Spain - Majorca Beginners Programme

Please Note: The opinions expressed in these reviews are the author's and do not necessarily reflect the views of Unicorn Trails Ltd. These reviews are "directly from the horses mouth" and unedited. Unicorn Trails may make additional comments for clarification clearly identified in red.

Review received from FM of Surbiton on 17/07/2019

Day 1
Sunday: Arrive and check-in at the finca. Freshen up before a welcome cocktail with the group to discuss the horse itinerary. Free time to explore the finca grounds or have a swim before a welcome dinner with fellow riders at 7.30pm.

Day 2
Monday: After breakfast the riders will meet the horses and instructor for an introductory lesson. Beginners will learn the basics of control while the more experienced riders will decide, along with the instructor, what they would like to work on for the week. After the lesson, enjoy lunch and maybe relax by the pool before heading out on a trail ride into the surrounding countryside in the afternoon.

Day 3
Tuesday: Breakfast followed by a 1.5 hour lesson, with an additional 1.5 hour lesson in the afternoon. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Day 4
Wednesday: Today there will be a 2 hour trail ride, either in the morning or the afternoon.

Day 5
Thursday: After breakfast there will be the usual 1.5 hour morning lesson. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the surroundings.

Day 6
Friday: Today there will be a 2 hour trail ride in the afternoon.

Day 7
Saturday: Today there will be a 2 hour trail ride in the morning.

Shorter version of this holiday (fewer days and riding hours) can also be arranged.

No riding on a Sunday.

Non-rider and other activities:
Bicycle hire is available onsite; a 11m x 5m swimming pool and the spa at the finca can also be enjoyed at the end of the day

Please note: All itineraries are given for your guidance only and it may be altered on the ground and in accordance with the prevailing conditions by the organising team.

The instructors are German-taught dressage instructors who speak excellent English and Spanish. As well as lessons in the arena, there are trail rides out exploring the local scenery. The trail horses are mainly homebred Spanish and Andalusian horses and are renowned for their sensible temperament - all are fit and responsive. Sizes range from 14.2 up to 16hh and are ridden in both English and Spanish tack. There are around 30 horses available for the guests to ride.  No riding on Sunday's

This programme is designed for beginners so no experience is required. Riders are encouraged to be able to groom, saddle and then shower their horses after working. Novices will be shown how to do this so don't worry if you've never tried before! Minimum age 12. Max weight 90kg

The weight limit for this ride is 198 lb/90 kg, please enquire if you are an experienced rider exceeding this weight.

The finca offers 8 standard double bedrooms (all en-suite), each decorated in the traditional style of this island. All guest rooms have a bathroom, satellite TV, minibar, fan, central heating, air conditioning, a safe and a telephone: most have french windows opening onto a balcony. There are also 4 wooden chalets which come equipped with twin beds, a lounge area, bathroom and outside decking area with tables and chairs.

The superior rooms were recently built and are situated next to the main building above the dining room. The rooms are spacious and offer views of the terrace, swimming pool and vineyards from their balconies, and can accommodate up to 4 people. There is also a junior suite available, please ask your Travel Advisor for more information. Cots are provided free of charge in every room.

The restaurant serves Mediterranean food where one can sample typical Majorcan dishes. Breakfast is a continental buffet of cereals, rolls, meats, cheeses, croissants, a selection of juices and coffee. At breakfast the guests are given a form from which to select their lunch and dinner choices - both meals are three course and the finca is licenced with a full bar open all day.

The finca has its own 5m x 11m swimming pool; bicycles are available for hire onsite and there is a spa at the finca which is also available. Please note that spa facilities are not available in June. There is free WiFi for guests.

Vegetarian or other dietary requirements within reason can be accommodated with advance notice. Please contact Unicorn Trails with requests before booking.

Please note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documentation in place for your trip. NB: Be sure to check the COVID status of the country you plan to visit including entry procedures Passport and Visa requirements can change from year to year depending on diplomatic relations. Please request information from the appropriate Consulate in your home country. Unicorn Trails will assist with any questions you have or supply any necessary supporting documents as required by the consulate should you need a visa. In the UK the British Foreign Office gives advice: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain In the US: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Spain.html In Canada: https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/spain

Another useful resource is Sherpa - this summarises any travel and vaccination requirements based on when you are travelling simply by entering your home country followed by your destination country: https://apply.joinsherpa.com/travel-restrictions

Varies from a low of 14 degrees in January to the mid/high 30s in mid-summer

COVID: Be sure to check the latest COVID regulations for travelling in any country you visit.

You should always bring any regular prescription drugs you may need with you.

Please refer to your country’s latest health guideline for travel in Spain and contact your own GP for up to date advice on vaccinations and prophylaxis prior to travel.

In Spain the supply voltage is 230V. If the appliance is a single voltage rated appliance, it will need to operate at the same voltage as the supply voltage of the country i.e. 230V. If this is not the case it should be used alongside a voltage transformer or converter to allow the appliance to work safely and properly

Mainstream batteries can be bought from local towns, there is mobile phone reception in the hotel.

It is warm to hot all year round so pack accordingly, in the evenings it may be cooler in the autumn, winter and spring.

- Riding Helmet - we strongly recommend that you wear a properly fitted riding helmet of the current standard which is PAS015 or BSEN1384
- Gloves
- Jodhpurs - jodhpurs, breeches or other comfortable trousers (jeans may rub and can also be quite hot)
- Riding Boots - it is important to have correct shoes or boots for horse riding. Jodhpur or ankle boots with a rubber sole are recommended but sturdy shoes with a definite heel are acceptable (such as walking boots)
- Half Chaps - these are great when worn with ankle boots and help prevent the stirrup leathers rubbing against your legs
- Sun hat with a strap
- T-shirts
- Shorts
- Long-sleeve tops
- Raincoat
- Towel
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Lip Sunscreen
- Personal Items - toiletries, any medicines you require and please be sure to take insect repellent
- Refillable Water Bottle - it's very important to drink a lot of water when it's hot, especially when doing physical activities
- Camera, spare Batteries/Chargers - an absolute must! It is also a good idea to take a camera case you can strap around your waist or onto a belt for whilst you are riding
- Binoculars

Provided by hosts:
Hats and half chaps can be borrowed

This is a 8 days / 7 nights / 6 riding day programme available Sunday to Sunday from March to November. No riding on Sundays.

2025: Sunday - Sunday from 16 Mar - 2 Nov.
Low Season: 16 Mar-5 Apr; 18 May-28 Jun; 31 Aug-11 Oct;2-15 Nov
High Season: 6 Apr-17 May; 29 Jun-30 Aug; 12 Oct-1 Nov

From:

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• ‘The New Spaniards’ –John Hooper,


• ‘Driving over Lemons’- Chris Stewart,


• ‘The Story of Spain’- Mark Williams,


• ‘South from Granada’ – Gerald Brenan,


• ‘For Whom The Bell Tolls’ – Ernest Hemmingway,


• ‘As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning’- Laurie Lee 


• ‘Don Quijote de la Mancha’ – Miguel de Cervantes.


• For the equestrian traveller who would like to see what is possible on horseback visit www.thelongridersguild.com also a fantastic place to acquire your equestrian travel books is www.horsetravelbooks.com

Look out for the protected tortoises as you ride through the forests, also geckos can be spotted around the finca. Inland you will pass fields full of sheep wearing bells, goats (even pygmy goats!); asses and donkeys - some still used as a form of transport. You will ride past mulberry trees (red and white fruiting); fig trees; carob trees; orange, lemon trees; date palms and vineyards.

The finca is located in a beautiful remote location so if you want to explore the island you may like to hire a car from Palma airport. Local markets are close by and fascinating to visit.

Spain is a beautiful and diverse country, the second largest in Europe. The official language is Castilian Spanish but Catalan, Galician and Basque are also spoken. Territory includes two island archipelagos – the Balearics and the Canaries – and two enclaves on the North African coast, bordering Morocco – Ceuta and Melilla. The African influence can be found throughout Spain but especially in the south, for example the guitar was invented by the Spanish when they added a sixth string to the Arab lute. Music and art permeates Spanish culture, most obviously displayed in the fire and passion of the Flamenco and the stunning modern architecture found in the cities.

The famous siesta is still enjoyed by the majority of Spaniards, most shops close at lunchtime for two or three hours so everyone can escape the often scorching afternoon sun. Evening meals are served late into the evening with plenty of wine or sangria. Often meals can last two or three hours, especially if your host is serving Tapas, small and varied dishes of meats, bread, vegetables. Paella is also a delight and very popular across the country.

Spain is one hour ahead of GMT and they use the metric weights and measures system, so kilometres and kilograms instead of miles and pounds. There is approximately 1.6 kilometres in a mile and 2.2 pounds in a kilogram. The international dialling code for Spain is +34.