Tell me what matters
We begin with your recent riding experience, including the paces and terrain you are comfortable with, as well as your dates, budget, and who will be traveling with you.
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The story behind Saddle Stories
I came to riding at 35, bringing a lifelong love of travel and a habit of planning everyone else’s trips along with me.
A long-held dream, a later beginning
I’m Julia Maria Borner, the founder of Saddle Stories, and I began riding at 35, after years of wanting to learn. That later beginning is part of how I approach this work: I know what it is to be new to horses, and I want people to feel comfortable asking the practical questions before choosing a ride.
Travel has been a passion for as long as I have been able to go, and I have always been the one organizing trips for friends because I love bringing people together and working out the details of a good experience. I’m happiest in nature, with enough time to look around and experience a place instead of hurrying on to the next stop.
South Africa is my favorite country, while Egypt has been high on my wish list for years; there are places I return to in my thoughts and others I still want to discover. Saddle Stories brings those interests together through horseback safaris, riding holidays, and shorter rides, with as much attention to the horses and the arrangements as to the destination.
The questions behind a good ride
The photographs are a beginning, but the questions I want answered go further: how the horses are cared for, how much work they do, what riding experience a route requires, and how a guide matches horses and riders. I look for clear information about rest, handling, terrain, and participation requirements, while recognizing that a beautiful setting alone says very little about the care behind an experience.
Room to travel in your own way
I often travel on my own, so I understand that choosing a trip also means thinking about who you will meet, what happens when you arrive, and whom you can turn to with questions. For women traveling solo in particular, those details deserve a proper conversation, along with the riding, the accommodation, and the kind of company you hope to find.
Traveling alone does not mean wanting the same thing every day, so whether you are hoping to meet other riders or would prefer more time to yourself, we can talk through which arrangements would suit you.
For a different kind of pause, discover Sunday Stories, our sister brand for women drawn to thoughtful stays, wellness and time at their own pace.
From the first question to the booking
Let’s find your kind of journey
You do not need a finished itinerary to get in touch; we can begin with what draws you to the horses, the places you are curious about and the way you would like to travel.
Explore the possibilities
I help you compare suitable journeys, looking at the riding requirements, accommodation, group arrangements, and the time you will spend in and out of the saddle.
Know what you’re booking
Before you commit, we work through availability, the total price, inclusions, cancellation conditions, and participation requirements, so you can make your decision with the practical details in front of you.
