Club Hipico, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Visited: January 2011 and 2012
I've been twice to Club Hipico in Tenerife and bizarrely the landscape was completely different both times. In 2011 it was soft earth trails enveloped on each side by banks of lush greenery with prickly pears cacti blooms dotting our journey throughout. In 2012 however the island was in the middle of a severe drought which had turned the trails into an arid, dusty terrain. Nonetheless both were very enjoyable.
The staff are very approachable and even came to pick us up from our hotel, they are keen for you to ask questions and you can see the passion for their horses as they tell you about the history of the riding school and even each individual horse. On arriving at Club Hipico we were greeted by a portly pot-bellied pig who loves a good back scratch. The horses are the typical gangly but hardy Spanish horses, mostly cross breeds but with a couple of larger Percherone-crosses and rescued ex-street racers thrown in there too. In 2011 I rode a lovely fleabitten grey gelding named Castero, whose preferred paces were a striding walk or a loping canter. In 2012 my horse was a dark bay mare with an endearing face called Mimosa, she was extremely responsive and had a very comfortable but springy movement, great for bouncing over the crumbly rocks from the lava flows. You can opt for a number of different routes through the splendid scenery, which include mountain trails leading to a glorious panorama of the ocean and city, moonlandscape trails to visit up close and personal with Tenerife's famous lava flows, and trails through the gorgeously scented plantations of bananas, oranges and papayas. If you are riding with someone who is less experienced you can also squeeze in a canter a fair few times. Our guide on the treks was an accomplished and very professional rider, full of local knowledge including great bar and restaurant tips for when you do finally tear yourself away from the horses.
Just a short trip out from the hustle and bustle of Playa De Las Americas, Club Hipico should be one of your sure-fire days out.
The staff are very approachable and even came to pick us up from our hotel, they are keen for you to ask questions and you can see the passion for their horses as they tell you about the history of the riding school and even each individual horse. On arriving at Club Hipico we were greeted by a portly pot-bellied pig who loves a good back scratch. The horses are the typical gangly but hardy Spanish horses, mostly cross breeds but with a couple of larger Percherone-crosses and rescued ex-street racers thrown in there too. In 2011 I rode a lovely fleabitten grey gelding named Castero, whose preferred paces were a striding walk or a loping canter. In 2012 my horse was a dark bay mare with an endearing face called Mimosa, she was extremely responsive and had a very comfortable but springy movement, great for bouncing over the crumbly rocks from the lava flows. You can opt for a number of different routes through the splendid scenery, which include mountain trails leading to a glorious panorama of the ocean and city, moonlandscape trails to visit up close and personal with Tenerife's famous lava flows, and trails through the gorgeously scented plantations of bananas, oranges and papayas. If you are riding with someone who is less experienced you can also squeeze in a canter a fair few times. Our guide on the treks was an accomplished and very professional rider, full of local knowledge including great bar and restaurant tips for when you do finally tear yourself away from the horses.
Just a short trip out from the hustle and bustle of Playa De Las Americas, Club Hipico should be one of your sure-fire days out.
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