By riding a horse, we borrow liberty.
(Helen Thomson)
-Podere Casella, Sovicille, Siena,Uisp member, lessons for children in schooling ring and vaulting, 0577-314323.
-Club Ippico Senese, Pian del Lago, Siena,0577-318316
-Siena Riding Club, Loc. Il Ceppo, Siena, affiliated to Fise and Coni, 0577-318426
closed riding-ground, lessons and excursions.
-Il Cannuccio, Loc. Santa Colomba, member of Apte, riding-ground for beginners, jumping, endurance and crosscountry riding, 0577-317069
-Centro Ippico della Berardenga, Podere Casaloni, Sestano (Castelnuovo della Berardenga), Ante member, school for beginners on riding-grounds, english style, excursions and tekking for riders with a minimum of experience, english/french guides, 0577-355071.
-Az. Agricola Frosini, western style and excursions, room and board, hunting grounds, Frosini, Chiusdino, 0577-799009
-Tenuta della Selva, Casciano di Murlo, 0577-817588
3.Equestrian Tourism, horsebackriding vacations and journeys
-Il Cannuccio, Loc. Santa Colomba, cross country and endurance rides, riding-grounds, 0577/317069
-Az.Agricola Viamaggio, appartaments with swimmingpool, excursions on horseback, mountain bike and by foot, english/french guide,0577-814288.
-Podere La Ripa, Tocchi (Monticiano), appartaments with swimmingpool, riding vacations and longer trips, english/german guide,0577-757050.
-Centro Equitazione Casini, Casciano di Murlo, schooling ground for lessons, excursions and trekking on horseback, 0577-817779.
-Il Ferraiolo, Riding grounds for lessons, riding trips up to two days long, 20 horses english style, english/german/spanish guide, trekking by foot, 0577/363387.
-Centro Ippico della Berardenga, Podere Casaloni, Sestano (Castelnuovo della Berardenga), affiliated to Ante, riding ground for beginners with school, 11 horses english style, excursioni and longer trekkings for riders with a minimum of experience, english/french guides, 0577-355071.
4. Horseshows, Races and Championships
-Ippodromo Pian delle Fornaci, 0577-392057
-Club Ippico Senese, Pian del Lago, Siena,0577-318316
-Tenuta La Bagnaia
-Allevamento Pegasus, horsebox to rent and arab horses. Loc. Il Fontino, Monteriggioni,0577-304787
-Allevamento La Selva, thoroughbred and half-breed horses. Pian del Lago, Siena, 0577-318007.
A FEW HINTS
Most riding centers recommend the use of a cap or other helmet. Some places ask for a medical certificate and tetanus vaccination, especially for long excursions.
The clothing for whoever plans on riding a horse should be comfortable, jeans with thick seams are not appropriate; the riding boots can easily be replaced by a pair of tennis-shoes. A pair of gloves could be useful.
Alway chack that the tack is in good condition. During the excursions it is important to folow the guide’s instructions.
When one rides along streets with car traffic, one should keep the horse to the side of the street; the changes of direction should be indicated with one’s arm in the direction that is to be taken. The horse may ride along every road in the countryside but it should not be ridden on cultivate fields.
Castlnuovo Berardenga to Montebencini, Campi or Monteaperti: two hours or a day long rides at the Centro Ippico della Berardenga.
Castelnuovo Berardenga to Siena: a two day ride through the Sienese Crete with a pic-nic at Monteaperti. In the evening we arrive in Siena where we dine and spend the night at an Agriturismo (landhouse). The second day leads to the Chianti with a pic-nic lunch near the Castle of Brolio, and return crossing the hill of the Chianti region.
(Centro Ippico della Berardenga.)
Castelnuovo Berardenga-Castello di Brolio: a two day journey; crossing the valley of the Ambra, passing the old village of Rosennano, we reach the Castle of Brolio. The night is spent in tents in the garden of an old abandoned villa, with dinner at the camp fire under he open sky. In the morning we depart for the Chianti hills, full with Castles and landhouses. (Centro Ippico della Berardenga.)
Castelnuovo Berardenga-Rendola: two day trip from Monastero, along the hill tops and through small villages, we arrive at Rendola (equestrian center of the Valdarno where the dinner and overnight stay are planned). In the morning we pass a part of the Valdarno, the Castle of Lupinari and climbing higher towards the hill tops, discovering incredible views. (Centro Ippico della Berardenga.)
Radda in Chianti-Castello di Brolio: three day ride; from Monastero, along the road over the hill tops of the Chianti, through Badia di Coltibuono, we arrive in Radda in Chianti. Here we spend the nicht and the following morning we cross the Chiante along two abbeys hidden in the woods, up to the Castle of Brolio. The night is spent in tents in the garden of the villa Torricella, where Galileo Galilei once lived and now abandoned; the last day leads back to Monastero through the Crete and the more delicate Chianti area. (Centro Ippico della Berardenga)
Saints and Warriors Ride, from Monticiano to Montalcino: a five day ride with overnight stays in several different landhous inns. The starting point is Tocchi (Monticiano), the road goes through the woods and along the Castle of Capraia, the village of Orgia and the Castle of Grotti, with lunch in a small familiy restaurant. The second day crossse the ancient land of the Etruscans to the town of Murlo where a visit to the etruscan museum is planned, lunch at a local tavern and on to Castiglion del Bosco and Palazzo Bianco taking the road along the old mines and monasteries. The third day touches the Castles which defended Siena in the medieval ages and the Crete, up to the town of Montalcino, in the famous Brunello wineland. The fourth day takes us back towards Tocchi through the estate of Casabianca and the hot water springs of Petriolo. The last day brings us to Monticiano with a visit to the abbey of San Galgano and the hermitage of Monte Siepi. (Podere La Ripa)
-Riding school and english lessons, three times a week (tuesday, wednesday and friday, from 8:30 to 19:00) for two weeks. Each day is planned with two hours of riding lessons, one hour of theory and one hour of english, the lunch is provided by the Center. The period is from the 15 June to the 30 July, not more than twelve students, and the last sign-up date is the 30 May, the use of a cap and the A1 patent (or medical certificate and tetanus vaccination) are necesary. Centro Ippico della Berardenga, Podere Casaloni, Sestano (Castelnuovo della Berardenga), Ante member, school for beginners on riding-grounds, english style, excursions and tekking for riders with a minimum of experience, english/french guides, 0577-355071
-Riding lessons and vaulting all year round. Special all- week riding vacation is offered in July, with riding lessons, theorie and stay on the farm. Podere Casella, Sovicille, Siena,Uisp member, lessons for children in schooling ring and vaulting, 0577-314323.
This horsebreed comes from the southern coastline of Tuscany, the Maremma. These horses were considered of little value in the past although it was strong and courageous. The Maremmano was used by the italian army cavalry.
The breed has undergone important changes due to the influence of thoroughbred horses, which made the Maremmano a more gentle horse, gaining in height and proper structure for equestrian sports.
The Maremmano horse is used in jumping tournaments, and is gaining popularity among the riders who choose outdoor-countryside riding. It is known to be a horse with a safe step and great resistance to fatigue.
This animal has a medium sized head, with a strait and slightly convex profile, an evident wither, a wide back and an open and muscular chest; the lega are short and strong, with wide and sturdy hoofs. Most of the Maremmano have a bay coat, they are rarely black; only seldom do they have a sorrel or grey coat.
The horse’s temperament is lively, at times excitable and skittish.
Nevertheless it is a perfekt horse for countryside riding and suitible for riders of all levels.
Still today in some farms these horses are bred in open land and they are used by the cow-herd guardians, the so-called "butteri".
The Butteri ride the Maremmano horses with a special saddle called "bardella" or "scafarda", simular to the military saddle, with a high arch and a padded seat. The breaking in is also done according to the traditional uses in Maremma and the horses are led holding both reins in one hand; a well worke horse can sprint, stop and change direction quickly and precisely.
The Maremmano horse is an important part of the equestrian tradition in Tuscany.
The donkey of the Amiata mountain is called "miccio" by the locals and was saved from being extinct. The Amiata mountain is on the southern border of Tuscany with Lazio. In the past this animal was used for many things, such as carrying burdens or wood; with the progress of machinery the use of the donkey became less necessary, up to reaching the threat of extinction. With special operations in the last few years the number of the animals has been increased, especially in Tuscany.
The Miccio is about 135 cm tall, with a grey coat with a dark stripe of fur along the spine which crosses perpendicularly another dark stripe across the shoulders; the leds are sturdy with small dark stripes on the outside. It is a rustic animal but sociable, and is a perfekt bearer for longer trail rides and a trustable teacher for children.
Many village festivities organize a donkey race, "Palio dei Ciuchi", where this animal has achance to show his temper and liveliness.
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