Winter Riding Weekends In Spain

Leave your wellies & waxed jackets dripping on the peg and come over for a lovely winter riding weekends In Spain in some well deserved sunshine here in Andalucia!

Our Spring, Autumn and Winter riding weekends in Spain holiday run from 1 Oct to 31 May as outside of the mid summer heat we can enjoy a slightly later start. After that we switch over to our summer riding weekends timetable. And, as always, you are free to “mix ‘n match” with our other winter activity holiday options.

We work closely with you to check both your ability and aspirations in order to match you up with your perfect mount for your riding holiday. Personal attention, with dedicated flexible airport transfers, welcome meeting and evening meal with drinks and much more all based in a lovely sea side town with enchanting Moorish old town to explore in the evenings. Fantastic riding in small groups with no dreary nose to tail plodding in isolation at the back!

Typical Winter Long Weekend Riding Itinerary

In winter we can ride longer, stopping for lunch with the horses. As it’s cooler we can offer quicker paced riding on well trained forward going horses, with the possibility of beach rides (subject to riding ability) as well as more gentle rides in the hills for less experienced riders – though there are usually plenty of opportunities for a canter if you wish! The most popular four day (three nights accommodation) riding itinerary runs from Wed to Sun, but we can always be flexible regarding dates. Itinerary details...
Wednesday
We meet you at Malaga Airport (see transfer times) and transfer you to your accommodation and get you checked in.
Afternoon / Evening – After settling in to your accommodation, we all meet in a beach side bar for a welcome drink & tapa. Here we get a chance to discuss the riding, answer any questions that you may have over your riding or local area and have a full briefing on the town and any local fiestas happening during your stay.
Thursday
After breakfast at the hotel we head off to the stables where we meet the horses and guides before we get our riding hats sorted out. Time to get to know your horse and to check your tack, before heading off for your first ride. We usually we ride for around 3hrs before stopping for lunch. Lunch stop on the day rides may be a beach bar (chiringuito), or a typical local venta where we tie up the horses outside the bar and eat al fresco on the terrace in the sun! After a break we then mount up to enjoy a relaxing couple of hours on our way back to the stables.
Evening – Plenty of time to relax in a beach bar or just chill out on your balcony and enjoy the view over the bay. Perhaps take a short stroll into the old town, where you can explore the cobbled streets with their enchanting shops and myriad tapas bars and restaurants.
Friday
After breakfast we pick you up from your hotel and and again travel up for a great second day’s riding with the trail chosen to match your ability. You are free to help tack up if you wish – we encourage you to help with tacking up & grooming etc as we feel that this helps to bond with your horse. Depending on the weather and abilities it may be a beach ride, or a spring time ride in the mountains amongst the wild herbs and flowers, where we often spot eagles in the mountains, or a lovely trail around the tropical fruit fields
Evening – Enjoy tapas in a beach bar while the sun sets – afterwards there is always Los Bajos to visit, or perhaps some souvenir shopping to be done.
Saturday
Early breakfast as we are off for our last ride in the sun in the countryside overlooking the glittering blue Mediterranean. Here we again ride the best local trails, as well as having the chance for some nice canters, before heading home.
Late PM – After a chance for a quick “wash and brush up” and changing our clothes, you’ll have time for a last refreshing drink and to take a few photos over the bay, before we whisk you back to Malaga airport for your flight back home – or stay another night and relax!

Accommodation

All our winter riding weekends and short breaks are based at Hotel Arrayanes Playa, right on the sea front overlooking the bay. All the rooms we use have spectacular sea views and their own balconies. See Hotel Arrayanes Playa for full details and prices.

Details and Prices

COVID19 Safety

All our activities are conducted under the SARS-Covid safety and working practices regime published by the Ministry of Industry & Commerce and Tourism.
Any additional safety precautions &/or restrictions due to Covid19 applicable to the safe undertaking of this activity can be seen at Covid19 – Activity Safety.

What’s Included?

Transfers to / from Malaga airport as scheduled
All transfers to and from stables
Welcome meeting with drinks & tapas and full local area briefing
Additional local guides / street maps / notes
Accommodation at Arrayanes Playa – all rooms have full sea view on the paseo with balcony, B&B basis (HB option available)
Riding hat hire if rqd
English speaking guides throughout
Winter season (01 Oct – 31 May):
- 1 x Half day rides (approx 3hrs “in the saddle” per day)
- 2 x Day rides (approx 5hrs “in the saddle” per day) + approx 1hr lunch stop
Lunch included on day rides
Water / soft drinks included

Activity Notes

Age limit for horse riding: 10 for short rides on lead rope.
All clients must wear an approved riding safety helmet (supplied).
We recommend that you wear long trousers / lightweight jodhpurs for your comfort. Shorts are not advised as the stirrup leathers will bruise your legs.
A suitable shoe / boot for riding with a small heel should be worn.
In consideration for our horses, we impose an upper weight limit of 95kg (15st) “clothed with riding boots / shoes” for all horse riding activities. If in doubt you will be asked to “step on the scales”.pprox 3.25km each way (6.5km rtn)