Wales offers an enormous amount of wonderful land that is really very beautiful, and simply magical to explore on a horse riding holiday.  The beach rides are outstanding here, and are always one for winning people’s hearts.  Pembrokeshire brings with it a quiet natural feel, with its winding pathways and bridle ways which are perfect for hacking out, and the beaches which are sure to stay with you for the rest of your life!

Photographs simply do not do the landscape justice, as this area of the UK is not one to miss out on!  Also visit the Isle of Anglesey on a horse riding holiday so that you can immerse yourself in the fabulous Welsh coastline, witnessing nature at it’s very best, and if this isn’t enough for you, why not visit the beautiful Brecon Beacons!

One of the many activities to be found on a horse riding holiday, Cornwall

Cornwall is famous for its natural beauty, and in particular the beaches.  Equestrian Escapes has found two wonderful sandy beaches in Western Cornwall that are just perfect for a horse riding holiday.  This holiday is fantastic fun for everyone, and filled with activities, so there is no room for boredom!  This holiday can take you on all sorts of naughty adventures, including the chocolate factory, the local ice-cream farm and local, home-made organic Cornish Pasties that melt in the mouth.

And when it comes to riding, the adventure just doesn’t stop;  be it flat work, help with nervous riders, show jumping, cross-country or hacks including riding on the never-ending neighbouring beaches that are wonderful for a slow canter.

This holiday package is designed for those who like to be kept busy, but also like some spice in their life.  The Cornish beaches are entirely breathtaking, and the local activities are also to die for!  For more information about any of our horse riding holidays, please do not hesitate to contact Equestrian Escapes.

From a young age it has always been my dream to canter a beautiful horse down a perfect sandy beach; the breeze whipping at my hair, the salt in my eyes, but especially the idea of the utter strength and happiness I would feel always appealed to me.  Bournemouth offers just this.

Horse Riding Holidays, Bournemouth

The ideal place to get away, Equestrian Escapes are able to offer wonderful beach rides in Bournemouth.  A beginners holiday, is also available so that you may have the ideal horse riding holiday.  If you like to get out and socialise then the local pubs are always very welcoming if you wish to stop off for lunch on your riding trek.  If you are looking for something more extravagant, however, then there is a luxurious boutique hotel, equipped with it’s own vineyard, so that in the evenings you are able to sip fine wines and relax.  On the other hand, if you are more of the adventurous type, why not go on a Western horse riding holiday where you can learn to ride cowboy style!  Contact Equestrian Escapes about what else we have to offer you, for your perfect horse riding holiday.

"You Can Lead A Horse To Water But You Can't Make Him Drink...."

Meaning:

People, like horses, will only do what they have a mind to do.

Origin:

Proverbs give richness to language and, to some extent, define a culture. ‘You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink‘ might be thought to encapsulate the English-speaking people’s mindset better than any other saying, as it appears to be the oldest English proverb that is still in regular use today. It was recorded as early as 1175 in Old English Homilies:

Hwa is thet mei thet hors wettrien the him self nule drinken
[who can give water to the horse that will not drink of its own accord?]

If you like Portugal, and fresh fish, then the Alentejo Region is the place for you.  Fresh sardines for breakfast, cork and olive trees covering the surroundings, and the most beautiful and healthy horses you have ever seen.  It is very tranquil, and the beaches go on for miles.  Views of the Atlantic Ocean are certainly not one to pass up, and it is not every day nature’s beauty is so clearly defined around you.

The beaches are truly breathtaking as you can see

The colours of the flowers, and the varied vegetation are everywhere; be sure not to overlook it because once you are home you’re little vegetable patch will look like nothing in contrast.  If you would prefer to see the sights and not only horse ride, we were able to change it easily, and the beaches are sensational for swimming and sunbathing.  The fishing villagers are fantastic for long lunches, and walking is also gorgeous.  Porto Covo is located in a magical setting, and it is impossible for its beauty to go unnoticed.  Such a region should most certainly be explored, and I intend to go back to see more of this enchanting landscape.

My husband hates the idea of riding around on a horse, “the poor animal!” he would say as I saddled up my furry friend.  So, I decided to research horse riding holidays that would introduce him to it, and make him realise these are not “poor animals” at all.  I found Equestrian Escapes that tailor-made me a holiday that could cater for my husband’s lack of interest, and certainly his lack of talent on a horse, and we found ourselves in Bournemouth.

He was given lessons starting right from the beginning, and he loved it!  My next fear was that he was beginning to look like he had the potential to be a better rider than myself!  Problem easily solved – I booked myself a riding holiday with Equestrian Escapes, totally alone, so that I could ride horses somewhere breathtaking, and work on my technique all at once.  This time, my destination was Wales.

Equestrian Escapes cater for everyone, and the quality of the holidays are outstanding.  Through them, my husband and I found the Brooke horse, donkey and mule charity and now regularly donate to help improve the animals that live in such harsh conditions.  If you are an animal lover, and want to get more involved with animals and particularly horses, Equestrian Escapes will be perfect for you!

These four words are absolutely vital to our philosophy here at Equestrian Escapes. When we consider a new package, or putting a new destination onto our list of “To be scouted…” we ask ourselves a few questions to help determine whether it is suitable for our style. Our style of course being linked closely into our desired impact on the customer and the overall quality and delivery of the Equestrian Escapes product range.

Question number one.

Is is fit to be an Equestrian Escapes Horse Riding Holiday? Now by fit I mean does it tick those oh so necessary boxes that we know our customers need. Have we got those vital three C’s? Comfort, Culture and Climate. I heard you laugh! I’ll admit, we let our various England, Wales and Ireland venues slip under the bar with the weather reviews but this is for two very good reasons. One; we know our own land. Two; we have seen living testament over the past few decades to the amount of dedicated riders and horse lovers who are completely willing to brave gale force 27 winds and an icey bout of rain in England. And do you know why they do it? Simple. These people love their animals and these conditions only make you enjoy the good weather more. So needless to say, we launched our domestic range and it still is a smash hit. People love a good UK riding holiday. That’s the kind of holiday they want more often than not, given the current economical climate.

Question two.

When are we getting out to this new possible destination to have a thorough look at the available accommodation, riding centers and restaurants? We refuse to reccommed something to our customers unless we know it’s good. First hand sampling of all you will encounter, bar the unpredictable… for instance, no we did not test the air for possible traces of volcanic ash. Within reason, but with dedicated dilligance. That is how we always aim to operate when considering new destinations for your next horse riding holiday.

Question three. If we have aquired good answers to our first two questions then…

How soon can it be up on the website and available to you? How soon can it be ready? We want it sooner. The way we see this near final stage of the riding holiday process is that you could be going on your single holiday of the year in three weeks time. That’s right you, the customer. So what if you’d like to go to Madrid with your family of four this year on a riding holiday, you have already seen the standard we work at and would rather find yourself a new location than a different tour operator. That is customer loyalty, and that is what we strive to achieve. We want our relationships to strengthen over time with our customers. You should feel both confident and excited about your trip just knowing that Equestrian Escapes are the people who have been with you each step of the way. It is an Equestrian Escapes horse riding holiday and you should expect no less.

In the future, this will be further recognised as a symbol of honesty

What is it about the English as soon as the sun comes out?  They slap on their factor fifty, roll up their sleeves to reveal pale and pasty bingo wings, and get all excited about the countryside!

Well, that was me, except I got REALLY excited.  On a whim I took my wife’s laptop into the garden and started surfing the internet for horse riding holidays.  The web pages were endless and I didn’t know where to begin!  Being almost computer illiterate I looked for something respectable, easy and accommodating – and there it was; Equestrian Escapes.  As I navigated my way through their clearly thought out website looking at the endless opportunities I could embark on, imagining myself in these beautiful pictures, I breathed a sigh of relief as my face began to spread into a grin.

There was Andalucía.  And Seville it would be!  The idea of a horse-drawn carriage showing off the city of Seville to me was the real clincher.  But, the Spanish country home, the inviting olive groves, the Spanish food as well as beautiful beaches needed little persuasion.

I am booked to go in a couple of weeks, and cannot wait!  Equestrian Escapes made a holiday made just for me, and I was able to choose from their many luxurious choices in order to make a holiday perfect for me.  I’ll let you know how the tapas tasted!

Ron Howarth

Yet another stunning day in Seville, Andalucia

Ron kindly gave us this article after becoming aware of our blog here at Equestrian Vacations for Equestrian Escapes. Soon after he wrote this and emailed it to our staff (know how you can find on our Contact Us page) he phoned up and arranged a holiday, within two weeks he was sat in Andalucia eating tapas for lunch after a great mornings riding. Now that is a good example of what we at Equestrian Escapes aim to achieve when delivering fantastic landscapes and scenery to our beloved customers. We’re here for you.

This picturesque region in the south of Spain has been a chosen holiday destination for the inspired traveler for decades. The sun soaked scenery relaxes the mind and allows true recuperation from many a busy and hectic life. I recently travelled to Faro airport from Manchester on an inexpensive Easy Jet flight. Before I knew it I had been transported from my dingey flat in Manchester to a beautiful hotel in Donana National Park. With that much wildlife and nature leaning on my doorstep I could feel the pressures of the big city sliding gently off my shoulders. It was time for a real break.

I used to ride a lot as a child but as the years past, I grew up and eventually moved away from the countryside in Berkshire where I was raised. I followed my carrer, guided carefully by my A-Levels and Univesrity and ended up for the time being in Manchester. And as many of you will know, that left little time for horse riding. I hadn’t had a holiday as long as I cared to remember so I did a quick, self explainitory search on the internet; Horse Riding Holidays. And there it was, plain as day. Equestrian Escapes, my saviour. They offer reasonably priced, well researched, quality holidays which are what they say on the packet. I was so impressed and thought as I am a writer, the least I could do is write them a short article about how much I enjoyed my holiday for their blog. So here it is.

My Break Starts Well

After a great nights sleep, I retired early on the previous night and achieved a fantastic fourteen hours sleep! That’s over twice what I’ve been getting over recent months. I ate a slpendid breakfast and set off to the stables. They all spoke English and helped me find the perfect horse. My Andalucian steed was a beautiful chesnut brown. He was a well mannered and patient horse, very pleasent to ride and not too wild but abundant with character. I found my feet again for the first time in years and felt years younger. That afternoon we hacked through Donana National Park for an hour and a half (my bum wasn’t up to much more) in the glorious sun.

Day three of my trip kept up the pace with a hack in the morning and, as I travelled in the summer I did miss the migrating birds of autumn and winter but my guide did point out a Spanish Imperial Eagle and then we went for a ride on the beach in the afternoon. What a wonderful day! Horse riding on a golden Spanish coast. How could I go home?

The next day I took a trip into Seville and visited the much documented and acclaimed banks of the Guadalquivir River. Called by some as one of the historical corner stones of Europe, I took a private horse drawn carriage tour. And was not dissapointed by the stunning bridges spanning it’s still water and the looming architecture combining centuries of culture, style and heritage.

The hotel in Seville

Halfway through

On my fith day in Spain I spent the morning and afternoon, split by a healthy lunch, having dressage lessons. I have never attempted dressage before, not even when I was younger but I really felt like I made some headway. I felt much more in control of the horse, and after attempting something outside of your immediate comfort zone (with no pressure from anyone besides myself) I felt that standard walk, trot and canter were far easier and the control I learnt followed through to my general horse riding ability.

Today I went on a memorable journey, one and a hlaf hours drive (but completely worth it), to Jerez de la Frontera. A place I will not be forgetting quickly. Especially after my dressage attempts the day before, this visit could not have come at a better time. I was going to pay a visit to The Royal Riding School. Internationally renowned for their skills on horseback, supreme training and quality bred horses they performed “How The Andalusian Horses Dance”. How I urge you to see that show in all of it’s elegance.

The painful reminder of day seven was that my holiday had flown by and already I was staring into the eyes of a nearing departure. This however didn’t come close to stopping me from enjoying a final days cultural exploration around Jerez. A truely beautiful place. And as if the holiday had not already come to a fantastic climax I sat down for a delicious local meal followed by flamenco dancing! Along with a long list of fine wines to taste and entertainment in the form of taditional dance I felt that this holiday had given me the umph I needed to keep me going when I was back in England. It would be a warm, happy time to resurface from my memories when faced by a daunting amount of articles to write with a rapidly looming deadline.

And just like that it was time to check out, and before I knew it I had landed in England. After a taxi, a wait at the airport and collecting my luggage I snapped out of my luxury trance and performed the last short leg of the journey to get me back home. Just in time to catch up before Monday. C’est la vie.

by Michael Bournon

The Holiday that Michael went on was aptly called The Magic of Andalucia just click to be taken directly to it’s itinerary.

Welsh Beach Riding

 Thursday. Arrive onto the Welsh coastline and settle into you lovely 4 star cottage for your long weekend riding holiday. This Bed and Breakfast has been carefully restored and redecorated to once again relive its former glory. Inside are medieval vaulted cielings and original details preserved from the past. It has its own walled gardens holding a view to the ancient church of Saint Madoc. The bedrooms have great views, good beds, digital radios, a vareity of books and ensuite bathrooms. Once you have settled in you may have time for a ride, if not then riding will commence tommorrow.  Tonight you can choose to eat out from one of the local pubs.

A canter in the shallow water

 Friday. After a hearty breakfast it will be stable time! Head to the stables and they will quickly assess your ability and allocate you an appropriate steed. They have a large selection of good horses ranging in suitability for all levels. Ponies or horses. These fine animals can cater from those who have ridden for decades to children who are trying riding for the first time. This morning you will enjoy a hack out after having a horse allocated to you. This is a great chance to improve your riding. After lunch, you have the oppourtunity to go riding in the woodlands. This ride will take you through some of the private thirtyfive acres of private valley owned by the stables. In the woodland you may spot any number of foxes, badgers, pheasants, rabbits and other freely roaming wildlife. Keep your eyes peeled! The woodland is peaceful and you will walk and trot down paths following the natural flow of the valley. There are many different routes to take. From advanced small cross-country jump routes, all the way to relaxed walking routes. It is very much so your choice. You will be accommpanied by an experienced, friendly guide available to give you tips on your riding and show you the area.

Riding in Wales

 Saturday holds longer rides in this particular area of the British countryside, to Druidstone Haven. You’ll be hacking through more woodland valleys and also along stunning coastal tracks and lush pasture land. The coastal tracks and pastureland overlook the inlets of Nolton and Druidston. They give an excelent bird’s eye view over St.Bride’s Bay. You will be able to ride on the beaches of Newgale and Broad Haven out of high season, so it’s important that if you would like to ride the beaches you give us a ring on 01829 781123 and consult our staff on suitable dates and oppourtunities. These awe inspiring beaches offer up to 2 miles of sand when the tide is at is lowest. This afternoon you will be riding on the beach to Druidstone Haven this peaceful, stunning and dramatic beach is situated just over a mile from the stables. Druidstone is nationally renowned for the ‘Telly Tubby House’ and the area’s natural geography.

Sunday. After breakfast, head to the fully certified stables, a Visit Wales Certified Activity Center and member of  the Wales Trekking and Riding Association. This morning is another chance to head to the beach and split up into smaller groups based on ability for maximum enjoyment of the breathtaking views and scenery at your own pace may that be walk, trot or canter. After your ride you will have the opportunity to say goodbye to your new found friends and horses before you depart.

This three night holiday includes accommodation as stated on B&B basis with five riding opportunities for £395 see Horse Riding Holidays Wales

Or for a complete change of scene for British folk weary of English weather, check out Horse Riding Adventure Holidays Spain