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Horse riding holiday in Tuscany

COUNTRY:
Italy
LOCATION:
Tuscany
DEPARTURES:
PRICE:
From €950 (8 days) excluding flights. Flexible riding programme (see itinerary) full board basis (can be self catering on request)
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Horse riding holiday in Tuscany

Horse riding holiday in Tuscany

Travelling with a local operator
This holiday is operated by a company based in the holiday destination and they will be able to provide expert local knowledge. They will be able to tailor make your holiday to suit your requirements not only concerning the dates of travel but also typically the standard of accommodation, and thus price. It is rare for local operators to be able to help with the booking of your flights.

How this holiday makes a difference

The Equitrekking stables of Kiwi / Italian hosts Jess and Paolo is located 35 km west of Florence, and offers authentic and unique horseback trails and riding vacations through one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. We use horses that have been specifically chosen for the job at hand, tack that is designed for those who spend time in the saddle, and both our guides and ourselves have years of international experience in the equine industry. For us responsible travel also is all about the treatment of our most valued assets- our much loved horses . Our equine friends live out in established herds during the summer and the winter as we believe that it is important for our horse’s mental and physical well-being that they get time to 'be a horse' they need time to play, groom, roll and interact with other horses at some point during every day - this is the horses way of relaxing.

We do not keep our horses stabled 24/7 for convenience, they live as close to nature as is practical and this is what makes them happy, relaxed and a pleasure to handle and ride.

Environment
Responsible Travel is important to us. We have an environmental policy in place to make sure that the eco-system here is not damaged in any way. Our staff are trained to uphold this policy and are fully briefed on appropriate/responsible behavior whilst riding through wilderness areas. Our “Leave No Trace” ethic is applied to all trips.

We are proud to be recommended by the Rough Guides "Clean Breaks" 2009 edition earlier this year.

One of the greatest benefits that you will enjoy when you choose one of our rides is the intimate, exclusive experience that is not often found with trekking centres, pack outfits, working ranches or other trail rides where 12-50 riders are common. A smaller group means more personal attention, more privacy ,more individual space and minimizes the impact of horses on the environment.
You won’t get lost in a crowd with us; group size is limited to 8 enthusiastic riders per ride. We use only locally owned transport, restaurants, shops and accommodation on our tours.

Community
Many riding stables prefer to keep large strings of unhappy horses, their overhead dictating that each ride must be as large as possible in order to stay afloat. To us, that's not a good ride. So, we based our whole business on using great horses, well treated and well trained, and on giving great responsible travel service to the people who come ride with us.

We use only locally owned transport, restaurants, shops and accommodation on our tours. The atmosphere at the farm is inspired by a genuine love of the local traditions of the places, people and culture that surrounds it. It has recently been completely restored and divided into country style apartments preserving original, rustic and farm-like characteristics.

Food produce is local, and where possible organic and specialized to the area. Wine is produced on the very terrain you ride across, and is of a very good quality. Local staff that know the area well are hired. During this holiday you will meet real people, and experience the culture that many larger tourism outfitters neglect.
"Horses aren’t just a great passport to some of the most beautiful spots in the world, they are a passport to the hearts of people everywhere"

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Horse riding holiday in Tuscany

Reviewed 07 Dec 2009 by Leena Mooneeram5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


For me, the most memorable part of the holiday was the time spent with Jess, Paolo and Maya. They’re warm, welcoming, and knowledgeable. Nothing is too much trouble. My husband’s most memorable part was getting to do the ‘man’ thing with the rest of the boys and build paddocks. For excitement, nothing beats a river crossing on horseback with Paolo.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Be prepared to muck in and get involved. Both of us learned so much about Jess and Paolo’s horses and horsemanship in general just by getting involved. Also learning a few words of Italian before you get there is definitely an asset (even though Jess is more than happy to act as interpreter).

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Absolutely. Other than Jess, we didn’t come across any other non-local Italians. With regards to the environment, you couldn’t get much more environmentally friendly than travelling on horseback.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


We’ve now done three trail rides with Jess & Paolo in the space of a year, and are now planning the fourth. I think that says it all.
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Day tour/Attraction Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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