Horseback Riding in Spain
EPONA EQUESTRIAN CENTER |
 Approved by the
British Horse Society |
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This picturesque riding center provides trailriding in the morning, and afternoon dressage instruction. Jane, who runs a BHS certification program at Epona, is a regional dressage judge and has trained numerous Andalusian Championship medallists. She and her daughters Caty and Vivi, are BHS and Spanish Federation certified instructors, who specialize in dressage and training students who plan to make teaching their profession. The instructors are particularly good with beginners and nervous riders. Caty, and at times Jane’s students of the BHS certification program, give the afternoon instruction. Many of Epona's Andalusians and Anglo Arabs are trained to a high level for the more experienced riders but the family is also especially good with beginners and nervous riders. The program offers enjoyable morning trail rides to interesting places including a beach ride to the Donana Wildlife Refuge. It is also designed to give excellent opportunities to experience and appreciate the fascinating culture of the area. This is an excellent destination for non-riding companions (details below).
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Sunday: Afternoon transfer to Epona from the Sevilla airport or train station. Settle into your accommodations, enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool or an afternoon siesta. In the evening visit a typical tapas restaurant with Fernando (who will be your guide for the trailriding) in nearby Carmona, the oldest continuously inhabited village in Europe. Stroll through the narrow streets, past the fortified walls and feel the spirit of the Iberians, Phoenicians, Romans, Moors and other ancient peoples. Dinner at a restaurant in Carmona (not included in the price) before returning to Epona for overnight. |
| Day 2: | Monday: After a leisurely breakfast mount up for the Hacienda Ride, a relaxed ride around the immediate countryside, through olive groves and eucalyptus trees, fields of sunflowers, wheat, cotton, and melons in late summer. Ride past impressive 16th and 17th century haciendas and cortijos, which were standing when Cervantes rode these same trails collecting olive oil taxes. Return to Epona for lunch and enjoy the first experience of typical Andalusian home cooking, washed down with an excellent local house wine. The afternoon can be spent by the pool, or if you are feeling in need of culture take the bus into Carmona to explore the old streets, archaeological sites or the second largest Roman Necropolis in the world. Dressage lessons will take place in the late afternoon when the air is cooler. |
| Day 3: | Tuesday: Start out with an early breakfast before leaving at 9am for Jerez de la Frontera, the world famous center of sherry production. Stop for a short visit at a wine shop and sample the different local varieties. The main attraction of the day is the visit to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestra, a classical equestrian show 'How the Andalusian Horses Dance'. Watch the magnificent Andalusian stallions at their best, in their beautiful 18th century riding hall, performing piaffe, passage and the 'airs above the ground' such as courbette and capriole. (Ticket price extra) Return for lunch at Epona, followed by a lesson in the late afternoon.
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| Day 4: | Wednesday: After breakfast saddle up and set off for the River Ride through fields of sunflowers, wheat and cotton, and ancient olive groves. In this countryside there are few fences. A landscape rich with a patchwork of different crops, still rotated year by year as they have always been, with wide headlands of uncultivated land separating one field from another and providing a natural bridleway across country. Enjoy the variety of wild flowers, butterflies and bird life. Before you know it you're upon the river, full and flowing in spring, cool and shallow in summer and fall, a natural haven for bird life with abundant vegetation all year. Splash through the shallows, past water voles, terns and grebes, before emerging at a Roman bridge and the chance for a snack and rest in a shady eucalyptus grove. Evening lesson to continue improving your riding skills. |
| Day 5: | Thursday: Set off for the seaside village of Matalacañas, stopping for breakfast enroute. Beautiful Spanish horses, most in full Spanish tack, will be waiting to take you on the Beach Ride. The ride follows an unforgettable route through the Doñana Natural Park bordering the national park of the same name, one of Europe's last true wilderness regions and one of the largest wildlife reserves in Spain. Ride over golden dunes, through shrubland dotted with rock rose, bramble and heather. If you are lucky you could spot one of the many protected species which inhabit the area such as fallow deer, otter, boar, fox, lynx, imperial eagles, kites, vultures, storks, flamingos or herons. Enjoy a canter through the surf before returning back to Epona for lunch and a siesta by the pool.
Evening dressage lesson to continue improving your riding skills. Enjoy a traditional 'Paella Campestre' under the stars, washed down with homemade sangría.
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| Day 6: | Friday: Mount up after breakfast for the last trail ride of the week, through olive and orange groves, past farmers working the land. In a region where there are no bridle paths the horses can wander anywhere as long as you respect the crops. Arrive at the fields of a top class Andalusian stud farm and with some luck you will get the chance to appreciate the noble and docile nature of the beautiful mares and foals grazing peacefully in the sunlight. You may even see some colts and magnificent stallions. Return to Epona for lunch.
In the afternoon, change into your city clothes ready to visit Seville. The first stop is the main tack shop in Seville, followed by a classical Flamenco Show (ticket price extra - about 29 Euro). The show includes over twenty dancers of national and international fame, traditional singers and wonderful flamenco guitar. After a short walk through the old part of the city, arrive at an excellent restaurant providing both Spanish and international cuisine, for the last dinner of the holiday and some superb Spanish wine (dinner not included in price). Return to Epona.
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| Day 7: | Saturday: After breakfast say goodbye to horses, dogs, assorted animals and friends you have made. Transfer to the Seville Airport or train station in time for your departure. (Check out no later than 1:00 pm)
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| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Seville |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 5 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Strong Intermediate Intermediate Novice |
| Group Size | Minimum-1 Maximum-14 |
| Riding Per Day | 4 hours |
| Pace | to suit riders |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | Andalusian and Andalusian cross |
| Weight Limit | 220 lbs |
| 2010 Dates | Sunday to Saturday,
year-round except mid July to mid August |
| 2010 Price | $1,800
Non-rider: $1,045
Children (4-12 yrs: $1,350
Children (3 yrs or under: no charge
Book this program during their off season Nov - March and receive a 10% discount. |
| Single Supplement | $330 |
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