“Learn and have fun with horses”
8 Day Natural Western Horse Riding Holiday in Castell'Azzara, Tuscany
Il Cornacchino, Castell'Azzara, Province of Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy
Skill-deepening Horse Riding Holiday Italy
Do you want to deepen and develop your riding while enjoying Tuscany? Come and join this natural Western riding holiday with Il Cornacchino. In this horse riding holiday, you can deepen and develop your communication between the horse and you as the rider. You will also develop your feelings with the horse. You will leave Tuscany with a new experience and more deepened riding skills!
Key Information
- Rider weight limit: 100 kilograms / 220 pounds
- Tack Type: Western
Meet the instructors
Fabio
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Highlights
- Advanced horse riding course
- Deepen and develop body communication with the horse
- Experienced instructor and professional teaching methodology
- 6 lessons of 2 hours each (first lesson theory, 5 lesson practice on the field)
- Meals on full board basis
- Wonderful location
- 7 nights' lodging
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
6 days with instruction in English
The organizer also speaks: German, Italian
Group size: Maximum of 6 participants
Airport transfer available:
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 285 per person)
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 285 per person)
Airport transfer available:
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (US$ 285 per person)
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport (US$ 285 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
Il Cornacchino is a wonderful place nestled in a natural kingdom, full of fascination and emotion that will reawaken your senses. Il Cornacchino invites you to share this amazing place and love for horses. Il Cornacchino is an organic farm and it is composed of six buildings, horse stables, and several outbuildings, all surrounded by 110 hectares of terrain (57 of the farm ownership and about 55 managed as rental property). The principal agricultural activity is horse breeding and training.
The facilities include 13 guest rooms, some with private bathroom some with bathroom to be shared (one bathroom for two rooms) camping area of 5,000 square meters, three dining halls, which can also be used for conventions and meetings, cafe room, two public spaces for relaxing that can be used for meetings, public space with fireplace that contains an internet point for guest use, and bathroom with facilities for the physically challenged. The additional buildings, united by a garden and outdoor staircase, form a quaint village completely immersed in nature.
Casa di Quinto
This was the first building that Il Cornacchino restructured in 1987. It is an old rural building built in rock with an external staircase. The dining hall and kitchen are on the ground floor, while the second floor contains five guest rooms.
Casa della Miniera
It is a rock building with two floors that look out on the garden below. Restructured in 1993, it houses seven guest rooms.
l'Officina
It was built in 1884 and contains beautiful archways in original rock. This building was restructured in 1999. It looks out on the garden and inside, you will find the bar, the office, the lounge with fireplace, a large room for music and games, the projection room, wi-fi for free at the reception, bar, public spaces, and garden / pergola area, restrooms, a public telephone, and Ezio's home.
Casa della Fonte
The house takes its name from the mountain spring pool in its garden. Besides being the summer home of Giulio and Letizia, it is also the latest building to be restructured.
Podere Nuovo
Podere Nuovo is located 400 meters from the community in the middle of the valley and is surrounded by horse pastures. Built in rock with the original stables on the ground floor, its upstairs space was the first original structure of the farm. Partially restructured in 1995, its ground floor continues its role as the main stables, with an added space for the saddle and work rooms, while the upper floor is the home of Fabio. All of the horse activities are centered in and around the New House, and it is here that we meet every morning for the rides and other activities.
Riding facilities
The facilities were finished in 1999 and are located in the valley between the New House and the rest of the community. The riding ring is currently sized 20x60 meters. It has a drained foundation in sand and bedding. Adjacent to the ring are two round pens designed to accommodate horse training and vaulting activities and a huge natural arena, 100x60 meters with trail difficulties in the valley.
The camping site
The site lies in its own oasis of acacia trees. Although it is just a few steps from the rest of the farm, its location, nestled in this green space, guarantees the utmost tranquility and quiet. During the summer, Il Cornacchino mounts gigantic tepee tents which they use for the children's camps. In other periods, the tepees provide a romantic spot for the other guests.
The villa
It was built in 1881 as the residence of the director of the original Cornacchino Mining Company. It is the first building to welcome guests that come to the valley. A two-story structure that remains in its original state, its stately presence and gardens are beautifully striking.
Program
Advanced course
The course proposes an approaching method to western riding developing body awareness and facilitating communication with the horse. The use of the pelvis, the proper use of the legs, timing, and so on: all these skills will help not to burden the horse’s mouth and to interact with the horse, making him participate and willing.
When you understand the meaning of the horse, you will have more balance, posture, and necessary and particularly effective skills in riding. You can develop with the horse a more trustful and respectful relationship. The aim of the course is to have correct control and help from the horse in the countryside and to face and overcome everyday difficulties. It provides in riding and is equipped with various difficulties and exercises to prepare for trail, western riding and pleasure.
Didactic method
The course provides an introduction to the horse, to understand the horse better and to have a respectful relationship: how he lives, how he sees, and how he relates to. The course will be composed of different settings (riding school, trail area, countryside, and equipped field for balance) to experiment with the teacher’s and horse’s indications to the riders. The changing nature of contexts is useful to supply the best occasions to verify the teachings and the proposed didactic method.
Objective
The aim of the course is to deepen and develop the body communication between the horse and you, developing your sensibility and feeling with the horse. You will leave this experience with new tools to move towards autonomy and to make new positive experiences with and for your own horses. At the end of the course, a certificate of participation will be issued.
Riding experience
This riding holiday is open to those who have already acquired the basics of Western riding and are able to do walk, trot, and gallop in the arena.
The horses
Il Cornacchino's horses live in complete accord with their natural needs. 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 experience of many years, a large number of horses at work, and security of the western riding allow, even those who are beginners, to begin a journey, starting from the first lessons in horsemanship and going through walks and trek's tasting, to the real trek, the final destination for nature lovers and horses, every one with one‘s own times and needs. The guide, after a briefing with the participants, assigns the horses, that will be confirmed after having seen riding the participants. Horses can be changed at the discretion of the guide or instructor at any time.
Horse training
Il Cornacchino is specialized in western riding for the country. The horse training is personally overseen by Fabio with his method called "natural western". 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.
Western riding
Il Cornacchino considers 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 yourself in the countryside and to 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 doesn't 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.
Riding experience
Safe in all gaits and in good physical condition.
Warning
The program may be modified at any time due to prevailing weather conditions or technical reasons.
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.
Location
The Cornacchino is nestled in a secluded valley in the natural park of Monte Penna. The pasture is surrounded by vast forests of chestnut, oak, beech, and pine trees where you can meet roe, wild boar, porcupines, badgers, and sometimes even deer. On the surrounding hills, there are grazing sheep, Chianina cows, and a herd of wild horses. You can see, on clear days, the sea and the Isola del Giglio, the Apennine Mountains, Bolsena Lake, and sometimes the Montecristo island.
The Cornacchino farm lies three kilometers from the town of Castell'Azzara and partially inside the Monte Penna Natural Reserve, at an altitude of 825 meters above sea level. Situated at the intersection of the provinces of Grosseto, Siena, and Viterbo, the farm is in a strategic zone in respect to natural, archeological, thermal, and landscape interests.
Castell'Azzara and the Natural Reserve of Monte Penna
In the heart of the reserve, the town dominates a vast horizon. At its feet, stands Villa Sforzesca by the architect del Fontana. In the deep valley of the Fiora river, on the other side of the mountain, rises the Rocca Silvana, a powerful and complex medieval war machine which Il Cornacchino recommends that you visit.
A group of mounds on the southeast foothills of Amiata makes up the reserve. The main ones are Poggio della Vecchia (1086 meters) and Mount Civitella (107 meters). This protected area makes the northern border with the Pigelleto Reserve of the county of Piancastagnaio (Siena). The protected territory is over 1000 hectares. From a geological standpoint it is an area rich with caves (populated by bats) that, although near the volcanic mountain of Mount Amiata, it is completely different.
In the watersheds, there are woods of ash, beech, oak, and chestnut. For a naturalistic interest, there’s the Font wood on the Poggio Vecchia, made up of various species of maple trees. The reserve is almost completely woodsy, with the exception of small areas that surround small farmhouses. Near Selvena, you can find chestnut trees of extraordinary sizes. In the reserve, there are bird populations of falcons and owls. The wildlife also includes mammals such as the fox, the porcupine, the wild boar, the roe deer, the deer, the weasel, the skunk, and the marten.
Distances
- Semproniano, 18 kilometers
- Sorano, 18 kilometers
- Santa Fiora, 19 kilometers
- Piancastagnaio, 20 kilometers
- Rocchette di Fazio, 20 kilometers
- Triana, 20 kilometers
- Arcidosso, 21 kilometers
- Sovana, 22 kilometers
- Abbadia San Salvatore, 24 kilometers
- Castel del Piano, 24 kilometers
- Roccalbegna, 25 kilometers
- Vivo d'Orcia, 25 kilometers
- Pitigliano, 27 kilometers
- Radicofani, 29 kilometers
- Seggiano, 32 kilometers
- Saturnia, 33 kilometers
- Gradoli, 34 kilometers
- Castiglione d'Orcia, 37 kilometers
- Montemerano, 38 kilometers
- Manciano, 45 kilometers
- Bolsena, 46 kilometers
- Capodimonte, 48 kilometers
Food
The restaurant
Il Cornacchino's restaurant perfectly represents their philosophy of life: good, natural, and for everyone. They are an organic farm born in respect of the environment and for love of the region or land. Their philosophy tells the chefs to use vegetables directly from the farm's garden and high-quality Tuscan products produced in the region. Special menus for vegetarians, vegans, celiac, and different intolerances are available on request when people book.
For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, the tables are prepared for guests, people stopping in, and for 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 Lazio are melded with the personal tastes of the cooks. There is not a fix or daily menu. Every day you eat based on seasonal availability or following the guests' tastes. This is where passions integrate with the chefs' cuisine. The menu is composed of a series of hors d'oeuvre, two first courses, one second course, and three side dishes, friut, and dessert. Thus, it's easy to fulfill special wishes of all the guests, vegetarians or not. The only ingredients are enthusiasm and the loving care of the cooks in every dish. Wine is genuine, always present in flasks. It is included in the price and it comes from Montepulciano’s vines.
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
- Gluten Free
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
- Lactose Free
- 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)
- Ebike rental
- Massage on request
- Yoga lesson
Spa treatments
There is no spa in the location, but several hot springs and spa in the surroundings, such as Saturnia.
What's included
- Advanced and didactic method courses
- Horse and instructor 6 lessons that last 2 hours each (first lesson theory, 5 lesson practice on the field)
- Meals on a full board basis
- 7 nights' accommodation
- Horses and equipment for the practical part
What's not included
- Airport transfers
- Extra riding (riding-out in the afternoon is possible; one single ride of 2 hours costs 46,00 EUR per person)
- Beverages and everything not listed as included
How to get there
Recommended Airports
CIA
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport
131 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 285 per person
FCO
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
116 km
Transfer available for additional US$ 285 per person
Driving directions from Cassia
- Follow Cassia Road SS 2.
- At kilometer 146.5, exit for Castell'Azzara.
- From Castell'Azzara, follow the road signs "Cornacchino" (around 3 kilometers).
- For those using the GPS, the best thing to do is to enter as final destination via Francesco Petrarca (or via Marconi) in Castell'Azzara and from there follow the Cornacchino's signs. Otherwise, if you put Cornacchino as the final destination sometimes the GPS shows the shortest way, which is definitely not the best way here (the last bit may be driven just with a Land Rover / 4x4 off-roads car).
Arrival by airplane
Please book your flight to arrive at Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) which is located 170 kilometers from Cornacchino. Alternatively, you can also arrive at Ciampino-G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) located 200 kilometers from Cornacchino.
The collective transfer is on Saturday from / to Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Cornacchino or Ciampino-G. B. Pastine International Airport (CIA) with the cost of EUR 140 per person one way and EUR 260 for roundtrip. For couple / family, a family discount is applicable:
- For a booking of two people: 220 EUR per person return
- For a booking of three people: 180 EUR per person return
- For a booking of four people: 150 EUR per person return
Arrival by train
The nearby train station is Chiusi-Chianciano (along the route Firenze-Roma). Transfers of groups will be organized on Saturdays with the cost of 40 EUR. Alternative transfer is possible on request with the cost of 70 EUR. You can also use the taxi from the station which will cost around 80 EUR.
Airport: Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport
Airport transfer available:
Ciampino–G. B. Pastine International Airport (US$ 285 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$ 285 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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