Spring has finally arrived. And I was finally able to properly try out the new saddle that Mr. Eliáš, a saddler I have written about before, custom-made for me. The first truly springtime ride came this Sunday, and I have to say it was exactly the experience I had been waiting for all winter.
Frosty and Me
Frosty is an American Quarter Horse mare—and if you are not familiar with this breed, believe me, it is well worth your attention.
The Quarter Horse is the most widespread horse breed in the world. It originated in colonial America sometime around 1660, when settlers began crossing English horses with fast Spanish Barbs acquired from the Chickasaw people. It was named after the quarter-mile races that these horses utterly dominated—they can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h over short distances. Cowboys later came to favor them for working cattle on ranches because they have a natural instinct for herding, known as “cow sense.”
Today, Quarter Horses no longer usually chase cattle across the prairie, but their even temperament, intelligence, and willingness to cooperate also make them absolutely ideal for peaceful trail rides. And that is exactly what Frosty is like—an incredibly sweet mare who simply makes you feel safe. Whenever I get in the saddle, I think that I could not wish for a better horse.
Incidentally, Quarter Horse breeding has experienced an interesting boom in Czechia in recent years. In 2020–2021, thanks to an American semen quality program, nineteen foals sired by stallions from the famous 6666 Ranch (Four Sixes Ranch) in Texas were born on Czech ranches, significantly enriching the genetic diversity of the local breeding population.
A Ride Around the Moravian Karst
We went for a ride around Hostěnice, a small village on the edge of the Moravian Karst. We covered a route of about six kilometers, alternating between walking, trotting, and cantering, and simply enjoyed the sense of freedom that riding a horse in the countryside gives you.
And the scenery. You forget how much you miss all of this in winter, and then the first day of spring arrives and suddenly you see everything through different eyes. The first buds are beginning to appear on the trees, the first spring flowers are waking up in the forest, and everything is gradually turning green. After months of grayness and winter, it is as if someone decided to repaint the entire world.
Incidentally, the Moravian Karst, along whose edge we rode, is an absolutely fascinating area. It covers more than 90 km² northeast of Brno and is the largest karst region in the entire Czech Republic. Beneath the surface of this landscape lie more than 1,100 caves, including the famous Macocha Abyss, which is nearly 139 meters deep, while the entire system of underground passages stretches for dozens of kilometers. The Kůlna Cave even contains evidence of the region’s earliest Neanderthal settlement, dating back 120,000 years. So when you ride a horse along the local trails, you are literally riding above one of Central Europe’s most extensive cave labyrinths—and that is quite a powerful feeling.
But you do not have to look underground to experience something exceptional here. Above ground, the Moravian Karst is characterized by deep canyons, bizarre rock formations, romantic castle ruins, and beautiful countryside that is home to more than 2,000 species of butterflies, among other wildlife. In spring, when the landscape awakens, it is one of the most beautiful places in Moravia.
The New Saddle from Mr. Eliáš
I also have to mention the new saddle. Mr. Eliáš custom-made it for me, and this ride was only about its third outing on the trail. What can I say—it fit perfectly, both horse and rider. A high-quality Western saddle is absolutely essential for longer rides—a bad saddle can ruin your entire day, while a good saddle simply “disappears,” allowing you to focus on the trail and your horse.
What Comes Next
The cows watched us curiously during the ride, the forest is beginning to awaken, and I honestly cannot wait for everything to bloom and turn even greener. This year, I want to go riding as often as possible, head out on longer rides and multi-day horseback trips, and simply make the most of the riding season.
Because these moments—when you are sitting in the saddle, surrounded by silence broken only by the sounds of nature, with a horse you trust walking beneath you—are exactly what makes it all worthwhile.
I am looking forward to more rides, and I will share them here on the blog as well. If horseback riding appeals to you and you are somewhere in South Moravia, the area around the Moravian Karst is absolutely ideal for trail rides—the combination of forest roads, meadows, and rolling countryside is simply fantastic.
