Monce you me Arabian-Berber gray Tiaret lifts his head and lets out a soft snort as I approach him on this freezing winter morning. For a moment it looks as if he wants to turn around. I stop, give him some time, he lowers his head curiously and takes a few steps towards me. The ice is broken. He politely puts on the halter and follows me to the yard.
Tiaret is an old hand. He knows exactly what to expect. He has already carried many strangers through the Havelland. They often come from Berlin, sometimes even driven from far away, and want to spend half a day or a whole day on his back. Getting to know each other always takes place on the pasture.
Tiaret stays outside with his herd all year round, wind and weather don’t bother him. His thick, long mane is covered in burrs and tangles. My attempt to unravel them fails. Rider Maria is already handing out saddles and bridles. I quickly clean up and scrape the chunks of ice from the gelding’s hooves. Then I stand in line in front of the tack room.
Tiaret and the author quickly become acquainted
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Zacharie Scheurer
After putting on the snaffle and saddling, the white horse dozes off for another round before the sporting part begins. Then it’s time to sit up. Sabine Zuckmantel, who founded the company around 20 years ago, solemnly blows her hunting horn – we’re ready to go.
The 14 riders split into two groups, each with a leader, and leave the yard. Mary is coming with us. She rides with us along the main street in the village, past cute little single-family houses and concrete blocks of flats from the GDR era. It is authentic in Schönermark.
When riding, everyday life in the city moves far away
The village moves further and further into the background and is finally replaced by a dirt road. He leads us to the pine forest. At a leisurely pace, there is time for a conversation. Four friends tell that they came from Saxony-Anhalt especially to do a trail ride here together. True, they ride regularly and also own horses. But a ride together with their horses has not been possible so far.
Walk, trot and canter: the riders keep changing their pace on the sandy ground in Havelland
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Zacharie Scheurer
It’s time for a trot. The bottom is sandy, the land is flat and wide – ideal for horseback riding. Until the break, the route leads to a lake – photo time. The sun is hiding behind the dense clouds. But the guide does everything to ensure that the photos are still good. Then it goes on.
We switch between walk and trot, meet people walking, watch deer in the distance and a bird of prey circling overhead. Again and again we turn onto narrow paths. Then it’s time for a gallop. Finally. The lead horse jumps in three beats, the other horses follow politely. The sky, the movement, the passing air – wonderful.
Break by the lake: This background is ideal for a quick photo shoot
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Marie Von Der Tann
But then, from somewhere behind, the loud request to stop. One of the four friends has problems with her horse – she doesn’t want to canter anymore for fear that it will fall over. Guide Maria breaks a sweat. Everyone should feel safe and have fun. For the next gallop stretches, she dismounts together with the hesitant rider and stands at the edge of the path.
After three hours in the saddle, your feet are cold
The group should now gallop forward and come back again. Horses are herd animals, they don’t like it when they lose part of the group. Especially not if they are to be left alone. But the plan to wait for two works.
It is already late afternoon when we reach the farm again. We were on the road for about three hours. My feet are frozen and my butt hurts from the saddle, I only realize that when I dismount to take care of the white horse. Unsaddle, scrape out hooves and brush out a bit of fur – then the horses can go back to their pasture.
On narrow paths it goes through the forest
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Marie Von Der Tann
Everyone is led through the gate together and released on command. Most of them gallop off full of energy. Unlike most riders, they are real long-distance experts. A half-day walk – at most a warm-up exercise for trained trail riding horses. Sometimes they are out and about all day.
In the small house on the farm, landlady Sabine then gathers the riding group by candlelight at a large table for mulled wine, coffee and biscuits. Some are already planning the next ride. Many of the guests keep coming back. The annual highlight is the four-week ride through Poland. Sabine’s horses travel specially with a horse forwarding company from Schönermark to northern Poland. After all, horse eyes want to see something different.
The horses in Havelland must be tough
The animals are mostly imported from France, says Sabine. She relies mainly on Berber or Arab-Berber, a tough and light horse breed with “a lot of toughness”, as she says. The horses need this hardness because they live outside all year round and because on a real trail ride they have to cope with all kinds of surfaces and loads for weeks, kilometer after kilometer.
From the pasture to the saddle: Before the ride can begin, some preparations have to be made
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Zacharie Scheurer
The horses are of course the focus of the sport. But trail riding also places high demands on the people. Real horseback riding guides have to be professionals – they have to be able to find their way around, even with a map and compass. be able to ride well. And being able to nail a loose horseshoe back in place or patch up a horse. Because in the middle of the terrain there are usually neither blacksmiths nor veterinarians on hand.
But nothing serious has ever happened, says Sabine – neither human nor horse. The mixture of routine and posture with a lot of freedom of movement creates well-balanced, robust four-legged friends. This relaxation is transferred to the rider. Nature does the rest.
Source: Infographic WORLD
Tips and information about riding tours in Brandenburg
Getting there: Schönermark is about 70 kilometers north of Berlin. If you want to travel by public transport, you can take the regional train to neighboring Gransee. Buses run from there to Schönermark.
Providers: Trail riding in Havelland mainly offers half-day rides and day rides on weekends. Trail rides over several days and weeks also take place several times a year. Prices from 85 euros (wanderreiten-havelland.de). In addition to trail riding in Havelland, there are also other providers of guided riding tours in Brandenburg.
The guide and her horse are in charge when trail riding
Source: pa/dpa/dpa-tmn/Zacharie Scheurer