Riding along the banks of river Toce

Social cooperative "La Prateria" at Regione Nosere in Domodossola is a farm with a stable.
In collaboration with GEA (Environmental Equestrian Guide) and the Association of Centers VCO Gravellona Toce and Domodossola, at the stables riding lessons are provided for horse trails, horse therapy offered freely and riding for disabled people.
At La Prateria you can perform many activities both for beginners (riding lessons: 18 €, guided excursions on horseback: 1 hour 18 €) and for the more experienced people (half day 40 €, including 80 € a day off lunch, trekking organized with overnight stays outside).
(For reservations call Max at 348/2834179).

I call Max and book my ride for a Monday morning in late July. When I arrive a horse is assigned to me and I prepare him. It's one of my favorite moment because caring for your animal immediately allows to establish a first contact: the rest is not a motorcycle or a bicycle, jump on the bike and go! Federica and Max make it possible even to those to his "first time" to prepare the horse, explaining in detail how to clean it and how to saddle, overseeing all operations.

Federica and I get out of the team and we are moving into the countryside along the two rectangles of external work. We stop a moment to greet the friends who are working in the field (ready to jump!) and then continue towards the River Toce.
From the stable, the river is reachable from different paths or dirt roads. The soil is flat, which makes the trip easy for everybody! The climbs and descents, in fact, require more stability in the saddle to be addressed in the best way, especially without damaging the spine of those who with great patience, takes us on his back!

It took about fifteen minutes to get to the area of Toce river. It is a very sultry day, so ...

Federica and I decide to stop for a short break to give the chance to our horses to relax...
Dismounting from the horse, we have time to cross the river and to take some pictures with Lady and Danina.
This area of the Piana del Toce is called the "Three bridges". It is very suggestive feeling surronded by nature with our horses ... it feels far from the stress of work, from city traffic, the phones ringing constantly. It's like being on another planet ... in short: a little piece of paradise.

Every time we make stops during the trek, we seek a cool place like this.
Back in the saddle, we continue our tour. We face a small ford, but there are no problems because the horses of the Prateria know the area very well and are used to cross rivers.

Let us always remember not to water horses in "waters that we don’t know" ... rivers and streams are often polluted by discharges of industries for which it is better to wait to return to stable, or, if necessary, search for a fountain!

Faced with this green expanse we could not resist in changing pace...
But given the time (around noon) and especially the temperature, we don’t exaggerate and we allowed only a trot. Gallop with this heat would have refreshed us, but certainly not our horses.
I think it is very important, when you practice this sport, remembering that you have to think for two, care for ourselves and for your horse. Too often I've seen "knights", who believe they have reincarnated in the body of a cow-boy, ride their horses in dire straits.
I consider these beautiful animals as friends, and, without exaggerating, they should not be treated as "beasts" but as living beings worthy of respect!

Here we are on the bike path that runs along the road of Sempione and that, thanks to a small deviation to the right, allows us to get off on the bank of Toce!

La Prateria is included in “Natura Life” project and, in summertime, during camps for kids organizes activities of bird-watching. The European Natura 2000 network is the network of European natural and semi-natural areas designated as a high biological value and natural beauty. Aims of Natura 2000: the maintenance and restoration of ecological balances that govern natural ecosystems, preservation of biodiversity and support sustainable development.
The bed of the Toce between Domodossola and Trontano, at north, Vogogna and Pieve Vergonte at the south has been designated by the European Union as a Site of Community Importance and Special Protection Area under the name "Greto del Toce between Domodossola and Villadossola”. The area is important for its ichtyofauna, with species of great interest and the presence of several environments of great value in different habitat "natural" and semi-natural.

Crossing water is very refreshing for the horses because the fresh water on the legs lowers the body temperature.
Unfortunately, an hour has passed and we must return, because it's time for lunch (for all four of us).
Federica decides to leave Danino directly into the outside paddock while I go to the stable to dissolve Lady.

The meeting is at the restaurant! In fact, La Prateria is also farm. Here you can taste, with products grown in fields and greenhouses of the cooperative, typical dishes of Ossola valleys. Price-quality ratio is excellent: the cost of a meal from the starter to dessert is 20 €! The restaurant is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday and, only by appointment, during the week.
You can also buy vegetables in oil, vinegar, sour, jam (all strictly "biologic"), the same used by the associated restaurant and bar.

Further information on www.prateria.it

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