Situated in the lush green mountain province of Phrao, not far from
Chiang Mai, a foreign gentleman named Boris runs a horseback trekking service
for anyone with time to spend and a desire for a truly memorable experience.
Boris, having lived in the area for several years and being something of an explorer, came to realize that the Phrao valley and surrounding mountain terrain is best tackled on horseback. It was due to this realization that he set up the Thai Horse Farm about 3 years ago. From this base, Boris now leads small adventure-minded groups into the heart of the jungle for up to two weeks at a time.
The horses he breeds are known as Asian Mountain Horses, which, although smaller than other breeds, are perfectly suited to tackle the mountainous terrain. According to Boris these horses shy away from nothing, including navigating stepped ridge descents and near-vertical climbs.
The horse treks are tailor made to suit a guest's level of riding skill, which ranges from a complete beginner to advanced. Don't be put off if you are the former - the majority of Boris's customers are total novices.
It only takes a few hours to get the basic gist of riding a slow moving horse. Bring some carrots to aid the man/horse bonding process.
But for anyone who is an experience rider then expect the odd gallop when and where possible. Boris is known to enjoy bouts of speed on the open flat. However, remember to be careful since you are off the tourist route out here. There are no government workers keeping the trails clear and so you are bound to encounter various natural obstacles along the way. Fallen trees are something to watch out for.
Phrao is off the beaten track; out here you won't have hilltribe kids harassing you, in near perfect English, for a 10-baht photo shoot. In fact you won't see any of the crass tourist gimmicks you might encounter on some of the more established jungle-trek routes.
This is a seriously new activity taking in new and obscure terrain. Out here you will get a taste of the real Thai countryside, unchanged from a hundred years ago: curious little kids running behind you and pointing, hilltribes working the land as they have for centuries. The sort of thing people come to Thailand hoping to experience but usually don't get.
If anyone is worried about food and camping arrangements - don't. Boris is trained in the art of rustling up a mouth-watering jungle feed; a full-flavour tom yum kung served with rice and whatever wild fruits you managed to pick earlier in the day. It's guaranteed to satisfy even the fussiest grumbling tummy.
In fact people often return from treks raving about his fireside cooking skills. Boris also provides tents, bed rolls and sleeping bags. All you need is some time and the spirit of adventure.
Getting from Chiang Mai to Phrao is easy. And Phrao boasts scenery as stunning as anywhere else in the Kingdom of Thailand. To arrange horseback trips it's best to contact Boris directly at Thai Horse Farm