Spain

The Spanish Andalucian horse is believed to be the most ancient riding horse in the world and Spanish experts maintain that it does not owe a single feature of its make up to another breed. In the sixteenth century the horses were taken to Austria to found the Spanish Riding School of Vienna and its Lippizaner horses and the Portugese Lusitano have evolved from the Spanish Andalucian. Consequently, the Spanish are justly proud of their history with the horse and today you will find this wonderful breed all over Spain justly admired for its temperament and empathy with the rider. If you ride in Spain you may well be riding one of these lovely horses.

Culturally, the country is filled with superb old buildings, from Roman aqueducts and Islamic palaces to Gothic cathedrals. Almost every second village has a medieval castle so you may well ride through these old villages and soak up its history as well through the mountains and valleys which make up much of the countryside. What can be better than a few hours riding an Andalucían horse and then a glass of Spanish wine along with some delicious tapas.

More than fifty million foreigners visit Spain each year, yet you can also travel for days and hear nothing but Spanish. Visiting Spain is not only about sun, great cuisine, and a warm welcome, but also its rich monumental heritage and dazzling natural environment. There are many wonderful places in which to ride whether a trail in the mountains, through one of the National Parks or a gallop along the beach.