Ratu & Iben (Denmark)

In May 2019 I travelled with a friend to Catalonia to do a trail ride in the Pyrenees. This was my first trail ride on a horse, that was not my own and the first time ever on a riding holiday. I didn’t really know what to expect, but on the first evening before the trail I noticed this very lovely looking bay gelding with very sweet and gentle eyes. The horse turned out to be a 5-year old Andalusian named Ratu. He was still rather new to life as a trail horse and was going to be ridden by a Panorama-Trails staff member on the trail I was going on, as this was Ratu’s first trail.

I was given another horse for the trail, which I was very pleased with. But the first night on the trail I sprained my ankle very badly when I get off the horse. Because the horse I was riding was a little bit difficult getting on especially with a bad ankle, Rudi suggested that maybe I should ride Ratu for the rest of trail. I agreed to that, and I never regretted it for one second! Even though Ratu was young and not so experienced, he was very sweet and such a joy to ride.

Even when he got a little nervous about cows or barking dogs (as young horses sometimes do), I felt very safe and happy riding him. When I walked (or rather limped) next to him I got the clear feeling that he was waiting for me and was taking such good care of me when I struggled with walking up and down the steep mountains.

During the trail I fell more and more in love with Ratu. At home I had lost my trail and endurance horse 6 months earlier, but I had still two horses at home and I certainly wasn’t planning to buy a horse in Spain. Yet when we finished the trail, I couldn’t help asking Rudi if he would consider selling Ratu. Luckily Rudi was persuaded to sell him to me.

In July 2019, Ratu arrived in Denmark after a long trip all the way from Spain. Despite being just 5 years old and having his life completely changed, he took everything with a calm and sensible approach. Already after a few weeks he followed me everywhere I went and walked next to me whenever I walked around in the paddock. Now he has been in Denmark for almost 3 months and is starting his life as a trail and endurance horse in Denmark.