Two shorts stays available starting either Sunday or Tuesday, with slightly differing itineraries:
Day 1: Sunday or Tuesday
Arrive into Seville airport or Seville train station (Santa Justa) this afternoon, there is a free transfer to the equestrian centre from the train station at 16.30. If you require an airport transfer this can be arranged to suit your flight times and is to be paid for directly (50€ each way).
Following collection you will be taken straight to your beautiful four star hotel in the nearby town of Carmona, one of the famous white villages of Andalusia. This evening there is a welcome dinner when you will be able to meet your fellow travellers.
Your hotel in Carmona, is the Hotel Alcazar de la Reina. It is located in the heart of the old town and is surrounded by churches, convents and palaces. The standard of accommodation is very high and their reviews are excellent. There is nothing nicer on a warm Spanish evening than enjoying a drink and some tapas in the village square.
Day 2: Monday or Wednesday
This morning you will be collected from the hotel after breakfast at 9.00am for the short drive to the centre, upon arrival there will be a short orientation tour. Riding begins this morning, relax and get to know the horses as you mount up for a morning trail ride, a wonderful hack around the immediate countryside, through olive groves and eucalyptus trees. Lunch is the main meal in Spain and this is included (the owner’s wife is a wonderful cook). Equitation and /or dressage lessons will take place in the late afternoon. This is a great opportunity to improve your school work on expertly trained horses. The Hacienda has an outdoor swimming pool and plenty of garden areas where you can relax at any time, you will be taken back to the hotel in the early evening - you will probably still be full from lunch but in true Spanish tradition you may like to enjoy some light tapas later this evening in the village square (not included - only costs a few Euros).
Day 3: Tuesday or Thursday
Tuesday:
Following breakfast you will be collected from the hotel for the morning visit to The Royal Riding School in Jerez, renowned throughout the world for their breath taking exhibition ‘How the Andalusian horses dance’. Their painstaking training methods make this show a real delight as the horses perform intricate and demanding movements with effortless grace and control. A late lunch in included today at around 3pm back at the centre prior to the second trail ride around the beautiful countryside. You will then be taken back to the hotel.
Thursday:
After breakfast you will be enjoying another wonderful trail ride this morning. Depending on the time of year you could be riding through fields of sunflowers, wheat, cotton, oranges or peaches, through olive groves with ancient trees still carefully tended and nurtured. Lunch at The Hacienda followed by time for a siesta. Equitation lessons later this afternoon.
Day 4: Wednesday or Friday
Wednesday:
After breakfast you will be enjoying another wonderful trail ride this morning. Depending on the time of year you could be riding through fields of sunflowers, wheat, cotton, oranges or peaches, through olive groves with ancient trees still carefully tended and nurtured. Lunch at The Hacienda followed by time for a siesta. Equitation lessons later this afternoon.
Friday:
This morning you will have your final trail ride. This afternoon we take you into Seville to see the Flamenco show or sightseeing and visit the amazing Spanish tack shop selling a mixture of European and traditonal Andalucian leatherware.
Day 5: Thursday or Saturday
Sadly it is time to say goodbye. Transfers to the airport or railway station can be arranged before 11.00, hopefully this morning you will have some time to relax and pack up your things before the journey home.
This programme can also be adapted to a Classical Dressage course of 5 lessons and a lunge lesson - each Trail ride in the above itinerary replaced by lessons in our extensive training facilities. An opportunity to improve communication with your horse in a relaxed and a safe atmosphere. Improve your riding skills and knowledge on superbly trained Spanish horses. The price is £1395 pp
We also have longer intensive training packages and happy trails available. Ask an Equestrian Escapes representative to find out more about these options.