Many uninformed people out there think naturism is limited to congregating in hot tubs in clubs, but the reality of it is that we’re a very imaginative and creative community. Nudist Day goes to lengths in getting you stories of interesting, even unusual, people and places related to nudism. Recently we discovered Michael Zauels, a gentleman who offers bareback nude horse riding from his farms near Bonn, Germany. The interview was conducted in Spanish, as Zauels is much more fluent in that language than in English, and our German isn’t up to par! Here’s the entire exchange, translated for your enjoyment:
Nudist Day: When did you first start offering nude horseback riding and where did the idea come from?
Zauels: In the summer of 2001 I started offering nude horseback riding. Before that, I would go riding nude on my own, and I had no idea that other people might be interested. In 2000, I started using the internet and learned all about naturism and that’s how the idea of combining nudism and horseback riding came about.
ND: Do you manage everything alone?
Z: I do everything alone, although when I need it, I get help from a few of my female friends. The hardest work doesn’t involve the horses themselves, but rather the maintenance of the grounds, transporting hay in winter and water in summer, which I do with an old tractor.
ND: You claim that this isn’t a commercial venture. You don’t charge anything at all?
Z: It’s not commercial because if it was, it would result in having to pay special taxes as well as other inconveniences. Visitors can “donate” just ten Euros (about 13 USD) for an hour of riding, which is hardly enough to cover all my costs (food, shoeing of horses, etc.)
ND: We understand that you want to promote nude horseback riding, but what’s in it for you?
Z: There’s a few female friends that come here to ride nude. They either have their own horses or at least know how to ride one well. There’s also people I don’t know that come here, but I only accept serious people who are thinking of naturism and nothing else. Sometimes there’s people who think we engage in erotic games during outings and we make it clear that that’s not the case when they call. That way there’s no problems. I prefer the company of my female friends. They’re naturists and treat the horses well and there’s no risk they’ll fall off the horse. Most of them I got to know during photo shoots (Editor’s note: We presume he meant the nude photo shoots). As they’re amateur models, they have no problems with nudity.
ND: In general, the riding is done not just nude, but without a saddle, correct? Isn’t that a tad uncomfortable, especially galloping at speed?
Z: It’s not uncomfortable whether trotting or galloping if the rider adapts him/herself to the horse’s movements. This applies whether dressed or naked. If someone is new to bareback riding, we amble at a slow pace.
ND: Must one know how to ride, or do you teach people how to do it?
Z: Obviously, it’s best to know how to ride, but it’s not absolutely necessary. As my three horses are purebreds, it’s possible to ride slowly, without trotting or galloping. That way nothing bad happens. My girlfriend, for example, started bareback riding my horses nude and she had no previous experience riding before that. I can’t teach people to ride because I’ve never had any lessons myself — I got on a horse and started riding!
ND: Are many people coming? Couples? Families? Single men?
Z: No, not many people. Sometimes it’s couples, other times it’s mother and daughter, or father and daughter, or two women. Single men must be accompanied by a female, because we don’t ride with just men. This would be seen as exhibitionism. In German law, there’s no mention of exhibitionism involving women (only men). Thus, when a group of people includes one or two women, there’s no problem. People don’t get upset if they see men and women naked together because they understand they’re doing it to be in harmony with nature, and not to scare or bother others.
ND: Do you worry that an accident could happen? What measures do you take to reduce that risk?
Z: In theory, accidents can happen. The horses are very tame, but they’re animals and if they get scared nobody knows how they could react, but the risk is minimal. Before any outing, all participants have to sign a waiver. In any case, as I mentioned earlier, we’ll amble slowly if the riders don’t feel sure of themselves.
ND: What advice would you give to someone thinking of offering the same service?
Z: There’s not much difference between riding naked or clothed. However, it’s important to avoid areas with a lot of people. Ideally, you want it to be far away from civilization. Germany is one of the most densely populated countries of the world, but it also has a lot of forests where you’re unlikely to see other people. You have to know the territory (where you’ll ride) well. Equally important is to behave absolutely normal, as if you were dressed. If nude persons act like clothed people, then nothing untoward happens and people react amicably. Another idea before offering nude horseback riding is to talk to the people living in the area, letting them know it’s something very natural and that it’s not aimed at provoking or bothering them. That way, people will be prepared for what’s to come.
ND: Tell us about an unusual or funny incident relating to nude horseback riding.
Z: The comments people make upon encountering us during one of our outings, which are at times quite funny, such as: “Ah, they stole your clothes, did they?!”, “Now all that’s missing is the sea!”, “Now THAT’S natural!”, among other things.
ND: What are your plans for the future?
Z: Maybe I’ll buy a new horse this year, because Fanny, the brown horse, has problems with her hoof. Nothing serious, but she might not be able to be ridden as often as before.
Photos courtesy of Michael Zauels. Copyright Michael Zauels
Related Links:
Loading ...