When it comes to epic landscapes, culinary feasts and afternoon siestas, Spain certainly knows how it’s done, and this week is all about exploring the country from another angle, with some tuition thrown in for good measure. You’ll be picked up from Santa Justa train station in Seville at 4.30pm and escorted to your hotel in the nearby town of Carmona, one of the famous white villages of Andalusia. Carmona is the oldest continually inhabited village in Europe and as you stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, you will feel and breathe the spirits of ancient cultures (Iberians, Visigoths, Phoenicians, Romans, Moors), in the innumerable examples of their architectural influence in the churches, towers, palaces and mansions as well as in the inherited customs.

After you’ve settled into your hotel, you might find you’re keen to discover the pleasures of the Spanish afternoon ‘siesta’ after a tiring journey. A refreshing dip in the on site pool might also be a popular choice to stave off any jetlag you might have. This evening you’ll be joined by one of your hosts, the wonderful Garcia family, for a welcome dinner at an adjoining restaurant. After some friendly conversation, you are free to spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, and to relax before the beginning of what will be an unforgettable week.

You’ll be collected from your hotel this morning and driven the short distance to the 16th century hacienda (equestrian centre) where you’ll be introduced to the trail horses. The Old Hacienda Ride is up first, and it’s a relaxed hack around the surrounding countryside, through olive groves and stands of eucalyptus trees. Depending on the season, you could see fields of sunflowers, wheat and cotton, as well as melons and water melons in late summer. The ride takes you past impressive 16th and 17th century Haciendas and Cortijos, which have stood here since the days when Cervantes rode these same trails, collecting olive oil taxes.

You’ll return to the equestrian centre for lunch. This afternoon will be your first opportunity to experience a dressage lesson (1 hour) given by one of the hosts. Every single instructor at the equestrian centre is qualified by the British Horse Society, Association of British Riding Schools and the Spanish Equestrian Federation and when it comes to dressage, the knowledge they have gathered (having trained under many masters of various nationalities) has allowed them to form their own training and teaching techniques, where learning and enjoyment is the main priority. Your hosts can cater for riders of all levels from beginners to advanced, so you don’t have to be a Grand Prix dressage rider. But even if you’re a happy hacker or new to dressage, you will enjoy brushing up on your riding foundations and will benefit from every lesson you receive this week.

Beginners will benefit hugely from the lessons because, although things are kept simple, you know that your basic skills will be correct and solid, enabling you to pursue whichever discipline you choose down the track. For the more experienced riders, you’ll be given guidance towards riding your horse in a correct outline, straightness, balance, rhythm etc. As the week progresses, lateral movements such as shoulder in, travers, renvers, half pass, and depending on your riding level and ability, flying changes or pirouettes will be added to your lesson.

Dinner tonight is NOT included in the price, but your hotel is within walking distance of many restaurants and tapas bars in Carmona, so you are free to choose where and when you eat.

An exciting day is planned today – you’ll enjoy an early breakfast before being collected from the hotel at 8:30am and driven to Jerez de la Frontera in the province of Cádiz, approximately 1.5 hours away. Jerez is internationally renowned for its production of sherry and brandy. However, the main attraction of the day will be the visit to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre (The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art) to watch an equestrian performance titled, “How the Andalusian Horses Dance” (ticket price €29 payable direct upon arrival). Here you will have the privilege of seeing the magnificent Andalusian stallions at their best, at home in the breathtaking setting of their 18th Century palace and the riding hall. They will be performing piaffe, passage and the airs above the ground (courbette, capriole, etc) in a spectacle of light, music and colour, comparable only with the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Fernando (ride leader and driver) is well known at the school and is good friends with many of the world famous riders. His daughter Vivi (head instructor), trained at this school for four years and frequently performed in the show.

After a mesmerising performance, you’ll return to the equestrian centre for your afternoon lesson (1 hour) where you’ll brush up on the things you learnt yesterday and continue to learn and improve your school work or dressage.

Dinner is NOT included and to be enjoyed at your free will in Carmona.

After breakfast and a quick transfer to the Hacienda, you’ll mount up and set off across the Spanish countryside for the Roman Bridge. Today’s ride promises to be a scenic wonder as you’ll be traversing a landscape patchworked with different crops, still rotated year by year as they have always been, with wide headlands of uncultivated land separating one field from another and providing a natural bridleway across country. The variety of wildflowers, butterflies and birds makes this ride truly memorable. Along the way you may come across the river, full and flowing in spring, cool and shallow in summer, a natural haven for wildlife, with abundant vegetation year-round. Splashing through the shallows, terns and grebes, you’ll emerge at an old Roman Bridge and shady eucalyptus grove. After a break where you’ll have the chance to take some beautiful photographs, you will ride back to the equestrian centre for lunch. Your lessons will again be this afternoon after lunch.

Dinner is NOT included and to be enjoyed at your free will in Carmona.

Today after breakfast you’ll set off early to the seaside village, where sturdy Spanish horses, all in Spanish Andalusian cowboy tack (montura vaquera), will be waiting to take you on a beach ride. The ride takes you on an unforgettable route through the Donaña Natural Park bordering the National Park of the same name, one of Europe’s last true wilderness regions and one of the largest wildlife reservations in Spain. You’ll be riding over the golden dunes, brushing through fragrant wild lavender, rosemary and thyme. The area is home to many species (some protected), such as fallow deer, boar, fox, lynx, imperial eagles, kites, vultures, storks, flamingos and herons. You’ll ride down the steep dune to the beach and then it’s time for the horses to wet their legs and for those who want to, a canter through the surf.

After the ride, you’ll head back to the equestrian centre for lunch. Your final lesson for the week will be held this afternoon so don’t hold back. If you have any questions or you want to try a particular movement, now’s your chance! You will notice the difference in your riding from the first lesson on Monday through to your last lesson today, and will take these newfound skills home with you to put into practice on your own horse, or the horses you’re able to ride if you don’t have your own.

Dinner is NOT included and to be enjoyed at your free will in Carmona.

You set off across open country for the last hack of the week, through olive and orange groves, past farmers working the land. How strange that in a region where there are no bridle paths, the horses can wander anywhere as long as you have respect for the crops. In all the years your hosts have been riding through the area, they have never had a farmer object to them crossing his land. Quite the contrary, in fact: the farmers are actually very pleased to see riders roam through on horseback, for in Andalusia, everyone understands and loves the horse.

You’ll return to the equestrian centre for a final lunch (the famous paella, with equally famous sangria to accompany it) then bid a sad farewell to your terrific horses who you’ve had the pleasure of training on all week.

In the afternoon, after a well deserved ‘siesta’, you’ll get changed into your city finery ready to hit Seville for a classical Flamenco Show (ticket price €35 payable direct upon arrival). The show features over 12 dancers of national and international fame, traditional singers and wonderful flamenco guitar. After a short walk, you will arrive at an excellent marketplace providing both Spanish and International cuisine for the last dinner of the holiday and some superb Spanish wine (please note, dinner is at your own expense and is NOT included in the ride price).

This is a six night, five day riding holiday designed for those who prefer to concentrate on improving their riding skills, particularly in the dressage arena, and who want to learn from the highly trained horses and top class instructors at the equestrian centre. The program includes group and semi-private lessons in the morning and afternoon, plus some lunging sessions which are excellent for improving seat, balance and posture. It may also be possible to change one of the lessons for a trail ride at some stage throughout the week, just for fun.

Just like the Train & Trail ride itinerary, this program also includes guided visits to Jerez de la Frontera to see the famous Andalusian Stallions perform (day 3), and a visit to Seville on the last evening for a typical Flamenco Dancing Show. Tickets for these events are not included within the ride price.

This is a six night, six day riding holiday designed for experienced riders who have a passion for Classical Dressage and are also interested in the procedures used for training horses to perform at such a high standard. A unique opportunity not easily found at other establishments, guests will have the chance to gain a feel for the sensitive Andalusians, trained to High School level, and to enjoy some of the more advanced movements performed at this level, such as Passage, Piaffe and Spanish Walk. If you are working on establishing these movements with your own horses at home, being able to experience how they should feel and the correct aids to produce such a movement on a horse already trained to perform at this level, is a wonderful opportunity and will further your riding and understanding of High School dressage.

This program includes a combination of private lessons – one of which will be with Olympic medallist Rafael Soto!!! – semi private lessons (2-3 guests per group), ground work sessions (working on training piaffe, passage and Spanish walk), and lunge sessions where you’ll work on improving the classical seat. You will enjoy 2-3 lessons per day, including a final lesson on Saturday morning before you depart for the train station at 11am.

Guided visits to Jerez to see the famous Andalusian Stallions perform (day 3), and a visit to Seville on the last evening for a typical Flamenco Dancing Show are included in this itinerary. Tickets for these events are not included within the ride price.

*Please note, the weight limit for this program is 85kg / 190lbs. If you are over this, please contact us for a further assessment.

No matter where you’re based, if you’re involved in the dressage world, then the name Rafael Soto will probably ring a bell. His charisma has earned him the respect and popularity of dressage enthusiasts and fellow riders alike the world over – not to mention he is a Spanish Olympic Team silver medallist (Athens 2004).

This is a seven night, six day riding program (Sunday to Sunday). Throughout the week, the training and tuition consists of:

– 2x lunging sessions to improve your classical seat

– 6x group lessons with the equestrian centre’s resident instructors **these lessons will determine the level and most suitable mount for you to gain maximum benefit out of your lessons with Rafael Soto

– 4x 45-minute private sessions with Rafael Soto. Guests will also have the opportunity to sit in and observe the lessons of the other guests.

– Guided visits to Jerez (Rafael Soto’s home turf) to see the famous Andalusian Stallions perform, and a visit to Seville on the Friday evening for a typical Flamenco Dancing Show are included in this itinerary. Tickets for these events are not included within the ride price.

*Please note, the maximum weight limit for this program is 85kg / 190lbs.