Exploring the Chianti region from horseback

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Evelyn Chavez
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Horseback riding in Italy's Chianti area was never on my to- do list, but recently my best friend and I decided to enjoy the Tuscan countryside from the back of a horse. I had never been horseback riding before, so I was nervous and excited for the experience.

Our journey started with a short three-and-a-half hour drive to Florence where we would be staying for the night. We woke up in the morning to meet our tour group in the center of town before beginning the 45-minute drive to the Chianti area where I was mesmerized by the perfectly aligned vineyards and olive groves.

After arriving at the ranch, we were sized for our riding gear and received a few instructions to get better acquainted with the horse. After our tour guide delivered our 30-minute orientation, she matched us up with a horse depending on our skill level.

Samantha, the heaviest horse at the ranch, was my match. Needless to say, I was intimidated by the massive horse that towered over my 64-inch frame. Despite its daunting stature, I was distracted by the horse's beauty and the sound of its familiar name, Samantha, which is also shared by little sister.

After familiarizing ourselves with the horse, it was time to mount up and ride through the vineyards and olive groves throughout the Chianti region. Our tour guide led and I was the first to follow. She insisted I be firm when commanding my horse because Samantha could be very stubborn. I am not a very loud person, but I was definitely going to be firm when talking to an animal this large.

Making our way through the vineyards I began to realize, despite her size, my horse was the most docile of them all. It followed our tour guide like a small child, was scared of the other horses and stopped for food every 10 minutes. "Basta mangare Samantha" were the exact quotes my guide kept telling the horse, which literally translates to "stop eating". After a while, I felt like a professional horseback rider because Samantha was leading the way without my guidance. It was fine by me, because I had that much more time to enjoy the scenery.

Just as I was becoming more comfortable with my horse, the hour-long ride came to end at a beautiful winery for lunch and wine tasting. We were served a Tuscan meal of pecorino cheese, bruschetta, prosciutto, salami and pasta. While we waited for our meals and tasted the different wines and olive oils, we shared our photos and thoughts on the tour.

The lunch and trip came to an end with a short ride back to the center of Florence, where we ended the day enjoying the sunset over the Florence skyline. Even thought it was unexpected, this has been one of the best trips during my time in Italy. If you are ever in the Chianti area, I highly recommended enjoying the view the way I did, horseback riding.