Spanish Holiday Activities - Horse Riding

Horse riding is a rewarding past time and to experience Spain by saddle, bringing nature and man together is thrilling and heart warming, awakening all emotions and senses.

Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced rider you will enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and excellent facilities. We offer trails that provide a true flavour of real Spain, with our rides traverseing acres of open land, orange and lemon groves and unspoiled tracks.

We pride ourselves in our selection of well-trained horses & ponies, and under the guidance of your personal coach you will feel at home in the saddle and your ability and confidence will grow.

Our horses are between 12.2hh and 16.2hh and include English and Spanish types. They are sensible, reliable and fun to ride. It is imperative all our horses are treated with the love and respect they deserve, with this thought, it is the corner stone of our riding school, providing a clean and loving home for these horses, with roomy stables and generous paddocks, working with people is an added bonus for these fun loving horses, who find having a rider brings them more pleasure.

You will enjoy the finest of hospitality throughout your time with us, sampling local cuisine. All our riding trails are designed for small parties of 2 - 6 people. Non-riders are welcome and can explore our undiscovered corner of Spain. Non-riders can also meet their partners each day for their gourmet picnic lunch.

3 Day Riding Trail

Day One

The first day's ride allows you to enjoy the spectacular views of the mountain ranges. Departing Finca Herradura at either 8am or 10am, depending on time of year or alternatively you can have an evening ride, departing at 6pm. Many opportunity is given for taking photos, stopping for a snack and having a drink for refreshment.

The terrain throughout the first day is quiet orchards and tracks. The breathtaking views speak for themselves and we will take time to enjoy the wealth of the Spanish countryside along the route. All along the route there will be opportunities to alter the pace of the ride - you can walk, trot and canter at various stages.

After eating we ride down through the orchards, where we stop for the day. The horses are turned out and you will then be collected and returned to your accommodation.

Day Two

On the second day we head into the campo to enjoy dramatic views over unspoiled farmland. The trail eventually heads us back down through the campo towards Finca Herradura, where we relax and enjoy a picnic, barbecue or paella.

Day Three

On the 3rd day of riding, we take a trail through the dry ramblas, which leads us into Totana. The riverne, with its carved out structures makes for fascintaing visions, of how nature through the decades has carved out the Spanish lands.

An unforgettable end to a remarkable riding holiday.

Each days ride is approximately 4 to 6 hours long.

Introduction to Horses (Beginners' Course)

Finca Herradura is a superb location for children and adult riders where beginners can build up their confidence and improve their skills.

For the complete beginner or those who are nervous, we provide a 2 day course which covers , natural behaviour of the horse, how we can use it, to have empathy and understanding between horse and rider. We also cover the aspects of horse care and management, and then we move into the introduction of riding:

• Skill 1: Handling horses in everyday situations.
• Skill 2: Reasons for grooming. Grooming kit. general points of grooming.
• Skill 3: Tacking Up. Procedure used when putting on the saddle and bridle.
• Skill 4: Mounting. From nearside of horse helping a rider to mount.
• Skill 5: Dismounting. From nearside using stirrup. From nearside without stirrup.
• Skill 6: In The Saddle. Tightening girth on nearside when mounted. Correct length of stirrup when mounted. Altering length of stirrup when mounted. Taking up and holding the single rein. position of rider in saddle. exercises at halt with and without stirrups.
• Skill 7: The Correct Way Of Going. The aids. Halt to walk, walk to halt. Circles and turns.
• Skill 8: Trotting. From walk to trot, trot to walk. Sitting and rising trot.

Pricing

Beginners Course - €260
Includes 2 days of 6 hour tuition, meals and transfer to and from Finca Herradura.

3 Day Riding Holiday - €POA
Price given upon application as prices vary according to time of year, and the trail is tailored to your requirements of morning or evening rides.