about the very same thing. There are many needy children all over the world. I happen to have met these 14. In this month's American Endurance Ride Conference newsletter, our vice president, who is a psychologist, spoke of walking down a street with a fellow shrink, who stopped to pick up a chewing gum wrapper and put it into her pocket. Curious as to why, she asked, and was told "Now, the world is just a little bit of a better place". For $2.00, you could buy a 5 gallon bucket of water for the orphanage. The women working to haul water, clay and sand on their heads to make bricks are paid $3.00 per day, each. There are five of them. The six men are paid $5.00 per day each to build the house. (Please see the video I took of these workers, on the website). For $30.00, each child could receive a new uniform to enable him/her to attend their new school... such is required, with the children wearing the same shirt and skirt or pants every day, for the entire school year, for as many years as they are able to attend. $500.00 would help dig a well. $1000.00 would buy a solar pump to enable water to be effortlessly brought to the surface. Then, they too could sell water for $2.00 per bucket! $2,000.00 would purchase the 1/2 acre next door, which could be farmed for vegetables and grazed by goats for milk and meat. But it currently costs an average of $30.00 per month per child for food and medications, without even considering a stipend for Raymond and his assistant to care for these 14 children, or to buy goats. Would you like to "adopt" a child for $30.00 per month? Or add an additional $10.00 for their caregivers? Or help in the building of the orphanage or purchasing the additional land? On other exciting news, Ricochet Ridge Ranch is now famous Down Under, having been featured last Fall in a fantastic article in the Sydney Morning Herald. Writer Julie Miller states that she was "lured" here by Ricochet Ridge Ranch's international reputation, "widely considered among the equestrian community as one of the premier trek operators in the world". Not only does Julie's article highlight our exhilarating beach and redwood riding, but also features what many other articles about RRR have often left out - the opportunity to ride in the presence of forest companions, including black bear, black- tailed deer, mountain lion (unseen, but not unheard) and a variety of other wildlife. Riding past virgin redwoods with girths "the size of a wheat silo" brought tears to Julie's eyes, as it has done for so many of you who have ridden with us. Be on the lookout for another article featuring Ricochet Ridge Ranch in an upcoming issue of "Trail Rider Magazine." Writer-photographer Shawn Hamilton spent a few full days riding with us, taking some amazing photographs of the places we are privileged to ride. Shawn has photographed horses in every discipline, in dozens of countries, at world class competitive events, including the 2010 World Equestrian Games, as well as of a myriad of riders, breeds and behaviors. Those of you who have ridden with us will remember how we have many riding magazines in which RRR has been featured spread out on the hay bales during our orientation to the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation. Shawn sat on those hay bales, picked up one magazine after the other, and noted: "I took that photo", or "This is my cover shot", etc. It was an exciting and humbling moment! Here's where to go to see Shawn's incredible array of photographs.  If you haven't ridden with us a Ricochet Ridge Ranch, or have dreamed of returning, 2012 is filled with wonderful opportunities and ways to do so. Our full-tilt boogie, the Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, are all inclusive, catered with truly wonderful meals. They include lodging at unique Bed & Breakfast Inns and Hotels, riding every day, fine dining with a glass of choice California wines accompanying dinner each evening, live entertainment on Wednesday and Saturday evenings, hot tub spas and massage available just down the road, a party on Friday night, snacks, beverages and lots of camaraderie. They begin on a Monday at 2:00PM and end after breakfast on Sunday morning. The complete itinerary, with dates, description of accommodations, and other information is found on our website. In year 2012, the price for the six night vacation remains $ 2295.00 per person, double or triple occupancy, all inclusive. Although our regularly scheduled week-long vacations are during the six summer months, we are happy to arrange custom treks of any duration or full Redwood Coast Riding Vacations at any time during the year. RICOCHET RIDGE RANCH REDWOOD COAST BEACH AND FOREST RIDING VACATION 2012 DATES May 14-20 Spring Wildflower Extravaganza June 18-24 Summer Solstice Riding Celebration July 16-22 Redwood & Beach Riding Vacation August 20-26 Summer Coastal Cool Off Days September 10-16 Indian Summer Riding Vacation October 1-7 Best of the Season Send-Off Spectacular
$375 additional for single occupancy. For those of you that want the full experience of the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation's riding itinerary, but would rather explore other options for meals, wine and entertainment, we offer the "Ride & Save Redwood Coast Riding Vacation". The exact same riding as on the six night, full-tilt boogie Redwood Coast Beach and Forest Riding Vacation (see website description), but you'll arrange your own morning & evening meals, lunch one day, wine and entertainment. RIDE & SAVE: Redwood Coast Riding Vacation
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| Alexandra Niehaus is 9 years old, and rides her little Shetland pony in Limited Distance Endurance competitions. She is accompanied by her endurance family, her parents Jennifer & John Niehaus, and grandfather Dennis Sousa, who are just outside the frame of this photo. | Connie Berto during the 2011 Mendocino Magic 50 Mile Endurance Ride. Connie is in her 80s, has had two hip replacements, and has ridden over 10,000 miles in competition. |
We can produce custom, magical riding vacations of any duration, from one or two days up to two weeks, with accommodations ranging upwards from $99.00 - 499.00 per night, with or without breakfast, including if you like the Mendo Wine Tour, and suggestions for ocean or river kayaking, golf, hiking trails, free wine tastings and many other local secrets. Of course, if you are going to be in the area already, but don't have time for a full riding vacation, we also offer Daily Trailrides to the Beach and to the Redwood Forests.
RIDE FOR FREE!
And if none of the above entice you... RIDE FOR FREE! Bring 10 friends, and the 11th rides for free on ANY of our private or group trailrides. RIDE FOR 1/2 PRICE! Bring 5 friends and the 6th person rides for 1/2 price on any private trail ride. Ask around at your stables... surely lots of your riding buddies have always wanted to ride in Mendocino and are just waiting for you to get the ball rolling!
And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, where we post fun horse facts, fabulous photos, and share stories of the RRR family - of which you are an important part!
Y'all come!
 | Happy trails, Lari |
and a passion for horses!"
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24201 North Highway One Fort Bragg, CA 95437 | http://www.horse-vacation.com 707-964-7669 Ranch: daily trailrides phone/fax 707-964-9669 Home office ph/fax for vacations | |
| Riding Vacations on the Mendocino Coast with lodging at unique B&B Inns International Riding Vacations | ||
