Today we had an absolutely fantastic trail ride. One of those that stays with you – a new route, beautiful weather, a bit of action with the horses, and a great group. Exactly the kind of day in the saddle that makes me love Hostěnice and the surrounding countryside so much.
And because my goal this year is to look for new trails and paths I have never ridden before, this ride fit the bill perfectly.
Where we actually ride and why Hostěnice is ideal for trail rides
A few words about the place where our ranch is located. Hostěnice is a small village in the Brno-Country District, less than twenty kilometers northeast of Brno. It lies on the border between the Drahany Highlands and the Moravian Karst, which means one thing – deep forests, especially beech forests, extensive meadows, cattle pastures, and dozens of field and forest paths to explore.
The first written records of the village date back to the 14th century, and even today Hostěnice retains its peaceful, rural character. For horses, it is exactly the kind of landscape they long for – soft forest trails, very few cars, no hustle and bustle, and plenty of space. That is precisely why I come here for peace and nature whenever I can.
Preparing the horses – before we even set out for the forest
In the morning, we met up with the girls from our ranch and immediately began the usual preparations. We brought the horses in from the paddock to their stalls, where we groomed them, removed the mud, cleaned their hooves, and saddled them. We never skimp on time for this part – a well-groomed horse and a properly checked saddle are essential for a comfortable ride.
Our group was as follows:
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I rode Frosty, my Quarter Horse mare
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Klárka rode Bullerka
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Fifinka joined the group as well
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And, of course, there was Matýsek, a slightly oversized pony
A promising start – Bullerka refuses to move just beyond the ranch gate
It all started in an interesting way. Just beyond the ranch, Bullerka apparently spotted some rocks, branches, and similar things, stopped, and refused to continue. So we had barely even set off and were already dealing with our first minor issue. Anyone who rides horses knows how it goes – a horse has a mind of its own and will occasionally make its opinion very clear.
Fortunately, after a little coaxing, she moved on, and we could finally set out along our new route.
Through the meadows past the Angus cattle – a beautiful stretch right after setting out
The first section led through meadows around a pasture with Angus cattle. Near the forest, one of our neighbors raises Aberdeen Angus – which, incidentally, is one of the best-known beef breeds in the world, originally from Scotland, specifically from the counties of Aberdeenshire and Angus. They are easy to recognize – they are those typically solid black (or deep reddish-brown), sturdy, hornless bulls, as the breed is naturally polled.
Seeing them from horseback through the blossoming orchards is, incidentally, one of the lovelier experiences you can have around Hostěnice. And on top of that, it was one of those days when the weather is starting to get really nice. The temperature rose to seventeen degrees in the morning, although the afternoon forecast promised a major storm. That is why we set out in the morning, hoping to avoid any bad weather, and it paid off – a major storm really did hit the area around Brno that afternoon.
Trotting, cantering, and searching for an unfamiliar path
This time, we turned away from the familiar routes and headed in a direction we had never ridden before – all the way behind the so-called “Bench” and from there toward Pod Hádkem, eventually passing near Ochoz u Brna. The route led mainly through beech forests, where the spring sunshine filtered between the trunks and last year’s leaves rustled underfoot.
The route offered some beautiful cantering and trotting sections. And that is exactly what every good trail ride should have – changes of pace, choosing the path according to the terrain, and that wonderful rhythm when you and your horse get in sync.
The swamp that really put us to the test
In the middle of the ride, we came across a spot where water / a puddle covered the entire path; it was almost a swamp. And that was where the more interesting part of the day began.
Bullerka started backing up, and her nervousness spooked the other horses. Frosty spun around beneath me, gave a violent jolt, and jumped sideways. In a moment like that, every second counts – you have to stay in the saddle, keep a steady hand, and gradually calm the horse down again. Fortunately, we managed it, and after a little while we were able to continue.
At the same time, these are the moments that turn trail rides into a real experience. It is not a merry-go-round at an amusement park – horses are living, sentient animals that react to their surroundings, and sometimes you simply have to improvise.
And as if that were not enough – Matýsek bolts
Once the situation had calmed down, Matýsek decided to liven things up as well. Our oversized pony simply made up his mind, and while trotting, he started cantering and could not be stopped; apparently, he urgently needed to head straight home. It was a little extra excitement, but it would not have been the same without it – with horses, you never know what awaits you, and that is precisely why every trail ride is a little adventure.
After the ride – a shower, rolling in the mud, and happy mares
We arrived back at the ranch after covering more than eight kilometers and spending almost two hours in the saddle. The first thing horses need after a ride like that, when they are sweaty and the sun is shining, is a thorough rinse with water – to wash away the sweat, cool their muscles, and then let them dry off peacefully.
And what do you think Frosty did as soon as I released her back into the paddock?
She rolled in the mud. More precisely, in the dirt. So within five minutes, she looked exactly as I remembered her from the morning. Typical. But she clearly enjoyed herself, and that is what matters most.
Eight kilometers, almost two hours in the saddle, and a plan for the whole year
Altogether, the ride took us nearly two hours, and we covered more than eight kilometers. The mares clearly enjoyed it, we had a lovely chat, and most importantly, we all reached a new part of the area where we had never ridden before.
This is becoming my goal for this year, just as it is with mushroom hunting – to look for new paths, trails, and sections to explore. Riding the same circuits all the time eventually becomes boring, both for the horses and for us. New surroundings, new hills, new scents – they make the horse work harder and stay more focused, while you discover places you would otherwise never come across.
And that is exactly what today’s ride was about. A new path, a few wild moments, two hours in the saddle, happy mares, and a group that can make even the chaos by the “swamp” fun. I could hardly imagine a better start to the riding season.
So stay tuned – there will definitely be plenty more new routes, new experiences, and new trail rides this year.
And here is a short compilation of the entire ride:
