Horse Illustrated

My favorite aspect of a riding vacation is getting a glimpse of the true culture and meeting the everyday people of a place. The Wild Andes Expedition ride with host Gabriel Espinosa of Hacienda La Alegria offered a close-up view of life in the Ecuadorian Andes. From small rides in the fertile Machachi valley to an overnight camp in a cloud forest, sure footed Criollo horses brought us to elevations of up to 14,000 feet and allowed us to see villages not accessible by any roads.

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