The Saga Rides
The Northern Swedish Hourse (Nordsvensk Häst) is a tough all-around horse that loves to work. It is just as well-suited for the baroque riding style as for ploughing fields and dragging timber logs. It is an athletic, hard-working horse which, with its long mane and tail, looks like an image taken from an old, Nordic fairytale. They are superb in forest riding, with their surefooted strength.
The horses are trained using the Natural Horsemanship method. This means that their training and handling is based on the horses' natural way of communicating and reacting. Release of pressure is used in all riding and handling of the horses.
Duration: 4-7 days
Dates/Period: Start days any Thursday from 15.05 - 25.09.08.
Price: from £492/person
Accommodation: Ensuite rooms in recently renovated timber cabin.
Required: You should be able to handle a horse at walking pace, trot and gallop. Minimum age 12 for confident riders accompanied by adult, otherwise 18. Max weight 110kg.
Lovely long rides through forested hills and over picturesque pastures on Natural Horsemanship-trained Northern Swedish horses. You will be given a thorough briefing on these sturdy strong horses and how to ride them and you will have plenty of time to get to know your horse before you set off. Before galloping your instructor will ensure that rider and horse understand each other and are working well together. The landscape in the area is hilly and you will see very few humans, but lots of wildlife! You will pass places with splendid views, secluded forest lakes and lively forest streams.
You sleep in a newly-renovated timber log house on the farm in a room with 2 or 3 beds, all 3 rooms ensuite. Supper is served in the farmhouse pub, where you can linger in the evenings. Food is local produce and from the waters and forests around. A lot of fish and game is used, and it is possible to purchase local handicrafts.
On this tour it is possible to choose four days and three nights with two day's riding or up to seven days and six nights with five days' riding. You will be riding for between 4 and 7 hours each day. Additional days may be added if you wish.