We Love Horse Riding in Autumn

It is easy to imagine that the woods around Reschio have changed rather less than the ways in which we travel through them. For centuries, riders followed many of these same woodland tracks, on journeys that might take them to the next village, across their own land or out in pursuit of game. Today, setting off on horseback still carries the memory of that older world. And in the autumn woods with the light fading early and the undergrowth alive with movement, it is not difficult to imagine coming across a fellow traveller from another time.

Autumn brings its own character to the woods. There is the smell of damp earth and mushrooms, and the low sun casting long, slanting rays through the trees, catching the leaves still clinging to the branches in shades of gold and rust. The ground, softened by rain and covered in fallen leaves, gives slightly beneath the horses’ hooves. You become aware of the steady rhythm of the ride, the sound of hooves on the earth and the warmth of the horse beneath you. These are simple sensations, but together they make the experience feel quite unlike any other time of year.

One of the pleasures of exploring the woods on horseback is never quite knowing what other creatures you might come across. The woodland is rich in wildlife, and riding offers a good chance of catching sight of its wild inhabitants. From the saddle, it is easier to spot movement between the trees, while the horses’ presence often allows animals to remain undisturbed. With paths winding past small lakes and clearings, the landscape is vast enough to ride for hours without meeting another person or a car. There is a particular pleasure in this sense of space, and in the feeling that the woods have been left entirely to you.