All of the Riding Company equestrian centres have something special about them. Take the guess work out of picking a riding holiday.

Only the best will do: At The Riding Company, the horses are well-looked after and the lessons and rides out run by highly experienced and qualified staff. The accommodation is of the highest standard - whether in a 5* luxurious resort built only with organic materials, a 4* country house hotel, a medieval castle, a 3* romantic national park hotel or the cosy wooden chalets perched on a mountain plateau.

Relax & Recuperate: Nearly all of The Riding Company centres have a pool, sauna and spa facilities for that little bit of pampering that is so welcome after a long day in the saddle. They also offer exceptionally good home-baked, mostly organic, seasonal food and much of it is sourced locally.

Plenty to do for non-horsey friends & family: The Riding Company particularly specialises in sporting and leisure activities for non-riding days and for those in your party who do not ride. Special packages include Ride & Ski during the winter months, during which you can gallop through the deep snow in the mornings on horses fitted with special shoes, and ski down the slopes in the afternoons. Ride & Spa is available throughout the year, Ride & Golf, Ride & Raft, Ride & Paraglide, Ride & Bike/Hike are available May until end of October.

Themed Riding Weeks: The Riding Company hosts certain themed riding weeks such as ‘Get-together’ riding weeks for people traveling on their own, ‘Mother & daughter’ weeks, ‘learn to ride weeks’, and offer a range of holidays specifically for kids and families such as summer international pony camps for young riders and unique family riding hotels.

We have highlighted here some of The Riding Company destinations and riding experiences. For full details and to enquire about availability please visit the Riding Company website at www.theridingcompany.com.

Austria - Mountain Adventure at The Schlosswirt High Alpine
Enjoy Western-style trekking tours on Haflinger Ponies into the high alpine landscape. Sleep in rustic mountain huts along the way, venturing deep into the heart of the High Tauern national park. Follow the ancient Gold route across the mountains, used by pack-horses for centuries. Alternatively, you can base yourself at this elegant romantic hotel where you can enjoy a different panorama ride each day, riding to waterfalls and deep green mountain lakes and encountering some of the thousands of animals and plant species who inhabit the park. The Schlosswirt is an elegant romantic national park hotel with wonderful facilities including gourmet food, beautiful outdoor swimming pool, tennis, sauna and steamroom.

Austria - The Ultimate Riding Adventure
Join one of the 3000m rides into the high Alpine region. 3 days riding with 2 overnights in a rustic mountain hut. 3 more days with shorter panorama rides (2-3 hours) from the base into the national park. 9th-16th June for riding through mountain flowers, 26th August to 2nd September for following the footsteps of the first ascent of Austria's highest mountain, the Grossglockner, and 15th-22nd, 22nd-29th September 'On horseback to 3000m'.

Austria - The Kroller - A Western Riding Ranch In The Alps
Western trail riding especially for families - and perfect for kids. The Kroller is perched on a high pass in spectacular landscape, on the river bank of the Gerlos Bach. Daily trail rides into the mountain wilderness on Criollos, Quarter Horses and Paint Horses. Enjoy fresh mountain air, crystal clear water and nature at its purest. Overnights in mountain huts. Kids' paradise at The PonyHoo - all day kids' activity club (indoor and outdoor). Western saloon bar with live music. Outdoor pool and 'Indian Spirits' spa.

Austria: The Dienstl Equestrian Estate
The 400 year old Dienstl Estate is home to one of Austria's top riding centres, owned by Brigitte Kulterer, a passionate rider and successful polo player. You can learn to play polo here with the Argentine trainer, Manuel Carranza, from April to October. Excellent riding school for beginners and to advanced-medium level for jumping and dressage.. Riding facilities include indoor sand school, power-ground jump paddock and dressage square. 1000km of riding trails for fast cross-country riding in and around the Estate in a mature rolling landscape of fields, forests and mature rivers. Highlights include rides to the fairytale medieval castle of Hochhosterwitz for a hearty lunch.

Italy - Riding at the Post-Tolderhof Hotel in the stunning Italian Dolomites
For the Austrian experience, in Italy! 4* hotel with pool, excellent spa and fitness facilities. Daily rides out for experienced riders in the beautiful Dolomite landscape of South Tyrol on sure-footed sporty Haflingers. Half-day and full-day picnic rides up to the Alm plateaus. Tuition on elegant well-trained Warmbloods from own stud in the panorama sand school or in the light indoor riding hall for jumping, dressage and novice riders. Children and adults welcome. Driving instruction with three times Italian champion Hannes Weitlaner on two-span carriages. Horse carriage rides around the village.

Slovenia - Ride & Relax at The Pule Estate
The Pule Estate has an almost spiritual peacefulness about it. This 4* hotel is a collection of beautifully restored farm buildings which stand isolated on a hilltop plateau surrounded by beech and oak woodlands. Accommodation is in one of seven extremely luxurious chalets.Enjoy hacking on beautiful Lipizzaners through unspoilt farmland. Riding highlights include a hack to a nearby medieval castle and another to a local historical town. The Pule is perfect for adults wanting to get away from it all and immerse themselves in an atmosphere of peace and pampering at the highest level.

Slovenia - Ride & Raft at The Pristava Lepena
The 4* Pristava Lepena is a small cluster of rustic huts perched on a high plateau wedged in between the Austrian and Italian borders. It overlooks the famous Soca river in the heart of the Triglav national park - possibly one of the most beautiful and unspoilt places in Europe. The riding is wild; trail riding across rivers, climbing up into the mountains, galloping across meadows, all on beautiful white Lipizzaner ponies. The Pristava Lepena is a place for nature lovers; you will rarely encounter anyone else on your rides or hikes. But don't think you have to rough it; the huts are designed for contemporary living. There is a sauna and fitness area, a tennis court and a beautiful swimming pool, all nestled between the trees and the rocks. There is a delicious restaurant, specialising in local organic dishes.

Egypt
See the Pyramids of Giza on horseback, then head off on a desert adventure across the Sahara, sleeping in colourful Bedouin tents along the way. Visit ancient monuments far from the crowds, resting and overnighting in the shade of an idyllic Oasis. Visit Bedoin villages and pass through an amazing changing landscape of shimmering open vistas, sand-dunes and stunning sculptural canyons. We offer four different tours, all of them start in Cairo. You can also join our Bedouin Desert Sponsored Ride (12-20 Nov 09) and raise funds for the Brooke Horse Welfare charity.

Quinta da Fe Portugal
Immerse yourself in the art of dressage in the Alentejo region of Portugal. A unique riding school, dedicated to dressage, to excite all standards of rider.Quinta da Fe is the ultimate holiday destination for the dressage enthusiast.Instruction is led by two exceptional and experienced riders and trainers who are equally gifted in communicating their riding philosophy – using video lessons, lunge lessons, individual and small group lessons – and always riding with music.

Winter Riding & Skiing Holidays include experiences such as:
Winter Riding at the Post hotel in the stunning Italian Dolomites: Daily rides out on Haflingers into stunning Alpine scenery throughout the winter for experienced riders. Lessons on warmbloods in dressage, jumping and carriage driving on two-span carriages. Highly qualified riding instructors for beginners to advanced riders. Excellent skiing at Kronplatz, part of the huge Dolomiti Superski area (Alta Badia / Cortina / Val Gardena). Indoor pool & spa.

Big 5 Safari on Horseback, South Africa
One of the few places in the world where you can see wildlife in its natural environment from the back of a horse. Luxury eco-lodge accommodation. Gallop through the bush at dawn on super fit, highly trained horses and catch your breath by a river full of crocodiles and hippos with the odd elephant strolling by. Track lion and leopard prints through some of the most stunning scenery in the world. After four days with day rides from the lodge, set off for a three day ride, deep into the bush, sleeping one night in colonial style tented camps and two nights in a designer luxury lodge. You will be in safe hands with your inspiring and charismatic guide, Philip; a superb rider, trainer, tracker and animal expert totally at home in the bush. This is an experience reserved for fit, confident riders with a spirit of adventure. It's a once in a lifetime holiday you will never, ever forget.

Gourmet Rides at The Orthal Albergo, Northern Italy
Horse riding combined with a Fruits of the Forest Cookery course: an insight into Italian food and mountain traditions. The Orthal riding centre is based at a small Albergo (guest house) on the L'Altopiano di Asiago, a sunny plateau overlooking the Venetian plains and with views stretching to the Dolomites. Massimo Rigoni, a former horse jumper in international competitions, is the charming owner who will take you on half-day or full day hacks through pretty, unspoilt countryside and villages. Family skiing area during the winter months. Riding can be combined with white-water rafting, paragliding and other adrenaline sports. Join one of our riding and cookery weeks where you will be collecting herbs and mushrooms and other produce on horseback then using them later to try out some local recipes.

The Lipizzaner is regarded as the oldest classic horse breed in Europe, bred since 1570 to supply the Austrian Hapsburg Empire with cavalry and show horses.

The Imperial Court Stud was situated originally near the village of Lipizza (Lipica, now in Slovenia) and it was this village which gave the breed its name. After the collapse of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in 1920, the Lipizzaners have been bred at the federal Stud at Piber near Graz.

The Riding Company organises a trip to the Imperial Palace in Vienna, where you can see a performance of The Spanish Riding School (available as a three night extension at either end of your holiday or as a single destination of any duration). More details...

Lipizzaner dressage courses are available at the Stanglwirt for novice and experienced riders, at Austria's largest private Lipizzaner stud farm.

There is a chance to ride a Lipizzaner at Lipica, the original stud farm in Slovenia, as well as enjoy a guided tour of the stables, and a performance of the training methods.

Guided tours of the Federal stud farm at Piber can be arranged, where up to 40 foals are born each year.

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THE RIDING COMPANY