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Horse RidingThe Tarn Valley - Les Juliannes, Tarn, FranceFurther information• Prices and dates Riding ability:suitable for all levels, from beginners to advanced riders. Whatever your level, both your skills and confidence will improve with a week at Les Juliannes. Please note that for safety reasons it is always at the discretion of the on-site instructor as to who can ride and when. Horses:the stables are immaculate, and the sixteen or so horses are very well looked after. They range from Shetland ponies to large mounts (the maximum weight limit is 16st/100kg) and all are friendly and well-schooled with excellent temperaments. You are expected to groom and tack up your mount each day, and will be shown how to do this if need be. In hot weather, you may also be asked to hose down your horse after a hack – there is a special 'horse shower' for this. Tack / equipment: English. If your children have never tried riding and you don't want to invest in lots of expensive equipment, hard hats can usually be provided by the centre – please let us know when booking if this is the case, although we do recommend taking your own, professionally fitted hat with a 3-point harness. Les Juliannes also has an excellent-value tack shop. Arrange and pay for riding for under-10s locally. Riding / pace: the first-rate facilities include indoor and outdoor arenas (both of which are used for local horse-ball competitions), show jumps and cross-country fences. You can choose how much riding you wish to do – included in the price are ten hours of riding, to be taken as ten 1-hour lessons or five 2-hour hacks, or a combination of the two, but you can also arrange and pay for additional riding once there, charged at 16 euros per hour. It may be that you have never even sat on a horse before and want to learn the basics, or have had lessons for a while but have never tried hacking. At the other end of the scale, intermediate/advanced riders can also benefit from a week here – you can work on your jumping skills, for example. The pace of the hacks is set to suit the ability of the group. Guides: you will be instructed and guided on your hacks by the centre’s two qualified instructors Fabrice and Gabriel, both of whom speak English. Other activities: there is plenty to do between sessions, from relaxing by the pool to exploring the area on foot. With a hire car (recommended for non-riders), the possibilities for sightseeing are endless – there are some beautiful medieval villages, as well as the magnificent town of Albi, with its striking cathedral and beautiful red-brick buildings, and some very scenic sections of the River Tarn. Accommodation: the comfortable bedrooms and public rooms are all within the converted 17th-century stone farmhouse just a couple of minutes from the riding centre. All bedrooms have en-suite facilities and are decorated in an attractively rustic style. There is a pleasant lounge, complete with TV, DVD player, books and board games, and a separate dining room. Below the farmhouse is an outdoor swimming pool, usually open from June to September. Les Juliannes’ extensive grounds provide enough space for children to roam around and for adults to find a quiet corner in which to relax. Meals:dinner is lively and informal - everyone sits around a long, wooden table in the dining room to share huge dishes of salads, meats and casseroles. The conversation tends to be an amusing mix of French, English and the native tongue of any other guests. Vegetarians do not miss out – Marie-Christine is used to cooking vegetarian dishes and will prepare tasty quiches and vegetable stews. Throughout the summer, you dine out of doors, from where you can admire the great views as you eat. Wine is included with dinner, and there is an 'honesty box' behind the bar for any additional drinks during your stay. Breakfast (included every morning) is buffet-style. Sandwiches and salads for lunch can be provided on request (pay locally). Climate: the Tarn has a sunny, Mediterranean climate. Summers are long and hot, and spring and autumn are warm, too. You can expect to ride in just a T-shirt for most of the season – the average temperature in October is still around 21°C (compared to an average high of 28°C in August). Prices (£) and dates for 2008:LOCAL RIDING 7 NIGHTS:
LOCAL RIDING 4 NIGHTS:
These are adult prices, with accommodation at Les Juliannes. If you are travelling with children, or would like to stay in one of the self-catering gîtes, please contact us for a quotation. Travel
Additional informationAdd-ons: Inntravel offers a wide range of holidays in south-west France. A week at Les Juliannes can easily be combined with our Along the Tarn Valley or From the Tarn to the Aveyron walks or with one of our cycles in the same area (the choice of walks and cycles is endless of course if you travel self-drive). Alternatively, you could spend a week in one of our self-catering properties or add on a couple of nights at one of our country hotels. Please contact us to discuss the options.  |
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