Holiday itinerary
Indulge in two unique and fun activities on this unforgettable 3 night/4 day all inclusive wine tasting and horse riding break in the spectacular Gascony region of France.
The mornings will be spent learning how to communicate with, handle and ride the gorgeous Friesian and Spanish horses in a round pen and 40x20 riding school at your accommodation.
Once you have safely mastered the basics, ride out to explore the beautiful surroundings on easy and relaxing trail rides. Horses are carefully selected to suit your specific needs so that you can relax and enjoy the unspoilt orchards, woodland and hilltops on horseback.
The Gascony region is renowned for producing some of the most delicious wines in the world and so Madiran is the perfect location to sample fine wines. Your host, Charles, will teach you about the process from start to finish and help you to taste the wines and analyse their content in fun and informative lessons.
You’ll stay in a charming renovated 19th century manor house set in 7 acres of grounds including orchards, vineyards, lakes, sunflower fields, ancient woodland and more making this the perfect place to really relax.
Your hostess Margaretha will be on hand throughout to assist with riding lessons and make sure that you have a comfortable and enjoyable stay, whilst her husband Charles will cook delicious dinners in the evenings.
With flexible and enjoyable horse riding lessons, unbeatable local food and wines, views of the Pyrenees mountains and unspoilt countryside surrounding the lovely manor house, you will find it hard not to unwind on this horse riding and wine tasting break with a difference.
Suitability
- Horse riding holidays are suitable for all levels from complete beginners to experienced riders
- Minimum age of 18 (minimum age of 14 if accompanied by an adult)
- Please note: Although the riding school have a wide range of horses to choose to ride, the horses unfortunately cannot take riders over 13.8 stone (90kg)
- Your hosts are British and French but all horse riding classes are taught in English
Travelling Solo?
- This horse riding and wine tasting holiday is a great singles holidays and singles are welcome
- Solo travellers can share a room with a guest of the same gender for no extra cost
- There are also NO single supplements if you wish to have your own private room, which makes this holiday a great option for solo travellers
- Should you wish to have your own private room, please state this in the ‘special requests’ box during the booking process
Non-Horse Riding Guests
-Non horse riding guests are welcome to share a room with a horse riding guest and still enjoy the food, wine and wine tuition
-For costing and details please see the costing and extras tab
Horse Riding And Wine Tasting Short Break Start Days
- Holidays run from April to November each year on any day
- The horse riding and wine tasting holiday is 3 nights/4 days
- Check in from 4pm on day 1, and check out at midday on day 4
- The 4pm check in time is a guideline and your hosts will be happy to accommodate you should you wish to arrive earlier subject to availability
- If you wish to stay for extra nights please email to check availability for your preferred duration and we will do our best to accommodate you
- If dates appear ‘on request’ please email us and we’ll check availability for your preferred day of arrival as quickly as possible
Horse Riding And Wine Tasting Short Break Itinerary
The itinerary is for guidance only and is subject to change depending on the group’s needs and wishes but is typically as follows. Please note that day 4 is a free day with no lessons:
Day 1- Arrival and welcome dinner
- Check into your room at the beautiful manor house any time after 4pm
- After settling in, you will make your way to the paddocks to meet the team and the horses
- You will have afternoon tea accompanied by a short presentation from your hosts about the team, horses and farm
- The rest of the afternoon can be spent at your leisure, exploring the surrounding area and hiking trails that lead to the nearest small village
- Dinner will be served at 7.30pm with an aperitif in the courtyard, and a chance to get to know your fellow guests
Days 2 and 3 – Meet the horses, lessons and wine tasting
- After a leisurely breakfast you will learn more about communicating with our horses and how to handle them safely, how to groom, tack up and pick horses hooves.
- Your hosts will then choose a Friesian or Spanish horse that is most suited to you and you will get to know your horse in a gentle ride around the round pen, and will work on your riding position and balance
- After you have mastered the basic riding skills in the round pen, you will ride in the 20x40 riding school
- A picnic style lunch is served for you around midday to enjoy under the oak trees, by the pond or in the orchard, followed by a siesta or sightseeing at your leisure
- Before dinner you will have a wine tasting lesson around 6pm, when Charles will introduce you to the local wines
- Dinner is served al fresco with the region’s famous wines, in a fun and social atmosphere
Day 4 – Departure day
- You will you have a leisurely breakfast before your check out
- You will then check out by 12pm ready to begin your journey back home, bursting with stories and memories to cherish from this unique holiday
Your Tutors
- Your host Margaretha is a fully trained medical doctor and an equine-assisted confidence coach who has years of experience with horses
- Charles is a passionate wine connoisseur and a vintner of the city of London
- Charles also boasts a WSET diploma and many years of experience in the world of wine
- Margaretha breeds Friesian horses at the manor house, and currently has Friesians and a Lusitano stallion
Who Are Our Guests?
- Holidays are typically made up of international travellers looking to get more from their holiday
- Ages vary, but the typical customer falls in to the 30-50 age bracket
- 80% of our guests travel solo
- The majority of our guests are beginners or those with limited experience
- Of course, everyone shares a passion or interest in discovering a new activity or continuing a hobby and is a horse lover
About The Horses
- The manor house have their own horses (Friesians and Lusitanos) which all have their own individual personalities and merits
- The horses are well trained, schooled and suitable for all levels of riders from beginners to advanced
What Will I Learn?
Horse Riding
- You will experience traditional riding lessons combined with trail rides around the surrounding landscapes
- If you have arrived as a beginner the aim is that you will leave with a sincere love and understanding of horses
- As a beginner or novice you will begin to develop your skills by starting with saddling up and getting on, steering, stopping and getting off again
- You will continue by learning about balance and developing control over the horse working mainly on your balance to help to create a harmony between yourself and the horse
- The teaching methods are gentle and sympathetic and will point you to an understanding of natural horsemanship
- If you have ridden before, lessons will be tailored to your level and you’ll progress learning new skills during the week
Wine Tasting
- You will also discover the exceptional wines of the Gascony region through wine tasting sessions with a fully qualified wine expert with a WSET diploma
- You will taste many wines and learn to assess the merits of each wine as well as spot some common wine faults
The Accommodation
- Your accommodation is set in a beautifully restored traditional house which is over 200 years old
- The house was traditionally a vineyard owners house and has a great historic feeling to it
- The house is surrounded by secluded vineyards, orchards, lush meadows and ancient woods and 5 acres of land
- It is only 2km to the nearest village with a selection of shops
- There is an elegant dining room with a marble fireplace, a small but well equipped gym and an extensive library for guests to use
- Outside there are several informal seating areas in the garden, orchard and by the pond
- All bedrooms have comfortable mattresses and bed linen
- Bathrooms have a selection of eco-friendly toiletries and towels
- Accommodation is included for 3 nights / 4 days
- Check in any time after 4pm on day 1 and check out by 12 noon on day 4
Meals
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners are included for this holiday
- Meals are usually served in the central walled courtyard or in the spacious dining room
- Breakfast consists of freshly baked bread with home-made jams and honey from a local bee-keeper, yoghurt, fruit from the local orchard, coffee, tea or hot chocolate
- Lunch is a picnic basket full of local delicacies that you can enjoy anywhere on site such as in a hammock in the orchard, lounging under the lime trees by the pond, on a bench under the oak trees or on a blanket amongst the vines
- Evening meals are always an unforgettable experience - your host is a wine connoisseur who loves cooking nearly as much as he loves wine and he will cook traditional meals from the Gascony region using either home-grown or locally sourced ingredients
- Dinner is accompanied by a local wine from your host’s own wine cellar which has been specially picked to complement the evening meal perfectly
- If you have dietary requests these must be communicated at the time of booking
Free Time Around Madiran
- This horse riding and wine tasting break is packed with riding and wine tasting but you will still have time to explore the surrounding area and local attractions
- There is a wide variety of activities to make the most of around Madiran, and guests are strongly encouraged to rent a car in order to explore these
- Ideas include water skiing, hiking, camel riding, cycling, mountain biking, canoeing on the Adour river, sailing on the lac de Plaisance, golfing in Pau, motor cycle racing, sightseeing, spa treatments and also various fêtes and festivals in surrounding towns
This exceptional horse riding and wine tasting short break is perfect for trekking on horseback through the stunning landscapes of Madiran, tasting fine wines from the famous Gascony region, and relaxing in a beautiful manor house surrounded by orchards, vineyards and lakes