‘Brilliant horses, stunning surroundings and delicious, melt in your mouth French food and wine. This holiday ticked all the boxes. Ancient French villages, castles and moats and a new winery tour each day. The French are passionate about their country and their wine. Now I know why!’

‘The Bordeaux Wine Trail was fantastic. It is a great way to see the vineyards and experience horse travel as it should be. The accommodations were beautiful, the food was top notch and the hosts were fabulous. Or guides did an amazing job, from setting the pace and making sure all of us were happy to guiding us around obstacles and traffic. My mare Penelope was awesome. Lots of go, but under control. Valerie did a great job matching up horses with riders. Everyone was pleased with their horse. It’s a top notch operation and you won’t be disappointed. Just do it!’

‘Miles and miles of grapevines, incredible light filtering through the trees, and amazing wine by the barrel – probably what you’re expecting when you hear the word ‘Bordeaux’ – but now imagine you’re on a horse. TEN MILLION TIMES BETTER. Riding through the Bordeaux region with the Globetrotting crew and the local guides, every day is a surprise. You’ll think ‘It can’t get better,’ and then it does. From riding through centuries-old fortresses to galloping through a dense forest and picking grapes straight from the vineyards as you ride by, this ride will have you looking for real estate in the south of France before the week is out. Our hosts were beyond accommodating, and ran the program like a well-oiled machine. The horses were extremely well cared for and had plenty of personality to keep the ride interesting, with amazing boldness in the face of whatever was thrown at them – they didn’t put a hoof wrong. I recommend this trip not just for its delightful scenery and divine food and wine, but mostly for its hosts, as they have incredible stories to tell, care about their human and animal team, and clearly love what they do.’

‘This ride was endless fun. We were blessed to encounter a lively group riders who were all happy to enjoy a laugh. The scenery on was sublime and jaw-dropping, and having the ability to trot, canter and occasionally gallop through the French countryside was a real privilege. The wine tasting was lovely – we learned a lot and were introduced to delicious wines that we were able to enjoy over generous and yummy meals. The accommodation was varied and gave us the chance to interact with locals and experience a slice of their lives. Most remarkable of all were the horses. My horse, Qasino, was the most gentle-natured, willing Thoroughbred you could hope to meet. He did not put a hoof wrong and I felt he really enjoyed the journey as much as I did. He also liked to lead the pack when given the chance and was bulletproof to dogs and other noises we’d encounter on the road. Qasino stole my heart… he’s really a kind hearted horse and if you have the pleasure of riding him you will have a brilliant week.’

‘From the first minute to the last the trip was an absolute joy. The horses were much loved and very well cared for. They had lovely manners and were forward-going and responsive to the lightest of aids. The pace was varied, with some lovely canters, a few gallops and plenty of walking to take in the beautiful rolling countryside views. The saddles were very comfortable for the long hours we spent in them, with suede covered gel seat savers.

The food was delicious and each night’s accommodation was great. The guides were fabulous and couldn’t have done more for us. Each vineyard we visited was different and the tours were excellent. A fascinating insight into wine making in the Bordeaux region.’