Horse Riding
A paradise on horseback through the Tuscan countryside. Riding courses and lessons are available all year round from our expert trainers.
Hacking around the Castle costs an average of 25 € / hour and a full day excursion including lunch and insurance is only 100 € / day / person.
Selected horses and expert guides will lead you to discover this region of outstanding natural beauty rich in history and mistery.
If you want to enjoy the countryside and to be at one with nature, let yourself be led across woods and valleys, forever changing with the various seasons. You can do this at your own pace and when you wish, accompanied by our guides. If you wish to improve your riding skills, from a basic level to an advanced one, there is a sand manége which may be used under instructor supervision.
CHILDREN PONY RIDING CAMPS IN THE COUNTRY AT SANTA CRISTINA CASTLE
ENGEA certified tourism center (National Environmental Equestrian Guides)
Technical Director: Antonio Mancini Caterini (ENGEA)
At Santa Cristina we organise summer riding camps for children from 9 to 17 years old who are interested in learning or improving their riding skills in the country.
Under the direct supervision of our riding instructors, the young students will experience their first riding lessons, or in case of the more experienced riders they will enjoy short hacks around the castle on tracks that our instructors will carefully select.
Our horses are a mixture of small horses and ponies perfectly suitable for this type of activity.
The campus provides full board accommodation in twin rooms with en-suite bathrooms in the renovated farm buildings below the castle.
The children will experience three hours a day of practical and theoretical equestrian activities in the countryside or in the arena – our goal is for our little riders to be able to bond with the horse and gain at least a basic level of riding knowledge.
Hacking on horseback in the country requires a sound basic knowledge obtained in the arena, being aware of all the necessary precautions and taking care of the horse, as well as a good knowledge of the terrain.
For those who are ready to go hacking with the instructor they will enjoy a fun and stress free day out whilst those still needing practice in the arena will be able to improve their skills in readiness for their turn out in the countryside.
The typical week will be as follows:
Sunday: Arrival at the Castle of Santa Cristina in the early afternoon, get familiar with the estate and especially with the horses. Meet the tutor. Children are divided into groups of similar level.
Monday – Friday:
In the morning: after breakfast, at 09.30, we start the 1 hour and a half riding lessons for the group.
Lunch is served at 13.30.
Rest until 15.00-15.30.
From 15.30 to 17.00: free activities – pool, tennis, football, games or relaxing walks through the woods to discover the area.
From 17.00 to 19.00: theory and practical things on the horse (grooming) or hikes in the countryside. Games on horseback. At the end of the day, the horses are cleaned and taken back to their boxes.
Dinner is served at 20.30.
Lights out: 23.00
On Saturday morning parents can pick up their children from 12.00.
The price per week per child is € 800 and it includes accommodation, meals, tutoring, riding lessons.
It does not include insurance card ENGEA that is compulsory for students who are not enrolled in any equestrian organization (€ 20 / week, € 30 / annual pass).
Specific equestrian clothing required.
Helmets and body protectors are mandatory and are not provided by organisers.
On request extra English classes (1.5 hour lesson per day) – games, songs, telling the time, animals, basic grammar.
Dates:
- Easter holiday
- from the second half of June until the second half of July
- from the second half of October until the beginning of November