CLASSIC ANDALUSIAN
Of course, one of the great things about Spain is its climate and, along with that, the ease with which you can do outdoor activities pretty much throughout the year. One activity that is well worth taking advantage of is horse riding which takes many different forms in Spain, depending upon what you want. Certainly, there is no shortage of horse riding in Spain as the Spanish love their horses and stables are common to all areas of the country.
Needless to say, Spain is famous for its Spanish school of riding, which is a highly formalised dressage. This is done on specially trained horses and is not for the untrained rider nor appropriate for a holiday hack. However, if you ride well then you may wish to go to some stables and try your hand – although you will have to demonstrate your skills before you will be allowed on one of these horses.
The Spanish school of horse riding is definitely specialised and well worth watching because it so different from what we know in Northern Europe or the States. The finest horses are usually Andalusians or Fresians and they are highly trained. Indeed, go to an exhibition or demonstration of riding in Spain and you will be awed by seeing horses that dance and move in ways that you may never have thought possible. Sometimes this is accompanied by Flamenco dancers who become an intricate part of an act showing supreme horsemanship.
Hacking is a popular form of riding in Spain and invariably you will find stables either close to you (even within the interior of the country) or advertisments announcing their presence reasonably locally.
During the winter it is often possible to ride on the beaches of Spain. This, of course, is glorious and allows you (if you are a good rider) to experience the true joy of a long and safe gallop (in wonderful sunshine!) along the sea’s edge. Unfortunately, this is not allowed during the tourist season – for obvious reasons!
The cost of horse riding in Spain varies according to the area and what you want. However, in my experience, you can normally get an hour’s lesson or hack for around 20 Euros an hour. Usually, a riding hat is de rigeur and offered but this is occasionally not the case and many Spaniards ride without one. My advice would be to refuse to ride unless you are supplied with a hat – and one that fits correctly. Equally, always make sure that you are accompanied by an instructor. Even as an experienced rider this is essential – at least until you know the area and horses.
Interestingly, finding somewhere to horse jump in Spain can be somewhat more problematic. So, if you are coming to Spain to spend your time primarily horse jumping then it is worth always checking to see that the stables you intend using do jumping and have the horses and equipment to make this possible. Many do not and their finest horses (and what they concentrate upon) is based around the formalised Spanish school of riding.
To illustrate this point, my daughter rides regularly at a terrific stables near Gandia. Called Los Robles this stables has some 150 horses and ponies, many of magnificent quality, together with three picaderoes (exercise rings) including one which is covered. However, they only have half a dozen horses that jump – including a fabulous Hanoverian/Thoroughbred (which she rides).
Finally, one of the attractive things about horse riding in Spain is that during the summer it is usually done early in the morning or very late in the afternoon due to the high temperatures. This means that you do not have to compromise your day at the beach…