{"id":19832,"date":"2017-10-03T09:50:18","date_gmt":"2017-10-03T09:50:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/?p=19832"},"modified":"2026-10-28T22:30:32","modified_gmt":"2026-10-28T22:30:32","slug":"us-canadian-returning-iran-40-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/us-canadian-returning-iran-40-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The story of a U.S.-Canadian returning to Iran after 40 years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The story of a U.S.-Canadian returning to Iran after 40 years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109.jpeg\" alt=\"Image\" class=\"wp-image-56553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109-780x497.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109-768x490.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109-737x470.jpeg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/image-109-300x191.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_89 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/us-canadian-returning-iran-40-years\/#a-horse-trainer-returns-after-four-decades\" >A horse trainer returns after four decades<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/us-canadian-returning-iran-40-years\/#a-difficult-visa-process\" >A difficult visa process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"#\" data-href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/us-canadian-returning-iran-40-years\/#reconnecting-with-irans-equestrian-community\" >Reconnecting with Iran\u2019s equestrian community<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a-horse-trainer-returns-after-four-decades\"><\/span>A horse trainer returns after four decades<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As tour operators, we sometimes help travellers reconnect with places that shaped their lives. In 2017, one such journey brought Gail Rose Thompson, a Canadian-born horse trainer then in her seventies, back to Iran after four decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Editorial note: This is a historical account of a journey arranged in 2017, not guidance on current visa eligibility. Check official entry requirements before planning travel.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Just before sunset on 9 March 2017, as I was preparing to leave the office, the phone rang. Gail explained that she wanted to <a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/must-knows-survival-tips-before-travelling-to-iran\/\">travel to Iran<\/a> independently in spring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gail spoke warmly about her years in Iran. \u201cI used to be horse trainer in Iran,\u201d she said, adding that she \u201cwould like to come to Iran, once again after 40 years, to see this memorable land, the monarchy\u2019s horse farm, the horse club of the queen, the Turkmen harbour horse racing, the traditional <a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/turkman-horses\/\">Turkman horses<\/a> and more importantly my trainees.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Her memories made a strong impression on me, and I wanted to help her make the return journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arranging the trip was not straightforward. Given Gail\u2019s past work with the royal court and the visa uncertainties of 2017, we knew the application would require care. We nevertheless continued with the preparations.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-19834\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19834\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-1-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gail in tehran before iran&#8217;s revolution. Source: rosethompson. Com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gail\u2019s first visa application coincided with changes to travel restrictions and uncertainty about reciprocal visa arrangements in 2017. Her proposed journey was delayed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During correspondence with Iran\u2019s equestrian community, we learned that former colleagues still remembered Gail\u2019s discipline and commitment as a trainer, even after nearly forty years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Gail spoke warmly about the horses she had trained in Iran, including Kurdish, Turkmen and Akhal-Teke breeds. She hoped to meet former trainees, visit riding clubs and learn how the country\u2019s equestrian community had changed. She also wrote about her life in Iran in <em>All the Shah\u2019s Horses<\/em>, a memoir of her work with horses and riders in the 1970s. Read more on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gailrosethompson.com\/all-the-shahs-horses.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the author\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-19843\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"Gail Is In Iran And Is Enjoying Her Time With Her Former Trainees Who Are Now Respected Horse Trainers In Iran.\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran.jpg\" alt=\"Gail Is In Iran And Is Enjoying Her Time With Her Former Trainees Who Are Now Respected Horse Trainers In Iran.\" class=\"wp-image-19843\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Gail-in-Tehran-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gail enjoying her time with her former trainees who are now respected horse trainers in Iran.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"a-difficult-visa-process\"><\/span>A difficult visa process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our second attempt to obtain a visa for Gail began in early July 2017. We presented her documents to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and we were hopeful that the process would be successful this time. After a month of patiently waiting for the results, we were told that her visa was issued but then cancelled on the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image size-full wp-image-19835\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-2-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Gail in Gonbad-e Kavus, a city known for its horse-racing tradition.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We waited while the conflicting messages were checked. After contacting the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, DC, we were informed that Gail\u2019s visa had been issued and that a technical error had caused the confusion. This account describes the process in 2017, not current visa rules; travellers should check the latest requirements before making plans.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We shared the news with Gail and arranged her journey. She returned to Iran in autumn 2017 and reunited with former colleagues and friends, as confirmed on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gailrosethompson.com\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">her official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19838\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-5-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"reconnecting-with-irans-equestrian-community\"><\/span>Reconnecting with Iran\u2019s equestrian community<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The 2017 itinerary included riding clubs in <a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/isfahan-travel-guide\/\">Isfahan<\/a> and Tehran. Gail also hoped to travel to Turkmen Sahra to see its horses and remember the equestrian pioneer Louise Laylin Firouz. Those plans are part of this historical travel account and should not be read as a current itinerary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more about Gail and her books on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gailrosethompson.com\/home.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gail Rose Thompson\u2019s official website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-6-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-7-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19841\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-8-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"653\" title=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9.jpg\" alt=\"The Story Of U.S. Canadian Returning To Iran After  Years\" class=\"wp-image-19842\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9-780x497.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9-768x490.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9-737x470.jpg 737w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9-450x287.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-9-705x450.jpg 705w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-19844\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"907\" height=\"1360\" title=\"All The Shah Horses Book\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book.jpg\" alt=\"All The Shah Horses Book\" class=\"wp-image-19844\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book.jpg 907w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-667x1000.jpg 667w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-313x470.jpg 313w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-450x675.jpg 450w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/All-the-Shah-horses-book-470x705.jpg 470w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 907px) 100vw, 907px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">All The Shah&#8217;s Horses by Gail Rose Thompson (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Shahs-Horses-Gail-Rose-Thompson\/dp\/1539726304\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Amazon<\/a>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"630\" title=\"Iran Travel And Tours For Americans\" src=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb.jpg\" alt=\"Iran Travel And Tours For Americans\" class=\"wp-image-22926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-780x410.jpg 780w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-768x403.jpg 768w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-1024x538.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-705x370.jpg 705w, https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Iran-Travel-and-Tours-for-Americans-Fb-450x236.jpg 450w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/iran-tours-americans-travel-iran\/\"><br>\n<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In 2017, horse trainer Gail Rose Thompson returned to Iran after four decades to reconnect with former colleagues and the country\u2019s equestrian heritage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":19836,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[306,305,1,110],"tags":[15924,13970,285],"class_list":["post-19832","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture","category-how-to","category-tourism-iran","category-news","tag-canadian","tag-tour","tag-women"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/The-story-of-U.S.-Canadian-returning-to-Iran-after-40-years-3.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19832","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19832"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19832\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201918,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19832\/revisions\/201918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19836"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19832"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19832"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/surfiran.com\/mag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19832"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}