Dos Olivos Clinics

Introduction
Southern Spain Spain

Relaxation and satisfaction awaits! A secluded, peaceful Spanish country estate of outstanding natural beauty, the hacienda is situated in southwest Andalusia. The local area is famed for its wonderful climate, cultural diversity and rich history. Although private, the Hacienda is close to many local amenities and famous attractions and only 20 minutes from Seville.
The estate itself is built in a blend of Moorish and Andalusian style, with 13 hectares of olive groves. Your first memorable encounter with the hacienda is upon entering its driveway and passing through the olive grove, carpeted with a wide diversification of flowers and home to a multitude of wild birds and small animals. Bordering the Doñana National Park, the hacienda offers the rider and their non-riding companions an opportunity to sample the grace of living in Andalusia where the pace of life is unhurried and serenity ultimately treasured.
Instructional holidays are tailored for those who wish to combine tuition with the warmth and relaxation of a holiday. For anyone with an interest in classical equitation, riding purebred Spanish horses, wanting to improve their seat, refine their aids and to learn more about this special breed - this is a small hideaway paradise waiting for you!
Dedicated to equestrianism from a very early age, the courses are led by Johanna Beattie Batista, the owner of the hacienda. Her knowledge of classical riding and the Spanish horses has been gained from wide resources over many years including the Royal School of Equestrian Art in Jerez (Spain), Nuno Oliveira in Portugal, The Cadre Noir (Saumur) and Michel Henriquet in France. Additionally, Johanna travels extensively throughout the world undertaking the specialist clinics for which she is renowned. Tuition is based on the philosophy of the old masters, which aims at the rider attaining lightness, elegance and harmony with his mount through precise yet light aids. Trail rides, if you so desire, are provided by a neighbouring farm in the stunning countryside surrounding Aznalcazar.

Accomodation

Welcome...

The entrance of the farm invites you up the driveway to the main house and gives you time to take in your first captivating views of the Hacienda (Spanish country home) and the olive groves. Named “Dos Olivos” ("Two olive trees") it celebrates the only two olive trees removed when it was built on the 35-acre organic olive grove. Blending Spanish and Moorish styles, the whole Hacienda surrounds a peaceful cobbled courtyard. The hacienda provides a romantic, tranquil and picturesque setting for riders and their non riding partners where one can truly forget the normal pace of life and immerse oneself in the more leisurely style of the Andalusian pace.
You may wish to lounge by the pool and absorb the peaceful setting; sample the delights of our local wines and cuisine; recover from bustling night life in Seville; discover the flamenco and fiestas in the area. Explore the historical and cultural sites around us, or immerse yourself in the natural beauty of nearby National Doñana Park. Dos Olivos will prove a refreshing break and a memorable insight into some unique moments of Spanish rural life!

Accommodation:

For guests in “La Casita II”, they enjoy a light and airy cottage adjacent to the main house with tranquil views over the olive grove and riding arena. It has 2 bedrooms, a separate bathroom, a comfortable lounge/diner with television and a well-equipped kitchen. Guests have the opportunity to be totally independent and yet enjoy the atmosphere of the hacienda. 

Other guests may stay in the Hacienda itself, in one of the two private rooms in the main house.  The house is built in typical Moorish style, surrounding a central cobbled courtyard.

Meals:

The food is traditionally prepared by our Spanish cook using fresh local produce with all the regional flavors. Meals are accompanied with superior wines and Spanish beer.  The olives are harvested in September and are served at the table year round.  Breakfast is typically Spanish with fruit juice, freshly baked bread, Spanish biscuits and cakes.  Lunch is taken by the pool in the enclosed garden under the shade of the palm trees.  Lunch may comprise of cold meats, salamis, breads, cheeses, salads, and a traditional cooked dish.  Guests will enjoy dinner each night at the Hacienda or at a local Spanish restaurant.  We cater to vegetarians and other diets on request. 

This trip includes some wine with dinner and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Dedicated to equestrianism from a very early age, the courses are led by Johanna Beattie Batista, the owner of the Hacienda. Her knowledge of Classical-style riding and the Spanish horse has been gained from wide reaching sources over many years, including the Royal School of Equestrian Art in Jerez (Spain), Nuno Oliveira in Portugal, The Cadre Noir (Saumur) and Michel Henriquet in France. Additionally, Johanna travels extensively throughout the world undertaking specialist clinics for which she is renowned.

The Horses...
The horses are Spanish pure-breds. Their elevated movements and compact frame enable the rider to refine the use of their seat and to feel more accurately the movement and response to the horse. Due to their natural abilities, collected, lateral and elevated movements are easy for them to execute giving the rider the feeling of lightness, balance, cadence and rhythm.

The characteristics of the Spanish breeds today remain much the same as in the 17th century, when the great masters of equitation praised their unrivaled qualities for high schooling work. During successive centuries the techniques became elaborated and refined into a gentleman’s art through the use of Iberian horses. Their gentle yet flamboyant nature, their strength and agility, their acquiescing intelligence and cheerful, noble bearing combined to form the medium of the art. “Such,” as Xenophon wrote centuries before, “are the horses on which gods and heroes rode”.

The horses are each at various levels of training, from youngsters currently being backed, to senior schoolmasters. The horses are worked daily. This varies from preliminary exercises for lateral movements, to work in hand, round penning and improving the proficiency in movements such as the canter, flying changes and piaffe. To truly benefit from the experience and schooling of our horses the rider should have a good basic level of riding, horse awareness and above all - an open mind.

The 6-day intensive program is ideal for those who wish to concentrate on improving their classical dressage skills through intensive instructions. It includes two semi private lessons daily on 5 days.


Thursdays:
No riding on Thursday morning to give the horses a rest - except if you are enrolled in the intensive program (you get one lesson as opposed to two that day).

Riders Level:
All riders should have a good basic seat as both lessons and hacks are not suitable for beginners!

Weight Limit:
To give you full benefit of our horses and training the rider’s weight limit is 180 lbs.

Tuition:
Additional lessons per hour: 60 €
Hacks per hour: 30 €

Itinerary

Guests arrive on a Sunday evening for dinner (after 6 pm) and receive an introduction to the program. Holidays consist of six nights accommodation, with full board for the intensive program and half board for the relaxed program. At the end of your week-long stay, departure is after breakfast (10:30 am) on the following Saturday morning.

At Hacienda Dos Olivos our aim is that each rider may achieve more clarity in the classical methods riding quality, purebred Spanish horses. Tuition is based on the philosophy of the old masters, which aims at the rider attaining lightness, elegance and harmony with his mount through precise yet light aids. Emphasis is placed upon an awareness of the individual personality of our partner the horse and on improving the rider’s seat to enhance sensitivity. Individual tuition is tailored to the needs of each rider, carefully adapted to each client’s ability and requirements, from novice to advanced. Depending upon riding ability, more advanced riders may get to experience dressage of the highest levels, including the piaffe, passage and flying changes. Less experienced clients will benefit from observing these movements through the lectures/demonstrations and obtain a clearer understanding of the ‘mystique’ surrounding these high school movements, as they are explained whilst being demonstrated. Many riders, for the first time, will feel true collection. Lessons are given by Sarah-Jane Clarke (numbers are limited to ensure each guest receives ample attention and assistance) and courses are led by Johanna Beattie Batista the hacienda owner.
Lectures and demonstrations take the form of observing lessons, training sessions, work in hand and the schooling of young horses including round pen work (lunging). These lectures/demonstrations have proved invaluable to clients as they not only provide the opportunity to observe expert equestrian skills, but all are encouraged to take part by asking any questions which will be of assistance, and, most importantly, will receive clear and understandable explanation. All guests are welcome to make use of the various additional resources at the Hacienda such as DVDs and videos, which can start interesting discussions whilst relaxing in the evening in front of the fire. On Thursdays we encourage guests to visit the Royal Spanish School of Equestrian Art in Jerez where the weekly shows are a breathtaking spectacle. These visits are an excellent culmination to all that has been learned at the Hacienda, and provide the chance to view classical dressage at it’s absolute best, with a renewed clarity, understanding and inspiration.
Hacks (if required) are provided by a neighboring yard in the stunning countryside surrounding Aznalcazar. A lovely hack invariably finds one contemplating the week's lessons in the arena, whilst relaxing and enjoying the thrilling canters through the scented Mediterranean pine forests. Expert guides are eager to answer any questions you may have on the local history, fascinating wildlife and stunning countryside, which surrounds the Doñana National Park.

Other Places of Interest
Guests may visit nearby Seville, a bustling, cosmopolitan city of great historical interest where the shopping and friendly bars are renowned. Sampling local ‘tapas’ on a shaded terrace whilst watching the world go by can become a favourite pastime, or alternatively the city has restaurants offering international cuisine to suit the most discerning palate. The fiestas and fairs, flamenco and colourful nightlife of Seville are legendary and within easy reach of Dos Olivos.
We are happy to advise guests on visits and other activities which can be enjoyed during your stay. For guests who do not ride, there are a wide variety of activities, which can be undertaken locally. Bikes can be rented from the Hacienda, and a round of golf can be arranged at the nearby Golf Course. Visits to the Doñana National Park, with it’s unique ecosystem and the largest bird resort in Europe is a must for the bird and animal enthusiast, or guests may opt for a 4 x 4 trips. Many guests discover that the atmosphere of the Hacienda is so peaceful and hypnotic they spend time simply relaxing in the gardens, enjoying the pool or terrace where the scent of jasmine in the early evening is breathtaking.

Rates and Dates for Dos Olivos Clinics

Dates Note: Available weekly from Sunday to Saturday

Other Info
Meeting: Pilas
Airport: Seville
Transfer: Seville

Climate:

Weather Overview for Seville

Seville located in the South West of Spain, is known for its hot summers and mild winters, making it a fairly typical Mediterranean climate. Seville is one of the warmest cities in Europe.

Interestingly, the all time hottest European temperature ever recorded occurred back in 1881 in Seville, when on August 4th the summer temperature hit a blistering 50 degrees celcius! (122F.) Pre- airconditioning times- this would have been a hard day to endure!

Seville’s weather is fairly consistent year to year which makes it an easy city to plan a getaway to as you can choose whether to enjoy the high temperatures of July and August (if you like it hot), or enjoy the more moderate temperatures of Autumn and Spring. 

SUMMER

July and August see Seville’s hottest weather, with an average maximum temperature of 36°C and minimum temperatures of low 20’s. This heat makes the city experience a fairly nocturnal atmosphere, with the street bars and cafes beginning to fill up once the stifling midday heat begins to cool slightly. In the evening, temperatures hover around the mid to low 20’s which make night time in Seville very agreeable and contribute to it being a social, nocturnal Spanish city.

Some find the weather uncomfortable and the heat hard to endure, but those who don’t, will flock to the city in August, which is in fact Seville’s busiest time and the city rarely experiences any rain during this period with daily temperatures often reaching 38°C-40°C.

WINTER

Winters in Seville are mild, with an average maximum of 16 degrees and average minimum of 5.2 degrees. The temperature almost never reaches the freezing mark and many houses don’t have heating.

These relatively warmer winters make Seville a popular Spanish winter getaway, for both the Spanish and the rest of Europe. The temperature begins to cool down in November and remains cooler through until about March. January sees Seville at its coolest, with average temperatures of 6°C/15°C. Moving into February the average temperature is a relatively mild 18 degrees.

Throughout winter Seville experiences approximately 7 - 8 days of rain per month, and rainfall is generally at its heaviest in November and December, with the rainy season running from October through until December.

AUTUMN/SPRING

If you are not fond of the heat, and are neither a fan of cold, snowy winters, then it is best to visit Seville during Autumn or Spring. (Despite one freak day of snow half a century ago!) Post summer months see the temperatures cooling, however September is still hot with an average temperature of 32°C.

The weather begins to rapidly cool down come November, and starts to warm up again by March. During this time there is fairly moderate rainfall. On average, however, Seville experiences 230 days that are over 20°C.

Spring sees Seville host its annual Spring festivals which makes it an enjoyable and entertaining time to visit (albeit more expensive.)