Riding in Andulucia

I had a marvellous time riding in Spain this August.  A whole week of sun and horseriding, what more could a girl ask. (And a break from the kids too which was lovely although I was glad to see them when I got home.)

I stayed at Los Alamos Riding for a week and it was lovely.  After being collected from the airport, we drove to San Ambrosio, a small hamlet along the coast from Cadiz.  The rooms were lovely with their own ensuite and mine even had a little balcony.  The first night began with a beautiful meal on the patio for the eight of us riding that week.

Galloping on Sarita.

The following day, we went down to meet our horses and get ready for our first ride.  Due to the heat, we rode every morning from about nine returning about one.  The first day I rode a 16"2 black spanish cob cross called Sarita who was very responsive but not too forward for a fairly novice rider like myself.  Until I arrived, I was under the impression they catered to beginner riders but soon found out it was aimed at intermediate and above so was pleased to keep up pretty well with the riding.

We rode in the National Forest which as well as being very picturesque was nice and cool when the weather was hitting 35 degrees at the peak of the day.  I had a few nerves when we started the first canter, having been told we will start off in a canter and then go to a gallop in the clearing but managed it with no problems.

After riding, we dashed back for a quick shower and then out to get some tapas for lunch.  This was followed by a lazy afternoon by the pool and dinner at 8pm followed by a fairly early night.  The food cooked by Rhiannon was very good and we had a three course meal every night with not a bad meal all week.  Drinks soft and alcoholic were freely available at the villa on a help yourself basis as were snacks like crisps.  This set the routine for the week and very nice it was too.



Cantering by the beach

 The second day, we rode down to the beach although because it was holiday season we could not actually go right down to the water and stayed on the sand dunes.  Virtually all the riding was on sand, as even the forest was growing on a great big sand dune.  The views were lovely and we stopped at a cafe for a coffee before heading back.  The riding was mainly walking with the odd trot and three or four good canters or gallops each day. 



Me and Trueno

 My riding must have impressed to some extent, because on day 3, they offered me a pure bred spanish horse (PRE) as they call the Andulucian horses which was a bit more forward and much faster than Sarita.  His name was Trueno and he was about a 15"2 bay horse.  I find him quite hard to handle in the morning but by the end of the ride had got the hang of him although I did earn myself a glare from one of the other riders for being too close on the canter and a little slow stopping bumping her horse when I tried to stop on the first canter.

The fourth day was a rest from riding and we went off to Jerez to see the Royal Equestrian show display of "Dancing Andalucian Horses", along with Carriage Driving.  All the horses were stallions and it was magnificent to see the ease with which the riders controlled these beautiful horses.  We followed up with a trip to taste the local drink of Sherry.  I bought a couple of bottles to take home as a souvenir.

The fifth day, we had another ride to the beach and we were joined by two more people but in a deviation from the normal routine we went out for the evening to Vejer de la Frontier.  First stop was the stud owned by the Corales family who specialise in breeding and training Andalucian horses for Doma Vaquera.    Antonio Corales is a top Doma Vaquero and Doma Classical teacher, having trained with the Royal Equestrian school of Art in Jerez and he showed us some of his stallions and gave us a display of his horsemanship before letting some of us sit on one of his stallions and walk a short distance round the ring.  Although I have to say, not only was it the first time I have ridden a stallion, it is the first time I had got on a horse in a short dress with no riding hat!  After our visit to the stud, it was off to a restaurant for some paella.



My first ride on a stallion

 Then all too soon, it was our last ride of the holiday on Saturday.  I had a lovely ride and felt like I had clicked with the horse and was riding well.  I was sorry to leave and finances permitting would definitely go back to Los Alamos.

Beach Riding

Our group cantering on Newgale beach

I've just come back from the most fabulous riding ever.  A bit sore and achy but was worth every bit of it.  I went off to Nolton in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.  There were beautiful beaches, which were huge and the riding was fantastic.  I went with some people I met through trekking and a minibus of 13 of us arrived in Pembrokeshire Friday evening where we stayed in a lovely house with eight ensuite bedrooms and a vast living room and kitchen.  The weekend started with a trip to the local pub for dinner and drinks.  It was convieniently located about 2 minutes from the pub which was ideal.  The guy from the stables came down the pub to chat to us and allocate horses for the next day.  I was a little bit apprehensive to be assigned a horse called Thunder although I shouldnt have worried he was lovely.

Me and Thunder cantering on Newgale beach

Due to the tides, we had an early start the next morning 9am at the stables.  We collected our horses and set off for Newgale Beach, about a twenty minute walk on horseback, where we spent two hours cantering up and down the beach.  I was advised my my riding friends to be honest and to make sure I asked for a quiet horse.  At first, having been initially put in the slow group with another relative beginner, I was worried I had played it down too much after a very very short and steady first canter.  However, once they saw we were comfortable with that, we joined another group although still slower than some of the others (thankfully) and had some lovely canters.  My horse was great and although I was worried I would either end up with a horse that was so slow I struggled to keep up or one that was too fast and strong for me to handle, they seemed to have found the perfect horse for me.  The sun was shining and it was absolutely superb.  I have never had the opportunity to do so much cantering, even on the few hacks I have done.  The beach was fantastic and it was so flat and the canter on the sand was a lovely and smooth motion.  It really gave me the opportunity to concentrate on my position, rather than worrying about the horse stumbling on uneven ground and holding onto the mane, just in case.  I didn't actually manage a canter in the water the first day as we were advised that sometimes the horses spook at a wave so we would be better off stayin


Thunder and I paddling in the sea

 g on the sand unlike the more advanced groups.

After we returned to the stables, we went off for a pub lunch before the afternoon ride which would take us into the woodland and the valley where there were some bridle paths and through some fields.  Talk at lunch turned to the cross country jumps in the valley - a narrow bride path with six low jumps.  The rest of my group persuaded me that I should give these a try even though i had never jumped before as they were very small, but when we went back to the stables they said they wouldn't let me try the jumps.  I was happy to take their advice but at least because they told me no I felt I was being sensible rather than chickening out of something I might have loved.  I ended up in a very small group with one other trekker and two guides which was great although I did feel like we had a big label on our backs saying crap rider: needs 1:1 supervision.  I was surprised, I found the afternoon a bit more challenging as it was more the type of riding I am used to although not quite as many canters normally. Going into the field from the road, my horse spooked momentarily, at some ballons someone had tied to the fence by the road.  After he had calmed down we rode through some fields, where we cantered around the edge, splitting up into small groups to ensure we all got a decent canter.  If the group is too big, you don't seem to get much of a canter at the back so this was definitely a good move.   Then in the valley, the groups diverged in different directions as some people went off to jump and the rest of us cantered round the various woodland bridlepaths before going into some big fields for a canter up and across the fields. canter felt very bouncy after riding on the sand and the cantering in the field was very different to the bridle path through the woods but after a canter or two in each I quickly got used to it, although my horse was being a bit lazy and I could have done with a crop.  This was soon remedied in the wood, where the guide found the perfect stick.  Just holding it seemed to make all the difference, although I used it a few times.

After returning from the stables, we drank champagne and ate strawberries before heading off to shower before dinner at another pub.

Sunday morning, we awoke to persistent and heavy rain but this didnt deter us from our last ride of the weekend. Off to Druidstone Beach and some more time in the valley.  Today. we split up into groups of four of our choice with a guide.  Druidstone Beach was slightly smaller partly but only due to the tide of the day and rockier than Newgale Beach.  We had lots more canters across the beach and tried my first canter in the sea, although it didnt last very long as my horse wasn't keen and ended up on the sand eight foot wide of the  the rest of my group rather than directly behind as I was meant to be.  It was great fun despite the wind and rain although I didnt relish the sand blowing in my eyes and mouth as we cantered into the wind.  Having got thoroughly soaked, despite our waterproofs, we headed off to the valley to find some shelter.  We had a few more canters through the valley before a quick trip down to the beach opposite our accomodation to wash the horses feet in the sea.  The rest of the group then headed off for a last canter through the fields.  I was told by the guide, I should skip the last bit as the fields were pretty slippery and along with a couple of others who were fed up of the rain we trotted back to the stables quarter of an hour or so before the rest.  Whilst I was a little disappointed to miss the last canter, I was soaking wet and could feel the water squelching in my boots despite having a pair of chaps over the top and my ankles were killing me.  I decided,against arguing, because I had managed the whole weekend without falling off and didnt want to tempt fate in the last ten minutes.

Cantering in the rain at Druidstone Beach

Back at the house, we all stripped off our soaking wet gear.  Even my underwear was soaking despite several layers of clothes under my waterproof jacket.  The showers were luckily very hot and very powerful and after a quick change, we headed off for a three course sunday roast to debrief the weekend before the journey home.  Without doubt, it was a fabulous weekend and I was chuffed to hear the stables had told our group leader they were impressed with my riding after having only been riding a year with no lessons.

Pony Trekking this year.

I have been meaning to post since the pony trekking season started again having done lots of riding since April but have had some temporary work and just been incredibly busy.  Season started well.  The weather in April was fantastic and we were riding in vest tops, it was so hot.  I have been having a go at actually opening and shutting some gates on horseback which was new for me although now it is busier there are more guides so not done much of that recently. 

I have also been trying out some different horses this season.  Sam, who I struggled with over the winter, goes like a dream for me on the treks now and can get a lovely canter out of him and feel like I am in control much more so than on some of the other horses but risk being a bit complacent when I am riding him. 

However, I have had a few "moments" too.  I rode one horse who the guides normally ride and was warned he only needed a squeeze not a kick.  Being used to the beginners horses though I have got into the habit of having to give a good kick to get the horse to canter.  He went beautifully on the trek, until we got to the canter.  Most of the trek were youngsters who hadnt ridden before so the guides said I could have a little canter on the bottom track whilst the main trek went on the top track but under no circumstances to overtake the back of the trek above, in case the other horses wanted to canter too.  I forgot to squeeze not kick and overtook the guide who was leading the canter on the third stride, nearly fell off several times when I ended up nose on the mane and panicked and completely forgot about the correct riding position until I heard the guide yelling sit back!!  By the time, I got back in control I had not only overtaken the back of the trek but the front of the trek 26 horses later and then some - a canter of nearly quarter of a mile by my guess when I looked where I had been the following week.  On the plus side, I stayed on.

The following week, I rode a new mare who had only been broken in about three weeks before although I definitely didnt risk a canter on her.  In the first half hour, she spooked and charged about six metres straight into a fence although she didnt actually hit the fence.  To be fair, some guy chucked a feed bag over a stable door just as we were passing and I think most horses would have spooked a bit.  Then we passed some horses coming the other way and she didnt like it went I made her go on instead of stopping and bucked a few times.  Was pretty nervous by the time, we got out in the open on the side of the mountain, where I had my long "canter" the week before but got home with no mishaps.  She wasn't actually a fast horse just a bit sharp cos she was a young horse and new and inexperienced.

The riding bug has still got me though and I booked a weekend Beach riding in Pembrokeshire which was last weekend and a weeks riding holiday in Spain in Andulucia in August which I am really excited about.

My First Trail Ride

This year for one reason and another, I have not managed my normal holiday in the sun; instead, I have been Pony Trekking in the Brecon Beacons culminating in a 2 day trail riding holiday in the Black Mountains.  After spending the week anxiously watching the weather and hoping the rain would stop, before my trail ride, my prayers were answered and the sun came out Friday afternoon.  Arriving at the farm first thing Saturday morning, it was with some relief I was able to head up to the camping field and pitch my tent in daylight with whilst the rain held off. Then it was up to the farm house for to see if they needed any help tacking up before the ride.  Luckily, all the horses were ready so there was time for a cup of tea, while we waited for everyone to arrive.  It was a popular weekend and we had twenty five riders including the guides.  A great turnout.

Me riding Apollo, a lovely welsh cob.

Finally after some debate, everyone finally had a horse they were happy with.  I was a little disconcerted by  the last minute change to my horse.  Having been promised a nice bombproof horse called Rose, who I had ridden a number of times, I was assigned Apollo, a lovely horse but not one who I was familiar with riding.  However, it turned out to be a excellent swap as Apollo was a fantastic horse except for the odd kick if someone got too close behind.  Finally, it was time for the trail ride to set off.

Beautiful views on the trail.

The horses taking a short break on the steep ascent.

After riding out of the farm,  through the bridle path  and down the lane to Llanthony, we left the road and headed up.  The initial ascent was a steep one and the horses worked very hard.  We climbed up the first mountain, pausing at intervals to give the horses a break and through the moorland covering the top of the mountain and back down the other side before we commenced the hard slog up the next slope.

Unfortunately, due to the boggy ground, cantering on top of the mountain was not possible in many places because the ground was too wet and slippery.  The terrain continuously changed; from the mountain grass, as we crossed the lower slopes, scaring the odd sheep out of the way as we went, to the higher ground covered with  tall bracken, which dragged on our feet as we made our way through the narrow paths.

Then as we came down the next mountain, we came to a large evergreen, forest.  The paths were dark and shady but slightly more substantial, as we made our way through the forestry with the first canter of the day.  Then we followed the path along the river for a while before leaving the forest.

Into the forestry

Leaving the forestry.

As we reached the final ridge heading south west, the wind picked up and it suddenly turned cold. Hard gusts of wind meant it was difficult to talk to each other.  At last we started the downward climb, then we picked up the bridle path and we had a lovely canter, before joining the country lanes.  After three hours of riding, we finally reached Llanbedr, a small hamlet on the edge of Powys, home of the Red Lion, our stop for lunch.


After ensuring our horses were happy and comfortable we retired to the pub for some liquid refreshment, and baguettes with chips all round, it was time for some more horse riding.

Arriving in Llanbedr

We set off again retracing our steps a short way and then setting off south towards the Sugar Loaf mountain, as we skirted along the lower slopes.  The ground was covered with purple heather, and bilberries were everywhere.  We had a few good canters through the heather where the ground was firmer and less boggy than earlier in the trek.  After a few hours ride, the horses reached their destination for the night.  They all received a much needed wash down before being fed and turned out in the field for the night and we headed off back to Trevelog farm where our tents were pitched to change before going down the pub for dinner.

Our second day, we arrived at the farm to pick up our horses and set off back towards the Sugar Loaf.  Unfortunately, the rain had started and it was a rather wet ride.  The horses were all excited to be on their way, and keen to go.  We managed a few nice long canters as the terrain sloped gently upwards before slowing down to a walk as the terrain steepened again.

Sugar Loaf summit

Today, we ventured about higher, following the mountain path half way to the top and continuing once again through the heather.  Finally, having gone up and round the Sugar Loaf mountain, we set off towards Cymyoy across country.  A couple of hours after we left the farm, we joined the valley road, and trotted the last half a mile to the Queens Head, a favourite pub with the pony trekkers in the area and back in familiar territory.

After lunch, the sun came out again which was a pleasant surprise.  We headed up the steep lane opposite the Queens Head til we joined the forestry track, an ideal place for some fast canters.  Coming to the end of the forestry track, we picked our way down to the road through the trees and the bracken before trotting back along the valley road, slowing several times to let cars and other pony trekkers pass by.  Passing Llanthony Priory, we were nearly home. Once on the bridle path, we had one last canter before the horses walked the last ten minutes home to the trekking centre.

The trek returns home.