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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
 England
1168 Posts |
 Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 1:26:43 PM
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Meggie-Lou and I have just got back from 6 days riding in the Spanish mountains. We had a fantastic time riding some wonderful horses. The ground was very tough going in places with some really steep climbs and some equally steep drops..!! The horses were so fit and well behaved. A 2.5 hour climb up the mountain was like a walk in the park to these amazing creatures.
Some days we were in the saddle for over 8 hours...! Amazingly I didn't ache which I put down to the comfy Spanish saddles.
Here are a few of the best pics
This one below is Meg doing the Ribbon Race at the local Fiera we went to.
Check out the view in the background.... Stunning.!!
These are some from the display we watched at the Fieria
Sorry for the pic overload but as you can see we had a fantastic time...
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Mrs DJ
Gold Member
632 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 1:41:34 PM
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Looks wonderful!
Just out of interest - were your horses shod? I can't tell from the pictures. |
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Kharidian
Platinum Member
England
4297 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 1:47:01 PM
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I'm glad you both had a great holiday!
Caryn |
Kharidian (Prince Sadik x Khiri)........ Alkara Cassino (H Tobago x Rose Aboud)
aka "Roger".................................... aka "Chips"
     
The first image is from an original painting by Pat Shorto.
South-East Essex |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 2:10:09 PM
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Yes the horses were all shod. The English couple who run the resort (who are from Essex), they guy Tony is a Farrier. The ground was really hard and stony and we walked, trotted, cantered and galloped on this ground..! I was quite alarmed at first as I wouldn't dream of cantering my horses on ground like this. But these horses (apart from the coloured mare) were all born and raised on ground like this and they know no different. I think their high stepping Spanish action helps with the rough terrain. None of them had any swellings or wingalls on their legs.
They were all fed very little ( two hard feeds a day which a mixture of grain and bran) and then a few sections of Faraki (cross between hay and straw) in the evenings. They lived out in paddocks which had not a blade of grass on them, just lots of rocks, boulders and olive trees. All of the horses were in great condition. No thin ones, in fact little nina was quite porky..
I was amazed how fit and healthy they were and what great stamina they had considering how little feed they got. |
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Edited by - Nichole Waller on 13 Oct 2013 2:11:37 PM |
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hannahbtw1978
Bronze Member
England
103 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 2:22:29 PM
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What fantastic pictures! The horses all look in fabulous condition.
This is exactly the sort of holiday that I would love to go on...the views look wonderful! Sounds like you both had a truly awesome time  Thanks for sharing!
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alison
Platinum Member
Wales
1810 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 2:26:56 PM
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How wonderful it looks a spectacular place and yes the horses are in great condition, shows how much we nanny and overfeed ours 'lol' You both look like you had a great time, what a fantastic experience- where would I find information on this place?
Cheers
Alison |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 3:18:04 PM
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| I'll pm you Alison. Can really recommend it. |
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alison
Platinum Member
Wales
1810 Posts |
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Ari
Platinum Member
1657 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 3:36:51 PM
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Thanks for sharing your fabulous experience, I had the end of summer blues until I saw those pictures. Feel quite cheered up and inspired to save up and make it a must do.
We have the beautiful Spanish Trueno on our yard who stole his ladies heart on her riding holiday. What magical horses they are, such character and charm, felt very privileged to ride him out here in West Yorks so with the mountain scenery and glorious weather it must have been amazing. |
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cmj
Silver Member
France
383 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 4:42:39 PM
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| Whereabouts in Spain was it? I've always shied away from riding in Spain in case the horses were in poor condition/abused etc but these look cracking! |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 5:53:49 PM
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The nearest village is Competa. It's about an hours drive from Malaga. The Finica is in the mountains in a National Park. There are wild boar and ibex goats roaming the mountains and we also saw some eagles
Pm me if you want details of where I booked.
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SuziQ
Gold Member
England
922 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 7:44:48 PM
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| What a gorgeous place to ride and the horses look lovely, lucky you |
Everyone in my life brings me happiness, some by arriving others by leaving. |
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DianaSC
Bronze Member
Spain
184 Posts |
Posted - 13 Oct 2013 : 9:00:40 PM
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| Those mountains look familiar! The Sierra Tejeda/Almijara? I have a photo of them next to my computer. Beautiful riding country around there but scary drops from the mountain tracks. Your photos are beautiful, looks like you both had an amazing time. |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 08:17:19 AM
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Hi Pash,
No I don't think the grey above had Arab in. He was all Spanish but maybe not 100% pure. He had a cropper on which held his tail up a bit.
They did have one 50% Arab 50% Andalusian abut 14.3hh he was lovely. They also had a pure bred Andalusian who was 17.1hh. The biggest pure bred Spanish horse both they and I have ever seen. They call him their freak of nature he was lovely to ride with a huge stride....
Here is a picture of him
He was the slimmest horse on the yard and this is because he took part in a pure bred Andalusian horse race at the big race track. They trained him for a few months (although he was already very fit) and then he was entered with other pure breeds. As you can imagine he was the biggest one there....
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AnnaMaisy25
Gold Member
England
794 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 08:26:59 AM
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Oh wow.
Now see, I need a holiday... I think I need to go here.
Looks like you had a fantastic time! And what lovely photos, that view is to die for!!
Got to love the Iberians!!
Lucky lucky girls!! xxx |
 
Splash&Freya. |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 09:22:44 AM
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| He is lovely, and massive; and it looks like they have a miniature standing on the roof behind him |
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badders
Bronze Member
England
169 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 2:28:49 PM
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| I used to be in the Navy and was based in gibraltar. Luckily for me I used to go riding nearly every weekend in Cape Trafalgar (overlooking the area where the Battle of Trafalgar took place) in southern spain.. Long beach rides, through woods with rosemary growing wild, stopped at little fincas. So I can appreciate how much you enjoyed your holiday. |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 4:44:44 PM
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Wow and wow again! No wonder Meggie-Lu was feeling down when she got back after such a fabulous holiday!
One of the liveries on our yard came back from Spain about a year ago and brought her Andalusian with her. She was telling us about doing the ribbon race and how all the men got a real sulk on because she won! |
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pinkvboots
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3290 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 7:33:00 PM
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| Lovely pictures Nichole it looks a really lovely place glad you enjoyed it, bet you was really glad coming back to all this rain |
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Nichole Waller
Gold Member
England
1168 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2013 : 8:06:53 PM
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Garnet that's funny because the Ribbon race this day was won by a 15 year old English girl who had been living in Spain for a while. Guess what she was riding.....! An Arab...!!
2nd was a Spanish man and 3rd was the lovely Donna who runs this holiday resort. So two places went to the ladies this day and no the Spanish men were very unhappy.... |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2013 : 2:05:45 PM
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Can not wait to go back! Horses were just amazing!
A good way to improve me riding skills. My seat is quite good now, Aunty Nick was very impressed! |
   Danger Mouse |
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sab2
Platinum Member
8467 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2013 : 3:41:15 PM
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| What a fantastic holiday for you both i am quite green with envy looking at the pictures, i never leave the place as i will not leave the animals, but i was ever to be tempted you have just showed me where i could be tempted to, so pleased you both enjoyed yourselves , stunning place to be riding |
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Sharea
Silver Member
United Kingdom
289 Posts |
Posted - 15 Oct 2013 : 9:41:59 PM
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What fantastic scenery and beautiful horses!
I had a really enjoyable Spanish riding holiday about 8 years ago, similar area to you but not as mountainous, was also really impressed with the comfort of those Spanish saddles.
Lovely to see. |
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Kerry Wilson
Silver Member
United Kingdom
280 Posts |
Posted - 16 Oct 2013 : 2:25:58 PM
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Does sound and look very lovely, have to start saving pennies ;-)
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pics-GAS Skala(Ventican x Strelitzia)with Sambist filly/GAS Strelka (Monitor x Strelitzia)/GAS Stella (Pogojii x Strelitzia)/GAS Saffala (Ffatal Attraction x GAS Skala)/GSD Indra/my show chooks-Wyandotte bantams
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Edited by - Kerry Wilson on 16 Oct 2013 2:27:22 PM |
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Pop
Platinum Member
England
3051 Posts |
Posted - 18 Oct 2013 : 10:55:36 AM
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| I just have to keep coming back to look at the picture of the 'Pony on the Roof' |
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Topic |
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Riding holiday in the Spanish Mountains
