Horse riding

The island has a huge heritage of all things horsey and you don’t have to look any further than the tales of the Knights of Malta to find evidence of it. Thoughts of the Knights provokes images of shining armour on horseback, of clashing swords and colourful shields, the smell of gun-powder and the gargantuan lines of fortifications.

The Knights, being the European nobles of their time, would not be seen anywhere without their favourite horse, which would also be armoured up to its ears. Their centuries-long presence on the Island gradually led to replacing the traditional bulls and donkeys that had featured in the Maltese countryside since the Romans with noble, lofty horses.

In the Malta of the 21st Century, you too can pretend to be a knight as you join one of the many horse-riding sessions, sleighing everything in your path with your trusty sword. Actually, the sleighing bit is frowned upon these days and, luckily, the armour is no longer a requirement, which is a relief considering the temperatures on the island. The riding’s still great fun though!

Like the Knights, who pretty much went wherever they liked, you too have a choice of venues where you’d like to take to the saddle. Sandy rides on the beach are an absolute joy as you elegantly guide your horse across the fresh, glimmering sand of the northern beaches of Malta and Gozo.

Other options will take you deep into the strange, uneven countryside where the horses seem to instinctively know their way along the narrow alley-ways between the small, chequered fields, where time seems to have stood still for centuries. There are rides for everyone, from beginners to expert aspiring jockeys, and there are horses for everyone too, from the timid and the obedient to the mischievous and the arrogant. After all, horses are like people but taller … and with four legs … and hooves instead of feet … and bigger teeth.

Actually horses are nothing like people but they do all have their own unique personalities.
They have their characters and their moods and their favourite riders. Some of the more shrewd of the species will openly court you as you step forward to make your pick.

Riding schools in both Malta and Gozo are relatively cheap and easy to find. A couple of examples are given below but there are plenty more to seek out.

Golden Bay stables offers routes with beautiful sea views and is close to the Il Majjistral Nature and History Park. You can choose from an hour-long ride overlooking two popular beaches or take the two-hour sunset ride with views of the Malta-Gozo Channel. The stables can be reached on Golden Bat buses, which is number 23 from Valletta or local bus 102.

Bidnija Horse Riding offers rides through the picturesque area of Bidnija, Wardija and Mgarr and caters for all levels from complete novices to experienced equestrians. Choose from a two-hour or bum-busting seven-hour ride.