ABOUT THE RIDING

Style of Riding: English.

Type of Riding: Centre-Based Great care is taken to plan the rides - different each day - to ensure that experienced riders have the opportunity to enjoy long energetic trots and exciting canters, as well as lazy relaxing walks, when you'll have time to share your experiences with your guide and companions. (Please note that we are trying to keep riding on tarmac to a minimum, although there is some on quiet country lanes.) Each ride allows for approximately 3 hours riding in the morning and 2 1/2 hours in the afternoon, and as one would expect in France, one of the highlights of each day's ride is lunch!

Type of Tack: The saddles are either specialised trekking saddles ( Forestier, Gaston- Mercier etc) or normal GP saddles .

Hours in the Saddle: 4 to 6 hours a day.

Riding Ability Required: Intemediate upward. With between 4 and 6 hours spent in the saddle each day, riding across varied terrain, riders need to be reasonably fit and competent, and confident at walk, trot and canter in open country. Your hosts try to match riders of similar ability, so please be honest in filling out the application form, as less experienced riders may hold others back and not get the most from their horse or the rides.

Maximum Weight: 96 kgs (15st)

Number of Guides per Ride: 1 (sometimes 2)

Minimum/Maximum number of riders in group: 4/10

Looking after the horse: Guests are not expected to look after their own horse but may assist if they wish.

ABOUT THE HORSES

The horses used have been individually chosen for their temperament and suitability. They are mainly a mixture of saddle horses and arab crosses, specialised in trekking, with pretty calm temperaments, but very reliable and not easily spooked. They are definitely not 'nose-to-tail' trekking types.

They are well motivated, well schooled and well behaved, and extremely well loved.