Finca Estrella
Trail Ride (5 Hours) "Mountain Meadow"
04. & 18.04.2023
What can you expect on the Finca Estrella 5 h ride? Here you’ll find all important information about the stable, the ride, whether photos are taken and my personal review.
Table of Contents
Information
Guests paid for the Finca Estrella 5 h ride cash and these were group rides with other participants. Helmets could be borrowed free of charge on-site. The rides were done in Western saddles and bitless bridles.
This trail ride was offered once a week.
Stable
The horses were kept in different herd sizes in open stables with shelters, wearing fly masks and fly sheets. They received hay four times daily and concentrates twice daily. Each paddock had a large water container that was always filled. The open stables were clean because the team mucked out regularly.
Arrival
On arrival, we were greeted by the dogs and the team. We waited until all guests had arrived, then discussed our riding experience and were assigned our horses. Meanwhile, the staff brought the horses from their paddocks, tied them up, picked out their hooves, and removed their fly sheets. Guests were allowed to groom the horses themselves. Each tie-up spot had a clean grooming box labeled with the horse’s name. Everyone chose a helmet. The staff saddled the horses, and each rider was given a saddlebag to store drinks in plastic bottles. Before bridling, there was a briefing with all necessary ride information. Staff then bridled the horses. We led them to the arena and lined up in a set order. Each horse was sprayed with fly repellent. Using a mounting block, the team helped each rider one by one—tightening the girth, steadying the horse while mounting, adjusting stirrups, and sharing tips about the horse. Finally, the guide mounted up, and the ride began.
My Trail Ride Diary
Your personal companion for your ride trips– with plenty of space for photos and notes!
Trail Ride
The ride started directly from the stable. We rode up the small steep path to the road, where cars occasionally passed. Along the road, we went through the village of Cruz del Camino until we left it behind. At a corner, we turned right and began the steep climb into the forest. At the top, we stopped for a break. Riders dismounted, and the horses were allowed to graze. The team checked hooves for stones and removed them if necessary. After the short break, each rider remounted using a rock while the guide held the horses. Once the guide was back in the saddle, we continued riding through the hilly forest. On straight sections, we had the opportunity to trot and canter. These trot and canter stretches were short, as the paths were limited and the guide always ensured that no horses got injured. We rode continuously through the forest until we reached the mountain meadow. There, we had an extended break. While the horses grazed, the guests could eat their own packed food. Once both horses and riders were refreshed, everyone mounted up again, and we continued riding through the forest. At suitable places, we again had the opportunity to trot and canter. We followed this path until we reached the beginning of the forest section. There, we dismounted once more to allow the horses to graze. We walked the horses down the steep hill on foot, as it was too steep to ride. In two spots, guests had the option to either keep walking or remount until it got steep again. Through the village of Cruz del Camino, we led the horses and were able to ride a short distance again until we reached the steep path back to the finca. For the final stretch, we led the horses once more back to the stable.
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After the ride
Back at the stables, we brought the horses to the tie-up spots. The staff took over, unbridled and unsaddled the horses, and tied them up again. Each horse received a bucket of hay. While the horses ate, the staff checked hooves, cooled legs with cold water, and cleaned saddle areas with warm water and a sponge. Before returning the horses to their paddocks, they were covered again with fly sheets and, in some cases, fly masks. The staff waited until the horses finished eating before turning them out.
Photos
Photo breaks were possible upon request.
My Review
I really enjoyed this ride. The horses were very well cared for, and everything was relaxed and well organized. I especially liked that we walked on foot during steep downhill paths. The short grazing break was also a nice touch, giving the horses a chance to snack on grass.
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