Chianti, Italy
Reviews
“We were made very welcome and felt at home. We had a great time and felt relaxed, refreshed and fit for anything by the end of the week. It more than lived up to our expectations. Donatella is a very good teacher and we made a lot of progress. We loved the accommodation and Sadio is a great cook!”
Horses
Type of horses:
Murgesi, Arab, Holstein, Thoroughbred, Selle Francaise, Anglo Arab
Nature of horses:
Well schooled, calm, forward going
Height of horses:
15hh - 17hh
Weight limit:
85kg
Tack type:
English
Weather
Current Conditions:
Light Rain, 8 C
Forecast:
Fri - Showers. High: 11 Low: 3
Sat - Partly Cloudy. High: 13 Low: 0
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Riding & Wine Tasting Week
2010 Prices:
Price of £1295 is based on double occupancy and includes full board accommodation which includes wine, four half day rides and two full day rides with picnic lunches and transfers from Pisa airport.
Single room supplement: £173
Non riders: £795, seven nights, full board.
Riding and Relaxing Week
2010 Prices:
Price A, Half board: £863 based on double accommodation. Seven nights, breakfast and dinner, 10 hours of riding, and wine at meal times included. Also a 10% discount off Spa treatments.
Price B, B&B: £636 based on double accommodation. Includes 10 hours of riding, Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Also a 10% discount off Spa treatments.
Transfers to the nearest railway station of Montevarchi or Siena are included.
Single supplement £173
Non rider price: £395
Daily rates: This is based on two sharing with 2 hours of riding per day.
B&B £109 per person, per night.
Half board: £143 per person, per night.
Non rider daily rate: £59
Daily single supplement: £30
SPA entry: £14
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This is a wonderful opportunity to ride in the most beautiful countryside through rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees. You can discover Tuscany on horses personally trained by your expert host. Once horses join the stables, they are never sold. They are retrained and schooled sympathetically and are friendly and easy to handle. You can take trails from one to three hours long over various routes and, for the experienced and fit, we can offer long distance trails in the spring and autumn.
At this destination we are able to offer you opportunities to improve your riding technique both on the flat and over low jumps as well as the option of individual lessons for the advanced rider. Lessons are organised according to level - beginner, intermediate, expert and advanced. Beginners start gradually in groups of maximum three pupils on reliable horses proven to be suitable for the novice rider. The riding centre has an open air paddock, an indoor riding school and a cross country course. Donatella and her husband Sadio have taught hundreds of riders over the years, both beginners and advanced and they personally take both the lessons and lead the trails.
This professional riding centre has been recommended by Ian Stark in Horse & Hound for the attention paid to pupils here and for the care of the horses. It is also a member of the Federation of Italian Equestrian Sports. Even the most nervous rider will be encouraged slowly and gently to overcome their fear and reluctance. Donatella is highly qualified and has the most prestigious "Guida Federale" qualification under her belt.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
The 19th century farmhouse has been recently restored to a high standard. It is situated in the senese Chianti centred between Siena, Florence and Arezzo. In this tranquil atmosphere, surrounded by meadows and woods with a view of a medieval castle, you will be able to stay in one of the three en-suite bedrooms, a family suite with two large bedrooms and bathroom or a self contained apartment for two in a separate converted barn constructed on two floors. All the bedrooms have beautiful views. There is a large living area with an open fireplace, a club house with a television, a changing room and a laundry.
The food here is typically Italian and you will enjoy local Tuscan specialities. The three course dinners are typically Italian with pasta always on the menu. Aperitifis, wine and coffee are included. Guests have use of the kitchen and there are some fabulous local restaurants and trattorias so you will be able to enjoy the local hospitality and gastronomic delights if you wish.
We have been told by a very satisfied client that we should mention what a wonderful cook Sadio is. His simple Tuscan home cooking with generous portions was wonderful and to watch him cook at the huge open hearth was a highlight.
The jams, bread, yogurt and cakes for the breakfasts are homemade.
For groups of over four people they can provide lunch or dinner from typical Tuscan menus predominantly using produce from their organic garden.
The meat they serve, like the wine and eggs, is often purchased from certified organic farms and is always produced locally. Sadio is a careful “chef” able to offer you superb flavours using little fat and natural, genuine food. He can also mix a perfect 'apertif'.
Activities
The position of the farm makes it an ideal base for cycling and biking and for those who wish to mix cultural tourism with outdoor pursuits. You can wander through the narrow medieval streets of Siena, you can enjoy a glass of chianti at Castello di Brolio or Brunello at Montalcino. You can visit the Cistercian abbey of Monte Oliveto, get to the heart of Chianti through the village of Volpaia or visit the famous cities of Florence and Arezzo, Cortona or San Gimignano. None of these destinations is more than an hour away from the riding centre. You can have personalised spa and massage treatment available at the nearly spa town of Terme di Rapolano.
Further Details
Languages: English, Italian and French
Health requirements: None
Age limit: Minimum 18 years (14 if accompanied by an adult)
Tuition: Yes
Included: Riding and accommodation as programme
Not included: Flights & Transfer
Travel Information
Ryanair fly to Pisa and the flights are very competitively priced. You could also fly to Florence. We can arrange transfer but car hire is not expensive. Transfer to and from Pisa is 150 euros per person payable locally.
However we can arrange transfer also from the station at Siena
Airport: Pisa
Alternative Airport: Florence
Programmes
Riding & Wine Tasting Week
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Experienced riders will enjoy riding through this area, rich in history and culture. You wll ride in the most wonderful countryside on well schooled horses riding past farms, medieval villages, olive groves and, of course, the vineyards. Sunday: We will arrange for you to be met at Pisa Airport at 17.00. The drive to the farmhouse is 1 hour 45 minutes. You will be shown to your accommodation and enjoy a very welcome drink. At 8.30 a delicious three course dinner starting, of course, with pasta will be served accompanied by wine. Monday: Today after breakfast you will start riding at 10.00 am heading for the romantic Abbey of Monastero d'Ombrone. A shorter ride today to get you accustomed to your horse. Lunch will be back at the farmhouse and in the afternoon you will be taken by car to visit Siena - the most wonderful medieval town in Italy. Tuesday: Today is a long ride (5-6 hours) stopping for a picnic. There is the most amazing view at the lunchtime stop - definitely a photo opportunity. You will ride through the Chianti farm of the Arceno Estate passing by Cinta Senese wild pigs, vines, olives and some amazing cypress trees at Villa Arceno. Picnic at Campi, ancient Etruscan site with a splendid 360° view over the Chianti hills. Wednesday: After breakfast, you ride towards the medieval village of Montebenichi returning to the farmhouse for lunch. In the afternoon you have the opportunity to go wine tasting at Badia Coltibuono winery or relax at the Rapolano Thermal Spa to enjoy a massage or dip in the warm waters of the thermal springs. Thursday: Leaving the riding centre at 11.00 you continue your riding through Tuscany visiting Felsina, and getting the opportunity to taste wine at one of the best quality wine producers in Italy, the ride continues until lunch. After lunch you cross the "crete Senese" and experience completely different landscape, characterised by gently rolling hills where sheep graze. It is from here that the famous Tuscan Pecorino cheese comes from. In the afternoon you arrive close to Siena where the horses, and riders have dinner and stay overnight. Friday: Today you ride through various Chianti classic wineries and reach the beautiful mediaeval castle of Brolio. You climb the Chianti hills again to reach the picnic spot, above the remains of an ancient charcoal burner. In the afternoon you go down the Ambra valley to return to the riding centre for dinner and a well deserved rest. Saturday: After breakfast you ride in the morning, this will be a short ride with lunch at the riding centre. In the afternoon, for those with enough energy, you can opt for a lesson, or a shopping expedition in Castelnuovo Berardenga to purchase local produce. Sunday: Breakfast and transfer to Pisa Airport. |
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| Minimum group size: | 4 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: | Intermediate to Experienced riders comfortable in all places |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | Four half day rides and two full day rides. |
| Departure dates: | 2010 Dates: 17 - 24 April; 8 - 15 May; 22 - 29 May; 18 - 25 September; 2 - 9 October. |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Riding and Relaxing Week
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This riding and relaxing week is ideal for those who wish to combine their horse riding with plenty of leisure time. Tuscany is a wonderful area rich in history and culture. The beautiful countryside is fabulous to explore with its rolling hills, olive groves and vineyards. Beginners have two lessons a day with a maximum of three students at the same level. Your experienced instructors will give you guidance and confidence and after three days you will be able to take a ride and from then on you will be able to alternate lessons and rides. More experienced riders may also benefit from some lessons with a highly skilled instructor but will also be able to ride around the bridle paths through unspoilt country accommpanied by an qualified guide. The horses here alternate between lessons in the menage and rides in the country so are both well schooled and comfortable with the local terrain. During this week there is an opportunity for the advanced rider to improve their skills. The experienced instructors are skilled in teaching flat work and balance skills. The school was recommended by Ian Stark in Horse and Hound in 2000 so you can be sure that you are getting excellent tuition here. After a morning on horseback you can enjoy the delights of the local area, there is much to visit within an hour of the stables. There is also a spa in the nearby town of Terme di Rapolano. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 8 |
| Ability description: |
Beginners/Novice course in small groups (3 max) learning to ride and look after your horse or nervous riders. Intermediate/Advance courses specialising on the riders position in dressage through to cross country. Please advise us of your ability on your enquiry. |
| Type of ride: | Tuition or hacking |
| Total riding time: | Ten hours but more can be arranged locally. |
| Departure dates: | To suit |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |