The Saga Rides
"If you were inspired by The Horse Whisperer, you can try the real thing on a natural horsemanship tour...You'll spend the day out in 300 square kilometres of riding ground before returning to the farm for a soak in an outdoor wooden tub, where you can soothe those muscles you didn't know you had. A hearty evening meal is prepared, after which you can look forward to a deep sleep in the quiet of the old farmhouse's timber log cottage."
Recommended by Rough Guides' "Clean Breaks - 500 New Ways To See The World".
Photo: O.Forsell
Photos: 1,2,4,5: E.Forsell;3,6-7: O. Forsell
The Saga Rides is a very special horse riding holiday, combining lovely long rides through forested hills and over picturesque pastures with a chance to learn Natural Horsemanship techniques. You will be riding Northern Swedish horses trained using Natural Horsemanship methods - 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. Your guides are renowned Natural Horsemanship practitioners as well as wonderful hosts and accomplished outdoor cooks!
The landscape in the area is forested and hilly. There are very few humans around, but plenty of wildlife - travelling through this beautiful natural area on horseback is an ideal way to encounter the local fauna and flora! Riding 4-7 hours each day, you will pass splendid viewpoints, secluded forest lakes and lively forest streams.
Accommodation is in one of two comfortable log cabins at the farm, with all rooms en-suite. Evening meals are served in the farmhouse pub, where you can also spend time and relax in the evenings. Local and wild ingredients are used wherever possible, with much use made of fish and game taken from the surrounding lakes and forests. Food is a real feature of the experience - your host is a former finalist in the "Wilderness Chef of the Year" competition.
The Saga Rides is the ideal riding adventure for riders with previous experience who would like to develop their skills on enjoyable riding tours in a lovely forest environment. A wonderful combination of comfortable accommodation, good food and a chance to learn new techniques from two of Sweden's foremost practitioners of Natural Horsemanship.
Arrival at the farm during the day. If you are travelling by public transport, pick-up from Tranås is at 18.15. Settle in to your accommodation, meet your fellow guests and have dinner together in the farmhouse "pub".
Breakfast followed by a thorough briefing on handling and riding the horses, which have been trained using Natural Horsemanship techniques, which uses the horses' natural way of communicating and reacting. Riding and handling is done using release of pressure. You also will be shown some of the training methods, including how to make a horse accept a noisy tarp so it is quite safe to put raincoats on while still in the saddle or how to ride at full gallop with a rain poncho whipping about.
After lunch you will have a chance to try out the techniques you have been shown in the morning, controlling your horse from the ground with lateral movements, backing, stopping and giving both head and neck without resistance. This is fun and quite easy to do and establishes you as the leader of the horse.
You will mount your horse and try the techniques on horseback before heading into the forest. Your guide will ensure everyone is in full control of their horses at walk or canter before moving to faster paces, so that you can enjoy the lovely forest surroundings in confidence and safety.
Your morning riding tour takes you along winding country dirt roads and tracks through a beautiful mature-growth forest, passing babbling streams and clear lakes. The area is rich in wildlife such as moose, lynx and Golden Eagle.
You take lunch in a traditional communal building still used by local villagers. Your afternoon's horse riding tour takes you up onto a majestic mountain ridge and deep into the forest, where you allow your horse to find its own path on soft moss between the trees.
In the evening you have dinner together in the farmhouse pub to share your impressions of the day's riding adventure.
In the morning you will visit some local craftsmen specialising in traditional wooden handicrafts. Lunch is served back at the farm. Your afternoon ride takes you to one of the many beautiful lakes in the region, where you can take a dip and try a very special Swedish experience - a wood-heated outdoor bathing barrel seating 8-9 people!
A wilderness dinner is prepared together out in the forest using ancient cooking techniques. Your guide is an accomplished outdoor cook and a former finalist in Sweden's "Wilderness Chef of the Year" competition. A traditional Sami tipi is available in case of bad weather to spend a cosy evening under canvas, before you ride home through the forest - your horses have eyesight better than a cat's!
Today you ride up to a rocky hill with wonderful views to have lunch in the long grass while the horses graze by your side. Returning home you a hole in the ground used in former times as a wolf trap. Your riding tour traverses a moorland landscape with knarled pine trees where you ride slalom between the trees - a perfect time to practise your skills in using indirect reins to control the horse.
During the week you will have developed a close relationship with your mount, perhaps even having changed horse at some point to find the most suitable for you and should now be able to ride in long, rocking canters. Lunch is taken by an old farm ruin - an atmospheric spot with strong echoes of the past.
Departure after breakfast. If you are travelling by public transport, transfer to Tranås departs at 08.00.
Every Saturday-Friday in June, July, August and September except 13.08-19.08.12 and 20.08-26.08.12.
Prices are in British Pounds. If you wish, you are also welcome to make your payment by bank transfer in Euros or Swedish Kronor. If this would be of interest, please let us know and we will be happy to provide prices.
Accommodation is in one of two log cabins at the farm in 1-3 person rooms. All rooms are en-suite. Meals are served in the farmhouse pub, which also includes a common area for relaxation/socialising. Bed linen and towels included.
You will be served dishes made from local Swedish ingredients with a twist. The local guides use game from the forests and fish from the lakes and anything else the forests, waters and fields have to offer. The package includes full board. Beer and wine are available at extra cost during the meals. Your host, Olle, is a skilled chef and past finalist in the "Wilderness Chef of the Year" competition.
Northern Swedish Cold Bloods, trained to be safe and secure. The horses are handled and ridden with care and have Swedish cavalry saddles, developed over hundreds of years for both rider and horse for tough conditions and long rides over rough terrain. You will ride bitless but with a kind of ridehalter, otherwise known as a sidepull.
Shortchaps, rain ponchos and approved riding helmets.
Experienced and knowledgeable local guide.
Transfer to/from Tranås station. Pick-up will be at 18.15 on the start day, with return transfer leaving the farm at 08.00 on the end day (transfer time approx. 40 minutes).
Alcoholic drinks, which are available for purchase in the farmhouse pub.
It is also possible to book transfer from Linköping for £50 per person (transfer is included to/from Tranås).
You should be able to handle a horse at walking pace, trot and gallop in a forest environment. Weight limit 110kg (240 pounds).
Minimum age 12 for confident riders accompanied by adult, otherwise 18.
A detailed recommended equipment list will be sent with your booking confirmation.
NB: We advise you not to buy equipment or clothes for your trip or to incur other non-refundable expenses such as flights until you have received confirmation of your booking from us in writing.
Minimum number of persons: 1. Maximum group size: 8 persons. The tour can also be booked as a private experience for groups of 4-8 persons. Please contact us for a quotation.
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.
This tour has received a prestigious Swedish Ecotourism award for its commitment to high standards to cultural and environmental sensitivity.
Detailed information on travel options will be sent with your booking documentation. We are happy to advise on suitable connections and assist you with any aspect of planning your journey.
Fly to Stockholm, Gothenburg or Copenhagen airports. Train to Tranås (travel time 2.5-5 hours depending on options chosen), from where transfer is included.
Ferry from Harwich to Esbjerg (Denmark) for onward connections to Tranås.
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