Polo Instruction at the Dienstl Equestrian Estate
One of Austria's top Riding Schools offers Polo instruction from March until October. The school is open all year for riding tuition for novices and for training in dressage and jumping. Cross country riding is also possible year round; 1000km of riding trails in and around the estate.
The Riding
Polo: We promise you that after 8-10 polo sessions ('stick and ball') you will be addicted to this great fun sport, the oldest team sport in the world. Then you can play your first Chukka (a session of 7 minutes play). You will be taken through the steps from hitting practice on a wooden horse, to training in the practice arena 'stick and ball', to learning all the theory and rules of the game. To learn to play polo, you must know the basics of riding and be comfortable at all three paces.
The Riding School: The centre offers riding tuition for novice riders and intermediates and has first class trainers for dressage and jumping to class M. 14 school horses and ponies for young children.
Cross country riding: 1000km of riding trails in and around the estate in this gentle, mature landscape of forests and wide rivers, all in the shadow of the famous medieval castle of Hochhosterwitz. Many opportunities for fast riding.
Summer Camp for Young Riders: Available for 7-14 year olds. Novice and experienced riders can join in the fun with a full riding and activity programme. The International Young Riders Camp is a few hundred yards from the hotel, so accompanying adults can enjoy some well-deserved pampering, or a full adult riding programme. Culture and sightseeing programme also available.
The Riding Facilities
Indoor riding hall (20x60m), power-ground, jumping arena (70x80m), 1 polo ground, 2 training areas, dressage square (20x60m). 20 polo ponies, 14 school and cross-country ponies.
The Hotel
Based at the 4 star Dienstl Estate Hotel with its 56 fully modernised en-suite bedrooms. Facilities include an eco-friendly swimming lake, tennis court, beach volleyball area, bicycles and massage room. Start the day with a hearty breakfast on the sunny terrace, lunch in the casual 'Stube' pub, then finish off the day with a delicious dinner in the elegant restaurant. Alpe-Adria regional cooking is the speciality here using fresh seasonal produce from local farms. Coffee and cakes available from 2pm on the terrace or by the open fire. Your individual riding programme for the next day is planned each evening before dinner, please see reception. Extra hacks or hours of tuition can also be booked at reception.
Mother and Daughter Riding Holidays
The week includes daily hacks out in beautiful unspoilt countryside, a half day ride to a famous Medieval castle with picnic lunch, a Polo taster day, a massage and sauna, free use of the garden pool. A day trip to the Lipizzaner stud farm which provides all the horses for the Spanish Riding School, can also be arranged (at extra cost).
Activities for non-riders and rest days
This part of Carinthia is steeped in medieval history. It is a grand open landscape dotted with the farming estates of wealthy landowners. The jewel of the Austrian lake district, Lake Worth, is nearby for swimming and relaxing. The cultural centre of Klagenfurt and the walled city of Friesach with its famous summer medieval pageant are both nearby. Visit the Federal Lipizzaner stud farm at Piber near the historic city of Graz. 6 golf courses in the area. Please contact us for a price for this day trip which includes return transport, a guided tour of the stud and stables, and a dressage presentation.
Just let us know what you'd like to do, and we'll do the rest.
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Half-board accommodation, per person, based on two sharing a double room with return airport transfer to Klagenfurt and riding program where stated. Price excludes flights and insurance. Single supplement £65 per week and £55 for 5 nights.
Join our Country House party here, September 25th to 30th Polo, hacking and riding lessons for adults. 5 nights with polo course £683 per person. Includes half board with airport transfer (Klagenfurt with Ryanair). 5 nights with riding (group lessons or hacks) £520.
Polo courses run until the end of October.
Polo for novice and experienced players
£985 for 7 nights accommodation with 10 polo sessions (stick and ball) including first chukkers.
Availability: April to October. The polo week includes 3 massages and free use of sauna and steamroom. Additional polo games: 1 chukka £45. Stick hire £5. Intensive Polo short break: £683, as above but with 5 nights accommodation, 8 polo sessions and 1 massage. Singles 1 week polo: £1046.
Riding school and hacking
7 nights accommodation with 10 riding lessons or cross-country rides for novice, intermediate and advanced riders. Lessons can be booked and paid for locally or booked in advance. Private lessons cost approx £25 per hour. £635 for 7 nights with 10/hrs riding, £656 with 12 hrs. Non riders £558 half board with transfers. 5 nights with 6 hrs riding £520 per person. 5 nights non riding £415.
Get-together holidays, mother & daughter riding holidays
Autumn offers 15th Sep to 30th Nov. Single with child for 7 nights with 10 riding sessions £295 each, 2 adults with child and 12 riding sessions £358 each, 2 adults with 10 riding sessions £320 each.
Easter and Summer Pony Camp
...for 7-14 year olds. Based in wooden huts built around the camp fire, next to the hotel: £395 per child. 7 nights on full board including riding programme and transfer. See International Young Riders Camp for further details.
Family offer for the pony camp: 2 adults in the main hotel on half-board (7 nights), and 1 child in the camp on full board with riding programme and airport transfers: £1287. The first International Pony Camp runs at Easter from Monday 17th to 25th March 2008, and then weekly throughout July/August.
Children (accommodation only, in extra bed in parents' bedroom)
Up to 3 years old no charge.
3-7 years old £12 per child per day.
7-10 years old £35 per day.
Holidays can generally be of any duration and start on any day (except where specified).
Make a reservation / enquiry.
These prices are guidelines only. Please contact us for an exact quote since prices will vary depending on the season, the amount of riding you wish to do and whether you are travelling alone or with a group. To calculate the equivalent cost of your holiday in another currency, please visit XE.com's Universal Currency Converter.
The Dienstl is open all year except for over Christmas but re-opens for New Year.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Klagenfurt. A minibus or car transfer to this airport is included in the cost of the holiday.
Ryanair (London Stansted to Klagenfurt: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday).
Thomsonfly (Manchester to Klagenfurt, Saturdays).
Austrian Airlines (London Heathrow and Dublin to Vienna - good connections to Klagenfurt).
Air Berlin (Manchester, London Stansted, Belfast and Glasgow to Vienna).
Lowcostseats - internet travel agent for charter flights offering good deals.
Jetnav - an independent website searching schedule services, budget airlines and some charters.
Dohop - searches charter and schedule services.
Travelocity - internet travel agents for schedule services.
We can advise on flying from other airports, train, car hire and self-drive options - please contact us.
Austrian train timetable.
Self-drive: Car rental can be booked easily and inexpensively online with Holiday Autos. Please tell us so that we can reduce the quote of your holiday.
Train travel: For everything you need to know about any train journey visit Seat Sixty-One.
If you would like to view the location of this holiday, please refer to the overview map and detailed map.
Riding ability
You need to be a competent rider to play polo.
Novice riders are those who have limited riding experience or who ride in a controlled environment. Cross country rides for all abilities except complete beginners who will have sessions on the lunge.
Intermediates are those who are comfortable at all paces, including a controlled gallop and are able to ride in open country but who may not ride on a regular basis. Polo is suitable for intermediate riders.
What to bring
Riding trousers, chaps or mini chaps, riding boots, sun cream, rain wear. Polo stick can be hired at the centre for £6. Although rarely insisted upon outside the UK, you should always wear your hat whilst mounted. Although hard hats are available in all our riding establishments, you are advised to bring your own.
Weather
Current weather and forecasts for the next few days can be found here and here.
Environmental issues
You can calculate the CO2 emission of your journey to Austria at Climate Care and compensate for your 'environmental footprint'. If you let us know how much it is we will be happy to pay this on your behalf.
Austria has one of the highest levels of household recycling and organic farming in Europe. It also has some of the cleanest lakes, is 47% forested and produces nearly 70% of its energy from renewable sources such as water.
In the office, we use paper from sustainably managed forests and recycled material where possible.
We encourage you to travel onwards from your arrival airport by rail when possible, and will book seats on your behalf.
How to book
To make a non-binding enquiry or a provisional booking, please fill in the reservations & enquiries form. Once we have checked availability, we will send you a quote with a holiday reference number by email. To secure your holiday, a deposit is required of £200 per person (or half the cost of the holiday, whichever is lower) and forward any insurance premiums to the insurance company. You should book your flights at this stage, and forward details to us so that we can organise your transfers. The balance of payment must be received by us not less than eight weeks before departure. Payment instructions.
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Insurance: all riders must be fully insured. We can recommend this travel insurance policy. The application form may be printed out to send with your premiums direct to the insurance company.
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