THE VOYAGE
Coming Home from Kyrgyzstan
In 2021, we met three Kyrgyz stallions: Tian, the fiery, Fidel, the courageous, and Chai, the team player. After traveling together for 3 months, across the mountains, steppe, and even the sky of Kyrgyzstan, we left them in good hands. The horses stayed in Kyrgyzstan with a friend, but once we were back in France we thought about them all the time.
So in early 2024, we went back to Kyrgyzstan, to bring the horses home with us.
THE JOURNEY
To get the horses to Europe, we had to climb a mountain of paperwork. Vaccines, vet checks, quarantines and organizing.
Two weeks before departure, we lost Tian.
The only comfort in this violent heartbreak was that it seems he waited for us to return to say goodbye. With his loss, we were more determined than ever to bring Fidel and Chai home.
The 2nd of May, after crossing Kazakhstan, Russia and the Baltics by truck, they arrived safely in Poland.
In late May we finally departed from the Polish Carpathians. Our team numbered five again: Brando, a dark bay huçul joined us.
To reach home together we rode along the Carpathians of Poland and Slovakia.
Then, from Austria and through Italy, Switzerland and finally France, we’ll explore our love for the alpine mountains through an ancient way of traveling: with horses.
On a rainy morning in mid-October, 7 months after we left home, and after 5 months and 2500km of riding across the Carpathians and the Alps, our little herd arrived home, at the foot of the Mont Blanc. Welcomed by our family and friends, our happily ever after began.
THE TEAM
Ashley has labrador energy; she’s quick to make friends, follows her gut, and makes the decisions about the horses. Quentin is more like a cat; he films and takes photos during the adventure, fixes broken things and is in charge of directions. Fidel is a proud blood bay; he’s Quentin’s main partner. Experienced and with high standards, Fidel is the boss and doesn't mess around with things not worth his time. With the loss of Tian, Chai has become Ashley's main partner. He impresses us everyday with his bravery and good-natured attitude. Chai is like an ultra-trailer: steady on the uphills, surefooted on the downhills. Brando is a quirky dark bay, a hucul from the Polish mountains. He carries our bags and is usually the first to find any holes in the fence or trouble he can get into.
PARTNERS
We couldn't have done it alone. We’re so grateful to have institutional, corporate and brand support that share the same values as we do: love for the outdoors, the understanding that our relationships with humans, animals and all living things matters, and an intense curiosity to learn more and do better.