General Info

Horseback riding in France through the glorious private estates of the Dordogne. Stay in an 18th century manor house and enjoy local cuisine, colorful markets, wine tastings, truffle farms and medieval towns. This trip is great for riders and their non-riding companions and friends.

On riding holidays in France, explore forests, up hills with great views, down through valleys, with numerous tracks, along corn fields, rivers and more. There is very little road riding on this vacation.

Take in spectacular scenery and architecture. Ride through medieval villages and bastides (fortified towns) past 17th and 18th century chateaux, manor houses and farmhouses. The Dordogne region is well known in France for its fascinating history and the beauty of its landscapes.

If want to enjoy the comfort of spending each night in the same place, a lovely 18th century manor, this is the ride for you. You will cover long distances. On three days, the horses stay overnight elsewhere and you are transferred back to the manor, so that you may get further afield and explore on horseback.

Picnics are brought every day from the house or else you'll pop into restaurants en route. If someone wants to only ride for half a day, your host can arrange for your horse to be ridden back or forth by someone else. Your equestrian guide is a great horseman and riding teacher and also very knowledgeable about the area. 

On your day off, explore some of the wealth of tourist attractions of the area- the prehistoric sites of the Vézère valley including Lascaux, Sarlat, the chateaux of the Dordogne valley and more.

The region is well known for its food and wines and the manor cook is extremely good, so you will be well looked after. If you'd like, your host can also arrange visits to a truffle farm or a wine tasting at a local chateau. This French horseback riding vacation is diverse, combining equestrian pursuits with local sightseeing.

Highlights of this trip:

• Wonderful riding country - varied and attractive both naturally beautiful and with great architecture in one of the loveliest parts of France. You very seldom ride on tarred roads. Most is on rural tracks and bridleways with some riding on the private land of the chateaux and manor houses which is very special.
• Antoine, your guide is a great horseman and guide. He is very knowledgeable and personable and has some very good horses.
• You have all the advantages of trail riding seeing a lot of the country but without having to ride out from the same base, yet the ease of returning to the comfort of the French residence each night. You don't have to keep packing and unpacking bags. Your host transports people to the horses who stay over night at other places.
• House party atmosphere at the main house with lots of good food and wine!

Awards & Accolades

Certified member of the Association of British Riding Schools  
Featured in Horse and Hound and The Independant
 

Packing

Packing Tips for Riding Holidays in France

Casual riding wear is recommended for this France equestrian vacation, but as you could be riding for up to six hours a day it should be comfortable. There is a washing machine and dryer at the house.

Your host suggests:

• Helmet that conforms to current BHS standards. Helmets must be worn at all times. You need to bring your own helmet.
• Light riding gloves.
• A decent pair of boots.
• Jodhpurs / trousers and all leather full length chaps or half chaps.
• Waterproof jacket, fleece, warm layers, as the weather can be changeable.
• Swimming suit. (there is a pool and tennis court on the grounds)
• Sun protection cream and sunglasses for eye protection.

About the Horses

They horses for this equestrian vacation are mainly a mixture of saddle horses and Arab crosses, trained for trekking with pretty calm temperaments, but very reliable and not easily spooked. They are definitely not 'nose-to-tail' trekking types. The saddles are either special trekking saddles ( Forestier, Gaston- Mercier, etc) or standard United Kingdom saddles.

The riding holidays in France horses are sourced either from an experienced trekking company with whom your host has worked for several years or else from the trekking guide who tends to have more challenging horses, eventers and ex-racehorses, Selle Francais or Lusitano crosses. The horses stay with you throughout your stay. There is a wide range, and they are selected according to the experience and ability of the riders, which is why it is important to complete the booking questionnaire as fully and honestly as possible. There are always a few extra horses to ensure that the selection is appropriate.

Their home is a recently converted 18th century barn. There are 11 spacious loose -boxes, with deep straw beds and open bars in between so they can see and talk to each other. They also spend a great deal of time grazing in the paddocks behind the house and paddling in the lake. The horses are extremely well loved.
 

Activities/Events

You can enjoy horseback riding in France for up to six hours or you can choose just to ride in the mornings or afternoons as your host can arrange for other riders to ride for you when you do not wish to ride. After all, you return to the same base each night.

There is plenty to do at the house and in the surrounding area, such as a visit to a local market at Issigeac, a wine tasting visit, a visit to a local truffle farm ( optional), the day off spent exploring the wealth of the Dordogne area, tennis and swimming in heated pool at the manor house and boating / fishing on lake.

The Dordogne is one of the richest areas of France for tourism.

Visits can include the following:

• The morning food markets full of regional food delicacies
• The 13th century bastide towns (mediaeval walled cities) and churches
• Sarlat "the best preserved mediaeval town in France"
• Périgueux the capital of the Dordogne and Bergerac
• Brantome , the Venice of the Dordogne and Bourdeilles
• Lascaux caves and their underground prehistoric cave paintings
• Canoeing trips on the Dordogne
• Golf at Chateau des Vigiers international golf course 
• Shopping visits (antiques, Limoges porcelain)
• Wine tasting at nearby chateaux near Bergerac and Monbazillac 
• Visit to Saint Emilion and its vineyards and Bordeaux 

Accommodations/Food

The historic 18th century manor house is comfortably furnished and has eight double bedrooms and nine bathrooms, three of which are air conditioned. The bathrooms have baths and showers and wcs and basins.

There is also a pigeonnier (converted dovecote) with another two bedrooms, a bathroom, living room and kitchen about 25 meters from the main house. There is a large living room, a second living room and a large dining room and kitchen. There is a piano, large screen TV and DVD player, iPod docking station, hifi, wifi and a computer and printer for guests use. The house is comfortable. There is a washing machine and dryer at the house.

Your host has owned this French manor house since 1989. She started organizing horse riding vacations and French immersion holidays nearly ten years ago and has been building the business ever since. Previously a management consultant and investment banker in London, since moving to France she's written a book about the Dordogne area and run a successful vacation rental business, renting some of the loveliest chateaux, manor houses and farmhouses in the area.

Food

One of the highlights of your stay will be relaxing in the lounge with a drink after the day's exertions, discussing the day's events, before enjoying a delicious dinner based on regional cuisine such as duck, foie gras, truffles, asparagus and strawberries served with a variety of excellent local wines. All this prepared by the local cook.

Breakfasts are typically continental Breakfasts served with croissants, bread, butter and a selection of jams, muesli, yogourts, fruit, juices and coffee and tea. Lunches are typically picnics or you may go to a restaurant en route, all included in your holiday price. All dinners are served with the finest local Bergerac wines, red, rose and white, beer and soft drinks in unlimited quantities. Your host does not serve spirits but you are welcome to bring them with you.

Your host aims to eat healthily. All food is cooked fresh every day using locally sourced products. Vegetarians and those with special diets can be well catered for as long as you let us know your special needs at the time of your booking.
 

The Ideal Traveler

Intermediate to advanced riders and their non-riding companions who want to experience life in this charming area of Southwest France. Food and wine lovers will especially like this equestrian vacation, as will equestrians who wish to have a diverse horseback riding vacation, combining horse riding with local sightseeing in a comfortable setting.

Dordogne Manor Ride

This trip is great for riders and their non-riding companions. Ride from 4 to 6 hours every day through private French estates and enjoy other activities. Visit a local market at Issigeac, enjoy a wine tasting visit, a visit to a local truffle farm (optional) and the day off spent exploring the wealth of the Dordogne area. At the manor house, there is a tennis court and swimming in heated pool and boating/ fishing on lake.

Dates & Rates 2012
8 days/ 7 nights for Intermediate to Advanced Riders
April 28 -May 5, May 12- 19, May 26 - June 2, June 16 - 23, June 30 - July 7, Sept 8 -15, Sept 22 - 29, Oct 13-20, Oct 27 - Nov 3, Nov 10 - 17

There are specific riding weeks arranged throughout the spring and autumn months. For all other dates except July and August please contact us and riding can be arranged depending on numbers and price. 

Riders $2,080 USD (1505 Euros) per person per week for 8 days/ 7 nights.
Non-riders $1,204.81 USD (872 Euros) per person per week.
There is one itinerary. Travelers may choose to participate for less than 7 days and pay accordingly. 

Riding and French same prices as above.

Riding and yoga an additional $174.60 USD (£109) per person per week. Yoga is conducted in the early morning before riding and after the rides in the early evening

* Prices are subject to changes based on currency conversions.

Not included in the price above
Transport by air, rail or car to and from the Bergerac area 
Dinner on one day for those staying seven days
Rental car if required on off day. (you will not need to rent a car, unless you have a non-rider with you who would like to tour on their own or for the half day off)
Additional private riding lessons. 
Tips 
Telephone and fax, which are charged at cost.

There is one itinerary. Travelers may choose to participate for less than 7 days and pay accordingly. You should arrive either on the Saturday or Sunday so that you can do the riding trip out Monday and return Wednesday. No single occupancy rates, as there is more accommodation than riders. This trip is for a maximum of 8 riders. A typical one week holiday will consist of 6 full days riding and half a rest day for the horses. With between 4 and 6 hours spent in the saddle each day, you'll ride across varied terrain and riders need to be reasonably fit and competent, and confident at walk, trot and canter in open country.

Sample Itinerary
Day 1 (Saturday) You will be met at the airport or train station in Bergerac and driven the 15 minutes or so to the manor for dinner and to settle in for the week. Dinner with your host and overnight at the manor. (Dinner included)

Day 2 (Sunday) After breakfast at the house, head for the stables to meet the horses and try them in the paddock with your riding guide Antoine. Then set off by car at about 10:30 to visit the street market in Issigeac, which is great fun and full of local color. Morning shopping in the market before returning to the house for an early lunch, followed by a ride. Return to the manor house in the late afternoon for drinks and dinner with your host. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 3 (Monday) Breakfast in the house, then mount up and set off riding. Today's route takes you through the village of Lamonzie Montastruc and across la Forêt de Liorac to the private Chateau Garraube with its formal gardens, then on to the pretty village of Saint Marcel du Perigord where you stop for a picnic lunch near a stream. After lunch ride on to Pressignac-Vicq where the horses will stay overnight.

Return to the manor house by car and Bernadette will cook a delicious, typical local dish to be washed down with some great local wines! Dinner and overnight (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 4 (Tuesday) Breakfast and drive back to Pressignac-Vicq to meet the horses. Today’s ride takes you down to the Dordogne river - a spectacular ride with wonderful views. You will stop on the bank of the river for a drink and a picnic lunch. In the afternoon ride back to Pressignac-Vicq by a sharply contrasting route with the opportunity for a few good canters. You'll be driven back to the manor house for a well earned drink before dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 5 (Wednesday) Breakfast before returning to the horses and riding them back home through the forests to the manor. Stop for a delicious picnic lunch along the way arriving at the manor house in time to change and relax before enjoying another delicious dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 6 (Thursday) Set off on a morning ride then ride through the forests and vineyards either to Chateau Tiregand (owned by the Saint-Exupéry family, one of whom wrote the well known children’s book, 'Le Petit Prince') or to Les Terres Vielles. Both produce excellent local wines and there will be time for an informal and informative wine tasting before riding back to the manor house for lunch. The afternoon is free for sightseeing or to relax. Your host will discuss the options and will happily arrange group visits to local sites of interest, book restaurants and organize taxis for you to get around - or you can just relax at the house, using the heated swimming pool and tennis court or perhaps trying the boat on the lake - the choice is yours.

Dinner is not included today and will be eaten out, either on the way back from the places you visit or you will be driven to a local restaurant, or even at the manor house if someone wants to cook! (Breakfast included)

Day 7 (Friday) After breakfast, a stroll from the dining room to the stable yard to mount up for your last day’s riding. The route takes you through the Caudeau Valley visiting the villages of Montclard, Saint Georges, St Martin des Combes and Clermont Beauregard and passing the Chateau de la Gaubertie stopping at another idyllic picnic site. After lunch, return to the manor house for drinks and a farewell dinner. (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included)

Day 8 (Saturday) You will be driven to Bergerac airport or train station after breakfast (about a 20 minute drive) or, depending on your departure time, you may be able to visit Bergerac street market for some local shopping before departing. (Breakfast included)

* This itinerary is flexible and subject to change based on the trip guide's discretion, the weather or other factors. 

Related Travel Articles

Traveler Reviews

The horse ride was great. Really VERY special. The guide, Mr. Antoine, is a great rider, an excellent ride leader and a wonderful person. The horses were very sound, good tempered and very easy to handle. Saddles and other tack of good quality.

The horse rides were very well dimensioned and with adequate alternation of gaitss (walk, trot and canter). Stops for lunch in restaurants or picnics were always a delight. The places Antoine chose for the rides were also fantastic. Long streaks of riding trough beautiful forests, followed by the crossing of gorgeous little villages with castles, large "maisons" and "chateaux". Riding on asphalt roads were minimal and always very safe. The people in the countryside are very educated and respected riders and horses. Not one problem in six days of riding. We have taken many rides in Brazil and in Argentina and we can assure you that this was the best by far-- as good as the rides we organize for our family with our own horses.

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A very good place to stay. On the outside, the house is absolutely beautiful, with fantastic gardens and an incredible 18th (or 17th) century stables. On the inside, the accommodations are simple, but with a very nice home-like atmosphere. Again on the inside, the house could use some refurbishing (the shower, however, was very good), but this is compensated by the friendly, warm and informal reception we received from Jane (the owner), her employees and friends.

Cleanness is good for French standards (except for bathrooms that were above French standards). Food, however, is something else. Absolutely fantastic, from breakfast to dinner. Bernardete, the cook, is a magician. I am particularly keen of good restaurants and very rigorous with them. I can safely say that Bernardete prepared us the best "magret de canard" I have ever tasted (and I have tasted several from great and famous Chefs de Cuisine de France). Her "tarte aux pommes" (made with the apples from the garden) is outrageously delicious. The wine and cheese selection was also excellent. In fact, every meal was a delight.

Again, if I had to grade it, I would have to give it an overall 10. However, you must warn any potential customer that the accommodations are simple, that the house needs some refurbishing and that cleanness is good for French standards (not the highest standard, as you probably know).

Thus, we have to thank you very much for suggesting this equestrian vacation. It was worth every penny. We really enjoyed it plan to return whenever possible. 

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Fabulous riding country and it was great to ride with Antoine Excellent guide – very knowledgeable and friendly. Antoine’s a star!

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Antoine the French guide is an excellent horseman and a true gentleman I would definitely go on another riding trip with Antoine. It is wonderful riding country and I would love to return

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I would just like to say that I rode the most wonderful Arab and part Arab horses which were a joy to ride. Excellent standard of horse care- horses are obviously very well cared for and loved. Overall having been on horse riding holidays for ten years, without hesitation this was the best for excellence. Remarkably the horseback riding vacation was everything we had hoped it would be. Several of the other guests has been on many similar holidays in the past and commented that it was one of the best.

Reading List

Guidebook
Eyewitness Guide Dordogne & Southwest France by Eyewitness Guides

An outstanding guide to exploring Southwest France, featuring hundreds of color illustrations, local and regional maps and site diagrams.

Literature

The Lost Upland, Stories of Southwest France by W.S. Merwin
Three richly evocative stories of life in a Dordogne village by the Pulitzer Prize-winning Merwin, one of our finest living poets. Originally published in 1992, the book is steeped in history, food and personality. The author owns a house in Loubressac overlooking the Dordogne.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.   "



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.