HORSE RIDING

Day 1

The new riders arrive with heavy packs. The riding boots and helmet take up a fair amount of space in the bag. They come prepared for adventure. Some with friends, others with siblings, and the bravest ones alone. Most will be here for a week, others will do horseback riding and another week with another camp. The first afternoon we get ourselves situated: find out where the showers are, knowing when it’s our turn to set the table or how to get to the horse pen. We choose our bunk beds and start to make friends… Some of them big and hairy!

Day 2

We have breakfast in the morning sun, and afterwards we carry the day’s materials to the pen. We start getting to know the horses: we brush their hair and mane. We review their horseshoes and we saddle them. A day to connect, get to know each other, and gain trust; as much with the horses as with the riders. In the afternoon Community Service: the campsite information booth could really use a good coat of paint and we will also make birdhouses and posters. After having supper, it’s time for the game of the night. We break into groups with the rest of the camp for a few rounds of capture the flag.

Day 3

Rise and shine! Along with our chairs and helmets, we also pack a picnic to have lunch at the pen! Today a great adventure awaits us. We start by learning some techniques, then we follow the trail till El Refugi de Prat Miró. We have lunch at the meadows, then continue to Pollineres. The way back through the path of La Bassa de Comabella is incredible: alone in the woods, single file, with only the sounds of horses and song birds filling the air. What an unforgettable experience.

Day 4

Today all of the camps have a big challenge: to conquer Monturull (2.761 m). We will try to arrive at the foothills on horseback. We leave camp headed towards Prat Miró and continue to climb until Puig Punçó. Afterwards we follow the crest till Monturull. Today has been a long day, having climbed over 1.000 metres vertical from the camp. Luckily, tonight we are having an outdoor cinema where we can get some rest and eat some popcorn.

Day 5

A morning of games near the campsite. Have you ever tried to play games on horseback? We have lunch in the shade under the campsite awnings with the other groups. After lunch it’s time for ping-pong, badminton, football/soccer, basketball, making shelters… In the afternoon the youngest members of the camp also want to spend some time with the horses. We Horseback Riding campers explain everything we know to them and take them for a stroll through the surrounding area. And after dinner, a small night excursion through Prat Miró. How different it is to ride at night!

Day 6

There’s only a little bit left until the adventure ends. Today is the last long excursion day. We pack our backpacks with our packed lunch, a snack, and water. The ride till Músser going over the Mirador (view point) of El Pla de Llet has some spectacular views of the plains. Watch out for the low hanging branches! We pass by the amazing Roc dels Diners, where we will rest before making our way back to camp through Aransa. At nighttime some pizza gets us going one more time for the final party: lights, music, and dance!

Day 7

We have breakfast, we pack our bags and get everything together. The last activity is to ride bareback, what a difference! It’s amazing how we connect and notice every movement of the horse. We are in perfect sync. At midday, the first families start to arrive. The riders have so many stories to tell them… They don’t know it yet, but their parents have been reading the blog posts and haven’t missed a single detail. Our last moments are filled with hugs. And a new Pyrene sweatshirt will remind us of the good times all year long!