Equestrian Journeys
around the Globe

(Horseback) With the race to produce faster, quieter, and smarter autonomous vehicles hotting up, travel from A to B is in danger of becoming a dizzying act of teleportation rather than a mindful engagement with the environment. As we trade one more reason to marvel at the world around us for yet another excuse to fixate on our phones, it’s worth reflecting that humanity has had a millennia-long partnership with one autonomous vehicle full of personality and intuition, power and speed: the horse. Here are five places to stay where a love of horses runs deep in their DNA. And—for what it is worth—remember autonomous vehicles still advertise their speed in horsepower.

Set in the ancient, otherworldly beauty of Utah’s Colorado Plateau, Amangiri sensitively incorporates a modernist architectural ethos into an alien red-rock landscape. The resort offers a multitude of ways to get outdoors; from hikes through the canyons in the company of a Navajo guide to open-topped boat trips on Lake Powell and the mighty Colorado River. Amangiri’s sister stable is composed of the beautifully named American Quarter Horses, Tennessee Walking Horses, and Missouri Fox Trotters. Guests are invited to follow trails that have been navigated for centuries, becoming part of a timeless continuum. Because the resort carries the understated restraint of the Aman DNA, the experience delivers Western magic with none of the typical cowboy cliché.

It is hard to imagine a more breathtaking location than Sirai House. Perched atop a ridge at the foot of Mount Kenya and within the 32,000-acre Borana Conservancy, Sirai House is the kind of place where you could spend a happy week marveling at the proximity of comfort and wildness. The estate’s own private breeding project, Sirai Stud, established in 2012, has resulted in intuitive and intelligent horses that are capable of matching the demands of the African bush. For experienced riders, navigating the wilderness on a mount bred for the terrain offers a deep connection to the surrounding wildlife—one guided by the keen senses of the animal beneath you.

Spirit of Son Fuster achieves a rare balance of seemingly endless intimacy. No matter the size of your party, there is always a secluded spot to curl up with a book or sip a drink while enjoying the views of the Tramuntana mountains. Influenced by the owners’ extensive travels, the interiors of this lovingly restored 14th-century estate pair artifacts from Spain, North Africa, and the American West in eclectic harmony. The true grounding force of the property is its stable of elegant, dark-coated Menorquín horses. To ride these rare, traditional Balearic mounts through the surrounding olive groves and the foothills of the Sierra de Tramuntana is to slip into the history of Mallorca before the crowds arrived—private, silent, and deeply tied to the land.

Ireland has a glittering pedigree when it comes to equestrian pursuits—it is a world-leading breeder of storied racehorses. One of the most prominent names in the field is the Magnier family, proprietors of the elegantly Palladian Cashel Palace Hotel—a property that could convincingly be described as the apogee of Irish hospitality and rich equestrian heritage. The hotel, which has been collecting awards since its reopening in 2022, is part of an equestrian empire that includes Coolmore Stud, which was in turn home to Galileo, the racehorse and champion sire still referred to in hushed voices by the cognoscenti. The best way to illustrate Cashel Palace’s profound commitment to horses is to introduce their “equine concierge,” Emma-Mai, whose enthusiastic description of the role as her dream job sums up the place perfectly. Stay in a grand suite that was previously occupied by Elizabeth Taylor and plan your perfect equine day with Emma-Mai.

To combine the heights of equestrian performance with an air of effortless glamour is, almost inevitably, to arrive at polo—a niche sport so chic, it has inspired both fashion houses and literary traditions. The Rosewood Mandarina, nestled between pristine Riviera Nayarit beaches and dense Mexican coastal jungle, treats the sport not as an exclusive spectacle but as an immersive experience. At the Mandarina Polo & Equestrian Club, they breed their own horses, carefully selecting bloodlines to develop mounts with characteristics similar to the Argentine Polo Pony, while preserving an entirely Mexican genetic program. At the club, guests can transition from beginner-friendly polo lessons through to seasonal matches. If you’re more contemplative than competitive, consider a peaceful and relaxed guided ride on a local Mexican mount and spend the day traversing deep jungle trails before emerging onto the glittering Pacific coast.