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Trail riding is life...
This page describes how trail riding has shaped and changed my life over a long period of time.
Trail riding was never a hobby or a deliberate lifestyle choice for me.
It developed gradually, through time in the saddle, through long distances, and through days and months spent on the trail with my own horse in different cultures all over the world. Cultures, where horses were still the main form of transportation. Over time, it changed how I think, how I make decisions, and how I assess situations. Not only while riding, but beyond it.
Spending extended time on the trail sharpens awareness of connections and limits – those of the horse and one’s own. Trail riding became less of something special and more of something natural.
It influences how I work with horses, how I ride, how I prepare, and what I consciously leave behind.
This page describes that path and forms the personal background for everything found on this website – content, clinics, rides, texts, images, and maps.
For me, trail riding is not a goal, but a way of life.
Trail riding is life – and the trail is life
I’ve been traveling with horses for over 20 years, in many countries where horses are still a means of transport and people live very simply — and often very happily. Somewhere along the way, trail riding changed me. That’s why I keep saying the same thing, again and again, usually to people who didn’t ask for it: Trail riding is life.
The trail rider’s path is full of surprises — some great, some less so. Depending on where I’m traveling, it often demands my full attention, which is nature’s polite way of saying: be here now.
Every single day is packed with adventure: the terrain, the weather, the body, the soul, the adrenaline, the views that make you forget your own name, the gentle splash of a creek, or the very satisfying sound of horses chewing in the evening pasture.
By the end of a long day, I usually fall asleep within minutes — tired, exhausted, happy.
That said, I always sleep with one ear tuned to the horses. When it suddenly gets too quiet, I wake up, listen intensely, hear something reassuring, and fall asleep again immediately. Perfect system.
When I’m in the high mountains — the Rockies, the Tien Shan, the Alps — I don’t know where I’ll sleep that night. I only know we’ll head down into the valley to find food for the horses, and then we’ll deal with whatever else shows up.
And yes, it’s often touch and go.
Will we make it down this glacier valley?
Can we cross that river?
Is that swamp really a swamp?
Will we reach the next hut or campsite before dark?
Exciting questions. Daily.
So why travel with a horse?
Because my horse is dramatically better at navigating nature than I am.
He’s stronger, more capable, and opens up possibilities I simply wouldn’t have on my own. Together, we’re a team with one shared goal: finish the journey properly.
I love beautiful places. I really do. Turquoise lakes, snow‑covered peaks, green alpine meadows — all great.
But I’m more interested in what’s behind the next pass, the next ridge, the next valley. That curiosity taught me something important: you don’t need much to be content.
Our modern lives are full of things we’re told we need because they’ll “save time.” Somehow, we never notice how buying more and more keeps us from actually living.
Getting by with the essentials, and enjoying life in all its colorful chaos — that’s real life.
The space in my horse’s saddlebags is limited. Everything we need to be fully self‑sufficient in the mountains has to fit — and my horse shouldn’t carry a gram more than necessary. That’s a good thing.
I pack by one simple rule:
What do I need so I don’t die?
That gives me about five or six essentials. Everything beyond that is luxury.
A second pair of pants.
An inflatable sleeping mat.
And since my 70s — a three‑legged folding chair. Priorities change.
The less I carry, the less I lose, and the easier it is for my horse.
That’s efficiency. And in nature, efficient systems survive.
Which is why it feels incredible to jump into a cold mountain stream on a hot day and put on a clean T‑shirt. Or to sit by a crackling campfire at night, smell wet earth after rain, watch the stars move, and listen to animals in the dark.
On the trail, there is exactly one non‑negotiable priority:
The horses must have water and food tonight.
After almost 60,000 kilometers, there was only one time I couldn’t organize enough feed. One time.
No matter what happens, no matter the obstacle — my horses will eat tonight.
That mindset — determination, stamina, assertiveness — is what trail riding teaches you.
Turning back is rarely an option.
“No” is not an option.
“There’s no such thing as can’t.”
The only certainty is this: you can plan as much as you want, consider every scenario, prepare for everything — and things will still turn out differently.
Which is why trail riding forces you to be content with the present, whatever it looks like. Flexibility isn’t an exception — it’s the rule.
It’s like a law of nature: when one door slams shut, another opens somewhere else. You just have to find it.
Do your best. Be patient.
Worrying is useless. Fretting is a waste of energy.
Que sera, sera.
The trail is like life. Life is a challenge and an adventure.
The trail is real life — it’s about something. It’s about the life of my horse, and my own life.
I don’t need second‑hand adventures.
I can live them myself.
Trail riding – A journey into freedom with your horse
The first rays of sunlight break through the treetops, while your horse plays impatiently with its ears. It knows that today is a special day. A day when you will set off together – not just on a long journey through forests, meadows and mountains, but also on a journey to find yourselves. Trail riding is more than just a trip with your horse, it is an adventure that brings you together, strengthens your bond and makes you an inseparable team.
The horse as a partner – trust on four hooves
A trail horse is not a simple mount. It is a partner, a companion, a friend you can rely on in any situation. While traveling with it, you learn to interpret its slightest movements, understand its moods and respect its instincts. Out in the wild, your horse can perceive things that you don't notice – the cracking of a branch in the distance, the slight change in the wind, or the scent of a wild animal. You can feel when it pauses, pricks up its ears and takes a deep breath. Maybe it's a deer scurrying through the undergrowth, or an unknown path ahead of you.
The relationship between rider and horse is crucial, especially on long rides. You have to trust each other and provide mutual reassurance. A trail horse is not a piece of sports equipment – it is a living creature with its own thoughts, with tiredness, with joy and curiosity. If you strengthen this bond, your horse will not only carry you through rough terrain, but will also help you to overcome the challenges that await you.
Together through the wilderness – horses are more than just a means of transportation
Your horse doesn't just carry you over hills and through rivers. It is your loyal companion, your protector and often even your teacher. As you walk through narrow trails, you will learn how gently and deliberately it sets its feet. As it wades through a stream, you will feel how it tests the ground with each step to make sure it is safe.
An experienced trail rider learns to read their horse – is it tired, does it need a break? Does it feel uncomfortable with a certain stretch of road? You don't force a horse over a difficult transition – you give it time, show it the way, let it decide for itself. And if you do it right, your horse will follow you unconditionally because it knows: you are the person who protects it.
But there are also moments when your horse surprises you. Maybe at some point you feel that you are tired yourself, the steps are getting heavy, the path seems endless. And at that very moment, your horse lifts its head, pulls up, and bravely leads the way – as if to say, “Don't worry, I'm here. We'll make it together.”
Nights under the stars – the magic of bonding
After a long ride, you reach your resting place. The fire crackles, the horse peacefully nibbles on blades of grass, the moon is high above you. You stroke its warm neck, feel the muscles under its fur and know: without this animal, you would not be here today. It has carried you, overcome obstacles for you, lent you its strength.
There is nothing more intimate than spending a night under the stars with your horse. No stable, no stall partition between you – just nature and your mutual trust. In these moments, you realize that your horse is not just a mount, but a loyal companion with whom you can discover the world in a whole new way.
Conclusion – A journey for the heart and soul
Trail riding is not just a sport, not just a leisure activity. It is a journey into the soul of your horse and into your own. It is an experience that teaches you humility – humility in the face of nature, in the face of your horse's strength, and in the silent language that connects you.
Once you have traveled with your horse through untouched landscapes, you will see the world with different eyes. You will understand the meaning of trust, patience and partnership in a way that only a horse can teach. And when you return one day, you will know that the bond between you is forever. Because you didn't just ride – you grew, you learned, and you found a friend for life.