“Improve your connection with the horses”
8 Day Horse Riding, Horsemanship, and Yoga Holiday in Castell'Azzara, Grosseto
Il Cornacchino, Località Cornacchino, Castell'Azzara, Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy
Horse Riding and Yoga Holiday in Italy
With the practice of Hatha yoga, you reach an awareness of the body that allows you to better communicate with the horse both on the ground and in the saddle. Enjoy this holiday where you will get to go on rides with the horses as you improve your communication with the horses alongside the practice of yoga.
Key information
- Tack Type: Western saddle
- Rider Weight Limit: 100 kg
- Horse Breed: Il Cornacchino has about 35 horses at work, of different breeds (some Maremma horses, some Haflinger, some mixed breeds, and others)
Meet the instructors
Fabio & Monica
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Highlights
- 12 horse riding sessions spread over 6 days
- 5 morning yoga classes and 5 evening sessions
- 5 horsemanship sessions
- Theoretical lesson on communication and leadership with the horse
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily meals and water
Skill level
- Beginner
Styles
6 days with instruction
Group size: 4-12 participants
Airport transfer available:
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Accommodation
Check-in Time:
14:00
Check-out Time:
10:00
Facilities
- Bar
- Café
- Fireplace
- Garden
- Multilingual staff
- Restaurant
- Special menu request
- Free Wi-Fi
- Meeting room
The village is made up of several buildings that house rooms and halls. In the "Officina of Cornacchino", you can find:
- Reception
- Office
- Cafe
- Relaxation room with fireplace
- Free Wi-Fi, internet point
- Didactic room
- Massage room
- Meeting room
House of the Mine
Here they have seven guest rooms, a common room, and a terrace.
House of Quinto
Casa di Quinto houses five guest rooms on the first floor, and the restaurant and the kitchen on the ground floor.
Source house
An independent room on the ground floor for guests.
Program
Daily itinerary
Saturday
- Arrival
- Welcome
- Accommodation
Sunday morning
Theoretical and interactive lessons on:
- Knowing the primary needs of the horse and its perception, is a fundamental element for establishing a relationship.
- Body communication and emotion management.
- Importance of leadership in the relationship and the difference between leadership and friendship.
- Proprioception and mastery of your body are essential in communication.
- Breathing and breath control as a tool to manage emotions and proprioception.
- Comparison of personal problems in the relationship with the horse, both in the saddle and on the ground.
- Hatha yoga for managing the body, emotions, and breathing, and preparing you for the relationship with the horse.
Monday - Friday mornings
- 08:30 - 10:00 Hatha yoga session with Monica Gentile
- 10:30 - 12:00 Communication with the horse with Fabio on the ground and/or in the saddle
Wednesday or Thursday evening
- 21.30 - 22.30 Yoga Nidra relaxation and music therapy with Monica and Michael.
Saturday
- Departure
About the Riding
Two hours riding per day from Sunday until Friday. Lesson on the first day and then riding out. These rides will take place in the afternoon. During the ride-out, you'll ride in the woods and on hills that surround the country house. You'll ride in a group of a maximum of 8 people (average 4-5 riders) according to the riding skill.
About the holiday
Wake up your body and mind. In the morning, with a gentle approach to yoga, you awaken the body and mind. Yoga practice facilitates the movement of the body while respecting the natural anatomical structure. Through breathing, the vital force expands and one becomes aware of one's inner space. The practice is gradual, indicated at every level, and also focused on the awareness of the coordination between movement, gaze, breathing, and the relationship between the pelvis, spine, and limbs.
With fluid movements, you will learn how to engage muscle tone while remaining in release and openness to counteract any stiffness you may encounter during sessions on horseback. This practice is a gentle awakening for the body and prepares you for a day with the horse and in nature, and as a tangible result, you will gain flexibility in your body and a healthier and stronger spine.
Your presence will be more alert, centered, and regenerated, and you will be ready for a relationship with the horse. In the morning, Fabio will accompany you in your relationship with the horse both on the ground and in the saddle, correcting your defects and helping you to improve your presence and your communication with the horse. In the afternoon, you can experience the benefits of yoga, and then, you can go horse riding (12 sessions included), have a natural western lesson, or relax with a walk in the nearby woods.
Benefits of Yoga
- Get to know your body and your limits better
- Calm and center the mind
- Improve mobility and coordination
- Awareness of the breath
- It helps to be present
The horses
The horses in Cornacchino live in complete accord with their natural needs.
1. The horses are safe partners for Il Cornacchino and for the riders
Cornacchino hosts more than 60 horses, who live in small groups, outdoors on 100 acres of pasture land, completely according to their natural needs of socialization and movement. The horses will amaze you with the docility, trust, and spirit of collaboration they have. Il Cornacchino, they are "collaborators they take care of", trying to keep the essence of animals intact and satisfy their fundamental needs.
2. Training based on trust and mutual respect
Cornacchino specializes in western riding. The horses are trained by Fabio using the "Natural Horsemanship and Western riding" method. The initial training consists of teaching the horses to trust humans, and subsequently to carry out all the necessary movements in the countryside: walk, jog, trot, canter, gallop, back, side passes, gallop changes, transitions, jumping, and water crossing. The horses carry out much of their training in the countryside, learning while having fun and at the same time increasing their level of experience.
3. Western riding
They consider Western Riding to be the most comfortable and convenient for traveling. With a well-trained and responsible horse, the Western saddle allows you to enjoy yourselves in the countryside and overcome difficult passageways with the utmost security. Riding with a Western saddle requires a minimum physical effort.
The horse's gaits are more comfortable and as a result, the rider does not feel exhausted at the end of the day, but satisfied and happy. The weight of the rider is distributed over a surface larger than that of the English saddle, and the center of mass is lower, making it easier both for the horse and the rider.
Instructors
Fabio Tascone
Fabio has been working with horses and equestrian vacations since 1980. He speaks Italian and English. He is a certified FITEEC-ANTE guide, environmental equestrian, DWA, and farrier. He provides and oversees horse care, lessons, training, horse-shoeing, promotion, and general management of the establishment.
Monica Gentile
Hatha yoga teacher, Qi Gong, and dancer. She masters her own yoga practice based on awareness of body and mind. Her teaching is characterized by simplicity, clarity, and empathy. She is also a Laughter Yoga Leader and Ambassador with three years of experience working with patients with chronic pain at the Immanuel Klinik Am See in Rudersdorf, Berlin. She is an artist and choreographer, with extensive experience in somatic movement and a good understanding of oriental anatomy and physiology.
Location
The holiday will take place in Castell'Azzara, Tuscany, Italy. Cornacchino is a little farm situated in a romantic valley, surrounded by woods and meadows. The horses live in small herds on 100 hectares of pasture land, in complete accord with their natural needs.
Serenity and unspoiled nature: a journey into the hidden Tuscany
Cornacchino is a wonderful place nestled in a natural kingdom, full of fascination and emotion that will reawaken your senses. They invite you to share this amazing place and love for horses.
Monte Penna Natural Reserve
They gave Cornacchino the structure of a farmhouse because they think it is the form of hospitality that best allows guests to enjoy nature and get in touch with the true roots of the area in which they live. Agriturismo for Il Cornacchino means much more than cultivating the products they cook and serve to guests: it means entering the wooded valley reducing the impact to the minimum, respecting the nature of horses, and offering guests a genuine holiday.
Distances
- Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (FCO), 170 kilometers
- Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA), 200 kilometers
Food
You will be served daily meals included in the price.
The restaurant
They are an organic farm born with respect for the environment and for the love of the region or land. The philosophy tells chefs to use vegetables directly from the farm’s garden and high-quality Tuscan products produced in the region. As well as using as many as possible “km. 0 products“. Special menus for vegetarians, vegans, celiac, and different intolerances are available on request.
The restaurant perfectly represents their philosophy of life: good, natural, and for everyone. For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the tables are prepared for guests, people stopping in, and Cornacchino’s staff. Each has lunch together with the guests, sharing experiences and memories of the day. The natural ingredients combined with the passion for traditional cooking, the chefs bring to the table a healthy and delicious meal.
Typical Tuscan kitchen
The flavors of rural traditions of Tuscany, Umbria, and Latsio are melded with the personal tastes of the cooks. There is no fixed or daily menu. Every day they eat based on seasonal availability or following the guests‘ tastes. This is where passion integrates with the chef's cuisine. The menu is composed of a series of appetizers, two first courses, a second course, and three side dishes, fruit, and dessert.
Thus it is easy to fulfill the special wishes of all guests - vegetarians or not. The only ingredients are enthusiasm and the loving care of cooks in every dish. Wine is genuine, and always present in flasks it comes from Montepulciano’s vines (an extra charge for the wine of 3 EUR for half a liter).
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Water
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan
- Organic
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Other dietary requirements on request
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
For those who wish to have more rides, it is possible at an extra charge. You may choose between taking part in the "natural riding and mountain trail course with Fabio" or enjoying relaxing rides in the woods and hills that surround the place. For more information, please send an inquiry.
What's included
- 12 horse riding sessions spread over 6 days
- 5 sessions of 1.5 hours each of Hatha yoga in the morning
- 5 evening relaxation sessions after dinner
- 5 horsemanship sessions of approximately 1.5 hours each
- 1 theoretical lesson on communication and leadership with the horse
- 7 nights accommodation
- Daily full-board meals, including water
What's not included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Personal expenses
- Additional ride outs
- Natural Western Riding and Leadership course with Fabio
- Travel insurance
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CIA
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport
131 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 286 per person
FCO
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
116 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 286 per person
Driving directions from Cassia Road SS 2
- At kilometer 146.5, exit for Castell'Azzara.
- From Castell'Azzara, follow the road signs "Cornacchino" (3 kilometers).
- Set the satellite navigator on Castell'Azzara via Petrarca.
- Follow the directions.
Arrival by train
Train station Chiusi-Chianciano (along the route Firenze-Roma). Transfers (round-trip) of groups will be organized on Saturdays (40 EUR). An alternative transfer is possible on request (80 EUR). A taxi is approximately 80 EUR.
Airport: Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport
Airport transfer available:
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Airport: Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
Airport transfer available:
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (US$ 286 per person)
Additional charges may apply. You can request this in the next step.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 40% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid on departure.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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