TRAIL RIDING in the TRASIMENO PARK

Two main trails have been planned for riders connecting the Farm House Le Case Rosse di Montebuono to the Trasimeno Park:

Trail A: it winds south for about 20 km along the Caina River valley (tributary of the Tiber River) crossing open farming land dotted with thick woods of century-old oaks and holly oaks embedded in the unspoiled Mediterranean woodlands. Broad river valleys and wooded hills interchange through to the Lake Trasimeno. The ride takes about three hours and a packed lunch is provided.

Trail B: medieval villages are reached by going East-West such as the castles of Montali, Agello, Magione and San Savino (in hilly areas) with a trail of about 10 km and taking about two hours. Along this route you can visit the little town of Panicale, known also as the Terrace over the Trasimeno and the Corgna Museum. Stops will be made at scenic look outs from where you can admire the special beauty of the Umbria Region (from the Latin word “umbra” meaning shady, due to the abundance of forests).

Equestrian therapy

Equestrian therapy is used to improve emotional, cognitive and motion skills by using carefully the numerous stimuli which occur in man-horse interaction. We use only suitable horses (sick or lame horses, or those that are too big or too small, too nervous or too lazy are not only useless but can even be counterproductive). Special saddles are used while the rider needs no special as it is therapy and not a riding contest.

Therapy follows four fundamental phases:

1. A preliminary phase where the rider with the aide of the therapist first approaches the horse;
2. The actual therapy is where the patient performs specific exercises whereby he is not directly involved in the horse’s movements or stimuli but responding automatically to them. The success of this phase depends on the careful choice and progression of the exercises prescribed by the medical team.
3. Equestrian rehabilitation: this is an advanced phase in the programme. Here the patient has direct control of the horse through his own actions.
4. Social re-integration: the aim of the whole therapeutic program, social re-integration can be achieved with horses in those patients that have overcome their original psycho-motor disabilities that prevented them from having a sense of self-worth .

Who is it for?
Briefly equestrian therapy is indicated in the traditional diseases such as infant cerebral diseases, autism, Down syndrome but also for acquired ailments following road accidents and work-related injuries. For this method to be effective and administered correctly from the medical, technical and legal point of view, equestrian therapy should be practiced only by a team of specifically qualified and technically trained people. For the same reason, the location for this sort of therapy must have a sufficient amount of closed areas (indoor riding arena, medical consulting rooms, offices, meeting rooms, washrooms, stables, saddlery) and open areas (fenced arena and riding ring). Among our staff are 4 medical doctors with specialties in internal medicine, heart disease, lung disease, haematology, anaesthesia and pain therapy who are on call should the need arise.