Horse Sanctuary & Trail Ride

This was the worst experience of our entire Italy trip. Late responses, never checked in with anyone before the trip, couldn’t get hold of them for questions until after the trip and couldn’t get a refund. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY

We had a beautiful ride out in the mountains of Italy! The town of Tagliacozza was so cute and looked straight out of a movie! Alessia was super friendly and fun and showed us an amazing part of the country that we otherwise wouldn’t have seen. The horses were so calm and friendly and rideable for anyone! Alessia went out of her way to show us a little extra since we were the only riders and we only wish we had more time to ride all day. Thank you for a wonderful day and new memories and congrats on your new ranch!

Our particular ride did not include a lot of ruins, but focused more on connecting with the horses and an explanation of what the land used to look like in ancient times versus what it looks like now. The horses were very well behaved and unique, as well as safe. The ride was lovely and inclusive of everyone, with beautiful landscapes and forests to ride through. We personally had prior experience with horses, but others did not. Overall, perfect for all ages and experience!

The experience was so much fun! The horse sanctuary was beautiful and the ride was perfect. Absolutely recommend and would come back again!

Beautiful trail ride through a pine forest. Was a unique way to experience Italy outside of the cities. My wife has no experince riding and she was fine, the horses are well trained and unfazed by anything we encountered. It was a great way for me to indulge in my favorite hobby while on vacation, we're glad we took the time to do it. We ended up returning to Ostia Antica another day to see the ruins. Ostia Antica is easy to get to using the Metro/Train system.

I arrived at the café meeting location 30 minutes before my tour. I looked all around the tables for 45 minutes looking for a tour operator, a sign, a vehicle with the name of the tour. Nothing. Only local Italians having morning coffee. I attempted to call with no response and viator would not let me message the tour for some reason. I left 20 minutes after my tour time. There was no one who made themselves apparent as the tour guide. No sign, no t-shirt, no marker, not anything. I left thinking the tour operator did not show. Later I messaged them asking for a refund and they claim I didn't show up. That I was supposed to talk to the tour operator or the cafes bartender. We'll as you can see the meeting point instructions mention a free breakfast but do not say you are supposed to ask the bartender about the tour. There was no tour group or tour guide there. Now they are offended and will not give me a refund. Do not waste your time or money on these greedy people.

Our tour guide was absolutely amazing. You can see the passion and love she has for her horses. She was knowledgeable about the area and very friendly sharing the history around us.. I would recommend this tour!!

We had a wonderful experience. The horses were beautiful and safe. The guide was wonderful! The staff was very friendly. We will definitely do this again next time we visit!

My husband and I had an amazing day. I’m an experienced rider (have my own horse) and my husband is a complete novice. We did the beginners trail ride for his benefit, which was stunning. The horses were very well behaved (didn’t put a hoof wrong). My husband’s horse took very good care of him. The instructors are very nice, friendly, knowledgeable people who speak really good English. You can also choose between an English or Western saddle for the beginners ride. We started the day by taking the metro to the meeting point, which is a lovely cafe just 5min walk from the metro mare. We had a bite to eat before being collected and taken to the ranch. When we arrived I was able to go and collect my allocated horse to groom and tack up before our ride out. My husband’s horse was tacked up for him with being a beginner and all. He was then give some instructions, some do’s and don’ts during for our ride before we set off. Glad it was the instructors and not me as I don’t think he’d have listened to me 🤭 The trek was brilliant. The views are stunning and it was a really nice break away from the hustle n bustle of the city. I would highly recommend this experience. Beautiful horses, beautiful surroundings with excellent cavalry. I intend to go back with my friends (my fellow equestrians) and book the beach ride experience

We had an amazing time riding horses here. We even got to groom and feed them. Alessia was so kind and took plenty of photos for us. The horses were great and it was very nice to be out in nature—the views were beautiful. I would highly recommend! :)

Absolutely amazing experience! Horse riding with Alessia was the highlight of our trip. She was so friendly, knowledgeable, and just incredibly cool, made us feel comfortable right from the start. The horses were well-cared for and gentle, perfect for all levels. Alessia guided us through beautiful landscapes and shared interesting local stories along the way. Her passion for horses and nature truly shines through. It felt less like a tour and more like an adventure with a friend. Highly recommend this to anyone visiting the area. Thank you, Alessia, for such a memorable and magical ride!

our guide Alessia was extremely knowledgeable and personable. She personally got us a table for dinner after our trail ride and the food and wine was also delicious. The horses, their equipment and supplies are all very well taken care of. You can tell these folks are truly passionate about what they do. An unforgettable experience.

An amazing experience for anyone visiting Rome, can't recommend it enough! It's easy to get to the meeting point from Rome city centre via the metro and we were met by Alessia after enjoying our breakfast in the beautiful town. She drove us to the ranch where we were able to meet, groom, and feed the horses before riding them. Alessia is very knowledgeable and it's clear she cares deeply for all the animals there. She also has incredible photography skills and we were so happy to receive the pictures she took which really made the whole experience much more memorable. Also, take her food recommendations seriously - they were delicious! Thank you so much Alessia for an amazing experience.

Visiting Alessia’s Horse Sanctuary was the best part of my time in Ostia. The place is peaceful and full of love for the animals. I got to spend time with a beautiful horse named Karim. He was gentle and so calm. Alessia was kind and clearly cares deeply for every horse there. It was amazing to brush and walk Karim and I took so many great photos. This is a perfect experience for anyone who loves animals or just wants a meaningful and relaxing day outside the city.

Together with my daughter we spent a very nice couple of hours feeding, grooming and riding the horses. Alessia was very kind and relaxed. She was telling nice stories about her business and the surroundings. I liked riding through the high flowers in the fields the most, that was something we never did before. The horses were amazing, so relaxed and easy to ride for us experienced riders. If we are ever near here again we will definately come back.

Alessia and Pedro was great host I really Enjoyed this tour not only did we ride horses we also learned some history

Best experience ever! Alessia was incredibly nice, and the landscapes were gorgeous! Definitely a 10/10, I really really wish anyone could you this experience once in his/her life 😊

Alessia and her staff were wonderful! I appreciate the staff that helped translate to English. Enjoyed the experience learning to ride a horse and learning to care for the horses. The ranch and ride around the ranch was beautiful. Would book again!

This was the most immersive horse riding experience I've been to. Alessia is a wonderful mentor and person and she showed us how to take care of the horses from the start until the journey ended. We started with leading the horses from one place to another on foot, then feeding them, then grooming them. It was after an hour that we got to ride, after we've established connection with the animals, which is an experience you don't often get. Then we had a chill ride around the green spaces of Ostia and got to know more about the history. Ended up very relaxed and positively charged. Alessia brought us back to the meeting point and we faired well goodbye until the next time.

The sanctuary is located a few minutes by car from the cute little town of Ostia - while waiting for the private transfer of one of the team members, you can sip a coffee in one of the cafés. The atmosphere is very friendly - there is no rushing, everybody takes enough time to thoroughly prepare the horses, which are turned out all day in the pasture. I explained my riding experience and was therefore offered a hack meeting my expectations and skills: we went on fast gallops in beautiful landscapes, and my horse Keir was an experienced well to be handled mount, who didn't show me any signs of misbehaviour. The two accompanying team members were very friendly and offered me additional information about the history of the region. I would absolutely recommend this trail for experienced well-meaning riders!

I booked this experience for my sister and her fiancé for her 30th birthday as he surprised her with a trip to Rome. Rather than doing a trek in our rainy home of Scotland I found this an hour away from where they were staying and thought it would be perfect for them to escape from the hustle and bustle of the city and hopefully see a bit more of Italy without the crowds. The feedback from my sister and her fiancé made me even happier I made this choice! They said that the ranch was full of friendly, helpful and experienced handlers, who were attentive to both of them and also the horses. We grew up around horses, but are in no means experienced riders but they could tell my sister was comfortable around them straight away. She said the rapport between her and the ranchers made her feel very at ease as she’s a bubbly person that likes a joke and she loved that they also could have some light banter with her. She said as they got to the area it felt like she was seeing Italy rather than just the ‘tourist’ side of it. They said the trail they took was lovely and it was an experience they wouldn’t forget. Their trail time was meant to be at 10 in the morning, however there was thunder so this got moved to the afternoon for safety reasons. All in all, I’d 100% recommend from both of their feedback and if I’m ever in Rome myself, I’ll be making sure it’s on my list. P.s she’s gonna kick my butt for sharing their photo hehe but happy 30th little sis :)

The experience was good, however disappointing in some respects. The landscape and countryside that we trekked was beautiful, but I had paid for a private ride, and confirmed that it would be private, yet we were paired with a friendly but extremely novice rider that I believe prevented us from doing more, such as trotting, cantering, etc. She insisted on giving a trotting lesson to the novice rider and my partner in the middle of the tour, and I found this somewhat unprofessional. Personally, I would have determined whether or not the group was capable of trotting and cantering before we went on the trail - she should have given the lesson in the arena prior to departing. I was excited to see Ostia Antica - after all the photos I had seen both online and through the website, it would’ve been amazing to ride through parts of it on horseback. We saw two “ruins” covered in weeds and grass that could’ve honestly been anything. For an archaeological zone that’s supposed to have the best preserved ruins in all of the country, I’d expect them to be a little more intact than just a couple of brick walls that don’t resemble much. The guide did say that we would have to cut the walking tour, but I took that to mean we wouldn’t get off and explore Ostia Antica on foot - I didn’t realize that meant we wouldn’t see Ostia Antica at all. I believe the reason for cutting the ride short was due to the head guide not joining us 45 minutes after the ride started, so much so that the assistant guide had to call her several times to figure out where she was while aimlessly wandered the area around the ranch property. It was fun being able to pick out our horses - who were friendly and well trained - and groom them, the guides were nice, and again, the landscape/countryside was very pretty, however the experience fell short in the aforementioned ways.

It was really great, above expectations for sure. Alessia and the lady were super nice, the horses amazing and the views beautiful. My recommendations: enjoy the wait for Alessia in the Cafe Dolce, if you're only visiting the big cities, that taste of a more relax and peaceful Italy is something you'll be appreciating. Don't go on a day with a tight schedule: I ended up being in Ostia Antica for about six hours. The activity itself maybe be during a little longer and you for sure will be wanting to do the walking tour for the ruins or the little trip to the beach. So is best if you don't have plans back in the city until the night. Listen carefully to the guides: the ride is easy but you'll be learning so much about the natural landscape, the history of the place and even on how to ride! Alessia spend a long time teaching me how to trot!! I went in my last day in Italy even when I was super tired at that point and am so glad I did because it was amazing.

The cafe (cafe dolce) meet up point was very nice, one staff member spoke English and was very welcoming. Food & drinks also really nice. Pedro picked us up from the meet point and drove us to the ranch. He was lovely and made us feel so welcome. Who said his English wasn’t very good but we understood him just fine!!😃 Once at the ranch we were greeted by Alessia who was also lovely and welcoming. The horses are beautiful and all have a story of their lives. We got to feed & groom the horses then learn how to put on their saddle and under cloths. Then we got taken on a trail through the woods lead by one of the other ranch hands (young girl but didn’t catch her name) also lovely. The trail was great and even with little to no experience your made to feel like you’re capable. The experience was so fun! Would do this again 100% A great highlight to our trip to Rome for my 30th Birthday! Thanks so much!!!🩷

Did not get to actually get to ride as it rained that day. Only downfall was we paid a lot for a ride there and then they discussed it wouldn’t be a great experience from the mud 10 mins after our meeting time so they thought we should reschedule. We attempted to reschedule however events conflicted. They were great at communicating and trying to help us.

We had such a wonderful experience horseriding! Alessia was a wonderful host and gave us so much information and we also got to feed, brush and prepare the horses. I really had a wonderful time and would highly recommend it!

One best horseback riding tour! Not only the trail ride, but also with full experience of how to tender the horses, walk, feed and brush them which were really special! And the riding trail is sooooo beautiful! A must try experience for sure!

My friends and I had such a great time at this place. This was not your typical horseback riding experience. We really got a chance to connect with the horses by feeding them, cleaning them and bonding with them to really appreciate the horses. The horseback riding itself was very enjoyable with the guide giving a history lesson along the way and showing us the beautiful scenery of the ranch. We highly reccomend going here to experience a great time!

These people are truly some of the warmest and most welcoming group of people I have ever met. I arrived around 3:00 PM, and we rode around Ostia Antica for about 3.5 hours and headed back to the ranch once it started to rain. My horse was Khaier. He was a half italian, half arabic horse with a gorgeous black coat. He had a youthful spirit to him, and I could feel how agile the horse was. There was one or two ocassions that me and Khaier trotted for a few seconds to catch up to the leading horse and I appreciated how receptive Khaier was to my commands. The views to see in Ostia Antica are breathtaking. Along the trail I saw the various gorgeous landscapes, a Thermae, and the walls from the Port of Ostia which I thought was too cool. I had dinner with the hosts afterward and it was easily one of the best meals/dinner experiences of my life. I am working on my italian, but there was a good amount of people at dinner who were fluent, or knew a good bit of English so it was no issue conversing with them. I had a fantastic experience all together, and I highly reccomend them!

The instructor is super sweet and very knowledgeable about the ancient history of Rome and English riding. Two out of the three of us knew how to ride previously and the instructor took the time to teach the third who did not have much riding experience. All in all this Horse Riding tour that we booked was an amazing memory on our first trip to Italy. I would recommend!

This was a great experience! You learn a lot with the horses being able to form a great bond with the horses and the staff. Elessia was great! She was very helpful and patient and fun! She made the experience really fun. I loved this and would recommend to everyone and I would love to book it again! Definitely worth it to do in Italy, such a unique experience!

I recently had a wonderful horseback riding experience in Ostia, Italy, and I can't recommend it enough! The ride took us through the stunning landscapes of Ancient Rome, and our hosts, Alessia and Pietro, were absolutely amazing. They were incredibly patient with my daughters, who were initially a bit scared of the horses. Thanks to Alessia and Pietro's calm demeanor and encouragement, my girls quickly warmed up to the horses and ended up having a fantastic time. The ride itself was peaceful and scenic, with parts that truly felt like we were traveling through an enchanted forest. The beauty of the surroundings combined with the gentle rhythm of the horses made for a magical experience. If you're looking for an unforgettable adventure while in Italy, I highly recommend this horseback riding tour! Thank you, Alessia and Pietro, for making our day so special!

The tour was amazing. The guide was professional, friendly, and informative. The scenery of the trail is beautiful. Not only do you get to ride the horses but also learn how to take care of them. I highly recommend signing up.

Highly recommend heading for a horse trek with Alessia and her beautiful horses. I particularly loved Kahir🐎🥰. Alessia is so welcoming and so much fun and lots of fun facts during our ride. The horse were fantastic catering for all levels. We were only to Roma for a short weekend so wish we could have stayed longer and go to the mountains riding but we will be back. Many thanks for recommending Ostia Antica, to see the ancient ruins and lovely beaches.

We had the best time celebrating my birthday. My sister and I are experienced riders but our other friend was a beginner. It catered for all of us. Heading the ancient history was amazing. An experience I would definitely come back for again

Fun time riding horses and meeting some gregarious locals while not too far outside of Rome. We went in the afternoon so we didn’t get the breakfast but sounds like other enjoyed that bit as well. Would have been nice to see more ruins on the ride but overall was certainly worthwhile as we enjoy horseback riding and try to do so wherever we travel. Fun leaders!

Today was amazing. My friend and I were nervous but excited to ride a horse for the first time. The instructor was nice, kind, and friendly. She is a helpful instructor who helps you learn and understand

This was an amazing experience! I am a seasoned horseback rider, but my husband is not. Allesia was great with both of us! She also clearly cares for the horses and did her best to make it the most comfortable for both us and them. You do get to help care for them with water/grain and I really appreciate this aspect of the experience because it's like thanking them for the ride in advance and then after the fact. There's also barn cats hanging out all over and we thought this was extra cute. We went in October, and it was still very hot so dress accordingly and have comfy closed toe shoes. Some of the trail is shaded, depending on where you go. She has some chaps to borrow if you don't wear long pants.

I hate horses, but my girls love them so I "took one for the team" and booked this. The girls had a great time and even I enjoyed the experience. (I spent years as a kid working as an unpaid stableboy, which is why I don't choose to spend time with horses as an adult). First things first: this is a business that works animals in the heat of a Roman summer, so welfare was my biggest concern when I booked this. On the whole, I was pleasantly surprised. Some of these animals clearly had hard lives before they came to Ostia, but they showed no sign of poor recent treatment. They were well hydrated, in ok form considering we went during a heatwave, and all of them still showed personality despite their current careers carrying fat tourists around. Alessia did use spurs herself while guiding our hack, but with good reason - some of the trails are very narrow, and she needs to manoeuvre with precision while guiding beginners in this terrain. She's a very competent rider - light with her own horse, and has most of the others trained to voice/whistle for the basics. So if you're worried about welfare: the horses were in good nick considering, and they aren't being asked to do too much in the heat, so I came away feeling that these are working animals that are being worked responsibly by a competent outfit, which is what you'd expect at the price (if it had been cheaper, I wouldn't have booked it). The experience itself is unique and very memorable. You see some real Roman countryside, with well-kept horses (a highlight for my girls if not this reviewer personally). You also get to see some ancient Roman ruins in the countryside - not like the carefully excavated and catalogued sites you can see at Ercolano or Ostia Antica, but as the ruins have existed for millennia for the peoples who have lived here. I've spent over 8 weeks in Rome over the years as a tourist, and this is genuinely something different and well worth it. Transport links are surprisingly good - we were staying near Piazza del Popolo so two metros and a train got us to the Ostia Antica pickup point in under an hour and a half for 1,50 euro.

I fully enjoyed this experience. We were able to feed and brush the stunning horses and then ride them in beautiful woodlands and countryside. I am definitely not an experienced rider but Alessia was patient and great at teaching me how to ride a horse. The horses were absolutely beautiful and I had a wonderful time. I would 10/10 do this again.

To start off, Alessia was an amazing guide. She showed you how to properly groom a horse, feed them, and how to ride them. She was very understanding and really wanted to get to know us on a deeper level. I would 100% recommend this experience to anyone looking for something different to do in Rome.

My husband and I had an unforgettable horse riding experience during our honeymoon, and I can't recommend it enough! We initially had trouble finding the meeting location, but the instructor went above and beyond by picking us up in her car, immediately putting us at ease with her warm and friendly manner. Her genuine care and passion for her work shone through in every aspect of the experience. Before riding, we spent time bonding with the horses by feeding and grooming them. The ride itself was breathtaking, with stunning views we’ll remember forever. The instructor was incredibly knowledgeable and patient, guiding us through each step and ensuring we felt confident and comfortable. Her love for the horses and her job made the entire experience even more enjoyable. Overall, this was a highlight of our honeymoon. We left with wonderful memories and a newfound appreciation for these majestic animals. If you’re seeking an experience that’s both enriching and enjoyable, this is it!

An amazing experience…. riding at the beach ! Nice horses and a very friendly guide. We can absolutely recommend this experience!

Whether you’re new or experienced it’s fun. We spent time with the horses and got to feed them treats, the trail was fun and very doable even for someone who has never done it before. Guide was so sweet and fun as well. We absolutely loved it. Highly recommend!!

Alessia was really welcoming and we spent time feeding and grooming the horses. We then went on a trot around the surrounding woodlands and even managed a quick gallop at the end! We were dropped off to the nearby station at the end and also got to have some lovely ice cream. Alessia was super kind and answered all our questions patiently. Thanks Alessia! Highly recommend and no previous riding experience necessary.

I high recommend this horse riding adventure! We had a brilliant time and our guide Alessia was just amazing, a true horse woman who has extensive knowledge of the local area and cares deeply about her horses. A highlight of out holiday in Italy!

0. Scammers! I had a cab cancl last min n was unable to get 2 the meeting pt on time. Contact ignored my call, lied n kept my $!

I have ridden horses for 10 years and I had a great time on this tour! There were others in my group that had never ridden a horse before and they were able to accommodate both the more experienced riders and the beginners. They match the horse to the person and you get the full experience! We were picked up from the station and had some food and coffee at a local cafe. Afterwards we went to the ranch where we met the horses and were given helmets and leather leg coverings for those who did not wear pants. We gave treats to the horses and had the chance to brush them and pet on them before they were set with tack and we mounted them. The trail is beautiful and they even went as far as to take those who were experienced away from the normal group and took a seperate trail where we were able to trot more and ride at a brisker pace while she explained the history of the area and brought us to ruins! They were knowledgeable and had a wide range of horses from many backgrounds-for example mine was a dressage horse that had a specifically trained gait so it was very fun to experience such well trained horses that you don’t always see when doing horse riding excursions on vacation. I would absolutely do this again and the woman who runs it was a joy to be around and if I’m ever back in Rome they will be seeing me! The staff are kind and funny and want to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable ride and I would say they absolutely achieved it on my front. In my opinion they are also the most cost effective for the time we spent there and the amount we did the Italian countryside is beautiful and even more so when you are on the back of a horse!

Alessia and the whole crew was fantastic. Very knowledgeable about the ruins and the horses. Treated us like long time friends and can’t thank them enough for all that they shared. Would definitely recommend the evening tour.