On runners through the fairytale landscape

I had phoned Peter Hammerer to book a sleigh ride, fulfilling a long-cherished dream of mine: Winter, sun, horses, sleighs - a prince would only be a nuisance here... During our phone call, I wanted to show off my “knowledge” of the Noriker to the “Rosserer”, as they say in Upper Bavaria, to impress him a little. Peter understood and said: “Come to the stables just before two, then I can show you the horses if you're interested.” An exception, by the way, because I wanted to write about it, otherwise nobody has access to the stables. If you sign up for a sleigh ride, you arrive at the farm at the agreed time, the sleigh is already prepared, the horses are harnessed and Peter is not far away, so you can set off straight away.

Before I can have a cuddle with the two Noriker horses Lola and Ricardo, I am led into the stable and introduced to some mountain coldbloods: There are Satan and Hoffeldhof, two proud stallions, gelding Pezi and in the next room the mares Lolita and Fiona. We don't get any further, it's almost 2 p.m. and Peter wants to start on time. Pezi stamps his hoof indignantly in his box, he asks for more hay, Peter gives him a little extra ration, then we go out again.
I take a seat on the coachman's seat, after all I want to talk to Peter about horses. Peter has about 25 Noriker horses, he can't say for sure, because yesterday alone he helped one of his mares “foal”. Peter is not only a coachman but also a midwife and farrier in one person. He also has 4 “Tiroler Grauvieh cows” in his stable - an old, robust breed of cattle.

“We used to have Galloways, I didn't like them.” When his father retired, he sold the shaggy cattle and got himself 4 “Tyroleans”. He mainly manages the stable work together with his wife, his father also helps out from time to time. His 3 children are also involved, but he doesn't push them, he wants them to do their own thing. When asked whether one of the kids will take over the farm, he is almost a little evasive. His son is already interested, and his daughter Joelle is also “cattle crazy” - we'll see. He himself is in his 31st carriage season this year, which means that he has been sitting on the “buck” since he was 16. I ask him if there is anything else he would like to experience. The answer comes quickly: “Heliskiing!” Our cue, we have arrived at the topic of skiing and, as the devil would have it, we have a perfect view of the Kanzelwand, Fellhorn and, further out of the valley, the Nebelhorn ...