a unique experience for horsepeople

[gesa]

Hi all,

I just have to share a unique experience for horsepeople. As far as I know it is the only place where you can ride to an island.

The island Neuwerk belongs to Hamburg but is about 100 km away from Hamburg.

At the coast is Sahlenburg a small town. There is the riding stable who makes guided tours to Neuwerk on horseback or with a carriage. They have about 30 trained Fjord ponies.

It takes about five hours to get there ( about 10 miles one way)and come back, because this is only possible when the tide goes out. About half of the time we need to gallop. It is hard if you do just slow trail rides. IT WAS GREAT FUN.

Here we were about on half way. As you can see on the jacket of my friend we were coverd with mud.

More of the island.

The small bushes in the water show the path you need to follow or you will drown in one of the tidal creeks. They were so deep that we all had wet legs to the knees. It was a bit scary, but the Ponies were calm and gave us a security.

Now my muscles and bones aching badly.....it seems that I am getting old

Gesa

[MatthewD]

Very very awesome.. thanks for the pictures...

now I just have to figure out a way to get over there long enough to get to do a bunch of the cool things..

[Regis]

I remember those tides on the North Sea. Water receeded beyond sight. I mean compleatly disappear out to sea. Where I was, near Husum Germany, the bottom was very muddy and somewhat diffult to walk because you would sink in to well above your ankles.

[pella]

that is an incredible experience :D

Do horses have humidity problem ...with their legs and hooves?! Well, i guess they have time to dry without two ride! lol

[gesa]

I am not sure, but I think they chose Fjord Ponies for their trail rides, because they are more resistant to salt water. The hooves and legs had no skin irritations.

But you can see the saddles as marks on their back, this is not the usual sore spot of a poor fitting saddle, it seems more that the sand under the saddle cause these larger "roan" patches that look like the panels.

On the way to Neuwerk the ground was not very muddy, tho hooves don't sink into the sand. It is more like almost dry concrete. You can see your footprints.

It is not possible to do this every day, for example if there is onshore wind the water will stay and it is too dangerous to ride through the water.

[Kanga]

Wow I'd love to do this one day. I can tell you of another place you can ride to an island. It's in Victoria Australia. When the tide is out you can ride to Snake Island. You need to be guided by an expert because if you stray you could end up in the channel & there's sharks!! It takes a few hours and can only be done at certain times of the year. Perhaps you'll have to come down here so you can say you've done it in both hemispheres.

Linda

[gesa]

I will tell this one of my best friends. We made this kind of ride together several years ago, ok here are no sharks..... Now she lives in Sidney and was a little envious, because she would love to do this again. I bet she don't know that there is a similar island in Australia.

Gesa