Ponies of Vang Vieng was created eight years ago by the owners of The Elephant Crossing and Silver Naga hotels.  The original herd consisted of rescued ponies who would previously have been sent to neighboring countries for consumption. The goal of creating an equestrian program was not only to protect the heritage of ponies in Laos, but also to coincide with both hotels’ aim to create memorable and ethical travel experiences for guests.

All eight ponies are considered members of our family therefore when training was required we understood the importance of professional tutelage.  Sarah Grauer, a certified, international trainer was recruited to assess and school the ponies which had otherwise been exposed to limited experience in lessons and trekking. To further expand on the ponies’ abilities and offerings to guests (and the local community), carriage rides were then introduced to the program.

In understanding the responsibilities of maintaining a safe and healthy equestrian experience for activities such as carriage driving, internationally acclaimed Australian carriage driving champion Gavin Robson was brought in to properly and compassionately work with the ponies on how to safely navigate tourists to various locations in Vang Vieng.

The combination of internationally accredited trainers in addition to well-trained, local talent has made the Ponies of Vang Vieng a project we are proud to offer to guests and visitors of Laos.

From children’s trekking to lessons and carriage rides we take pride in caring for our ponies and welcome you to experience Vang Vieng’s beauty through our adventures.

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