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from £2,015 or €2,270
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Hotel Alcazar de la Reina – Carmona
Caretakers Self-Catering Apartment – Epona
Mill Self-Catering Apartment – Epona
Note: Rates are subject to daily exchange rate fluctuations, please refer to our ‘Terms & Conditions’ for full details.
Included – All the riding, accommodation, breakfast at the hotel, lunches at the Hacienda and a welcome dinner on the first evening, drinks with meals, transfer at pre-set times and some sightseeing.
Excluded – Flights, some sightseeing (Spanish School of Equitation Jerez, Flamenco Show Seville), dinners, Carmona & Seville & tips.
Getting There
International flight to Seville.
Transfer
The transfer time is only 20 minutes from Seville airport. You can either take a taxi or we can arrange a private transfer it is 55 – 60Euros per car each way to be paid directly.
All dates available throughout the year Sunday to Saturday except those scheduled to the Rafael Soto Clinics
Open all year, except 13th to 27th of August and 18th December until 6th January 2024
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
This Classical Dressage holiday offers you an amazing opportunity to practise high level dressage movements on highly trained Andalusian horses in their country of origin. This is a specialised niche horse riding holiday in Spain, aimed at serious dressage riders, who want to improve their riding skills, and practice dressage moves on serious horses – the aim is to get riders going back home with new skills to help train their own horses to these high levels – and of course it’s all done under expert tuition, in the relaxed, and beautiful setting of Spain itself.
You will be 1 of just 3 pupils present on this specialised course.
In general, mornings are spent training, under the expert tuition of highly qualified instructors, two of which are the daughters of Fernando & Jane Garcia, the owners of Epona. In addition, one of your lessons, will be given privately, by Olympic Silver Medallist, Rafael Soto & Director of the Royal School of Equestrian Art in Jerez.
You can expect to have the opportunity to practise all of or some of the following, depending on experience and skill:
But what is work with no play, we hear you say! You will also get the chance to enjoy the Spanish sunshine and chill out at the pool, visit the nearby city of Seville for dinner and a traditional Flamenco show and watch a training performance at the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez.
Horses – Andalusians, Andalusian Crosses, some Warmbloods, Anglo Arabs and Thoroughbreds.
Level of Riding & Pace – Intermediate to Advanced.
Tack – English.
Weight Restriction – 13 Stone 4 lbs / 85 kg / 187 lbs. Heavier riders are welcome up to 95kgs, we just need advance notice and told at time of booking to make sure we have the right horses available.
Group Size – Maximum 3.
The Hotel Alcazar de la Reina is where guests stay and enjoy the charm of the small town of Carmona, the oldest continually inhabited settlement in Europe, where the locals are friendly and helpful and the small winding streets are steeped with history and tradition, staying at the Hotel Alcazar de la Reina, tastefully restored 4-star hotel, originally a 14th Century fortified palace.
You have breakfast at the hotel, it’s an extensive buffet with lunch enjoyed at the Hacienda between training sessions and hacks. All the food is home cooked and expect traditional Spanish fare such as olive starters, Tortillas and mixed salads followed by fresh fruit and/or cheese for dessert, washed down with a glass or two of local wine if you fancy! Evening meals: On the first night there is a welcome Tapas dinner at the hotel with your host Fernando from Epona. Most other nights you are free to eat at the hotel or any number of wonderful local eateries which the Garcia family will recommend. On the final night you are brought to a Flamenco show in Seville followed by a meal with one of the hosts at Epona (optional).
For 2023, there is an option to stay onsite at Epona. There is the choice of either the Caretakers Apartment (sleeps 4) or the Mill Apartment (Sleeps 2). The apartments are self catering although lunch is included in the Hacienda at Epona each day. The apartments are lovingly restored and freshly decorated in traditional Spanish style. Breakfast & dinner not included. We recommend you hire a car to visit Carmona and Seville for sightseeing and restaurants. However, if you do not have a car, a complimentary trip to the supermarket is included.
Horse Riding Holidays like this Classical Dressage High School holiday is part of the Zara’s Planet collection of Horse Riding Holidays Spain.
Please Ask About
Sunday
Guests arrive in the afternoon, either by pick-up in the airport or train station in Seville (10 – 20-minute drive) or by means of their own transport. A free transfer service is offered at pre-set times (3.30pm and 8.00pm from the airport and 4:30 pm. From the Santa Justa Train Station). If you can’t or don’t wish to be picked up at these times, the service will be charged, and needs to be booked well in advance.
You will then be escorted to your hotel in the nearby town of Carmona, one of the famous white villages of Andalucia. Carmona is the oldest continually inhabited village in Europe and as you stroll through the narrow streets of the old town, you will feel and breathe the spirits of ancient cultures (Iberians, Visigoths, Phoenicians, Romans, Moors), in the innumerable examples of their architectural influence in the churches, towers, palaces and mansions as well as in the inherited customs.
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.
In the evening, you will be joined at your hotel by one of the hosts, for a welcome dinner, where you will meet the rest of the members of the week’s group and where you may clarify any last-minute questions about the weekly program. This will be your first opportunity to savour the delights of the local cuisine which still makes full use of ingredients which compose the famous healthy Mediterranean diet, olive oil, garlic, onions and vegetables. After some friendly conversation, you are free to spend the rest of the evening at your leisure, and to relax before the beginning of what we hope will be an unforgettable week. WELCOME TO EPONA!
Monday
After breakfast at the hotel and a quick transfer to the Hacienda, be ready to mount up, after the trail riders leave for their morning ride. Everything is quieter now, ready for the dressage lessons. Your first lesson will be an assessment with your instructor, who will note your good points and the areas which need to be worked on. It is also the first chance for you to get used to your horse and the more sensitive style of riding required for the Andalusian and Iberian horse. Our goal at Epona is that you get as much improvement and fun out of your lesson as possible. After this first session, take a short break, then change to your new mount for your private lesson. After you have recovered a little it is time for your first lunge session, great for improving your seat, balance and posture.
Once the lessons are over, relax with a book in the garden or by the pool. You are also more than welcome to stay and sit by the arenas and watch the daily training of our horses. Vivi, our main horse trainer will be more than happy to answer any questions about our trainig methods and our horses. Meet the rest of the group for lunch in beautiful dining room, where you will have your experience of typical Andalusian home cooking, courtesy of our resident cook and sample our excellent local house wine.
Tuesday
Early breakfast and pick up at the hotel at 9.00 a.m. before leaving for Jerez de la Frontera, in the province of Cádiz, one hour and a half away by car. Jerez is internationally renowned for its production of sherry and brandy. However, the main attraction of the day will be the visit to the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, an equestrian performance titled, “Those Amazing Dancing Andalusian Stallions” (Ticket Price: 27 €). Here you will have the privilege of seeing the magnificent Andalusian stallions at their best, at home in the breath-taking 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 colour, comparable only with the famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Fernando is well known at the school and is good friend with many of the world-famous riders. Vivi trained at this school for four years and frequently performed in the show.
Return for lunch at Epona, followed by lessons in the afternoon.
Wednesday
The lessons will take place as soon as the trail ride leaves. As the week progresses so will your dressage, hopefully performing more advanced movements. Today you will begin with the semi-private lesson, followed by the private session. After a break, enjoy the unique opportunity to do some groundwork. Our trainer will demonstrate on a one-to-one basis, the techniques used for training some of the more advanced movements. Groundwork is a very strong part of the Classical Dressage style of training.
Once your lessons are over (or between them) feel free to sit by the arena and continue observing the daily training of the geldings, mares and stallions, from young and green to very advanced. We also school and exercise the schoolmasters periodically to keep them sensitive and in good shape for guests to enjoy and so they may get the most out of their lessons with them.
Thursday
The same as Monday, including your second lunge session.
Friday
The same as Wednesday. By this time, you might be performing some of the more advanced movements (this will depend on the rider’s ability).
The Last lunch at Epona is the famous Paella accompanied by the not less famous and popular Sangría.
In the afternoon get changed into your city finery ready to hit Seville for a classical Flamenco Show (ticket price 35€). The show features over 12 dancers of national and international fame, traditional singers and wonderful flamenco guitar.
After a short walk, we will arrive at an excellent restaurant providing both Spanish and International cuisine for the last dinner of the holiday and some superb Spanish wine.
Saturday
After breakfast and a quick transfer to the Hacienda, you will mount up for your last lesson where you will be able to confirm everything you have worked on during the week. Afterwards, it’s time for goodbyes and last-minute pictures of your new friends, animal and human.
Transfers to the train station and the airport are complimentary. Last trip will be running at 11.00 am.
Have a nice journey home, we hope you enjoyed your stay at Epona.
We look forward to welcoming you back!
All our horse riding holidays hold a price guarantee. We believe in your piece of mind on price when you book one of our horse riding holidays and will refund the difference should you find the same horse riding holiday elsewhere at a lower price.
If you are having trouble finding exactly the right horse riding holiday for you from our horse riding holidays collection, please contact us directly using the form below and tell us in your own words what you would like to do and we will use our extensive knowledge to make sure we find that perfect horse riding holiday.
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