Andalusia Discovery

Introduction
Southern Spain Spain
This programme is designed for those who are passionate about horses and who wish to learn more about the Spanish horse, also known Andalusian or PRE, but equally want to learn and visit as much of Andalusia as possible during their stay. It is also designed for those who feel that they are not yet riding fit enough for more than one ride a day. This programme is also ideal if you have a none riding companion travelling with you.

For the riding portion of the trip, you can choose between a Dressage Option (includes 5 group lessons) or a Trail Ride Option (includes 4 trail rides).
If you choose the Trail Ride Option, you will enjoy riding through the stunning Andalusian countryside. You will ride through fields of wheat, sunflowers and cotton, through olive groves and past historical Haciendas and Roman remains with nothing other than bird song and the breeze rustling through the crops to disturb your thoughts. 
The Dressage Option (group lessons are typically made up of 2-3 riders at a similar level and never more than four) are designed to help riders improve their confidence, skills and abilities whilst following Classical Dressage principles. Lessons are progressive, safe, fun but very informative. You will feel your riding and knowledge develop as the week progresses.

Whichever you choose, your week will be interspersed with visits to some of the most beautiful and historical heritage sites in Andalusia (Carmona, Seville, Jerez and Cordoba). You will also get a typical Andalusian cooking lesson conducted in our own kitchens.

Accomodation

Accommodations
This is a stationary ride so all nights are spent at the same location.

Description
Accommodation is included at the Alcazar de la Reina.
This is a beautiful hotel located in the heart of the historic center of the city of Carmona, just a few minutes drive away from the Hacienda. The hotel is full of history, charm, and elegance while at the same time comfortable and modern, and is located at only twenty minutes distance from Seville International airport. It offers breathtaking views over the fertile valley, the Vega de Carmona, all the way to the great river Guadalquivir, and the Sierra Morena mountain Range behind. The name of the hotel comes from the Moorish term Alcazar, meaning a fortified Palace, and the Spanish, Reina, or queen. Therefore it is the Queen's Palace. 
The building was originally erected by the Moors in the 13^th century as a fortress adjunct to the Puerta de Cordoba, in an era when the town was one of the most important caliphates of Andalucía. The Palace, totally restored in the 1990s in the original Mudejar style, and refurbished in 2007, boasts spacious and elegant lounge areas and patios, a outdoor solarium with salt-water swimming pool, and a total of four different options for dining: The Tabanco Restaurant, the Terrace Bar, the Tabanco Tapas Bar and the official Guinness Irish Pub.
The rooms are ample, airy, comfortable and very tastefully furnished and feature two large (1m wide) single beds (for double occupancy beds are placed together, for twin, they have a space between), a full en-suite bathroom (tub and shower) with hair-dryer, air-conditioning and central heating, Satellite T.V., a safe and a minibar (consumption not included in the price).
Wi-Fi internet is available in all the public areas.



Other services available in the hotel, which may be of your interest but  not included in the program:

• Room Service
• Private Parking. There is a small basement car park which has to be reserved and a fee charged. However it is awkward to manoeuver and there is normally ample parking space  in the street in front of the hotel, in full view of the lobby and an outdoor parking enclosure a few meters away from the front entrance.
• Laundry and dry cleaning service
• Treatments (upon request and subject to availability)
• Business centre: fax and photocopy service.
• International magazines and newspapers
• Swimming pool towels
• Florist  (upon request and subject to availability)
• Outside of the normal transfer times, shuttle service to/from airport and train station

This trip includes and can accommodate special dietary requests.

Riding

Guests can choose between 2 options:
- Dressage Option (includes 5 group lessons) suitable for riders of all levels as we can split the groups accordingly.
- Trail Ride Option (includes 4 trail rides - approximately 8 to 10 hours trail riding) suitable for riders who are comfortable in steady trots and occasional balanced canters, on well manned but responsive horses, along open trails. It is also suitable for beginners who want to take it easy on steady trail rides with an option not to canter, if preferred, or confidence building lessons.

Please note:
For the trail ride option, if you are not yet comfortable or confident riding along open trails in rising trot and canter, please let us know. We can arrange a bespoke trail riding experience for you.
Our advanced dressage horses are reserved for our pure dressage programmes so we can’t guarantee these will be available for this program.



Horses
Our horses are the most important thing for us. They are the ones who truly make this Equestrian Vacation something unique. There are over 60 horses of different breeds, shapes, sizes, levels of training and temperament. With this large number we can match each guest with the ideal horse. There is also the option to change horses if the horse and rider are not getting along.
Most of our horses are Andalusians or Andalusian cross breeds but we have lots of others breeds such as Warmbloods (Hannoverian, Holsteiner and Oldenburg), Anglo-Arabs, Thoroughbreds, different breeds of ponies and others.
But most importantly we would like to emphasize the good nature and willingness of all our horses. We have no kickers or biters and besides their training and work, we think they are all special in their own way; they are all individuals and so they are treated as such. Our horses are a part of our family.

Staff
We are an Approved British Horse Society, Training and Examination Centre since 1985. We are used to training people of all abilities, from novice to advanced High School work. We are, therefore, happy to split riders into various groups and adapt our program as necessary to suit both experienced and less experienced riders.
Every instructor is fully qualified by the British Horse Society, Association of British Riding Schools and the Spanish Equestrian Federation. They all speak Spanish and English.
All ride leaders and assistant ride leaders hold diplomas from British Equestrian Tourism and the Federation of International Equestrian Tourism (FITE). You will only be taught or led by bilingual staff (some multilingual). All ride leaders carry mobile phones to summon rapid help in the unlikely event that this is necessary.



Facilities
Olympic size dressage arena (60 x 20 m)
Covered floodlit school with sprinklers (42 x 22 m)
Additional floodlit dressage arena (30 x 15 m)
One multipurpose large arena (50 x 50 m)
A lunging ring (20 m. Diameter)
There is unlimited "hacking" in beautiful countryside. You can ride days and weeks, without stepping on a single inch of pavement and without finding a single fence or gate.  

Hard Hat
It is obligatory by law in Spain to wear a riding helmet for all riding activities. We do have a few helmets out, but it is preferable for each person to have his/her own, as a good fit is essential.

Itinerary
 

Sample Itinerary - subject to changes

Guests can choose between 2 options:
- Dressage Option (includes 5 group lessons) suitable for riders of all levels as we can split the groups accordingly.
- Trail Ride Option (includes 4 trail rides - approximately 8 to 10 hours trail riding) suitable for riders who are comfortable in steady trots and occasional balanced canters, on well manned but responsive horses, along open trails. It is also suitable for beginners who want to take it easy on steady trail rides with an option not to canter, if preferred, or confidence building lessons. 

Day 1 (Sunday): Arrival
Guests arrive in the afternoon either by pick-up at the train station in Seville (10 - 20 minute drive) or by means of their own transport. A free transfer service is offered at 4:30 pm from the Santa Justa Train Station. You will then be escorted to your hotel in the nearby town of Carmona, one of the famous white villages of Andalucia.
After you are settled in, you may appreciate a dip in the pool, or perhaps discover the pleasures of the Spanish afternoon "siesta" after a tiring journey.
A member of our team will meet you in the hotel lobby at 8.15 p.m. on Sunday evening, to go to the welcome dinner along with the rest of our guests for the week. The meal will normally start at 8.30 p.m. During the meal you will be going over the week’s schedule and morning transfer times among other topics.
Meals included: Dinner
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 2 (Monday): Morning Ride & Carmona Visit
You will be collected from the hotel and on arrival at the riding center, you will have a short guided tour.

The Trail Ride Option Morning Program includes our ‘Old Hacienda Ride’, a relaxed trail ride around the immediate countryside, through olive groves and 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, steeped in history.

The Dressage Option Morning Program consists in your first group lesson (group sizes are usually of 2-3 riders at a similar level, and never larger than 4). It will allow our instructors to assess your strengths and any areas that need working upon throughout the week. Our lessons offer a great opportunity to improve your school work, position and dressage skills and they will also teach you how to communicate better with your horse.

After lunch at the riding center, you go on a guided tour of Carmona. You will enjoy a walking tour of this beautiful and incredibly historic town. Built on a hill overlooking a huge valley, the town lies at the foot of the majestic Sierra Morena mountain range. At the time of Julius Cesar it was one of the most important cities in Spain. You will find many remainders of the Roman and Moorish presence, as can be seen in the city walls, the squares and fountains that embellish the town. In 1247 Ferdinand III of Castile conquered the city, opening a breach in the defensive walls. Over time, churches, buildings and monasteries were built, turning Carmona into one of the most beautiful and historic towns in Andalucía.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 3 (Tuesday): Jerez Visit
Early breakfast and pick up at the hotel at 8:30 a.m. for the drive to Jerez de la Frontera, in the province of Cádiz. Jerez is internationally renowned for its production of sherry and brandy and is synonymous with the Spanish horse. The mornings main attraction this day will be the visit to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, and to see an equestrian performance titled, «How the Andalusian Horses Dance». 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 color.
You will also visit the Equestrian Art museum, where you can marvel at the history of the Spanish horse and high school dressage,from it´s origins to present times, all while enjoying the architecture of the stunning XIX century Place designed by French architect Charles Garnier.
We then enjoy a tapas Lunch in Jerez followed by a guided visit to one of Jerez’s famous Sherry Bodegas. Here you will learn about the history of one of the world’s most recognised wines, Sherry. Spain is also famous for its Brandy which takes its distinctive flavor from the sherry casks it is aged in. Spain produces over 80 million bottles of brandy a year, 95% of it in Jerez. Your guided tour gives you a first hand look into the closely guarded secrets surrounding the creation of sherry. Discover the intricacies of the sherry making process and the origins. Explore the underground cellars, where hundreds of barrels of sherry are stored, and, of course, enjoy a wine tasting.
You will then return to your hotel to enjoy your evening at leisure.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 4 (Wednesday): Morning Ride & Seville Visit
The Trail Ride Option Morning Program includes our ‘Roman Bridge’ ride. Depending on the time of the year you could be riding through fields of sunflowers, wheat, cotton, oranges or peaches, and through ancient olive groves still carefully tended and nurtured. It is a countryside where there are very few fences. Along the way you may come across the river, full and flowing in spring, cool and shallow in summer, a natural heaven for wildlife, with abundant vegetation all year round. Splashing through the shallows, where you may disturb terns and grebes, you’ll emerge at an old Roman Bridge and shady eucalyptus grove.

The Dressage Option Morning Program consists of your second dressage lesson. You will be further developing your understanding of the principles of Classical Dressage and you will already feel an improvement in your position and balance.

We have our lunch break at the riding center. After a freshen up back at your hotel you will then be taken for a visit into the heart of Seville.
You will start at the world famous Plaza de España, where you will have time to stroll its breathtaking beauty before embarking on a carriage ride through the park then into the historical centre of this incredible city.
Here you will have time to roam the ancient streets of El Bario de Santa Cruz, famous for it’s flowered balconies and narrow streets or climb the sloping ramps of the Giralda to see the incredible views across Seville. Seville cathedral is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and also the burial place of Christopher Columbus. Photo opportunities abound and you will never tire of the quaint cobbled streets that wind their way around the imposing palaces, cathedrals and monuments that combine to make Seville a ‘must see’ destination.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 5 (Thursday): Morning Ride & Olive Oil Farm Visit
The Trail Ride Option Morning Program features ancient farm trails that surround the riding center. By now, you will have fallen in love with the Andalusian countryside, its rich diversity of crops, and the sweeping scenery that is free of fences, punctuated only by olive groves and orchards.

The Dressage Option Morning Program includes two group lessons, one of which will be on the lunge, to really help progress your riding. By now you will feel more confident in your riding ability and your skills and knowledge will be increasing. You will start to really appreciate the feel and connection the wonderful Spanish horses can give you and you will be riding some more complex shapes and movements.

After lunch, you will visit the local Olive Oil Farm to learn more about this amazing product. Spain produces about half of the world’s olive oil and its health benefits are well documented. Few know what goes into its production though, so you will find this visit fascinating.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 6 (Friday): Morning Ride, Cooking Lesson & Seville
The Trail Ride Option Morning Program includes our last trail ride of the week, through olive and orange groves, and past farmers working the land. How strange, in a region where there are no bridle paths the horse can wander anywhere as long as you have respect for the crop. By now, you will realise that in Andalucia, everyone understands and loves horses.

The Dressage Option Morning Program consists of your final riding lesson of the week. Depending on your ability, you will be working on some of the more advanced dressage movements and by now, you will have totally fallen in love with the Spanish horse. His kindness, honesty, desire to please and natural beauty will leave you in awe.

You will then enjoy a Cooking Lesson with our own chef, Rosario, where you will use typical ingredients and methods to produce your own traditional Andalusian lunch. This will, of course, be accompanied by a glass or more of local Spanish wine.
After a relaxing afternoon back in Carmona, get ready to revisit the historical heart of Seville. There, you will visit a tack shop and go for a short walk to the typical Spanish night market where you can choose your own meal, from a range of Spanish and International cuisine, accompanied, of course, by some superb Spanish wine.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona


Day 7 (Saturday): Cordoba Visit
After an early breakfast you will be taken to the breathtakingly beautiful city of Cordoba. This city is quite literally the birth place of the Spanish horse.
In 1570, King Philip II, who was a great lover of horses, set out on a scheme to create a pure bred Spanish horse. For this reason, he ordered the Royal Stables to be built on land belonging to the Castle of the Christian Monarchs. It is here, in this beautiful setting, that the first ever Pure Bred Spanish horse, the PRE, more commonly referred to as the Andalusian, was bred. You will tour the ancient royal stables, which are worth a visit in their own right, and then, depending on the season, you will be able to watch a training session, showcasing some of the descendants of the very first pure bred Spanish horses.
There will also be time to explore some more of this extraordinary city including the incredible La Mezquita, the world famous mosque.
Cordoba was founded by the Romans and it became a port city of great importance, used for shipping Spanish olive oil, wine and wheat back to Ancient Rome. The Romans built the mighty bridge crossing the river, now called «El Puente Romano», but Cordoba’s hour of greatest glory was when it became the capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus, and this was when work began on the Great Mosque, or «Mezquita», which over the centuries, became one of the largest in all of Islam.
When the city was reconquered by the Christians in 1236, the new rulers of the city were so awed by its beauty that they left it standing, building their cathedral in the midst of its rows of arches and columns, and creating the extraordinary church-mosque we see today.
There are no shortage of places to enjoy a tapas lunch and Cordoba is full of boutique stores, from which to buy souvenirs, or you may prefer to wander the tiny alleyways and quaint courtyards, soaking up the atmosphere of this extraordinary city.
Finally, enjoy the last evening at your hotel or you may prefer to enjoy your final evening stroll through the streets of old Carmona whilst reminiscing about the wonders that make Andalusia what it is.
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch
Overnight at hotel in Carmona

Day 8 (Sunday): Departure
We offer complementary transport to the airport and train station. First trip at 8.00 am and last will be at 11.00 am.
Have a nice journey home, we hope you enjoyed your stay and we look forward to welcoming you back!
Meals included: Breakfast



Non Riders
Some non-riding activities can be arranged for non-riding companions. Examples of these activities include  Flamenco lessons, Spanish lessons, Massage, Golf...and much more!
We can also arrange some sightseeing activities for you such as Visit to the monumental town of Ronda, Visit to the famous Village of el Rocío and it´s Basilica, Riding in the Doñana National park and beaches, Photographic or Nature tour in the Doñana National Park, Guided tour of the Roman Necropolis in Carmona, Visits to the Museums both in Carmona and Sevilla (Sevilla is the birth place of universal painters Velázquez and Murillo among others, and many of their paintings can be viewed in the Fine arts Museum), Visit to the famous Carthusian Andalusian horse Stud and Show & Visits to SICAB, Seville fair and Jerez fair.
It is also possible to add more cooking lessons to the program for an extra fee.
Inquire about the cost of these extra activities if you are interested.

Rates and Dates for Andalusia Discovery

Dates Note: Sunday to Sunday.

Other Info
Meeting: Carmona
Airport: Seville
Transfer: Included from Santa Justa train station.

Climate:
                                                Seville area