Day 7: Half-day ride to the Wurzer Alm

October 15, 2021

So, us girls are very excited today because we're going 'high on horseback' for 5 hours to the Wurzer Alm and back. I'm still unsure what I have more respect for: the 5 hours on horseback or the muscle soreness afterwards? Let's see 🤭

While the guys are still sleeping, I have breakfast with the daughter and when the men of the house are also awake, we leave the apartment around 9:30 am.

Peter and Sandra are already busy cleaning and saddling the horses, and of course, we help. Today, in addition to Peter's Daisy, Artax, Issy, and Fany are ready. Oh nice, I get to ride Fany again on this long trip.

Each horse is given a knotted halter under the bridle, and Sandra attaches the matching lead rope to the western saddle. We start right on time at 10 o'clock, with Mara joining us again.

Just like the last two times, we go through the forest towards Hafling, cross the road, and then ride steadily uphill above Hafling into the forest. At some point, I lose my orientation, but we are constantly going uphill and we often come across hikers. Bordercollie Ronja is also with us again, jumping confidently into every stream to cool off...!? Brr, the morning temperatures below 10 degrees don't really tempt me to splash around.

In the forest, we come across a large riding group with more than 10 riders, obediently riding in a row as a troop. These are the "standard rides" that you can book here. So, riding with just the four of us (usually side by side) is somehow more relaxed and entertaining 😃😇

Passing farms, herds of cows, and forest paths, we reach the first "Alm" after about 2.5 hours, where a large herd of free-roaming horses greets us with neighing. Peter seems to know all the horses by name, while our horses obediently walk past the other horses. Oh, how wonderful it is that the horses also have days, weeks, or even months of "freedom" on the alpine pasture in the mountains.

At the end of the slope, we can see the "Wurzer Alm", our destination for lunch today.

Some hikers give us envious looks as we effortlessly pass them during the last climb. We attract attention for sure, thanks to the horses.

The girls and I treat ourselves to a huge portion of Kaiserschmarrn - delicious! The sun is now out and warming, so we can sit in the sun without a jacket. Super nice ☀️☀️

After lunch, we have a latte macchiato, and then, after a good hour-long break, we "go high on horseback" again down to the "valley" towards Hafling.

The "descent" is much more exciting than the way up, as Peter rides with us on narrow, rocky hiking paths where I wouldn't know where to put my foot even if I were on foot. But the horses can do it - long reins, close your eyes, and go 🙈🤪🤭

The girls squeal behind me as we go down a very narrow and steep path. Now that's what I call an adventure - on horseback, of course.

We encounter some hikers struggling up the steep path with poles in their hands. No, I wouldn't want to trade places now 🤭

We reach the Gfreinhof around 3 pm. Let's see how much our bottoms will hurt tomorrow. But the girls and I agree: it was wonderful!!!!

We feel a little melancholy because tomorrow we will unfortunately leave the Gfreinhof with its Haflingers. The vacation is not over yet, but for now, it seems to be my last equestrian experience. Such a shame... I could stay here for another week and explore more alpine pastures with the horse 😇

After unsaddling the horses, we take them to the pasture and take a look around the stable. During the ride, Peter told us that they have a pig in the stable that likes to roam around on the farm when there are no guests. We haven't seen the pig yet, so we visit it in the stable, where it greets us with a grunt.

I spend the afternoon on the sun lounger on our small terrace "with a view", watching the horses in the pasture. The girls amuse themselves at the stable and on the swings (with a view, of course).

Sonny boy is back with dad too. They took another trip to Meran 2000.

However, this time they didn't take the cable car, but walked to the mountain station and then went downhill on the Alpine Bob a few times before descending. The two of them had a great day 😜

Before we pack, we want to settle the bill and meet Sandra in the office. Unfortunately, she doesn't (yet) have a card reader, so we quickly drive to Hafling to the bank and pay the remaining amount in cash. Hopefully, the ATM has enough money, as the guest in front of us was also withdrawing cash 😬

Arriving at the bank (next to the Pizzeria Platzl), we try our luck and succeed. However, Sandra will now have enough "small change" for the next few weeks, as we receive almost 1000 € in 10 and 20 euro bills 🤣🙈😜

After dinner, we have to clean up and pack. We especially need to pack strategically and leave everything we don't need for skiing in the car for the next few days. The annoying packaging is eventually done in the evening, and we load the car in the morning.

After the evening game round, we go to bed.

Oh yes, it was really nice here at the Gfreinhof.... 😍❣️