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The very mention of the Knights of Malta provokes images of shining armour on horseback, of clashing swords and colourful shields, of 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, also in armour. Their centuries-long presence on the Island gradually led to the replacement with horses of the traditional bulls and donkeys that had featured in the Maltese countryside since the Romans. In Malta of the 21st Century, you too can become a knight as you join one of the many horse-riding sessions that are on offer all over the Maltese Islands.
Luckily the armour is no longer a requirment which is a relief considering the general temperatures on the island. Sandy rides are a joy to behold as you elegantly guide your horse across the fresh, glimmering sand of the northern beaches of Malta and Gozo. Other rides 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 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.
They have their characters and their moods and their favourite riders. There is, especially, a mutual bond between horses and children. The nobler of the species will openly court you as you step forward to make your pick. Somehow, you feel like having been chosen, knighted almost... Horse-riding schools in both Malta and Gozo are relatively cheap and easy to find. And hard not to go back to again.
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Golden Bay Riding Club. These people are expert riders who love their horses and love teaching people how to ride. They offer trips through some of the most dramatic and exciting scenery on Malta. For more information call (+356) 2157 3360.
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