Voormalige Trailpaarden

A fateful meeting that was to change everything.

René and I had been out a lot with Spirit, our Cruzado gelding. But what we lacked was a second horse with which to go on extended trail rides. René often accompanied me with Spirit on foot or by bike, and we wanted to change that.

In June 2021 we flew to Barcelona to ride the challenging Andorra Trail. As soon as we arrived, I fell in love with the cappuccino-coloured gelding, who immediately approached me with curiosity. If I want one, it will be him!

You could say it was love at first sight. After a sleepless night, Quito was indeed assigned to me. Rudi only said that he was young and that it was his first time on this demanding trail. But Quito is an " awesome horse ", I still remember that so often... And how right he was, you just have to understand him (even if it is not always easy) LOL.

It was an unforgettable trip to Andorra and I knew before it was over... this great horse should come home with me. This was the horse I had been looking for. After a bit of back and forth, everything fell into place.

We had agreed with Rudi that Quito would finish this season and he would bring him to Switzerland on his way to Germany in January 2022. No sooner had this been agreed than we had the brilliant idea of riding Quito together with Spirit from Terradelles to us in the Zürcher Oberland in Switzerland.

Said and done... After 1800 km in storm, rain and wild landscapes we arrived safely in the Zürcher Oberland.

It was a great adventure for us, unforgettable, and we all got to know each other better. And yes, we would do it again any time.

There are days when I just want to hug him, he is like a boy scout, always up for anything, always ready for new challenges. But there are also days when I could just shoot him to the moon....

Our little Quito, destined for great things!

In June 2016, I went on the Paths of Herdsmen Trail with Panorama-Trails. They chose a horse called Valent for me. He was 8 years old back then. It was love at first sight! At the end of this wonderful trail I said to my friend that it was my dream to have my own PRE horse. At home, I already had a 26-year-old mare with arthrosis that could not be ridden anymore.

In May 2020, my friend asked me if I had seen that Panorama-Trails put Valent up for sale. I immediately sent an email, and everything took its course. After having been in touch with Corinna for two months and a test ride on Valent, I decided to buy him. He came to Luxembourg at the beginning of August 2020 and quickly settled in. He is an amazing horse, a pleasure to be around.

I am very grateful to Corinna and Rudi for their efforts. Thank you very much!

In July 2013, I booked another riding holiday in Spain. I went on the Andorra Trail. It feels like it was yesterday, when Rudi showed me Venado and told me this would be my horse for this trail.

I still remember how he was standing there tied up to a tree looking at me with his large brown eyes. And, what can I say, it was a perfect match. No matter how steep the paths in the mountains were, or how many riding hours per day, he has always carried me safely to our destination. We enjoyed truly magical days on the Andorra Trail. I was falling in love more with him every day.

Back in Germany, I simply could not get him out of my head. One week later, I called Rudi and told him that I would like to buy Venado. In September, he came all the way from Spain to my home in Bavaria, Germany.

Venado was exactly how I got to know him on the trail - very gentle and well-behaved and always forward-going and a safe ride.

He got used to his new home with ease. We have never had any problems. As he has always been out on trail rides in a group, I was doubting if I could go on rides with him all by myself. I had nothing to worry about. We have already been on several trail rides – regardless of whether we are in a group or alone, we always have a good time and he is not afraid of anything. Tractors, cyclists from behind, barking dogs, even a fire exercise – he stays calm and passes everything. In addition, he is motivated in our classes in the indoor arena.

Seven years have passed since I have bought Venado, and I have never regretted it! He is an amazing horse, and I look forward to many more years together with him!

I can honestly say I fell in love with Senega the evening he stepped off the trailer from his long journey to the UK. He literally has been my dream come true! I previously owned a rather strong-natured Welsh cob, who I loved dearly but always felt slightly uncomfortable that we were never really right for each other. The last couple of years I struggled with the decision to sell him. Finally, I did part with him after six years, it was a sad time but he found a loving suitable home.

Megan and Arnau became new liveries this year at our yard. They bought their two beautiful horses with them from Spain - Picasso and Sansa. Megan previously was a volunteer at Panorama-Trails and described Senega to me and said he would be my perfect match. She was so right! Senega had arrived at Panorama-Trails when he was only five and worked faithfully until he was nineteen! He was steadily approaching a quieter life and where more perfect to take that life, than here to the UK with me! Thankfully with the help of Corrina and Rudi, Senega arrived in the UK on 18th July. He is such a beautiful horse with the kindest soul and gentle nature, I adore him. He gives me total confidence and my love for riding has definitely come back to me. Senega has settled into his new surroundings amazingly and enjoys his English life with his new family. I have a wonderful horse and two lovely new friends Megan & Arnau who have helped me more than they will ever know. Thank you to everyone at Panorama-Trails!

In June 2019, we were on the Andorra Trail with Rudi. This was an indescribable adventure and nature experience! Yakari and Gitano were our intrepid and surefooted companions on this beautiful trail - which would change our lives...

Back in Germany it was clear: a life without horses was out of question for us now! We decided that no other horses than these two treasures would do! So, we took heart and asked Rudi if we could bring them to Germany - and in December 2019 we took them out of the van at home!

Fortunately, the first winter in Germany was not very cold and the two Spaniards quickly acclimatised and integrated very well into their new herd.

Here in the Prignitz we have great extensive forests and perfect sandy field paths and since the beginning we hack out a lot doing trail rides. On our first rides over several days Yakari and Gitano brought us safely from station to station: passing windmills, tractors, forest workers and dwellers - the two always stay cool and calm. Only the puddles and lakes are still a bit spooky...but they we are making progress with them! ;-)

The love from the first trail in Spain is growing every day and we can't imagine a life without them now! Thanks to Rudi, our dream could come true and thanks to Daniela, who organised everything wonderfully!

We thank the great Panorama-Trails team and are looking forward to seeing them again soon!

In July 2016, we spent a wonderful week with Panorama-Trails and we got to know Aromático on our four-day trail with Katrin.

At home we often thought about these beautiful days and Aromático and missed him so much. We stayed in touch with Katrin and asked about him regularly.

In April 2017, we decided to bring Aromático to Germany. We flew back to Catalonia and met Rudi. We had two great days there and we were able to ride with Rudi and his team through the beautiful landscape and of course enjoy time with Aromático.

Thanks to Daniela's great organization in May 2017 finally Aromático came to Germany.

He has settled in very well. We ride a lot and he is in the paddock with his friends every day.

Aromático is an incredibly great, reliable and lovable horse. We wouldn't give him back for all the money in the world!

I met Bonico for the first time when I was on the Pirates Trail in May 2018. I had described my wishes of the horse to the horseback riding travel agency beforehand. On the first morning of the trail I went to see the horses ahead of time. I immediately saw the beautiful active horse secretly hoping it would be for me. This horse was Bonico and he was going to be my trail horse. Our journey together was about to begin. Bonico was everything I had dreamed off: unique character, lovely to ride and very handsome. When I returned home, I missed him a lot. I was happy to hear that Rudi wanted to sell Bonico to me in Finland.

Bonico arrived in Southern Finland in August 2018. At first, he lived at a nice stables near a natural park with two other horses. I soon realized that Bonico needed more horses around him and I moved him to bigger stables where he began to feel more relaxed. The first winter went very well. He was ok with snow, frost, rugs, boots and studs.

Bonico is an amazing trail horse and that was one of the reasons why I bought him. He loves to go on hacks which we mainly do but he also seems to be a wonderful horse to ride in the arena. What I love the most is his character. He is strong, social and knows what he wants. He is very sweet and trusts me a lot. He likes routines and loves carrots and mares.

In summer, Bonico lives with other geldings in a big paddock where he can canter and eat green grass. Nowadays he seems to be very relaxed and enjoys his early retirement days. I hope that we will still have many years together.

If someone had told me before my holiday in November 2019 that I would not only be enriched by a wonderful trail riding experience, but also by a new family member, I would probably have smiled wearily.

But sometimes destiny makes other plans! I got to know Browny on my first ride with Panorama-Trails. Honestly, it wasn't love at first sight. When we met, it was raining cats and dogs and Browny was anything but enthusiastic about being groomed. Therefore, he soon got his nickname "Grumpy"... But because of his very special nature, this chestnut gelding sneaked slowly into my heart. In the saddle we harmonised from the first minute. He was sensitive and sure-footed and together we spent wonderful hours on the Mediterranean Trail. When I got home, it was clear to me that Browny had secured a place not only in my heart, but also with me in Upper Bavaria!

After some personal difficulties and shortly before Coronavirus could spoil it all for us in March Browny finally moved to me. Thanks to his group-experience, he quickly felt at home in his new small herd of horses. The mares in particular quickly succumbed to his charming nature and perhaps also to his Spanish temperament.

I notice how relaxed Browny gets from day to day and how he enjoys having only me as a permanent caregiver. The wonderful rides we have had in this short time Browny has been with me are unique. Here you simply notice what great work is invested in the horses at Panorama-Trails. Browny bravely leads the group when riding andit is very easy to handle him. He is up for everything and does not hesitate for a second, not even for bigger challenges.

After a brisk ride, Browny's second major strength comes up: eating. I have rarely seen a horse that looks forward to eating like Browny. His loud neighing when I come around the corner with his beloved mash always makes me laugh.

Dear Rudi, Daniela and Panorama-Trails Team,
Thank you for entrusting me Browny and thank you for all your support! Above all, Daniela, you worked so tirelessly that "the brown one" could come to me. I hope that we will send many more voice messages! ;-) I am looking forward to Browny’s and my time together and we will work and grow together on our big goal, the crossing of the Alps, which starts right on my doorstep. I think if I asked Browny, he would just say, "Sure, when we are going? But don't forget to pack enough food! "

I first met Picasso after almost two years volunteering at Panorama Trails. By this point, I had ridden a number of the horses and had a few favourites! When Picasso arrived at Panorama-Trails he was a very inexperienced horse, nervous in every way including being tidied up, brushed, mounting and appeared to have very little previous experience of trail riding! He was clearly very green and untrusting. After a few months of riding him, I decided that although Picasso would have made a brilliant trail horse, I had to try to buy him for myself! I had completely fallen in love with him and his cheeky personality, sensitive nature and smooth gaits! Thank goodness Rudi agreed and let me buy him! I am so grateful to Rudi for letting me buy my forever horse from him! We enjoyed two years in Catalonia before returning to the UK earlier this year. Picasso is really enjoying the English countryside, a fantastic network of off-road bridleways and lots of green grass! We have started some show jumping and are looking forward to new adventures here! I will return regularly to see everyone at Panorama Trails and cannot wait to ride out with Rudi, Corinna and the rest of the gang soon!

In May 2019 I travelled with a friend to Catalonia to do a trail ride in the Pyrenees. This was my first trail ride on a horse, that was not my own and the first time ever on a riding holiday. I didn’t really know what to expect, but on the first evening before the trail I noticed this very lovely looking bay gelding with very sweet and gentle eyes. The horse turned out to be a 5-year old Andalusian named Ratu. He was still rather new to life as a trail horse and was going to be ridden by a Panorama-Trails staff member on the trail I was going on, as this was Ratu’s first trail.

I was given another horse for the trail, which I was very pleased with. But the first night on the trail I sprained my ankle very badly when I get off the horse. Because the horse I was riding was a little bit difficult getting on especially with a bad ankle, Rudi suggested that maybe I should ride Ratu for the rest of trail. I agreed to that, and I never regretted it for one second! Even though Ratu was young and not so experienced, he was very sweet and such a joy to ride.

Even when he got a little nervous about cows or barking dogs (as young horses sometimes do), I felt very safe and happy riding him. When I walked (or rather limped) next to him I got the clear feeling that he was waiting for me and was taking such good care of me when I struggled with walking up and down the steep mountains.

During the trail I fell more and more in love with Ratu. At home I had lost my trail and endurance horse 6 months earlier, but I had still two horses at home and I certainly wasn’t planning to buy a horse in Spain. Yet when we finished the trail, I couldn’t help asking Rudi if he would consider selling Ratu. Luckily Rudi was persuaded to sell him to me.

In July 2019, Ratu arrived in Denmark after a long trip all the way from Spain. Despite being just 5 years old and having his life completely changed, he took everything with a calm and sensible approach. Already after a few weeks he followed me everywhere I went and walked next to me whenever I walked around in the paddock. Now he has been in Denmark for almost 3 months and is starting his life as a trail and endurance horse in Denmark.

In summer 2019 I rode my first trail with Panorama-Trails. My friend and I chose the Fresh & Salt Water Trail.

When I saw Timi I just hoped that he would be assigned to me, he was just gorgeous!

Nicky and Tash simply have a good feel for horses and riders and chose perfectly for me! Because from minute to minute, and kilometre to kilometre, I liked Timi's gentle, sensitive nature more and more.

Tash told me that it was Timi's first trail for two weeks and we immediately bonded, I could not help but fall in love with him!

Five days and 135 kilometres later, still at the airport, I saw on the Panorama-Trails website that Timi was offered for sale.

With the help of Daniela everything went very quickly, and we organised it perfectly! Since the 1st October 2019 Timi has been here with us in the far north of Germany.

We put our newcomer Timi together with my gelding Carinjo from the very first minute. I knew that the two of them would immediately get on with one another and in fact the two fit together perfectly!

Behind his shy, frightened manor was a well-behaved, lovely, gentle giant. After overcoming this shyness towards us, he has developed into the herd boss, the perfect hand horse, the leader of the group when riding and recently we even hack out alone.

Now Timi is with his new buddy at our farm and we are just so happy that he has become part of the family!

Liefde op het tweede gezicht!

Toen ik Faro (toen vijftien jaar oud) bijna zeven jaar geleden voor het eerst zag, zag ik een paard dat een klein beetje naar een ander paard snauwde dat ook wachtte om te worden geborsteld. Hij was niet gemeen - hij had alleen zijn eigen ruimte nodig.

Tijdens onze trailrit was ik diep onder de indruk omdat hij zo ontspannen en nuchter was. Op de tweede dag werd ik in een oogwenk verliefd op Faro en hadden we echt contact. Misschien was het toen hij zijn hoofd over me wreef terwijl ik hem losmaakte (ik weet dat je de paarden dit niet moet laten doen omdat we ze zouden moeten laten zien wie de baas is, maar ik deed het toch). Misschien was het ook zijn absolute betrouwbaarheid en zijn liefdevolle karakter. Ik wist al snel dat ik Faro een comfortabel bejaardentehuis wilde bieden.

Dank aan jullie allemaal; speciaal voor Niki, Dani en Rudi, op 24 september 2011 kreeg ik het mooiste cadeau in mijn leven aangeboden: Rudi bracht Faro naar mij!

De eerste paar maanden wilde Faro niet alleen de wei verlaten. Hij vertrouwde me niet (waarom zou hij, hij kende me amper?), Hij bleef bij de kudde, raakte bevriend met een Fries en speelde prachtig met hem. Vaak kwam ik bij de manege en ik zag geen door vlooien gebeten grijs, maar een zwart en bruin paard dat weer in de modder rolt.

Nu na zes en een half jaar: Faro is nog steeds vaak bruin. Er verandert niets! Hij is nu eenentwintig en een half jaar oud, maar nog steeds een complete boef. Hij is speels met zijn vrienden, gebruikt onze wandelingen om alle smakelijke planten in het bos te proberen en we gaan helemaal alleen op pad. Hij is mijn soulmate, mijn vuurtoren, mijn grootste schat. Hij heeft een heerlijk karakter, hij verrast me keer op keer, hij maakt me aan het lachen en hij kent mijn zwakheden zonder er ooit van te profiteren. Bij hem zijn brengt veel vreugde in mijn leven, of ik nu naar hem kijk, zijn mooie harige neus ruik, met hem een wandeling maak of op hem rijd. Faro is gewoon het beste wat me ooit in mijn leven is overkomen!

Claudia & Tizón

Eind oktober 2016 reisde ik voor de 4e keer naar Catalonië om samen met Rudi een trektocht te doen. Het was al de tweede "piraten trail" voor mij. Zoals altijd was het een verrassing welk paard ik zou krijgen. Deze keer werd het Tizón. In die tijd was hij net nieuw en zou hij voor de eerste keer op een bergtocht moeten gaan. Rudi vroeg me of ik deze eervolle taak wilde opnemen. Zeker, heel graag! Dus we begonnen aan onze tocht en ... hij was gewoon fantastisch (om Rudi's woorden te gebruiken)! Heel pienter, goed in de omgang en gevoelig voor mijn acties. Voor zijn jonge leeftijd was hij erg dapper en geïnteresseerd in alles. Ik zat in een ietwat moeilijke fase van mijn leven en de "kleine zwarte man", zoals ik hem noem, bracht me grote vreugde en liet me mijn zorgen in mijn verre thuisland even vergeten.

Om zeker te zijn van mijn gevoelens, reed ik in april en oktober 2017 nog twee tochten met Panorama Trails. Deze keer wilde ik niet verrast worden door het paard, ik wilde gewoon Tizón hebben, en ik had hem beide keren.

Op 29 oktober 2017 wilde ik de spijker op de kop slaan. Eindelijk kwam het tot een handdruk, ongelooflijk, maar waar, Rudi gaf zijn toestemming en ik kocht dit mooie paard! Tizón, mijn buddy en nog veel meer! Toen ging alles vrij snel, want Rudi moest naar de Horse & Hunt Fair in Hannover, hij deed de suggestie om mij daarheen met hem mee te nemen. En 6 weken na de trektocht, op 6 december 2017 ('s werelds beste Sinterklaas-cadeau!), gaf hij hem aan mij op een ontmoetingsplaats in een stal bij Hannover. Daar ben ik samen met minj “kleine zwarte man” een nacht gebleven, omdat we onze eindbestemming die dag niet hadden kunnen bereiken. De volgende ochtend laadden op voor de laatste 450 km. Helaas was er nog steeds een klein probleempje, we moesten voor de laatste 30 km nog een noodopvangplek zoeken, omdat er een storm was die het transport van auto's met aanhangers uit veiligheidsoverwegingen verbood, de DB Autozug sleepte ons gewoon weg! Het nieuwe huis van Tizón bevindt zich in Noord-Duitsland, op het eiland Sylt ... en je kunt er alleen met de veerboot of met de autotrein komen.

Na een nacht in een box in Friedrich-Wilhelm-Lübke Koog bereikten we Morsum op Sylt op 8 december 2017! De oversteek met de DB Autozug was niet zo aangenaam voor Tizón, omdat het transport achteruit reed. Hij galoppeerde ter plaatse. Het huis van Tizón staat in een open stal bij mij achter het huis. Ik heb al 2 paarden (een merrie van 24 en een ruin van 25 jaar). Ze zijn al met pensioen en de jongere Tizón is nu de derde in de groep. Eerst gescheiden en later raakten ze langzaam aan elkaar gewend en zo groeit mijn kleine kudde langzaam samen. Slechts 3 dagen na aankomst begon de winter en sneeuwde het… een cultuurschok voor dit Spaanse paard ... Maar net zoals ik hem leerde kennen, liet hij zich door dit weer niet tegenhouden. Zijn nieuwsgierigheid en zijn goede sociale gedrag in de kudde zijn goed voor hem. Vrienden van mij vertelden me dat ik niet met hem moest knoeien, want anders zou hij misschien wel de onafhankelijkheid verklaren.

Ik ben niet op zoek naar een nieuw paard, alleen iemand met huisdieren kan dat begrijpen:

Ik heb Tizón gevonden!

Vele jaren heb ik dressuur gereden op warmbloedige dieren en later een paar jaar in duursporten getraind en wanneer mijn paarden te oud waren voor sport gingen ze gewoon off-road. Tegelijkertijd reed ik vele jaren over paden in vele delen van de wereld, waarvan zes Panorama Trails in Catalonië en drie op Tizón. Ik weet niet precies wat ik nu met hem van plan ben, maar het is zeker dat ik uitkijk naar een geweldige tijd met hem, we zullen samen zeker weten iets goeds ontwikkelen!

Veel dank aan allen die met me gepraat hebben, me gesteund hebben en me geholpen hebben dit project waar te maken, dat waardeer ik heel erg! Daniela en Rudi, duizend maal dank!