Image courtesy of Kissimmee - The Heart of Florida

I haven’t been doing very well at keeping up with my ever increasing list of podcasts and only recently caught an old episode of the Stable Scoop podcast from the Horse Radio Network.  (I’m sorry, any show with the lyrics “sit on down and laugh ’til you poop” in the theme song is well worth listening to, in my opinion!)  If you haven’t yet caught any of the podcasts on the Network, you should check them out.  They have several shows that are informative and entertaining. 

The episode I heard recently featured Darley Newman, the host, creator, and producer of Equitrekking.  Equitrekking is a TV series that explores world travel destinations with a focus on horses.  This Emmy winning show has featured destinations throughout the United States and Europe, and even as remote and exotic as Jordan and Belize.  Each episode features a destination that Darley explores on horseback.  She samples the culture, the food, and the ambiance of each locale, often with the aid of a horse breed native to the country.  For example, in Iceland, Darley treks through lava fields aboard the Icelandic horse and educates viewers about the history of the breed and the culture of the country. 

So why is Darley Newman my new idol?  Because she has combined my two absolute favorite topics, travel and horses, into one fascinating and educational experience to share with others.  Why do I not have this creativity and forethought, I wonder?  I can imagine nothing better than to travel the world enjoying horses of all breeds.  I wonder if she needs an assistant?  Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks Darley just might be the coolest chick to walk the 21st century so far.  She has been featured in several publications, including the Washington Post and The Denver Post.  As if an incredibly successful TV show isn’t enough, she has also authored a coffee table book on her travels, writes columns for horse magazines and an e-newsletter, and maintains a personal blog and company website detailing her travel experiences.

I’ve just decided: when I grow up, I want to be Darley Newman.

…I mean that in a couple of ways.  First it’s so great to be back in Florida, surrounded by my animals and welcomed by the (somewhat) milder temperatures, as compared to when I left this sweltering sweatbox a week and a half ago.  It was nice to have a little break from responsibility and have some downtime to enjoy.  But, by “home sweet home” I also meant it was great to go back to my roots and visit the place that I grew up in.  It didn’t take long to remember that when you grow up in Southwestern PA, your roots run deep.  This is an area where family is important and generations coexist in close proximity, where a typical Sunday would include a family dinner or at least a visit.  It felt good to return to that atmosphere, if only briefly. 

While I was there I had the pleasure of visiting one of my childhood haunts, Round Hill Park in Elizabeth, PA.  When we were young, my sister and I frequently begged our parents to take us to this nearby farm, where we could play with the horses and other livestock.  Elizabeth, PA is probably not real high on your Top Ten destination list, but if you find yourself in Southwestern PA or in the Pittsburgh area, this farm is a great place to spend an afternoon!  It is a working farm that is open to visitors every day of the year, for educational and recreational purposes.  It is a chance to see a real working farm in action complete with sheep shearing, cow milking, and maple sugaring.  There is a large pond populated with many geese and ducks, where as children we would often take stale bread to share.  The pond is surrounded by trees and is a calm, restful place to take five and enjoy the scenery.  The farm itself is nestled among the hills and is home to cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, a few cats, and of course HORSES!!  I can still remember how excited I was to go to the horse barn when we’d visit the park.  If you go at just the right time, you can visit the horses while they’re still in the barn or in their little paddock area.  After breakfast, they go out to pasture and are not always at the gate for petting and treats.  Although, on this visit, I got lucky!  Three of the horses and a donkey were right at the fenceline, just waiting for some love. 

Round Hill Park is an excellent place to visit if you are in the area.  There are numerous walking and riding trails , several picnic pavilions, soccer fields, and more.  It is free admission, and according to their website, they are now doing a number of community events such as Movie Night and fundraisers for animal shelters.  I think that this is a fanastic venue to introduce children and urban adults to the practices of our nation’s farmers.

Do you know of a venue like this in your area?  Have you ever been to a working farm before?   I would love to hear about your experiences, if you’d like to share them!