This selection of hotels and accommodation which offer horse-riding services is perfect for those who want to enjoy riding while away from home, or perhaps even start learning for the first time. Thanks to Andalucía’s extensive and rich natural landscape, many professional horse-riders have set up places for tourists to stay and enjoy guided tours of the region on horseback.
For those who are looking for a bit of fun and adventure, as well as learning about the wonderful culture Andalusia has to offer, there are many equestrian ranches which offer some great day packages. These packages will usually consist of a private day trip around inland Andalusia, mostly in small groups, and a fairly long horse ride will definitely be part of it.
If you are interested in riding lessons, there are plenty of places to do so. From tuition for the absolute beginner to gaining a full British Horse Society (BHS) it´s all here in Andalucia! You might also like to think about the option of a horse riding holiday to gain further experience.
There are numerous places to hire horses. Farms, riding schools, hotels and small stables offer a wide range of horses ranging from solid local Andalucian horses to stunning white stallions with tumbling manes.
An Andalusian man without his horse is like a matador without a cape. He feels stripped of an essential part of his identity that has been formed over the centuries. It is part of his life, his work, his status, his culture, his earthly possessions... his horse is central to his very being.
For a real performance of the most noble and classical kind, no one should miss the magnificent stallions of the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art.
Horse drawn carriages have always played an enormous role in Andalusia's great heritage. It has proved to be a very popular discipline within the equine community, almost more popular than dressage in the competition ring. More commonly, it is linked to the great tradition of pilgrimages (romerías).
Polo originates from ancient Persia from the sixth century BC to the first century AD. During the fifteenth and sixteenth century, the game was eventually passed from Persia to other parts of Asia, particularly India, Pakistan and China.
Horses are a major attraction in Andalucía. Not only do they form an integral part of local traditions - still taking part in many modern-day fiestas, festivals and other events - they also serve tourists well.
Costa del Sol Race Course which was opened in 1999 and boasts a race track which is 1.700m and 1.600 m long and 25 metros wide. The Racing initially took place in the cooler evenings and then out of season at selected summer weekends up to 2013. It has not held races since 2013 due to financial dificulties.
Andalusia offers some stunning and unique equestrian displays, which you will most likely not be able see anywhere else in the world, and what better than visiting this richly endowed region for a sneak peek into the importance of the horse in Andalusian culture.
The Jerez Horse Fair, known as the Feria del Caballo, is traditionally held during the first or second week in May. It is an exciting and lively event that brings the entire city to the González Hontoria fairground, which covers an area of 52,000 square meters, giving ample space for the finest horses of Jerez, as synonymous with the city as sherry and flamenco, to show off to the crowds.
To those who are perhaps not familiar with the term "livery", it is simply a yard of stables where horse owners pay a weekly or monthly fee to keep their horses on the premises and use the facilities. This is a common practice all over the world for those who would like to have a horse but do not possess the necessary space or facilities to keep it.
Many people dream of riding a horse along the beach, with their hair flying in the wind and the waves crashing around them, feeling a great sense of freedom. Tarifa´s extensive chain of white sandy beaches provides an ideal spot for realizing this dream. Most beaches are several kilometers long, and those which are not immediately connected can be accessed easily via coastal paths, meaning that riders can cover a huge proportion of the coast unrestricted.
Horses are inextricably woven into the Andalucian culture. Most of the festivals in Andalucia involve the impressive Andalucian horses, famous for their long tumbling manes, great presence and strong paces.
Every year the beaches of Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cádiz come alive with the pounding of hooves as the famous horse races take over the coast. Traditionally, the races take place the second and fourth weeks of August from Friday to Sunday. The schedule also depends on the tide times so they might come foward a week.
The Sunshine Tour was created in the early nineties and has become the biggest equestrian winter competition in all of Europe. Its official name was the Circuito Hípico del Sol changed in 2022 to become the Andalucia Sunshine Tour as the regional tourist board became the main sponsors.
Although the breed is commonly referred to as "Andalusian", this is not the correct name but rather a term greatly used internationally by non-natives. It is slightly misguiding to use this term as many imagine the breed is specifically from the region of Andalusia, when in fact it is nationwide.
For a real performance of the most noble and classical kind, no one should miss the magnificent stallions of the Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre, the Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, whose spirited performances take place every Thursday during the summer at the riding school, adjacent to the historic 19th century Palacio de las Cadenas.
Breeding of the Pura Raza Española all started with the Cría Caballar de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces Horse Breeding), which comprises a set of centres belonging to the Ministry of Defence, formed by military, civil servant and labour personnel.
