News Archive

A special equestrian break on the Costa del Sol including 3 nights accommodation, 2 days riding, a horse drawn carriage ride and a visit to The Picasso Horse exhibition in Malaga. For more details please contact Equestrian Escapes on 01829 781123. We also offer other short break riding holidays in Spain plus tailor made riding holidays.

Cheshire Farm House Riding Break scores top marks with Equestrian Escapes customers!

Holiday Destination - What can I say, absolutely beautiful, we were really taken care of, great hospitality.

Handling of Booking – Extremely efficient

Quality of Accommodation – Superb

Quality of Riding – Excellent

Overall Experience - Had a fabulous weekend, and will definitely be booking again with Equestrian Escapes

Any Suggestions – No - Everything was perfect

Would you recommend this holiday to family & friends? - Most definitely

New for 2010, The Medieval Castle Riding Tour of Tuscany this luxury one week riding holiday takes you along the ancient tracks and trails left by the Etruscans who originally inhabited the verdant lands of Tuscany. You will be staying along the way in two different medieval castles and then later on in the tour in a spectacular and historic fortress.

This riding break is suitable for intermediate to advanced riders. We also offer a learn to ride package in Italy based at one of the castles for beginners and improvers that offers a mixture of lessons and more gentle trail rides.

Take a look at this article in which The Times News has recommended one of our horse riding holidays to SICAB Seville.

If you would like more information about this horse riding holiday to SICAB, take a look at our website.

Alternatively, we can tailor-make a riding holiday to suit your individual requirements if you want the perfect break to treat your loved ones too or just enjoy yourself on.

Our riding holidays can be enjoyed throughout the UK and Europe and all are flexible packages. We can organise as much or as little riding as you want and many of our equestrian holidays have a range of accommodation to choose from.

Recently Equestrian Escapes appeared in The Sunday Telegraph, the editor had spotted our great range of Horse Riding Holidays and wanted to do a story.

Hannah Betts, the reporter from The Sunday Telegraph, chose our learn to ride in Italy package after deciding she wanted to learn a new sport. Once we spoke to her about what was offered by this riding holiday she thought it would be a great opportunitiy to publicise this fantastic holiday allowing other like-minded people the opportunity to enjoy great accommodation and first-class tuition and hacking.

Here is a link to the article on The Telegraph's website -
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/activityandadventure/6041632/Riding-holidays-Tuscany-at-a-canter.html

If you are interested in sampling the Tuscany countryside on horseback then give us a call on 01829 781123 and we can check availability for you.

Equestrian Escapes won an award in the category 'Best Tourism Experience of the Year 2009' at the annual awards dinner celebrated by Visit Chester and Cheshire on 5 June. The riding holiday that has been attracting all the attention is the suberb Cheshire Farm House Riding Break and can be found in Riding Holidays Cheshire. The judges said, 'Equestrian Escapes shows admirable attention to detail, a wonderful passion for both the product and for their customers well being and great links with other tourism product in the area'. This horse riding weekend break offers the very best of standards in both the accommodation and also in the quality of the horse riding experience.

The Travel Doctor in The Times Newspaper contacted us recently to ask for our help regarding a query for a riding holiday sent in by a reader; they recommended Equestrian Escapes. We thought that you might be interested to read the question and answer.

Question: I am hoping to surprise my husband witha short break for his 50th birthday. Both of us are fit and so I am considering a break in Europe involving some horse riding, I was hoping to travel from a local airport.

Answer: Equestrian Escapes could tailor-make a three night riding holiday in Andalucia. You'd fly to Malaga, transfer to Ronda for one night and then move on to Jerez, home of the Spanish Royal Riding School. You could enjoy days in the saddle and evenings sampling sherry at local bodegas or watching Flamenco. The cost would be £395 pp excluding flights - you can fly direct to Malaga from Belfast with easy Jet.

Horse riding enthusiasts can now follow in the footsteps of Spanish Conquistadors in Machu Picchu riding high in the mountains of Peru.

Sarah Caplan, who owns Equestrian Escapes which specialises in riding holidays throughout the UK and abroad, recently returned from a dream trip to the spectacular former Inca settlement near Cusco, Peru.

During her 10-day holiday she explored beauty spots in the Sacred Valley and enjoyed the luxury of passing backpackers on horseback on the lung busting Andes trail.

She said: 'I have always wanted to visit Machu Picchu and the chance to visit the heart of the Inca Empire on horseback, who could have written me a better script?'

'We journeyed to the ranch where the horses live close to the small town of Moyapata, after visiting the cosmopolitan city of Lima and the cultural capital of Cusco.

'The owner of the horses and of the lodges where we would be staying during our trip was accompanying us throughout the ride.

'With his signal to proceed, we set out on what was to be the most memorable journey I have ever made.'

Horse trailing experiences is a new project to Machu Picchu, one of the world's most sought-after adventure holiday hotspots.

Sarah believes the popular combination of horse trailing and lodge accommodation coupled with the panorama of Machu Picchu will take off among UK holidaymakers and has launched the holiday offer on her website alongside ahost of other great horse riding holidays.

Horse riding enthusiasts can now follow in the footsteps of Spanish Conquistadors on a  riding holiday in Peru through the mountains to Machu Picchu.

Sarah Caplan, who owns Equestrian Escapes which specialises in riding holidays throughout the UK and abroad, recently returned from a dream trip to the spectacular former Inca settlement near Cusco, Peru.

During her 10-day holiday she explored beauty spots in the Sacred Valley and enjoyed the luxury of passing backpackers on horseback on the lung busting Andes trail.

She said: 'I have always wanted to visit Machu Picchu and the chance to visit the heart of the Inca Empire on horseback, who could have written me a better script?'

'We journeyed to the ranch where the horses live close to the small town of Moyapata, after visiting the cosmopolitan city of Lima and the cultural capital of Cusco.

'The owner of the horses and of the lodges where we would be staying during our trip was accompanying us throughout the ride.

'With his signal to proceed, we set out on what was to be the most memorable journey I have ever made.'

Horse trailing experiences is a new project to Machu Picchu, one of the world's most sought-after adventure holiday hotspots.

Sarah believes the popular combination of horse trailing and lodge accommodation coupled with the panorama of Machu Picchu will take off among UK holidaymakers and has launched the holiday offer on her website alongside a host of other great horse riding holidays.

We also specialise in UK horse riding holidays.

When confronted by the daunting task of choosing from the many riding holiday offers, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the amount of information that you are presented with on the internet. But have no fear, as long as you follow these ten guidelines then a wonderful, and memorable break is practically guaranteed!

1) Remember to book your holiday through a trustworthy and established tour operator.

This will ensure that your holiday flows as smoothly as possible, as you know that your holiday of choice has been tried and tested by the experts. Although it can be tempting to save some money by booking on line, a tour operator offers financial security, so if the hotel or stables that you have selected goes bust, you won’t lose all of your hard earned money!

2) Check that the stables where you are going have fully qualified, professional staff.

There is nothing worse than going for a riding lesson or expedition with an instructor or guide that isn’t properly qualified, and in other words just doesn’t know their stuff. Not only is it dangerous to entrust your wellbeing to a person that has little experience, it will also detract from your holiday experience.

3) Choose a holiday that is suitable for your standard of riding.

This is a very important one, as despite the fact that it can be both embarrassing and difficult to swallow your pride and admit that perhaps you’re not quite as good at riding as you had thought you were, it is essential when planning a successful trip. No one will judge you as a person on how good at riding you are, you are on holiday to enjoy yourself, not to prove yourself as a rider. Only book rides and lessons that you feel confident taking part in, and if it seems like it might be a little bit too intense, the chances are it will be, and you are risking both your safety and your enjoyment.

4) Make sure that you choose which time of year that you go on holiday very carefully.

The fantastic thing about equestrian holidays is that they are not bound by seasons as is common with many other types of holiday, so there is no pressure to pay ludicrous prices for flights and accommodation during the peak summer months. A hot, sweaty ride is not always pleasant, so remember to take into account the fact that a cool spring hack may be much more appealing than roasting both yourself and your horse, just because it’s the summer holidays!

5) Be sure to pack the correct equipment and clothing

With the frantic, panicky experience that it last minute packing, it can be very easy to forget the bare essentials, and even though you would never think of going for a ride without a hat, boots or gloves when at home, it may slip your mind abroad. Just remember to bring a suitable pair of shoes with a solid heel, a properly fitted riding hat, comfortable trousers and some lightweight gloves and you’ll be ready for anything!

6) Make sure that you find suitable holiday insurance

It may seem obvious now, but when you’re actually in the process of organising the fine details of your holiday such as insurance, it’s easy to become distracted by various bargains and savings, causing you to neglect the most apparent of things. Check carefully that the insurance that you have selected covers accidents and mishaps when riding horses, as if the worst happens and you become injured in any way then the last thing that you want is for your insurance to fail you and to be confronted with a large medical bill as well as a ruined holiday!

7) Be aware of your personal fitness

This one’s another slightly embarrassing guideline, as horse riding may not seem like the most strenuous of activities, but if you aren’t up to it physically then it can be a daunting and gruelling task. You must be honest with yourself, and if you feel that you are not in the best shape, then don’t cancel the holiday, just exercise a little, until you feel confident in both your riding ability and your fitness.

8) If you’re not travelling alone, choose a holiday that suits your family as well as it suiting you.

Even though it can be nice to get away from your life at home and have a break in relative solitude (at least as far as your family are concerned!) if you choose to go away as a group, then make sure that the holiday suits everyone. It is very easy to find beginner riding courses for those of you who are less confident in your riding ability and if riding doesn’t suit one of your loved ones, then many equestrian holidays offer alternative activities.

9) Take your safety very seriously!

When travelling abroad it is sometimes very easy to forget that the dangers that you encounter at home are still apparent, and just because you’re there to have fun doesn’t mean that you’re invincible! Ride carefully at all times and do not be tempted to show off to fellow holiday makers or family members, and enjoy yourself responsibly.

10) Put plenty of time aside for relaxation

This may seem like a very obvious point, but it’s much easier than you would think to book yourself too many activities and put too little time aside for relaxation. Although it is enjoyable, horse riding can also be strenuous, so don’t feel pressured to spend every minute of every day on a horse. Just because you are on an active holiday, don’t feel embarrassed or guilty for sitting by the pool or enjoying a long lunch followed by a siesta!

When presented with the offer of a horse riding holiday in the Alpujarra mountains of Andalucia, I thought that I would have been foolish to turn down such a unique and generous offer, and in no way was I wrong. We spent the day time travelling from village to village aboard magnificent Andalucian horses and the evenings sipping wine on the terraces of charming rural hotels, as we watched the sun set and the moon rise in this heavenly mountain paradise. Every small village or town that we visited seemed to sum up the wonders of Spain in its own unique way. I have chosen to focus on one of the more memorable rides into the hills, as it was an experience that will never leave me….

We tacked up our horses as the sun rose, gently warming our backs, seemingly beckoning us to embark on our adventure through the beautiful and picturesque Alpujarra Mountains. The start of our trail was a steep rocky path, but despite the difficult terrain our horses seemed totally unfazed, and even though the path gradually became steeper and steeper, and the ground beneath us became less and less stable, our mounts remained tirelessly surefooted. The morning sun was strong in the sky, and after about half an hour of riding the heat seemed to become more intense, but as if it had been placed there for our very convenience, the path lead us into a lush mountain forest, that was home to an array of wonderful sights, sounds and smells. Great Spanish trees sheltered us from the heat and for the first time that day I was able to take in all that nature had to offer, without worrying about controlling my horse. I felt tempted to dismount my steed and spend the day sitting quietly in the wood, absorbing the peace and quiet that a city boy like myself relishes so much, but this was just a fantasy, and before I knew it the forest had cleared and our path lead us onto verdant meadows and sunlit pastures. The lush grass beneath my horses’ hooves was obviously a welcome break from the rocky trail that had led us there, and as we pressed our horses to canter the sheer exhilaration of the moment caught my breath. The sky was so clear that when I glanced out towards the sea I could make out the outline of Morocco, a majestic land that seemed to be floating carelessly on the glistening waters. When we eventually dismounted to enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch, every member of our group totally captivated by the beauty of the mountains, we chatted carelessly about trivialities as I imagine a tribe of nomadic wanderers might do, at one with nature and with ourselves.

After lunch it was time to begin our descent, which was perhaps even more breathtaking than the way up. Our horses seemed to be relieved by the fact that they no longer had to climb up hill, and they seemed to gain an excited spring in their step. By now it was afternoon, and the sun had lost some of its intensity, and with some help from a cool summer’s breeze I was able to forget all of my worldly troubles and totally unwind. This experience was unlike any other that I have had the privilege to take part in, as not only was the view awe inspiring, but it made me feel very spiritual, and at one with my horse and nature. The deep peace of the mountains filled my soul, and I began to see why so many people are tempted to leave the pressures of the city and start a new life in relative solitude. By this point I was lost in a deep train of thought, allowing my horse to steadily stride along without a care in the world, and I didn’t notice that the path had once again become steep and unstable. This was the point where the group dismounted, and we spent the next half hour leading the horses into the quaint town of Berchules, where the horses were stabled and we were to spend the night in a wonderfully authentic family run hotel. This day had taught me an awful lot about both myself and nature, I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, and I will remember it for the rest of my life.