Overview
Fantasia Adventure Holidays' five-day break is a perfect way to enjoy the superb off-road horse riding of the Costa de la Luz. During your weekend with them, you will experience the many delights that the horse riding offers and be able to enjoy the adventure of a typical Spanish town. This full board horse riding vacation is ideal for both single and group bookings, groups are kept small and create a great friendly atmosphere. You will meet like-minded people and have new friends by the end of the holiday. The rides will be led by Steve and Caroline.
Fantasia Adventure Holidays' aim is to provide a value for money horse riding vacation that is a dream come true. All your needs will be well taken care of so that you can enjoy a stress-free holiday. This short break will run from Wednesday to Sunday. Fantasia Adventure Holidays' farm is only a few minutes drive out of Barbate. On your arrival at the farm you are welcome to groom your own horse ready for riding, or if you prefer your horse will be prepared for riding for you. Each days riding is different with between four and four and a half hours each day spent in the saddle with a short break part way around. After returning to the farm, your lunch will be taken at a local "venta" nearby, returning back to Barbate between 16:00 and 16:30. The afternoon will then be free for you to spend on the beach, sightseeing, or shopping.
Superb riding location
The trails provide superb off-road horse riding through the Barbate nature reserve. With direct access to the reserve, you will have fantastic riding through unspoilt forests and unforgettable days on the beach. With long wide firebreaks and twisty forest tracks, the park could have been designed for horse riding. Each day, there will be plenty of opportunities for long collected canters and exhilarating gallops. In-between canters, the pace is leisurely, enabling you to take in the tranquillity of the forest. The topsoil of the forest is sand and the going is good whatever the weather.
Beaches - the ultimate riding fantasy
On beach days, your dreams will come true with the sea and sand extending for kilometers before you. On this short break one day ride will take in the beach where you will enjoy a riding experience never to be forgotten. At times, the beach ride will be fast and exhilarating and at other times, it will be mesmerizing and relaxing. The short break beach ride will take you to Cape Trafalgar, the site of the sea battle in 1805 where the total distance of the beaches is about 10 kilometers. Your time spent on the beach will be a mixture of meandering in the surf, gentle canters, and the occasional gallop.
Summer beach horse riding
Unlike most other horse riding holidays on the Iberian Peninsular, here, you will be able to ride on the beach for 12 months of the year. The law in Spain and Portugal prohibits taking horses on the beach at any time of the year. However, in practice, this law is only enforced when the beaches are heavily used. On the main Spanish coasts like the Costa del Sol, this law is enforced stringently. On the Costa de la Luz, the law is only enforced on busy beaches from the June 1 to September 30. You are lucky as the beaches here are where this law is not enforced.
The horses
Fantasia Adventure Holidays currently has 14 horses. Two are purebred Andalusian (PRE) geldings and the rest are all Andalusian or Arab crosses (12 Hispano Arab / Anglo Arab geldings and mares), ranging from 14.3 hands to 16.3 hands in size. All horses are grey or bay colored, originally trained Spanish Vaquera, and retrained to be ridden English style. The horses are well mannered, forward going, sure footed and responsive with a kind calm temperament. The horses are kept in the most natural way possible turned out together.
Partly covered by a pine wood, Fantasia Adventure Holidays' farm provides the horses with plenty of shelter from sun, wind, and rain. The horses are brought in each day, fed with hard feed, and checked over. Hay is given ad lib in the fields for them. With this system of horse care, the horses socialize with each other and are a happy family group. On riding days, the horses are turned out to the highest standard, fit, and happy to be ridden. Fantasia Adventure Holidays' standard of horse care is high with the health and welfare of the horses being paramount.
Choosing your horse
One of Fantasia Adventure Holidays' most important roles are choosing the correct horse for you and they have over 20 years' wealth of experience in matching horses to riders. A horse that will be chosen for you will suit your riding ability, experience, and physical size. Fantasia Adventure Holidays has a variety of horses which some suit the less confident rider and others for the more proficient rider.
Please note that Fantasia Adventure Holidays' vacations are aimed at riders who are comfortable riding a horse at all paces within the varied environments of forest and beach. Fantasia Adventure Holidays uses top quality English saddles and bridles. In addition, please also note that there is a weight limit of 13 stone, 83 kilograms, or 182 pounds.
Riding itinerary
Wednesday: Arrival
You will be collected at Málaga Airport (AGP) and be transferred to Barbate. You will have dinner in the evening when the weekend break will be discussed. -Thursday: Forest ride
Today's ride will lead you through the beautiful pine forest to the 17th century Mecca tower, overlooking Cape Trafalgar. The route will allow you to get to know your horse with the faster paces being introduced as your confidence grows.
Friday: Beach ride
Today, you will head to the scene of the famous sea battle where Lord Nelson lost his life at Cape Trafalgar. Then, you will follow the coast to El Palmar, spending most of the ride on the beach and enjoying canters as well as gallops.
Saturday: Forest ride
Today's route will take you to the cliffs overlooking Barbate. The ride has superb views of the surrounding mountains and North Africa. The ride will follow roller coasters of sand and allow plenty of opportunities to canter and gallop.
Sunday: Departure
You will be transferred to Málaga Airport (AGP) for your return flight.
Non-riders
Non-riders are welcome and with plenty to do, the area can be a good base for non-riding vacations as it has many sports available. Public transport is also available and information can be provided on places of interest. You can experience a superb range of activities, have time to sunbathe on the beach and join in socializing over dinner. You can also explore the area from mountain bikes, join a PADI scuba diving course, or Fantasia Adventure Holidays can also arrange a photography course for you. There are excellent golf courses locally and the area is famous for wind and kite surfing. If all you want is relaxation, you can spend the whole week on the beach.
