Family riding in the Alps

Live like a cowboy as you trek through the wild, romantic terrain in the Alps.
Families stay in mountain huts and ride Quarter and Paint horses especially imported from South America.
While the children learn how to pan for gold at The Pony Hoo, parents can relax at the Indian Spirits spa or take a trip down to the Western Saloon bar and listen to the live music.
On a Sunday, everyone gathers together in the Saloon to be entertained by cowboy tails. Two-step Western line dancing is held on a Wednesday, so make sure you take your cowboy boots.
The views along each wild trail are stunning and some of the riding is as high as 2000m.
The hotel is open all year round for riding, apart from in November and it lies on a high Alpine pass (1300m) with access into the largest ski area in the famous Zillertal Arena.

Fancy a break? Visit The Riding Company’s website, send us an email or give us a call.

http://www.theridingcompany.com/

info@theridingcompany.com

020 7870 7834

Read Full Post »

Half term special offer: The Hills are alive with the sound of Hoofbeats!

Visit Salzburg to experience the Sound of Music tour followed by a week of hiking, hacking and yodling in beautiful Alpine scenery, based at the family-friendly 3* Strasserwirt, a 700 year old country house hotel.

A seven night break costs just £346 per adult on half-board with return transfer from Salzburg airport (or 4 nights on half board: £261 per adult)

Sing like Maria to your heart’s content, as you visit the scenes where the famous film was shot, including the 18^th century Mirabell Gardens, where Maria and the children were seen singing ‘Do-Re-Mi’ around the statue of Pegasus, the winged horse,  and Leopoldskron Castle which was used as the von Trapp family home.

Then spend the rest of the week at this traditional Tyrolean hotel which has been in the Nothegger family for generations. The hotel lies in one of the most beautiful valleys in Austria and is surrounded by peaks which are easily accessible by foot or on horseback. The hotel has its own riding school and offers lessons of the highest quality throughout the year in addition to daily rides out in small groups, both for novice and for experienced riders. Maps and advice provided for hikes into the hills.

A seven night break costs just £346 per adult on half-board with return transfer from Salzburg airport Kids on half-board in adults’ room with transfer: 0-6 years: £66, 7- 12 years: £161, 13-15 yrs: £210. Short breaks also available: 4 nights on half board: £261 per adult: 0-6 years: £, 7- 12 years: £161, 13-15 yrs: £210. Sound of Music tour £40 per adult. 10 hours of riding (either group lessons or rides out) cost £125, (5 hours : £65). Family carriage rides also offered (£50 for 4 people).

Read Full Post »

How to travel with a horse

If you’re planning a break away and want to take your horse with you, The Riding Company have some top tips on how to travel with a horse.

1. Make sure you have the current health papers for your horse. Most horse hotels will expect you to have these, as well as proof of a negative Coggins test within the last 30 days. This test checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) antibodies in your horse’s blood.

2. Ensure the horse trailer is working properly; for example look carefully at the brakes, exterior lights and tyre pressure.

3. Plan your trip before you go, especially looking at where you may stop along the way. Horses need about a 30 minute break every two or three hours. They can be left in the trailer during this time, so long as there is some time for them to stand still.

4. Take with you all the supplies you might need; such as a horse restraint, first-aid kit, water for your horse to drink and hay.

5. Add some wheat bran or beet pulp into your horse’s feed to prevent colic while travelling. You’ll need to start mixing this a week before you travel and increase the amount to about a 50-50 mixture by the time you leave. Carry on feeding the mixture to your horse while you’re away, before starting to decrease this for a week when you get home.

Read Full Post »

Concerned about travelling and the environment?

If you’re worried about the impact your trips abroad might be having, The Riding Company are doing their little bit to combat global warming.
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to one of our holidays at Climate Care and compensate for your ‘environmental footprint’. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
The Riding Company works mainly with small family-run businesses in rural areas who are dedicated to preserving their environment and their traditional way of life. Austria has one of the highest levels of household recycling and organic farming in Europe. It also has some of the cleanest lakes, is 47% forested and produces nearly 70% of its energy from renewable sources such as water.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.

For more information visit The Riding Company’s website; http://www.theridingcompany.com/ or drop us an email; info@theridingcompany.co.uk

Read Full Post »