Rome: Horseback Riding on the Beach with aperitif

Espresso on horseback? Sunset beach photos? Private tour? Yes please. 💗☕️🐎🌅🇮🇹🌾🌊 I had the privilege of a lifetime to visit this beautiful, third-generation family-owned ranch just outside of Rome with a private tour. I met the owner, Alessi, at a café that was easy to find about 30 minutes outside of Rome, she bought me an espresso, and from there we headed to the ranch together. Upon arrival, you’re greeted with five acres of open land. You see horses in almost every direction. The weather was the cherry on top of our day and it stayed warm with clear skies. The horses were grazing, playing tag and even rolling in the sand. I was introduced to the barn cats (which immediately stole my heart), and then we began preparing the horses together. We groomed, tacked, and treated them with sour patch kids (which they loved 😅). Nothing felt rushed. Before take off she let me spend time alone with my horse, (which if you’ve ever been to Italy/Rome you know finding time or space alone anywhere is hard) I got to ride him into the fields and spend 15 minutes getting to know him (while she tended to a free roam horse nearby) which I found so special. It gave me time to relax and talk to him, let him know I was grateful for the chance to sit with him. The ride itself was enchanting. We went through quiet wooded trails while she shared stories about the land and how the coastline has shifted over generations (her grandfather first owned the ranch, then it passed along to her father and now she has taken over). We crossed a few busy streets which was such a new experience on horseback for me with Italy’s narrow roads. Then we made our way to the beach, and it was everything I’d dreamed of and more. Riding along the water with the waves crashing felt like a movie scene, my particular horse really loved the salt water which was super cute. At one point, local children came up to take photos with the horses, which added such a sweet, community feel. And somehow, it got even better, on the way back, we stopped for another espresso which was served to me on horseback!! Such a fun, uniquely Italian moment I’ll never forget. Alessi and I had a slow ride back, we talked about my work in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy, she told me about her past as a showjumper and her experiences in buying and selling horses, we talked about groundwork and experiential healing, she told me Italians have an old saying that goes, “I pay my therapist in carrots,” which I loved. 🥰🥕 After returning to the barn, we untacked the horses together, gave them treats, and said our goodbyes. Alessi then drove me back to the metro. What truly set this tour and place apart from anything else I’ve done while traveling abroad, was the heart behind it. This ranch has been passed down through generations, and you can feel that legacy. It doesn’t feel like a commercial tour. It feels like being invited into someone’s world, someone’s home. I left feeling so full of gratitude, and I stood proudly in my dirty paddock boots on the metro all the way back to the city. I made a new friend on this tour and had the opportunity to experience the Roman countryside in such an unfiltered way. If you’re looking for something authentic, personal, and genuinely special while in Italy, this is it. Not just a ride, but an experience you’ll carry with you for the rest of your life. 💗

For experienced riders only!! I made the mistake of booking before reading the fine print. However, Alesia and her assistant Piedro were very accommodating and altered the route for us. If you are a beginner or intermediate rider, I would recommend booking another one of the services offered by this provider. It is highly worth it!!

After a few complications on my end they went above and beyond and were so accommodating - they even gave me a private tour of the beach and countryside! Super people, well behaved horses and an absolutely lovely experience!! Worth every penny and more. Would highly recommend!!!!!

Beautiful ride and weather and a very knowledgeable and helpful host ! I enjoyed the involvement of feeding the horses treats and brushing them.

I booked this experience months in advance. The tour operator couldn’t even give me a few hours notice that my tour was canceled. I spent $68 in euros on a taxi from the hotel to the location. The tour was supposed to start at 530pm I get a message at 620pm telling me she has to cancel. So I have to spend another $80 euros of my own hard earned money to get back to the hotel. Yes she refunded me for the experience but I still have to pay $148 in euros to get to and from the destination. I’ve never felt so disrespected and been so disappointed in my whole life. This is no way to run a business.

Imagine yourself on horseback, the sun slowly setting, the sea brushing against your boots (or sneakers, that’s fine), and that brackish air that fills your lungs while you feel like you’re starring in a movie. Here, this is the horseback ride on the beach in Ostia. Whether you are already a horse lover, you live it all naturally here. Horses are patient and accustomed to human contact, and a bond is immediately created that makes the ride even more special. In the saddle you feel free, present, part of the landscape. To make everything even more beautiful? People. The staff is very nice, kind and always ready to have a chat or a laugh. You immediately feel welcomed, as if you are taking a trip with long-time friends You walk slowly along the shoreline, with the sound of the waves as soundtrack and the sunset giving you a sky of applause. It is an experience that relaxes, excites and – let’s face it – also makes you want to take a thousand photos. And all this at a super affordable price. The aperitif at the end? There is, and it is good. But the real aperitif here is what you drink with your eyes: sea, horses and freedom.

Beautiful day with beautiful horses and professional and helpful guides and escorts. Tasting lives up to expectations and low prices compared to the average.

Docile and well-trained horses exceptional experience on the beach for experienced riders, with super helpful assistants, super appropriate price to the experience, I highly recommend this experience if experienced

We booked the “A cavallo al mare” experience proposed on the website of the Knights of Gaia (99 € per person!) after some telephone exchange with the owner, expecting what was described and told over the phone: a PRIVATE horseback riding tour with arrival on the BEACH and LUNCH included. In reality, nothing was promised. Lunch was NOT included, we had to provide ourselves to pay for a lunch that among other things sandwiches and drinks came to cost 50 €. The manners were rude, cold and never welcoming. We never felt comfortable, indeed, there was a tense and unhelpful atmosphere for the duration of the excursion. Considering that we are dealing with animals, it would have been right to instill security and tranquility, instead we lived everything with discomfort. “A horse to the sea”? We arrived at the beach for a few minutes, only to be sent back immediately due to work in progress. But really nobody bothered to check the route BEFORE charging us 99 € each? Given the mismatch between what was promised and what was actually offered, we requested a partial refund, but the owner responded with a rude tone and no availability. An experience that, given the cost incurred (over 350 € for three people), should have guaranteed much more standards. We strongly advise against it. A total lack of professionalism and fairness.

Our experience was far from what was promised. The service started with a rude attitude on the part of the owner, which made the interaction unpleasant right away. The horseback ride, which was supposed to be private and on the sea, took place in the company of other people and on a different route than the one agreed. The “lunch/tasting” included turned out to be a sandwich at the bar paid for by us, and no refund or alternative was offered. Basic precautions were lacking: cleanliness, education, friendliness. In light of the failure to offer the agreed services, we have requested a partial refund from the owner who rudely refused to do so. Given the high cost (over 350€ for three people), we expected a completely different experience. Unfortunately, we will not return and would not recommend this service.