Europe

Continental Europe is home to the classical riding style developed from its famous military riding schools, one of the most famous is the Spanish riding school in Vienna. Originally set up to breed and train horses for military superiority in war, the riding schools and state studs across many European countries have remained vibrant centres for training top riders and producing many of the world's most successful sports horses. Most of these facilities are open to the public and there a numerous displays and open days. To make your visit special, we can also arrange a visit to a top private establishment or two that will also compliment a visit to one of the Elite sports horse auctions. Primarily these take place in both Germany and Holland but other countries each have their own auctions.

France is internationally respected for its horseracing and production of quality thoroughbreds, particularly in jump racing. But thoroughbred horseracing is only a part of the French industry. Just as significant is trotting (the French call it ‘trot') and pacing. This is racing using a different breed of horse called a Standardbred. The horses race at a trot or pace (legs move together laterally as opposed to diagonally) and pull their jockey behind them on a lightweight cart known as sulky. American and Scandinavian visitors will be more familiar with the sport as both America and Sweden have their own significant trotting industries. Grobois in central France is a major centre for trotting and the facilities are just as impressive as their thoroughbred counterparts at Chantilly.

There is so much else to experience and see in Europe to compliment your equestrian visits. Wine tasting in France, beer festivals in Germany, we can create the perfect itinerary but with that special ingrediant to exceed your expectation!

See our sample itinerary for some ideas.