On my second day off this week, Hanna and I visited the parents’ of a fellow friend of ours: Björn - who stayed with us in Niger in 1998 and later married Hanna’s cousin Jennifer. His parents Claudia and Anders left the city a few years ago and bought a farm, where they now raise horses. It’s a lot of hard work, but a lovely lifestyle, and I was so happy to spend the morning in the outdoors surrounded by fresh air and lovely critters!

Being a dog person with constant room for a canine by my side, I immediately made friends with their wonderfully well-behaved farm guardian. Mr Larsson is a Leonberger, Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain dog and Russian wolfhound (I forgot the exact name) mix and an adorable giant who loved to wrestle and would make a fabulous lapdog, if only anyone would let him! I didn’t, seeing we practically weighed the same.

The first thing that happened however after we arrived was that one of the horses - which I would later ride - started running around in the paddocks. His lines were beautiful and it was a sight to watch him show off in the paddocks (it made me think of Sahara running around in Josef and Renate’s gardens with the fillies by her side!), but I hadn’t even picked up my camera before the young gelding had jumped the fence and was mingling with the equine ladies on the other side of the road!

It took three people and a good deal of patience to catch him again (thankfully, the drivers passing by were very sensible and slowed down at the sight of a loose horse on the road),

…but eventually the social escapee - known as Maestro - was brought back to the stables.

Claudia asked us if we wanted to ride, and I said yes!! The mount available was a gentle giant named Dansös (Ander’s horse), but when I mentioned to Claudia that I thought Maestro would make a perfect rancher’s horse, working 9-18 every day making use of his skill, she asked me if I wanted to try him out, saying he could do with a good workout. Not being one to turn down a challenged, I asked if he had a bucking tendency (as barb horses never buck and I have twice flown like a glove when Swedish horses have taken to the air, taking a hard landing), and when it turned out he didn’t, I was delighted to try this clever young gelding who had somehow managed to charm me with his impressive escape!

Larsson was our constant companion,

…and here you see the result of Sheba and Dennis’ efforts in winning Hanna over to the world of canines! Although felines still hold first position in her heart, there is now plenty of room for man’s best friend as well - and Larsson was a big beneficiary of Sheba and Dennis’ efforts.

Maestro and I made friends immediately. Although he was considered a handful, he seemed like a typically young, overly-clever horse with too much time on his hands, who would probably do well being ridden several times every day, with lots of mental challenges.

Seven weeks in Niger had not only made Hanna receptive of dogs, but also appreciative of horses! I never thought I would be spending a morning in Sweden riding out together, but it was an fabulous life qualitish experience!

Hanna got to ride the gentle giant Dansös, who is taller than I am and weighs the same as our two barb mares combined.

Maestro had a size I was more accustomed to, being only 6 cm taller than Sahara. It was soooooo good to be back in the saddle again! Pure life quality!!

As Maestro was in need of a good work-out, we set right to it after a proper warm-up.

His trot was beautiful, but being used to ambling on much slimmer horses, it took me a while to find my seat. Maestro however did not complain, and in terms of communication, we clicked very well!

The cantor was lovely and we kept going for as long as I could feel him wanting it.

It was an awesome ride and I was so thrilled to be back in the saddle again! Arwen need not be jealous however as she owns the equine part of my heart, but Maestro was a lovely, well-behaved mount and I can’t wait to ride him again!

We ended the morning with a very pleasant Swedish “fika” (coffee and home-made cake, made from berries that Hanna had picked), taking mostly about horses and horse-raising.

A huge thank you to Anders and Claudia for inviting us over and letting us enjoy your beautiful horses! Both hanna and I had an awesome time!!