{"id":24753,"date":"2023-11-19T10:45:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T09:45:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/?p=24753"},"modified":"2023-11-10T09:48:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-10T08:48:12","slug":"royal-andalusian-riding-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fromplacetoplace.travel\/spain\/andalusia\/jerez-de-la-frontera\/royal-andalusian-riding-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Horses and carriages at the Royal Andalusian Riding School of Jerez"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A faint smell of horses fills our noses as we walk past the outer wall of the Royal Andalusian Riding School in Jerez. As soon as we step through the entrance gate, we find ourselves in another world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

There is hardly anything here that resembles a “normal” riding stable with a typical riding school. Before we even see a horse, a stable or a riding arena, we are walking through a spacious park towards a castle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Recreo de las Cadenas is a beautiful building that was designed in the 19th century by Charles Garnier (who also designed the opera in Paris<\/a>). To the left of the castle is the riding hall with the adjoining stables, behind which are two spacious riding arenas and the saddlery. The complex also includes a carriage museum in an adjacent area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What different visiting options are there?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone visiting the Royal Andalusian Riding School should book their ticket in advance<\/a>. Places are limited. There are different offers and not the same thing takes place every day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Reithalle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Offer type Training:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Here you can book a visit to the training course, a guided tour of the stables and tack room, an individual visit to the saddlery, the castle, the Museum of Equestrian Art and the Carriage Museum.
Our tip: Make sure you arrive punctually at 10 a.m. when the opening hours begin. Depending on the language you choose (English, French, German, Spanish), the organization on site is slightly different. This was explained to us directly at the entrance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During our visit, the guided tour of the stables took place in German at around 11:15 am. Beforehand, we were able to watch the training (which took place in the hall due to light drizzle, otherwise in the riding arenas) and after the tour there was enough time to explore the museums. However, you have to bear in mind that they only have limited opening hours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Offer type Show:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Anyone wishing to visit the show will not have the opportunity to look into the stables and tack room. Preparations are underway here and so there are no guided tours. However, it is possible to visit the museums and the saddlery, take a tour of the castle and view the outdoor riding arenas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History of the Royal Andalusian Riding School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

D. \u00c1lvaro Domecq Romero, trained at the Spanish Riding School and founded the Andalusian Riding School in Jerez de Frontera in 1973.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gr\u00fcnder<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After the Ministry of Information and Tourism took over the management, the Recreo de Las Cadenas castle was purchased and the large riding arena with 1600 spectator seats and adjacent stables for 60 horses was built. There is even a box for the royal family. The management was entrusted to a board of directors, which took over the school in 1983. D. Alvaro Domecq Romero was appointed technical director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 1986, the Board of Directors was able to acquire the stables of Don Pedro Domecq de la Riva, which consisted of 35 horses of Spanish breed and a collection of nineteen carriages and the accompanying harnesses, saddles and embroidered clothes for horses and coachmen. Some of the pieces date back to 1730 and are of inestimable historical value. These exhibits form the basis of the museums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

His Majesty King Juan Carlos I – then still Crown Prince of Spain – awarded Don \u00c1lvaro Domecq Romero the “Caballo de Oro” (Golden Horse) trophy and the “Royal” recognition in 1987. This is awarded every year in Spain for commitment and work with horses and is one of the country’s most important equestrian trophies. Since then, the riding school has been able to call itself the Royal Andalusian Riding School.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In honor of this award, the founder presented the show “How the Andalusian Horses Dance” for the first time. The royal family also attended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The riding school has been run by a foundation since 2003. In addition to the famous show, the foundation also aims to preserve and promote classical and rural dressage (Doma Vaquera), the training of haute \u00e9cole riders and, of course, the preservation of the Spanish horse breed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two of the riding school’s most famous riders, Rafael Soto and Ignacio Rambla, who won the silver medal with the team at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens on the riding school’s horses, are also particularly proud.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What kind of horses are ridden at the Royal Andalusian Riding School?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Horses have existed on the Iberian Peninsula for a very long time. The predominant breed there was famous all over the world and was often exported to other regions. There, the breed was then crossed with other horse breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Capriole<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Spanish horse has some characteristics that are not often found in this combination. They are very agile and have a natural rhythm. The spirited animal is docile and is well suited to dressage. The animal is particularly docile when used in the haute \u00e9cole and in the air above the ground. It is therefore well suited to the arena, parades and demonstrations. Its reliability made the horse breed a favorite of kings and nobles, who enjoyed showing off the animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Royal Andalusian Riding School has around 100-120 horses, although not all of them are stabled in Jerez. The mares and their foals are kept in pastures in the surrounding area and only the stallions and geldings are used in the riding school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Trainingsbetrieb<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Anyone who wants to become a rider here can apply for an apprenticeship. After two different tests, a small group manages to get one of the coveted places every year. Other riders also have the opportunity to expand their knowledge in the ongoing schooling program. Two-week courses can be taken on the school horses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A look at the training<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

During our first visit to the Royal Andalusian Riding School, we were able to watch the horses being trained. Due to a light drizzle, it took place in the riding hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quiet music in the background and concentrated work in the arena, I could really feel the tension of horse and rider. The riding instructors\/trainers stood in the hall and spoke quietly into their microphones. You could very quickly tell which student was being taught by which instructor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The riders practiced dressage elements in the saddle, but also on the long reins behind the horse. Beautiful passages with long, sweeping trot strides alternated with backhand and forehand turns, traverses and concentrated trotting on the spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found it particularly exciting that the riders also practiced extremely demanding exercises such as levanden (standing on the hind legs) and capriole (jumping with all four legs at the same time).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"K\u00f6niglich-Andalusischen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I found it very interesting to watch the very different horses and their riders. At times there were 8 horses in the arena at the same time and I didn’t know who to watch first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visit to the stables<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can take a look inside the stables and tack room during the training session as part of the guided tour. For me, as the mother of a daughter who loves riding and has spent countless hours with her in the stables, this is a very special experience. Not only have I never seen such a clean stable and such a tidy tack room, I also found the size of the boxes for the horses to be quite generous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the stables, an octagonal complex consisting of five stables with twelve boxes each, we can visit numerous horses. Of course, the names of the horses are written on the boxes and we were able to spot one of the horses that took part in the Olympic Games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sattelkammer\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A look into the tack room showed me the variety of equipment needed here. There are different types of saddles for different types of dressage and special saddles for shows. Of course, each horse has its own bridle and funny bobbles to keep flies away from its eyes. As there is room for 60 animals in the various stables, a corresponding number of saddles are naturally required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A look into the Recreo de las Cadenas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Recreo de las Cadenas palace is a wonderful example of 19th century architecture. It was designed by Charles Garnier, who also designed the Paris Opera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n