For centuries, horses have transported humans across continents but this spring, horse trainer Emma Massingale will turn the tables when she cycles across Europe carrying two miniature equines in a specially-adapted tricycle. The free-rider and film-maker will start her journey in Switzerland, following the Rhine across Europe until she returns to the UK. The trip is the latest in a line of dramatic horse-themed adventures Emma has undertaken.
Last year, she horse-boarded across the 10 islands of the Outer Hebrides with two young Eriskay ponies, while in 2015 she spent a month on a remote Irish island backing six unhandled Connemaras. This time her partners will be two-year-olds Stanley, a miniature Shetland Stanley and miniature appaloosa horse Percy, both of whom are untrained.
“I am always looking for different equine adventures and I quite liked the irony as horses always used to pull us,” Emma said. “Whatever I choose has to be ethical and long-distance trips do make me question how much the horse enjoys it. I want to enhance my relationship with them without having to physically exhaust them or ask anything of them — this way it means that I get fit and they don’t have to worry about it!”
“We’ll be stopping in at a few places, including a school and some tack shops where I hope we can inspire some people. They are untrained ponies, so I will be sharing my techniques and training style as we go. The plan is to set lots of nice little goals and have some people join us along the way.”