Overview

• Food & Accommodation

• Activities

• Travel Information

• Further Details

• Photo Gallery

• Weather

• Printable Version

• Check Availability

• Pricing

Programmes

• Riding, Castles & Wine Tasting Week

• Riding and Relaxing Week

• Relaxing Weekend

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!”

“What a wonderful five days it was, generous hosts with their time and attention to detail. The horses were responsive and brilliant fun. The rides out were beautiful through wild flower meadows and shaded woods and streams. From deer to birds of prey, monastries, castles, vineyards and olive groves - everywhere you looked was a picture postcard of Tuscan beauty framed in a perfect blue sky outlined with cypress trees. Sadio's night ride will be an experience I will never forget - we rode through a meadow at the start full of wild flowers as the sun was setting over the hill, cantered through the vines as dusk settled the heat of the day. We returned two hours later guided only by the stars, wild boar in forest growling their warning to us only added to the surreal quality of the whole adventure! Can't recommend it enough and hoping to go back very soon! ”

“ We thought the location was fantastic - so secluded and yet very convenient for Siena. Sadio and Donatella were wonderful hosts, and Sadio provided us with many great restaurant recommendations (and he even booked them for us). The heat was tremendous whilst we were there, and my only slight disappointment was that there was no pool, but in no way did this diminish our enjoyment. ”

“We enjoyed our stay very much – the location, our hosts, the horses, the weather…It was great !”

“The experience was fabulous. I am most impressed with the quality of the horses and horsemanship. The horses work for their keep and in turn are kept and trained well. Donatella is a first rate horsewoman and bread and yogurt maker. Sadio is a true Italian gentleman, patient with both people and horses and an excellent competitive rider. They both were very helpful and genuinely interested in making sure we enjoyed the experience.”

“We had a lovely holiday and learnt lots. The setting, horses and trainers were all above our expectations. The house we stayed in is lovely and very "rustic" and "authentic". The surrounding areas are great too, and having access to the garden (and the river!) was great. The food was fantastic, the horses were well schooled and quite different from the riding school horses we've ridden back home. ”

In the News

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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:
Fair, 19 C

Forecast:
Thu - Partly Cloudy. High: 19 Low: 7
Fri - Mostly Cloudy. High: 20 Low: 9

Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather

(provided by The Weather Channel)

Pricing

Riding, Castles & Wine Tasting Week

2012 Prices:
Price of £1176 per person is based on double occupancy and includes full board accommodation with table wine, 3 full day rides, 3 half day rides and 3 sessions of wine tasting.

Single room supplement: £153
Non riders: £702 seven nights, full board.

Price does not include flights or travel insurance.


Riding and Relaxing Week

2012 Prices per person:

Price A, Half board: £834

Price B, B&B £623

Transfers to the nearest railway station of Montevarchi or Siena are included.

Single supplement for 7 days: £153

Extra rates: This is based on two sharing:
B&B £96 per person, per night, with 2 hours of riding
B&B with no riding: £51 per person, per night.
Daily single supplement: £27
SPA entry: £12

Special offer for groups. Country house for maximum of ten people/6 riders. Minimum of 5 people. 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 1 fully furnished kitchen, 1 large dining room with open fireplace:

Riders (10 hours riding) £581
Non Riders £317

Price does not include flights or travel insurance.


Relaxing Weekend

Prices for a weekend here start from £248 per person. This includes 3 nights of B&B accommodation, 4 hours of riding and a discount for the local spa.

Availability/Booking Form

Ride Description

This is a sophisticated destination offering top class tuition, hacks and trails alongside classy accommodation and spectacular food and wine. You can ride in beautiful countryside through rolling hills, olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees, discovering Tuscany on well schooled horses which have been personally trained by your expert hosts. Once horses join the stables, they are never sold and can live out a happy retirement. They have been schooled sympathetically and are friendly and easy to handle, ideal mounts for tuition or on which to explore this special part of Italy. You can take trails from one to three hours long over various routes and, for the experienced and fit, there are long distance rides in the spring and autumn.

Tuition is available to improve your riding technique both on the flat, and over low jumps, with individual lessons on offer to the advanced rider. Lessons are organised according to level - beginner, intermediate, expert and advanced. Beginners start in groups (no more than three pupils) on reliable horses which are proven to be suitable for the novice rider. The riding centre has an open air paddock, an indoor riding school and small cross country course of about 12 jumps (up to 90cms). 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 school has been recommended by Ian Stark in Horse & Hound Magazine 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.

The best time to ride in this area is the Spring and Autumn - April until mid June and September to mid October when average temperatures are between 18 and 28 degrees. Spring is an explosion of flowers and fragrances with the incomparable concert of birdsong and in Autumn you can enjoy the warm colours of the woods and vineyards and the fragrance and flavours of the grape harvest.

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, depending on your chosen programme.

Included: Accommodation, meals depending on your chosen itinerary (could be B&B, half board or full board) and horse riding as per itinerary.

Not included: Flights, travel insurance, airport transfers and extras not mentioned.

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

Riding, Castles & Wine Tasting Week

This programme is designed for seasoned riders who would like to experience the variety of this beautiful region, rich with culture and history. Tuscany abounds with olive trees, vineyards, woods, villas and rural areas in which you can escape from traffic and the stresses of everyday life. You will see some of the best Chianti wine farms, tasting their superb produce, and will stay in the comfortable farmhouse where you will eat delicious Tuscan food (with more wine of course). The horses are well schooled and compete during other times of the year. Sunday: You will arrive at the riding centre in the afternoon. There will be welcome drinks at around 7pm followed by a mouthwatering dinner at 8.30pm and your first chance to sample the local wines. Monday: Half day of riding to the Roman abbey of Badia d'Ombrone. You will enjoy lunch at the riding centre before heading to Siena by car, visiting the most well-conserved medieval town in Italy. Tuesday: Day of riding (with picnic) through the Chianti farm of Arceno where you will have a wine tasting in a superb location, with views of the vines, olive trees and cypress alley of Villa Arceno. www.tenutadiarceno.com You will stop in the medieval village of San Gusme (11th Century), maybe having an aperitif, before going to Campi (an Etruscan settlement, though it is not possible to visit the historical part at the present time). You will get a 360 degree view from the picnic spot. Wednesday: Half day of riding in the morning to the medieval village of Montebenichi. Lunch is taken at the riding centre and in the afternoon you visit and taste wine at the castle of Brolio (23 Euro extra cost for a 2 and a half hour guided tour to castle and cellars). This was built in the 11th century and is still the home of the Ricasoli family. Thursday: A day ride with picnic to the wine farm of Pacina, an old convent now converted into an organic farm by the Tiezzi family. They produce a superb Chianti but in a small quantity. www.pacina.it Friday: A day ride with picnic, riding through the "Crete senesi", a completely different area which is famous for its sheep cheese. Then you will head up to an ancient Etruscan road with an amazing view of the valley, Chianti hills and Siena on sunny days. You will pass through the village of Rapale, probably the last example of an ancient village which has not been renovated. Saturday: A half day ride in the morning to the monastery Borgo Monastero and through forests, olive plantations and vineyards. Lunch is at the riding centre and in the afternoon you can go to the Spa at Rapolana terme which has 2 nice swimming pools and the possibility of a massage. Alternatively you can visit the village of Castelnuovo Berardenga with the chance of another wine tasting at Felsina wine farm. Saturday: Enjoy breakfast and prepare to head back home.
Minimum group size:	4
Maximum group size:	8
Ability description:	Experienced riders.
Type of ride:	Trail
Total riding time:	3 full day rides and 3 half day rides.
Departure dates:	2012: 15-22 April, 6-13 May, 20-27 May, 16-23 September, 23-30 September, 7-14 October.
Pricing:	See Pricing

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Riding and Relaxing Week

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. The experienced instructors here can help all levels of rider, as well as accompanying you out on trail rides into the beautiful Tuscan countryside. This 8 day, 7 night programme can be booked with B&B or half-board accommodation. There are choices for each level of rider: Beginner: 10 lessons and 2 hacks of 1 hour each. Beginners have 2 lessons a day with maximum of 3 learners in a group at the same level. The horses are carefully selection and prepared for this purpose. The instructor starts beginners off with a personalised gradual system, tried and tested over years of experience, enabling the novice to learn to ride and get to know the horse and move with him. Beginners usually go out for their first ride after 3 days of lessons, and alternate rides and lessons from then on. Intermediate: 6 lessons and 3 half day hacks (around 2 and a half hours each). The experienced rider will be able to visit parts of Tuscany that are only visible on horseback. Thanks to a close network of bridle paths and cart tracks, there is a wide variety of rides available enabling the the rider to discover the historical, cultural and architectural beauties of the Chianti area, surrounded by nature and far from the noise of tarmac roads. These excursions are always accompanies by an experienced guide. Eventing Programme: 6 lessons (2 dressage, 2 show jumping and 2 cross country) and 2 half day hacks. Trail Riding: EITHER 6 half day rides OR 1 full day with with a picnic, 2 half day rides and 2 lessons. NB. Please note that Monday is the rest day for the horses and therefore the ideal day to visit some nearby places.
Minimum group size:	1
Maximum group size:	8
Ability description:	Beginner - Experienced.
Type of ride:	Tuition or hacking
Total riding time:	As detailed by programme.
Departure dates:	To suit
Pricing:	See Pricing

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Relaxing Weekend

A relaxing weekend in the beautiful Tuscan countryside. The perfect getaway - beautiful farmhouse accommodation, riding on well schooled horses and the opportunity to taste delicious Italian fare and local Chianti wines. At this professional but friendly destination you can be guaranteed of a relaxing an enjoyable weekend, taking in the delights of nearby meadows, the views of a medieval castle and an organic farm. Weekends are based on three nights of B&B accommodation with four hours of riding and a discount for the local spa.
Minimum group size:	1
Maximum group size:	8
Ability description:	Beginner - Experienced.
Type of ride:	Short hacks (or tuition at an extra cost).
Total riding time:	4 hours (more can be arranged at an extra cost)
Departure dates:	Flexible.
Pricing:	See Pricing

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