This is your best, out of all of the wonderful videos you have given us. Thank you so much! Turkey is #1 on my bucket list, and now that I know there are gaited horses there, I want to go twice as bad. Since there are very few gaited horses in Canada (even though there is at least 1 native kind) I've never even seen one. The only thing that bothers me, and of course it's not Alyssa's fault, is the fact that the Turkish govt allows 4 wheel vehicles to go out among the hills. They are not just loud and annoying, but they are INCREDIBLY DESTRUCTIVE to the environment. Every place they've been ridden has been completely wrecked by them. The people who ride those awful things are for the most part not handicapped people who respect the area, but speed demon types who only want a thrill, and they rip up the ground instantly. As well as creating massive pollution by garbage, noise, and gasoline fumes. Imagine what hundreds, or even thousands of rides do! For the most part, excepting handicapped people, the ones who care about the environment walk. 4 wheelers should ONLY be allowed for the people who are unable to walk. And even then, only in 1 very small area. This is a travesty of monumental proportions! I wish I had not seen that part of the video. But otherwise it was great to see 1 of my favorite riders in my very favorite place. You've expanded my future itinerary. I also love that you showed us the cats. They are so beautiful and magical in their own way, and they make me feel at home. Thank you so much for this beautiful experience! ❤🐴🐎🐴❤
I’ve just been reading about Capadoccia in Christina Dodwell’s book, ‘A Traveller on Horseback.’ She described it so well. It’s a very interesting read! What an amazing place to visit but a shame it’s full of tourists now!
Amazing adventure! Inspired to check out the horses. What hotel did you stay in? Too many cave hotels in Cappadocia and where you stayed looks wonderful.
That part of Turkey is full of places just like that, ranging from insanely expensive to very well priced and still very comfortable, or so my extensive research indicates. I haven't been there yet.
That was amazing - beautiful region and beautiful horses! But at some point I was wondering if it wasn´t quite dangerous on the trail 😏? I have to say that the height and the small path scared me a bit, although it is unbelievable how amazingly sure-footed these horses were! Must have been a thrilling experience for you 😉
You're braver than I, that Anatolian must be in the dictionary as the definition of 'surefooted'. I didn't breathe until you were off the mountain. Thanks for the video!
I have been on Mount Ararat in eastern Turkey twice, in 2010 and again in 2011, and we used horses both times going from 8,000' to the 14,000' base camp. After a near tragedy in 2010, the ride down from 14k was GREATLY appreciated. The horses were in good condition but the tack was a twine and bailing wire affair. On the hike down from the summit camp in 2011 I videoed a breathtaking horse fight at 14k. The Kurds simply turn the horses loose and herd them down the mountain. Though they came close to the edge several times no horses or herders were seriously hurt while scrambling over the rocks in the fight.
I have always wanted to go to Turkey. I have taught many international students from Turkey who have come to Canada to study and they have been some of the loveliest people. It’s on my bucket list and Cappadoccia has been at the top for a long time.
i'd love to go to turkey, it's truly the cradle of civilization! natufians and the neolithic revolution, gobekli tepe and catalhoyuk. anatolian farmers began migrating about 7500 yrs. ago bringing their domesticated plants and animals with them wherever they went, including europe. horses weren't domesticated then, that occured on the pontic caspian steppe and led to the migration of the proto indo/iranian peoples (germanic tribes in europe).
Alyssa this was a masterpiece! The surroundings and nature - magical. And I didn’t know that there are gaited horses in Turkey - and even a type of Arabians! I have not yet been to Turkey. This area truly looks stunning! Thank you for sharing your amazing experiences with us 😊
I am in a trance. Taking in air, exhaling with a sigh, goose bumps rising throughout the entire video. So much beauty. I grew up in a desert and part of my heart is always there. The lovely Anatolian was as lovely as the hills and amazing to watch. The relationship of people to land was the most intense I have ever seen. The horse pads, the worn tracks, the juice, rider and horse being one, everything, seemed to be born from life. I bet this was a bit of a scary ride and a beautiful one! Of course it is Unesco World Heritage site. I wish everyone could see this. I am so happy I did. Thank you so much!
If there's one country I want to visit, it is Turkey! I'd love to see the fairy chimneys up close. That Anatolian horse looked like a dream to ride, too. ❤
Another beautiful amazing horse adventure that is going on my bucket list of things to do before I die. 😅 The Icelandic horse ride you did is also on my list. ❤
This might be my favorite episode yet. Absolutely awesome place. I associate Cappadocia with early Christianity and monasticism and for instance the "Cappadocian Fathers" like Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen and Gregory of Nyssa. Very interesting to see a chapel or whatever that was carved into the rock. SOOOOOO many layers of history in Anatolia going back SOOOOOOOOOOO long. I had my doubts that the name Cappadocia had anything to do with horses since my small knowledge of Greek makes it seem not, but I looked it up and it's thought to be from a Hittite word that means that. Had never heard of these breeds and did not know Turkey had a gaited breed. "Anatolian Horse" sure seems like an Arab cross. Well suited to purpose though.
