6 Day Extraordinary Horse Riding Holiday in Malaga, Andalusia, Spain

Program

Hacienda Horses is passionate about giving you the very best possible horse riding holiday in Spain. On arrival at Cortijo Uribe, you will be shown your spacious rooms with air conditioning. Then you will start the guided tour around Cortijo Uribe. You will be shown the pool, the shop, chapel, dining room, and stables. There are timetables and notice boards for client information.

Next, you will be given a time for your assessment. At the assessment, the trainer will discuss with you about your hopes and aspirations for your holiday at Hacienda Horses. For example, you might want to improve your riding skills or just enjoy the hacking or try some new dressage. The trainer will gauge your riding level and a horse will be allocated for your next outing.

The normal riding itinerary is from 1 to 3 hours’ hack in the morning depending on abilities and a 1-hour lesson in the afternoon. The trainer will provide this flexibility because some beginner riders cannot cope with the longer hacks.

On a one week stay, you will have the possibility to include our Bar Hack ride below, depending on the weather and rider ability:

• You can enjoy a 2 hour hack to a traditional Spainsh hotel bar, where we enjoy a traditional Spanish breakfast and a fresh coffee, then a 2 hour hack back, followed by a 3 course lunch with wine.
• the rest of the day you are free to explore the area or just relax.
• On the daily hacks, you will be exploring the local countryside through pines, olives, and vines as well as visiting some amazing viewpoints for photos and breathing in the peace of the natural areas.
• More advanced riders will be given the opportunity to practice some more advanced movements during their lessons, Paso Español, piaffe, and passage when horses are available. There will even be the opportunity to work horses at liberty.

The lessons

Hacienda Horses tends to split riders into ability groups for hacking and lessons as some riders are happy to be in the saddle all day but for others this may be too long. Therefore, the lessons will be tailored to suit your needs. The lessons will be started after the lunch break.

• Beginner: Beginners will be schooled in the arena to perfect skills and build confidence.
• Novice: Novice riders will need time out with a trainer to practice on the long straight tracks through the olives. This will be rising trot, canter transitions, leg yields, and so on.
• Experienced: Experienced riders can advance in the ‘Dressage & Advanced Tuition’ weeks or take part in local competitions (dates permitting).

The horses

• Fiscal: Fiscal was saved from the meat man as a two-year-old, alongside two other horses that Hacienda Horses have since found new homes in the UK. Fiscal is now giving lessons and hacking out quietly with clients. As a splendid looking horse, he has a big fan club at ‘Uribe’.
• Darius: Darius came to Hacienda Horses as a very inexperienced horse since his owner had taught him how to bow but not how to canter in a straight line. After some training, he has improved considerably and is a joy to ride both out and in the school.
• Picassa: Rescued in 2013 from a Spanish man who simply turned out his horses in a field and left them. He was about to sell her for meat. As a fairly recent addition to the team, she is proving to be forward going and energetic and loves her work.
• Prima: Born just before Morgan, she grew up together with her at Cortijo Uribe. She is a very determined horse and her mission is to please her rider and enjoys all the fuss from a happy rider at the end of the lesson / hack.
• Fenomeno: One of the first rescue horses. He came in as a 2-year-old unbroken stallion which his owner could not maintain him anymore and was desperate to find him a home. After some work and lots of patience, Fenomeno has turned into a fabulous top dressage horse and has even competed in the coast with excellent results.
• PW: A striking Arab cross horse. His previous owner brought him to us as he simply could not stop him. Now, he is a reformed character horse with perfect manners. He likes hacking out and has just started giving lessons in the school.
• Princesa: Princesa is showing great maturity and willingness with all her riders. She is a kind intelligent mare who always wants to please a wonderful ride for everyone.
• Meg: An ex-competition horse from the UK, she can perform all the dressage movement up to flying changes. She is also excellent with beginners and is a very good horse for riding for the disabled where her calm nature shines through. Meg has had her first foal to the well-known colored jumping stallion Utah Van Erpekom who was the Spanish National Champion at Jerez in 2009 and is ridden by John Whittaker.
• Reno: Reno is a beautiful chestnut French-bred horse. His previous Spanish owner could not control him, and he came to Hacienda Horses shying away from everything and everyone. Now, he is a completely different gelding with a reliable and calm nature. He is ideal for both hacking and in the school and suitable for both novice and experienced riders.
• Rowena: Rowena had been used by a local Gentleman for Ferias and hacking out. She needs kind quiet hands and then she is a wonderful lady to be with.
• Flamenca: a beautiful show pony type horse. She loves jumping and has a wonderful rock solid nature. Nothing upsets her and she is a fabulous safe ride for both children and adults.
• Sparrow: With a sweet temperament and a real eagerness to please his rider, this 13 hands pony is a perfect child to ride at any level of experience. He loves being driven in a pony cart.
• Espanola: Espanola was given by a family in the village that could no longer keep her. Espanola is one of the confidence givers out on the hacks in the Campo. This mare will do her best whoever rides her.
• Star: The lovely one-eyed horse who suffered an eye injury in a field of cactus and was then rescued by a local lady and came to here at Uribe. This mare tries hard to please and takes children and small adults.
• Misty: Has been with Hacienda Horses for around 4 years, her previous owner an Englishman who returned to the UK. She has proved time and time again to be a lovely horse on which to compete and ride. She has taken several of students to competitions and won the Malaga Dressage championships with one of the 10-year-old students. She is excellent out hacking as well. She is a great confidence giver for children and adults alike.
• Eddy: Owned by an English lady and staying at Hacienda Horses until she returns to Spain. He is a lovely ride in the school or on a hack. Eddy always tries to please his rider and is a good-looking boy.
• Bella: Bella was rescued just in time. Unrecognizable as the emaciated and frightened horse who arrived, she has now put on enough weight to be used in the school. She is proving to be a very kind and honest mare. She is a real confidence giver.
• Macarena: Macarena has just recently joined Hacienda Horses. She is proving to be a very brave little mare that loves to go out and who is now learning her job in the school. She is quick and intelligent and will be an asset to the team.
• Rubio: Arrived in autumn 2014 and is a magnificent addition to the stables. A very calm and good natured horse that is a pleasure to ride.
• Magnus: With Carthusian lines of the pure historic Spanish breed, he is a very elegant and attractive horse. He can execute paso-Espanol, piaffe, and passage marvelously. He has an inquisitive and playful nature. Riding him is always a joy for the experienced rider.
• Enigma: Recently joined the team, she is a large horse but gentle and tranquil, so don’t let her size impress you. She is ideal for both beginners and novices. She is also a kind natured mare.
• Pandereta: Came to Hacienda Horses as a carriage horse and a “semen” collector mare. She is a very kind and sensitive mare. She is ideal for beginners and intermediate riders and is one of the best confidence giving and her sweetness.
• Menka: Menka was rescued from a nearby village in the hills. When Hacienda Horses got her, she was like a 3-year-old horse in a 7-year-old body. She was unsure of her role and didn’t have much confidence in herself. After some TLC, she is now a much happier horse. She loves her job and enjoys the hacks and lessons.
• Rosie: Rosie spent two years in a field as a brood mare before coming here. When she arrived, she had to be reminded what her job was now. However, she is great fun to ride and loves hacking out and school work.
• Faberge: Faberge is the precious “egg” as her name can tell. She was a present from Paul to Chris for Christmas and was born from Meg. Faberge is Christine’s competition horse and a well know show jumper. She was born later than Morgan and Prima and grew up with them. She is still learning but already proving that she will be a top horse one day!
• Noble: His previous owner used him as a carriage horse. He came to Hacienda Horses as his previous owner did not have the time to school him. There was obvious work needed to be done but he turned into a lovely horse ideal for hacks and a great teacher in the school.
• Varon: Varon has recently started his work in the school. He is a calm obedient young horse with an exceptional temperament. He is one to watch!
• Torcala: Torcala was born in 2013.

Note: Currently, Hacienda Horses have a maximum weight limit of 100 kilograms for the riders. Furthermore, in the hotter months, Hacienda Horses will change the riding schedule to avoid peak heat periods. Summer also gives you many more riding options as the crops are removed from the fields which will give you many more long canters to enjoy.