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Discover an idyllic landscape of sunflowers and sunshine |
With highly flexible, great-value riding and tuition to suit all abilities, this has long proved a very popular riding holiday. Run by Englishman Nick Hudswell and his French wife, Marie-Christine, Les Juliannes is a 17th-century farmhouse and adjacent riding centre set amid the dreamy landscapes of the sunny Tarn Valley in south-west France, an area of rolling hills, vineyards and medieval villages. Whatever your standard of riding, you will enjoy a relaxed, fun holiday here.
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Les Juliannes |
Les Juliannes is ideal for families. There are large family rooms and a wide range of horses and ponies from around 14.2hands upwards. There are also Shetland ponies for the younger ones (please pay locally for riding for the under-10s). Not everyone has to be a rider – there is so much to see and do that non-riding partners will have plenty to fill their days. Finally, the sociable chambres d'hôtes atmosphere makes it suitable for single travellers too, though you must be happy to amuse yourself between riding sessions.
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Cantering across the plain |
It is difficult to describe a typical week at Les Juliannes. We include ten hours of riding in the 7-night holiday price, which can be taken as lessons or hacks in the beautiful surrounding countryside, or as a combination of the two. Additional riding can be arranged and paid for locally if you want to do more. Please note that schedules are put together at the beginning of each week by the on-site instructors and flexibility of riding arrangements for the individual can be limited during school holidays. During these times 1-to-1 lessons are not generally available.
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Lessons for all ages and all abilities |
On the Sunday after your arrival, the instructors, Fabrice and Gabriel, will discuss your aims with you and help you to decide which sessions and hacks to sign up for. Depending on your level and experience, you may decide to start the week with several sessions in the indoor school, building up your confidence for a couple of short hacks in the second half of the week, or you may want to alternate jumping lessons with longer rides out into the countryside.
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The comfortable communal lounge |
There may also be an opportunity to have a go at horse-ball, a fun form of basketball on horseback. Whatever you decide, the first session is usually in the indoor arena, so that the instructors can assess your level accurately and also ensure that you have been paired with the right mount. At the end of each week guests are encouraged to join the convivial picnic ride, a 4-5 hour hack which includes a lunch break by a lake. This can be taken as part of your week’s riding or as an additional four/five hours.
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Gentle hacking through gentle countryside |
Please note that for safety reasons, it is always at the discretion of the on-site instructor as to who can ride and when.
Between riding sessions, you will find plenty to do. Les Juliannes has an outdoor pool, usually open from June to September or, if the weather is cooler, the cosy lounge is a pleasant place to relax with a book. There is also a waymarked nature walk on the estate, and more local walking routes in the area if you wish to explore beyond Les Juliannes’ extensive grounds.
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Indoor lessons in the manege |
With similar flexibility to our 7-night holiday, your 4-night stay includes six 1-hour lessons, or three 2-hour hacks, or a combination of the two. Again, additional riding can be arranged and paid for locally if you want to do more.
