Someone told me about a small riding school run by Anna  Wintle and, from what I heard, I thought that she would be the right person and it would be the right place to get back to my old passion for horses. Les Feixes (The Terraces) is a really lovely place, and Anna is the perfect person to teach me to ride, in a private lesson, where I get my confidence back with horses. 

We planned my first horseback ride for a mild and vibrant spring day. We are leaving from Les Feixes, in Sant Sadurní de l’Heura, zigzagging toward a place known as Les Serres, very close to Cruïlles. I enjoy with Anna and her horses a stimulating promenade, immersing ourselves into the different paths that take you through the oak tree and pine woods, surrounded by heather and broom… lichen on stones, rockroses, rosemary and lavender… an infinite pleasure to my eyes, for all my senses. The vivid scents of nature, aromatic herbs, flowers, fields of cereal and alfalfa. 

We enjoy a circular route of an hour and a quarter in which we pass  the Molí d’en Frigola and cross the river Daró several times. The spring season gives you the chance to ride into the river, watching over the stones, grasses, frogs and tadpoles. The path goes on attracting me with the earth covered in leaves, branches, pinecones and moss. I listen to the bee-eaters, the woodpeckers and birds of prey in the open fields. To my delight I can see the traces left by the wild pigs searching for roots and bugs. 

What a fantastic spring day, on promenade with the chestnut mare  assigned to me by Anna. Her name is Carolina, a well-experienced hack who knows the paths well, the branches and plants to take a nibble at as she goes along, the stones to avoid and the pace to take me at. My mission is to enjoy Carolina’s company and that of my friends and surroundings. I forget my hurries, but feel dynamic and active. Once in a while Anna takes me on the lead so that I may take photographs, capturing the light that beams through the vaulted paths with branches, the gestures of the rest of the group, 

the interaction between her horses, moments of reciprocity between  us and the surroundings. This pace is the best way to feel the air of Les Gavarres on horseback. The paths of rough river stones, rocks and slate are best enjoyed slowly. Before the hot season, the rivers are full of water, and my mare Carolina loves it. Buttercups, reeds, grasses, beautiful driftwood, leafy branches and green frogs, dragonflies, butterflies, wild ducks… If I get so distracted Carolina might plunge into the water in delight! We get back to Les Feixes riding through the village. Once we dismount, we help each other to untack the horses and let them roll in the manège. A good dose of carrots and apples to thank you for the outing, a shower if you need it and back to your paddock, Carolina. I think I’ll be stiff tomorrow but it was well worth it. I enjoy the company of horses and their friendly reciprocity again, so we plan our next outing with Anna. This activity fills you with joyful feelings and leaves you with a great peace of mind and harmonious thoughts.//

LES FEIXES

Anna Wintle

+34 651468997

annawintle@gmail.com

Jaume Crespo

+34 656585452

jaimecrespo7@yahoo.es