SHOW JUMPING & DRESSAGE COMBO - ITALY

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Enjoy a horse riding holiday at an excellent riding centre with the Bevilacqua family, a large and very hospitable Italian family spanning 3 generations where you will end the week feeling like life long friends. This corner of southern Umbria is spectacularly beautiful and unspoilt, with varied landscapes ranging from craggy rocks and peaks to soft rolling hills and cool and quiet woodland, home to porcupines and wild boar. The countryside is dotted with medieval hill villages where life goes on much as it has done for centuries. At the riding centre there are excellent facilities to enable this special Show Jumping tuition and trail riding combination to take place. Lessons are taught by either Count Adolfo Poli or the Centre's main instructor Andrea Bevilacqua, both trained FISE instructor with years of experience teaching show jumping and dressage. In addition to the invaluable lessons you will also have the chance to ride out and explore the beautiful surrounding countryside. Beginners and novice riders can also receive lessons appropriate to their level as can children.

Trip length 8 days / 7 nights Ride price detailed prices price promise 2010 low season: double pp £1,035/€1,185/$1,535 2010 high season: double pp £1,175/€1,339/$1,739 Departure dates 2010: 20 Mar; 17 Apr; 15 May; 12 Jun; 17 Jul (HS); 21 Aug (HS); 11 Sep; 9 Oct Dates on request for groups of 4 or more. Approximate riding time per day 2-6 hours, optional rest day Riding ability required all levels catered for, min age 12 Group size 2-6 Meeting point (getting there) Rome, Spoleto or Perugia train stations. Transfer Included from Spoleto train station. This is an easy 2 hour train trip from Rome. Car transfer from Perugia is €100 per car each way for 1-4 people. Car transfer from Rome is €200 per car each way for 1-4 people. Car rental is also an option. Flight guide London - Rome return from £90 with Ryan Air. London - Perugia from £90 with Ryan Air. Single supplement detailed prices No supplement if willing to share. Otherwise: 2010 low season: £129/€149/$195 2010 high season: £129/€149/$195

SAMPLE ITINERARY - SHOW JUMPING & DRESSAGE COMBO

Day 1
Arrive at Spoleto train station and transfer to the riding centre. After settling into your room and depending on the time, have a look around the stables, relax in the clubhouse or sit down to enjoy your first delicious meal.

Day 2
Your horse riding holiday starts off in a fairly leisurely way on the first day, to give riders the chance to get to know their horses. We pass through shady paths among the chestnut woods and you’ll have time to admire the magnificent gnarled old trees which have supplied chestnuts to generations of people living in this area, and to spot the wild cyclamen and other flowers that grow in the woods, before climbing steeply up into the foothills of Mount Acetella, today’s destination. There are plenty of chances to trot or canter along these paths, but don’t forget to stop and take stock of the magnificent views here. You can see high mountain peaks in the distance, with the stables and Montebibico, a mediaeval village where time seems to have stood still, nestling in the foreground – a great place for a photograph. Afterwards, we head up to the top of Mount Acetella itself, just a short climb, where you will be rewarded with more stunning views here on top of the world. We head back to the stables via another series of trails for lunch.
After lunch you can make your way to the stables to become acquainted with your horse and instructor for the week. You will have your 1st 1 hour lesson in the afternoon.

Day 3
Today it is time to recap on the previous day's lessons with two more with in the morning and afternoon. Again there is free time in between.

Day 4
This half-day ride takes us through the grounds of a magnificent 600-hectare private estate called La Tenuta dello Schioppo, but known locally as Il Parco delle Farfalle, the Butterfly Park. There are wide avenues perfect for cantering for those who want to, and trotting for those who don't, and splendid views of mountains, valleys and hill villages in all directions. In a woodland glade a huntsman's table has been fashioned out of local chestnut wood, and this will be the stopping place for an aperitif. In May and June, these woods are carpeted with tiny wild strawberries. We ride back for lunch at the clubhouse.

Day 5
Pianella, the destination for this day-long trek of 5-6 hours (35kms), is a gloriously peaceful spot in the heart of the Umbrian countryside. To get there, we ride through woods and trails and down into a hidden valley where we pause to admire the exquisite little village of Castagnacupa, whose old stone houses have all been recently restored.
From here we ride past a beautiful Romanesque church and into more woodland before reaching the shady meadow where we will have lunch, tying the horses to a post and rails and sitting on wooden tables and benches thoughfully provided for picnickers. After lunch we head on through the old village of Pompagnano, close to Spoleto, and back over the hills via Catinelli, a village poised spectacularly on a rock outcrop and home to just two peoplem an old man and a woman who can often be seen tending to their animals.

Day 6
After your rest day from the school yesterday today is back to work and two one hour lessons in the morning and afternoon.

Day 7
Last day today and the chance to re-cap on your week's Show Jumping or Dressage tuition, with a 1 hour lesson in the morning and afterrnoon to round off your week nicely.

Day 8
After breakfast transfer back to Spoleto train station.

As with many riding holidays, this itinerary is subject to change depending on weather conditions.

NOTES - SHOW JUMPING & DRESSAGE COMBO

 

New for 2010: Fancy a half day white water rafting experience? Available on all riding holidays as an alternative to a half day ride this excursion costs €40 payable locally. The stables will transport you for for free to enjoy a fun descent on the beautiful River Corno. Each boat is manned by expert guides and this activity is suitable for all ages, from 5 to 75, as it is safe and relatively gentle rafting (though exciting enough to feel you have done something adventurous!). Wet suits, lifejackets and helmets are provided but bring along a towel and swimming costume.

Ryanair flies to Rome frequently as does Easy Jet. A transfer is available from there or Spoleto is an easy 2 hour train journey from there. Alternatively car rental is a good option. Once at your destination transport can be arranged to and from Spoleto (13km) and other nearby places for a modest charge. A hire car is a good idea if you wish to explore the area in the afternoons and evenings, whilst not in the saddle.

FURTHER DETAILS
As we are specialists in our field we have extensive knowledge of all our products from details of accommodation and meals to number/size/type of horses to pace of riding ... and much more.
Should you wish to receive further details of this ride please click here.

WHAT IS INCLUDED
The trip price includes all meals, a reasonable quantity of wine and liqueurs and canned soft drinks with meals, accommodation with en suite shower, toilet and bidet, horses, tack, qualified English speaking guide, all tuition with qualified FISE instructor, round-trip transfers from Spoleto train station. Single supplements will not be charged if you are willing to share with another guest of the same sex.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Transport to and from Spoleto from the UK. Guests should bring a small quantity of Euros for personal expenditure or extra drinks from the bar outside meal times. A permit for the show jumping needs to be purchased on site at the start of the week and costs €30. Tipping is not expected on the premises. Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary are not included.


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