Galloping towards the sea
The Sa Barrala estate with its annexes, staggered roofs and small balconies in front of the rough sandstone façade is clearly visible from afar. The agricultural finca south of Campos looks like a castle, but instead of driving the car through the wrought-iron gate, we follow the signs for "Horse Riding" and drive around the large estate in an arc. The path leads across a stony field to a group of low buildings, the horse stables.
Pedro Barrios comes towards us in riding boots and with tousled hair. The 41-year-old comes from Venezuela. When he came to Mallorca in 2001, he quickly realized that he couldn't live without horses. Fortunately, he met José Luis and Ana Burguera, the owners of Sa Barrala.
Together, they came up with the idea of offering horseback rides in small groups on the 200-hectare property, which stretches all the way to the sandy beach of Es Trenc. Tourists can vacation on the 13th century estate and go riding with Pedro, and non-holiday guests are also welcome at the stables. His "family", as Pedro calls them, currently includes 15 horses, with which he offers two- to four-hour riding tours (30 euros/hour) in small groups with a maximum of six riders.
Our horses Isabela, Bolet and Cha Cha Cha are already groomed and saddled next to the paddock. They wait relaxed in the sun, Pedro doesn't have to tie up his animals. Before we set off, drinks are served and the riders have the opportunity to arrive in peace and forget about the rest of the world for a while.
Pitufo shows how it's done: The tomcat stretches his four paws out in the grass with relish and fits perfectly into the Mallorcan natural scenery with his brown, cuddly cat fur. Pedro explains that half of his horses are rescued animals that no one wanted because they were missing an eye or had served their time as trotters.
At Sa Barrala, they are allowed to rediscover the equine lifestyle. According to Pedro, Sol, a bay gelding, walks around the property on his own, opens gates on his own and goes swimming in the sea. A story that the South American with the smiling eyes immediately believes.
Finca Sa Barrala officially ends behind the dunes
Between November and March, however, it is tolerated to ride horses through the deep sand along the sea towards Colònia de Sant Jordi. However, when bathers are sunbathing on Es Trenc beach in bikinis, shorts or even undressed, as is the case today, the view of the waves is all that remains. "You have to come back at the beginning of November when the sea is still warm," says Pedro, "then you can go swimming with the horses."
We can hardly wait to explore the trails in the nature park with Pedro. We mount up and leave the stables at a gentle trot, ride past donkeys and olive trees and pass large fields where fodder is grown for the horses.
What makes it special: You can ride for hours between the salt marshes of Campos and the seashore at Es Trenc beach without crossing a road. Instead, you will encounter cattle in huge paddocks and sometimes a hunting dog darting out of the undergrowth in the pine forest.
Before we ride to the beach, we make a detour to a salt lake near the salt pans of Es Trenc. With a bit of luck, you can take photos of flamingos prancing leggy through the water just a few meters away.
Today, the shy animals are standing on the other side of the lake, as if they know they are to be photographed. The photographer accompanying us peers through his large telephoto lens. We push ourselves up in the stirrups to get a better view of the birds.
Pedro asks if we want to gallop as far as the forest. We nod and the horses dash off. Isabela, who still has her past life as a trotting horse in her legs, trots across the field at top speed, her hind hooves seeming to run past the front legs on the outside.
It looks fun, but on top of that you get a good shake. "Next time, push hard," advises Pedro, who parades his Hanoverian gelding and pats his damp neck, "then his Isabela will also change from turbo trot to canter."
With these images in our heads, we set off for home, the horses are now in a hurry to get back to the stable. Pedro gallops ahead with Cha Cha Cha, and this time Isabela also changes from trot directly into the third horse gait.
"Come back whenever you want," Pedro calls out to us!
The horses are showered and given carrots
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