Our Philosophy
A place where humans and horses truly meet
At Zitouna Stables, everything revolves around calmness, respect and connection. For us, a horse is not a sports device, but a sensitive being with its own character, preferences and emotions.
That is why we welcome holiday guests only – no day visitors – so that both humans and horses have the time and space to arrive, to feel, and to build real connection.
A unique herd – stable, familiar and long-term
The heart of Zitouna Stables is our extraordinary herd.
Almost all of our horses are stallions, and it is absolutely unique that they live together as much as possible. While stallions are kept strictly separated in most stables, they form a social, stable group with us.
The result is clearly visible: our stallions are calm, friendly and remarkably harmonious, both with each other and with people. Many guests are genuinely surprised by how relaxed these horses live together.
No trading yard. No constant turnover. No fashion horses.
We are not a sales or transit stable where new “pretty” horses appear all the time and disappear shortly afterwards.
On the contrary: we focus on lasting relationships.
Our horses stay with us as much as possible, become part of our herd and our family, and grow with us and our guests over many years. Our guests truly appreciate that horses who lived here more than 10 years ago are still with us today.
Values such as reliability, character, stability and mutual trust are far more important to us than quick profit or constantly changing horses. This sense of family is a central part of our philosophy and creates a warm, honest atmosphere – for horses as well as for people.
Well-being as a way of life
Equine welfare is not something we just write about – it shapes our daily routines. Our horses:
– live on sand paddocks with as much social contact as possible
– have space to move and natural opportunities for exercise
– enjoy peace, routine and safety
– receive natural, species-appropriate nutrition
– are guided with gentle, clear leadership
An important part of our welfare concept is their work rhythm:
All horses have regular rest days and never work an entire week without breaks.
Riding with feeling, lightness and responsibility
Our way of riding is based on the belief that horses need joy, motivation and physical well-being in order to truly work with us.
We ride:
– with fine aids and a soft hand
– bitless whenever possible
– without unnecessary pressure, force or haste
– with understanding for biomechanics and individual limits
– with a mixture of riding, groundwork and free work
We do not use any training aids that fix a horse or force it into a posture.
A horse must be able to breathe freely, feel, communicate and trust – only then can real harmony arise.
Holiday guests: time, depth and genuine connection
Because we do not accept day visitors, the atmosphere remains calm and personal.
The horses are not confronted with a constant rotation of unfamiliar riders, and our guests can truly immerse themselves: in the peace of the place, in contact with the horses, and in a level of slowing down that has become rare today.
With us, a trail ride is not about covering as many kilometres as possible, but about experience:
breath, nature, silence, trust – the shared feeling between two beings who wish to understand one another.
Why we do all this
We want to show that even stallions can live peacefully together and work harmoniously with humans when their physical and mental needs are respected.
And we believe that long-term relationships, stability and a genuine sense of family are far more valuable than constant new acquisitions.
Those who spend their holiday with us feel this difference.
And many leave with a new, deeper understanding of horses.