Horse back rides and trips
at Uncle Pasha's Dacha on the Volga near Staritsa, between Moscow & St. Petersburg
This invitation is from us (Pasha, Olesya & Co.), the owners and developers of this site. That's where we are inviting you to experience the genuine and rarely visited rural Russia. So rare are foreigners here that the local newspaper hunts them down as a publishable material (example).
Picturesque hills over the Volga river near the ancient city of Staritsa (first mentioned in 1297 chronicles). A great stopover point on your way from Moscow to St. Petersburg. Genuine and unspoiled.
Very inexpensive: $25 for basic accommodation, food, and UNLIMITED HORSE RIDES. (Jan. 20100 suggested contributions: from 750 roubles, or $25 off-season with no service to 1500 roubles ($50) for VIP treatment.)
No time limits. Enjoy your rides within physical capacity of well-fed and trained animals. Many
versts of fields and trails.
No barbed wire fences in the middle of nowhere, no "no trespassing" signs.
Riding lessons are available. They may even be thrown in as a free extra bonus. And yes, we speak semi-decent English that you'll easily understand unless you are from England, Texas, or Australia.
Car ride from Moscow to Staritsa can be arranged, or someone will escort you by public transportation.
More details at www.russian-horse-rides.com
Information on small towns and villages between Moscow & St. Petersburg is moving to www.staritsa.info. Of course Tver and Staritsa itself are featured there
Look, we are getting famous!
Article by Liz Fudge in the Sept. 19-23 issue of the Lifestyle Magazine of The Moscow Times
An article (in Russian) in the "Extracurricular Reading" youth magazine
(This is the famous wild stallion Surprise)
Also read comments
by our guest, leave yours
in our
Guestbook
Three good-natured trained trail horses. And Sur-the-Stallion
for thrill-seekers. And the little Lyagushka (translates as Froggy, in
the middle) just for kicks. Another horses (mostly aboriginals) can be
borrowed from neighbours if you come as a large group.
Volga is an endless source of excitement. A boat and an
inflatable raft are available.
Staritsa originated in the 13th century as a convent and
a fortress. Explore ancient ruins.
Horse and sleight here is not just for fun. For several
months wheels are useless.
And that's an example of an American tourist who
succeeded in securing his doze of excitement during his working holidays
episode with us.
Subtle colours of Russian winter.
On-ramp for the disabled.
Also horses are trained to patiently stand still by large stones or over fallen trees to make getting on them easier in the field.
Oct. 16, 2003
That's our humble abode, an "izba" type dwelling typical
of northern Russia
Two out of three of our horses can be ridden even by
children. Worse-case scenario is them yanking the reins out of your
hands and proceeding to the burdock jungle to eat them. The burdock that
is, not you or your hands..
Pleasantly rough picturesque terrain.
Cross the Volga in a leaky wooden boat.
Mushroom picking
Mushrooms turned out to be unsuitable as food but
attracted intense attention of a local peasant with a reputation of a shaman.
..speaking of things out-worldly, Staritsa hills are
over the Volga are full of caves and catacombs. Knowledgeable guides to
take you underground AND BACK are
available in Staritsa.