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A traditional Spanish Horse Festival
Jerez - well-known for horses and Sherry - is Spain's capital for horse
breeding and a "pilgrim destination" for horse-lovers from all over the
world who meet here each year at the 'Feria del Caballo' (= horse
festival). It started in the year 1284 as a livestock market and has
developed into a show of the most beautiful horses in Spain. On the
premises of the state-owned "stallion depot", one show follows another;
nobles and VIP's on two and four legs parade past until early morning.
The riding tour starts in Jimena. The typical Andalusian landscape with
its meadows and olive groves surrounds you. As on the Southern Andalusia
Ride, you will ride through the mountains of the National Park
Alcornocales. Over Patriste, Alcala, Paterna, and Mojo you'll reach
Jerez de la Frontera on Friday evening and participate in the Feria.
On Saturday you will polish your horse and yourself, and join the parade.
Stop here and there at a Bodega and drink a glass of "Jerez" (Sherry)
with the locals. On horseback you're more than a simple tourist, you're
part of Andalusia's world of horses and every door is open for you!
Enjoy the various horse-shows, and there is even time to visit the Royal
Andalusian Riding School with their Gala Show.
PG-ANTJ
Rates: Included: accommodations in hotels and country inns, all
meals, 5 riding days, 1 riding day at the Feria, rental of costume (jacket
& pants)
8 days/ 7 nights $ 1,895 Single:
+$295
-- based on € 1,325 / € 205
Non-rider $ 1185 (€ 825)
2008 Dates:
04/25-05/02 starting in Alcala
04/27-05/04 starting in Zahara
- book early !
Meeting: Alcala or Zahara
Airport: Jerez de la Frontera,
Malaga
Transfer: incl. from Jerez 8 PM
Level:
Intermediate
Tack:
Spanish
Horses:
Andalusian cross
Pace: Moderate with great canters
Min/Max: 5-10 riders
Note: you will need to dress up for participating in the Feria
(pants and jacket are available); Spanish riding boots and hat are
mandatory and for sale; also not included is the entrance fee ($60) to the
Jerez Riding School Show and meals at the Feria.
Itinerary
1st day: Arrival in Jerez and transfer to Zahara de los
Atunes at the Atlantic coast (about 1.5 hours) where you will have
dinner and stay overnight in a hotel right on the beach (alternate route
starts in Alcala/Jimena).
2nd day: After breakfast you'll set
off on your first beach ride to Barbate. Right after leaving the town,
the beach is deserted and only used by the fishermen. As this stretch of
the coast is under the supervision of the military, no hotels have been
built, and the firm sand gives you the opportunity to get used to your
horse in all gaits. In the pine forest behind Barbate, the support
vehicle awaits you with the picnic. After a siesta, ride along the beach
and through the pine forest above the steep coast of Cap Trafalgar. At
this historic place with its old lighthouse you can see as far as
Morocco. The horses stay in Caños de Meca, the riders drive back to the
hotel at the Atlantic beach. Before or after dinner you may like to swim
in the ocean or in the pool of the hotel.
3rd day: Along sandy trails you'll
ride back to the beach where you will enjoy more canters. Only towards
the end of this morning you'll reach the busier parts of the coast.
You'll be pleased to stop at a beach-bar for refreshments. For lunch
you'll turn inland to meet the support vehicle. Leaving the coastal pine
forests behind, you'll cross a stretch of fertile land with sugar beet,
cotton and bean fields before reaching the first meadows of Andalusia.
The support vehicle awaits you with the picnic and refreshments. Ride on
along Andalusia's meadows. The horses stay in the little farming village
Los Naveros, the riders drive to Alcala de los Gazules. Dinner in a
typical pub, overnight in a hotel.
4th day: Leaving Los Naveros, you'll
ride to Paterna along old lifestock trails, the "veréras", which are
still running through all of Spain, and across meadows of cows and
fighting bulls. Lunch stop in a "venta". There are no asphalt roads
between meadows and fields, giving you the opportunity to canter again
and again. Enjoy the view over the wide open landscape. Keeping a
respectful distance you'll ride around herds of bulls and wild cows. The
horses stay in Paterna, the riders return to Alcala. Enjoy an evening
stroll through this unspoiled, typical Andalusian village. There is even
a saddlery that you might like to check out. If you wish to buy the
original boots or chaps for the feria parade, you will find them here!
As dinner in Spain is seldom before 9 p.m. (here you'll enjoy game
dishes) the "nightlife" in the village starts relatively late.
5th day: Today you will approach Jerez.
You'll leave the horses in Mojo shortly before reaching the town and
drive to a hotel in Jerez. Women in colourful flamenco dresses and men
in the typical "traje corto" can be seen everywhere. The whole town
celebrates but the feria itself takes place on the feria grounds, which
were laid out particularly for this occasion with bodegas and houses
that are partly privately owned, partly sponsored by large corporations.
You may spend the evening on the feria if you wish.
6th day: A short riding day takes you
from Mojo to the feria grounds where the horses await the next day. As
you will ride into the town, you should expect asphalt roads and traffic
- but don't worry! The horses are absolutely reliable. After the lunch
picnic you will participate in the feria and visit some of the many
expositions, shows and competitions.
7th day: After you made your horse
spick and span and dressed yourself in the typical traje, you will join
into the parade. Do it like the locals and stop here and there in front
of a bodega to drink a sherry. You might even be invited. In the
afternoon, the horses will be loaded for transport back home while you
will continue to enjoy the gaiety and various horse shows. You even have
the possibility to visit a performance of the Royal Andalusian Riding
School (entrance fee of about $45 to be paid in advance so we can
reserve the tickets for you). Overnight as night before.
8th day: Early transfer to the airport
of Jerez de la Frontera.
This trip takes place only once a year and
follows a different route each time. We ask for your understanding if it
doesn't run off as smoothly as our other trips. In Andalusia, customs
are different and clocks tick slower. We should try to respect this. |
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