The desire for "something of their own"
The dialect gives it away straight away: Spinas' come from Graubünden. The couple had already leased a riding school in Davos for several years. The facility was much larger than the current one in Schüpfheim: the stables could accommodate up to 30 horses, eleven of which were their own. However, over the years, the lease no longer met the expectations of the innovative couple - the desire for "something of their own" grew stronger and stronger over time, until finally the opportunity arose to take over the existing riding facility in Under-Trüebebach. Today, the Spinas family owns seven horses and the Shetland pony India.
The twelve-year-old Holstein gelding named Cricket is Carmen Spinas' favorite. She competes in various equestrian sports with the sporty all-round horse, and her list of training courses is long. In addition to show jumping, the soon-to-be forty-year-old trains western and dressage riding, she is a club trainer, J+S leader (Youth+Sport) and a brevet instructor. Carmen currently offers a few military training sessions every year at the magnificent facility in Avenches in the canton of Vaud, the well-known Mecca for horse enthusiasts.
There's no such thing as boredom
At the moment, however, Carmen Spina's work with horses, riding lessons, rides and training sessions are limited to her free time, as she works full-time as a primary school teacher. So much commitment to the horses, the riding school, her job and her family - teamwork is required. Boredom is a foreign word in the family business. Trained businessman Claudio Spinas runs the riding school, gives riding lessons, leads rides lasting several hours, develops programs for the riding camps and offers carriage rides. Up to nine people can be comfortably seated in the open, two-horse carriage. A one- to two-hour tour around Schüpfheim is pure wellness. The leisurely passing landscape and the tinkling of the bells in time with the trotting horses relaxes you and makes you forget many everyday worries.
Riding camp: popular with girls
But back to the riding school! In addition to courses with individual lessons for children and adults, Claudio and Carmen Spinas also run regular riding camps. During the school vacations, children and young people spend a week at the riding school, get to know the horses, familiarize themselves with the saddle and bridle and learn to ride. "My goal for the week was to learn to gallop, and I did it!" announced one of the girls who was just there proudly. Claudio was a strict teacher, but she learned a lot from him, she added appreciatively. The children - the majority of whom are groups of girls - enjoy this time when everything revolves around horses, including mucking out the stables and picking up the "Rossbollen" during the carriage rides. The children come to ride twice a day, but also visit the outdoor or indoor pool in between, work and draw together and learn theory about horses.
Young people with more advanced riding experience can enjoy longer rides in the region. The route leads through the village of Schüpfheim, past farms and along country lanes. One highlight is the bridle path along the Wissemme towards Escholzmatt: galloping along the stream gives you a real sense of freedom!
Horse play groups for toddlers
Claudio Spinas, who has trained and further educated himself in both riding and curative education over the years, has been breaking new ground since summer 2018 and now also offers horse play groups for toddlers aged three to six. In the horse playgroup, the little ones spend half the time with playgroup leader Natascha Amberg, doing arts and crafts, singing and drawing just like in a conventional playgroup. The other half of the time is spent with Claudio Spinas and the horses, riding, lunging and occasionally painting the patient horses with finger paints.
Patronage association for therapeutic riding
Another important branch of the Schüpfheim riding school is therapeutic riding for children and adults. "We had a six-year-old child in riding therapy in Davos who hadn't spoken a word before; six months later he was chattering away happily," reports Claudio Spinas, emphasizing how important this service is. Last autumn, he therefore set up a patrons' association to provide financial support for therapeutic riding lessons as required.
The Schüpfheim Riding School is well-positioned on many levels and offers individual services for children, adults and the whole family. Claudio Spinas also praises the cooperation with the cavalry and riding club Amt Entlebuch KRV, where Carmen Spinas is able to offer training sessions. Horse fans from near and far appreciate the versatility and easy accessibility of the riding school, which is a valuable piece of the puzzle in the tourist offer in the UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch.
Text: Gina Graber, Photos: Katja Stuppia and Gina Graber
More offers around the horse & llamas:
Lucerne West (partner company) - Marbach:
Western, seminar and therapy farm
www.lucernewest.ch
Stucki Trekking - Sörenberg:
Guided treks (half day to 2 days)
www.stuckitrekking.ch
Horse farm Lutersani - Rengg (Entlebuch):
Horse training riding/driving, riding lessons, carriage rides
www.lutersarni.ch
"Cuervo" breeding and riding stable Emmenegger family - Hasle:
Riding training, riding camps, vaulting, pony riding, horse breeding
www.zuchtstall-emmenegger.ch
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