Late in the day, we left the trail and rode into the tank at Punanai.
In Sri Lanka, we call this kind of inland reservoir a tank. To an overseas visitor it looks like a lake, and that description is perfectly understandable. On that evening, the name mattered less than what was in front of us: open water, enough daylight and horses that remained willing to continue.
Nothing had been arranged as a finale. It had already been a long, good ride and a fine few days in the saddle. We could have turned for home and called the day complete. Instead, after looking at the horses, the rider, the water and the light, I decided that there was room for a little more.
That decision was mine. I remain personally involved in the field decisions at Vonfidel Ranch because the responsibility cannot be handed to whoever happens to be nearby. The horse, rider and conditions have to be read together. If one part of that combination is wrong, we stop. On this occasion, the combination was right.
Watch 24 seconds from the ride — A capable rider takes a chestnut horse through shallow and moderately deeper water before cantering back onto dry ground at Punanai.
The rider was capable and comfortable. We liked her manner with the horse, knew how she rode, and had seen that the match worked. She was confident without becoming careless, and the horse stayed forward without becoming unsettled. That matters when leaving a familiar trail for water, where the sound changes, the resistance against the horse's legs increases and the footing is harder to read.
We began in the shallows and moved through slightly deeper water. We were not attempting to cross the tank. The horses had the chance to cool, but cooling was not the whole purpose. It was also fun—good, uncomplicated fun for a rider who was ready for it and horses that were still willing.
There is plenty of room for fun in careful horsemanship. The important part is that the assessment comes first. Matching the horse and rider well is what gave us the freedom to do something unplanned without becoming reckless.
A willing horse is not a blank cheque. A horse may have carried a rider generously for several hours and still be ready to finish. Another may remain attentive, forward and comfortable enough to continue. The fact that a horse will do something does not, by itself, mean that we should ask. We look at how the horse is travelling, what the rider is contributing, the condition of the ground and how much useful light remains.
Late riding has its own character, but it also has a limit. There must be enough daylight to enter the water, allow the horses to find their footing and come back out without hurry. A photograph is never worth borrowing time from that margin.
On this occasion, nothing needed to be forced. The horses moved through the shallows and the deeper patches. The rider stayed balanced and enjoyed herself. At points they came out at a canter, turned and went back for another pass. The water cooled the horses, the rider had her fun, and the day was allowed to finish on its own terms.
People considering a riding holiday naturally ask how many hours they will ride and how much ground they will cover. Those are fair questions, but distance says little about the quality of a day with horses. Heat, footing, water, the condition of the horses, the ability of the riders and the pace of the group all affect what is sensible.
We plan each ride carefully. We do not promise that every plan will be completed exactly as imagined. Sometimes a route is shortened. Sometimes the pace is reduced. Sometimes the day offers an opportunity that was not on the itinerary. Field conditions have the final say.
The photographs show the visible part: riders and horses in the water under the last of the evening light. They do not show the assessment behind the decision, or the accumulated knowledge of the rider and horses that allowed us to make it.
We did not enter the water in order to produce a picture. The camera came out because the moment was already happening. A successful photograph can create pressure to reproduce the same scene for the next guest, regardless of the day. We will not promise or repeat a moment simply because it photographed well.
The tank is not an attraction attached to every booking. This was one evening in Punanai, with a capable rider, willing horses and conditions that gave us room to continue. If we ride into the water again, it will be because the horse, rider and day allow it.
That is how this particular ride stayed out a little longer.
Private trail rides and riding holidays at Vonfidel Ranch are arranged by prior enquiry. Horse availability, rider suitability, weather and field conditions are considered before a ride is confirmed.
Request Riding Availability
In Sri Lanka, we call this kind of inland reservoir a tank. To an overseas visitor it looks like a lake, and that description is perfectly understandable. On that evening, the name mattered less than what was in front of us: open water, enough daylight and horses that remained willing to continue.
Nothing had been arranged as a finale. It had already been a long, good ride and a fine few days in the saddle. We could have turned for home and called the day complete. Instead, after looking at the horses, the rider, the water and the light, I decided that there was room for a little more.
That decision was mine. I remain personally involved in the field decisions at Vonfidel Ranch because the responsibility cannot be handed to whoever happens to be nearby. The horse, rider and conditions have to be read together. If one part of that combination is wrong, we stop. On this occasion, the combination was right.
Watch 24 seconds from the ride — A capable rider takes a chestnut horse through shallow and moderately deeper water before cantering back onto dry ground at Punanai.
The rider was capable and comfortable. We liked her manner with the horse, knew how she rode, and had seen that the match worked. She was confident without becoming careless, and the horse stayed forward without becoming unsettled. That matters when leaving a familiar trail for water, where the sound changes, the resistance against the horse's legs increases and the footing is harder to read.
We began in the shallows and moved through slightly deeper water. We were not attempting to cross the tank. The horses had the chance to cool, but cooling was not the whole purpose. It was also fun—good, uncomplicated fun for a rider who was ready for it and horses that were still willing.
There is plenty of room for fun in careful horsemanship. The important part is that the assessment comes first. Matching the horse and rider well is what gave us the freedom to do something unplanned without becoming reckless.
A willing horse is not a blank cheque. A horse may have carried a rider generously for several hours and still be ready to finish. Another may remain attentive, forward and comfortable enough to continue. The fact that a horse will do something does not, by itself, mean that we should ask. We look at how the horse is travelling, what the rider is contributing, the condition of the ground and how much useful light remains.
Late riding has its own character, but it also has a limit. There must be enough daylight to enter the water, allow the horses to find their footing and come back out without hurry. A photograph is never worth borrowing time from that margin.
On this occasion, nothing needed to be forced. The horses moved through the shallows and the deeper patches. The rider stayed balanced and enjoyed herself. At points they came out at a canter, turned and went back for another pass. The water cooled the horses, the rider had her fun, and the day was allowed to finish on its own terms.
People considering a riding holiday naturally ask how many hours they will ride and how much ground they will cover. Those are fair questions, but distance says little about the quality of a day with horses. Heat, footing, water, the condition of the horses, the ability of the riders and the pace of the group all affect what is sensible.
We plan each ride carefully. We do not promise that every plan will be completed exactly as imagined. Sometimes a route is shortened. Sometimes the pace is reduced. Sometimes the day offers an opportunity that was not on the itinerary. Field conditions have the final say.
The photographs show the visible part: riders and horses in the water under the last of the evening light. They do not show the assessment behind the decision, or the accumulated knowledge of the rider and horses that allowed us to make it.
We did not enter the water in order to produce a picture. The camera came out because the moment was already happening. A successful photograph can create pressure to reproduce the same scene for the next guest, regardless of the day. We will not promise or repeat a moment simply because it photographed well.
The tank is not an attraction attached to every booking. This was one evening in Punanai, with a capable rider, willing horses and conditions that gave us room to continue. If we ride into the water again, it will be because the horse, rider and day allow it.
That is how this particular ride stayed out a little longer.
Private trail rides and riding holidays at Vonfidel Ranch are arranged by prior enquiry. Horse availability, rider suitability, weather and field conditions are considered before a ride is confirmed.
Request Riding Availability
