Client Guest Book and Press Clippings

Below is a selection of press articles and comments by some of our Riding Company guests. If you would like to share your comments with other riders, please contact us. Your feedback is very useful to riders planning a holiday so the more details you can share the better!

Press Clippings

Trip the kite fantastic: Not heard of Tarifa? Tsk tsk. This boho Spanish paradise has top shops, tasty tapas, and is home to this year's coolest adrenaline sport... Read more. News of the World's Fabulous magazine.

Anyone for polo? Then why not combine the game with an overseas holiday? Horse & Rider's Sales Executive, Amanda Toms tried it Austrian-style... Read more. Horse & Rider Magazine.

The Reins in Spain: Beach hol is better by horseback.... Read more. Sunday Mail Magazine.

Experience sun, surf and sand, on horseback: Kathy Carter tells us how.... Read more. Equestrian Lifestyle Magazine.

On golden hooves: A sure-footed pony ride among historic trails and Sound Of Music landscapes... Read more. Mail On Sunday.

Salopettes and saddlebags: Splitting her time between skis and saddle, Sophie Montagne indulges two of her favourite sporting passions... Read more. Horse & Hound Magazine.

Europe's ultimate secret for horse lovers: Ride, shoot, ski and sail in beautiful Bulgaria. Melanie Crouch reports... Read more. Local Rider Magazine.

Bulgarian bonanza: When Garry Ashton-Coulton took a riding trip to Borovets, Bulgaria, he got much more than he bargained for... Read more. Horse Magazine.

Bulgaria beckons: Eastern Europe offers plenty of great hunting opportunities and Giles Catchpole enjoys the chance to shoot big boar in Bulgaria... Read more. Shooting Gazette.

The Supreme Hotel: A Shaolin monk and Lipizzaner horses add a special touch to the wellness factor at this Austrian resort... Read more. The Times Online.

I'm as natural a horseman as Napoleon was a basketball player: Anna Pickard rides a world-famous horse, gets pummelled by a Shaolin monk... Read more. The Guardian Unlimited.

Spa break - Release the Chi: Kathy Carter travels to Austria's wine region for a tension-busting weekend break... Read more. The Telegraph Newspaper, Health section.

Alps alive - with the sound of polo: Ginny McGrath visits the Alpine foothills in Austria to learn polo and finds herself grappling with a strapping Argentinian... Read more. The Times Online.

Riding and skiing Italy: Sam Lewis and her husband ski in the morning - then after lunch strap on jodphurs on a ride and ski holiday in the Dolomites... Read more. The Times Online.

Treks of the unexpected: Riding, rafting and relaxing - Slovenia is full of surprises for Anna Bruce... Read more. England's Equestrian Magazine.

The sound of hoofbeats: Horse and Pony reader Alex Liddle-Foreman reports from her riding hol in Austria. Read more. Horse & Pony Magazine.

Riding beyond cloud nine: Anna Bruce reports on a riding holiday in the Austrian Alps... Read more. England's Equestrian Magazine.

The Austrian Alps - a paradise for riders: As a rider the thought of mixing stunning scenery, quality horses, fine food and wine and extreme sports all seems like a holiday made in heaven... Read more. Equestrian Plus Magazine.

Spas for for active bodies: Most spas offer outdoor activities, but some specialise in particular kinds of exercise. These spa and ride breaks, arranged by the Riding Company, are an excellent idea. Read more. The Telegraph Newspaper, Health section.

South Tyrol - Snow & Rein: Take winter sports to another level by combining your skiing holiday with a spot of horseriding. Adrian Turpin did just that - in the South Tyrol. Read more. The Independent Newspaper, Traveller section.

Reins Supreme: At Austria's 1000-year-old Castle Mühldorf, even beginners can get to grips with the old-fashioned charms of a horse and carriage. Kitty Melrose clambers aboard. Read more. The Independent Newspaper, Traveller section.

Client Guest Book

THE RIDING COMPANY holidays are the best holidays ever! Kitty Tiefenthal (8), Austria.

I had a very good time at the Schlosswirt, the food was brilliant and room comfortable and clean. Staff were kind and helpful especially Sabine. On the days that I rode from the hotel I rode several different haflingers and had good rides on all. On the glacier trek I rode the only mare (which suited as I was the only woman). Toni had haflingers to suit most riding abilitys and they were very good. The glacier trek was something I will always remember. Amazing! Toni was very nice, gave us lots of information about the mountains we were riding in. He looked after me very well and Toni went that extra mile in making sure I was happy and safe. I also had the added advantage that Toni knew my pony Sire (when he was alive) so I was also able to find out about my Austrian haflingers parentage. We made history by being the first ever in living history to go up a certain mountain nearly 2900m high on horseback, something to always remember. I had a very good time and am going to save up to take my son with me next time as he would love to go on the glacier trek. I will definitely recommend it to my friends. Helen, West Sussex (Schlosswirt).

Our holiday to the Schlosswirt was great, the food was great at the Schlosswirt as was sleep - the mountain air doing its job.
Sunday Chloe had her first 2 hours horseriding with Anna, the western saddle being a new experience, Chloe was set up with add on shorter stirrups and was so saddlesore after she skipped the next days riding Chloe had a better day tuesday with Tony, apart from a blister from trying to stop the horse grazing along the trail. I think our Chloe needs toughening up! Both Chloe and I went for an easy 1 hour ride on wednesday with Tony, I must say I really enjoyed it. The other facilities at the Schlosswirt were great, much table tennis was played and tennis too and the pool looked lovely but we never got as far as swimming as exploring the valley was so interesting, the glacier rocks! I rented a mountain bike from the Post hotel for a few hours and explored Apriarch and Heiligenblut, it was great. All in all we had a great stay in Austria and would happily do it again in the future We had great weather apart from the wednesday when it rained, now we are home in Ireland and it is raining every day! Michael and family, Ireland.

We had wonderful time, the location was superb, the stuff very friendly and discrete enough, and the food exceeded our expectations.
It is a place that was created and runs with good taste, much care and involvement from the owners. They came to talk to us at dinner time every evening, taking time to visit each table and exchange some words with everyone. Their presence was felt during the day as well, on many occasions, supervising all activities and preparations.
My husband and I took riding lessons, and we loved it. We also went cycling along the Danube side, enjoyed the peaceful countryside that reminded me of childhood... We enjoyed the Linzer torte and the shopping in Linz. There are many things to do around and one week seemed not to be enough to do it all!
The Girls Summer Riding Camp was an extremely interesting experience for us. The riding was great, the girls had to ride big horses (which they all loved) about 2 hours daily - one in the morning, one in the afternoon - and had to do the work needed in the stables, everything with close supervision. The riding teachers / trainers were very good, especially Christina who was more charismatic, and seemed more happy...
With regards to the accomodation and food, the conditions were excellent, they even have an outdoor pool that girls enjoyed in the sunny days.
Ioana made a lot of progress in riding, as well as in understanding and doing the work around the horses. She have learned a lot in just one week and is was a really valuable experience for us. Sorina and family (Medieval Castle).

The trip was absolutely fantastic! Pristava is absolutely lovely. All of the details were perfectly in order. It was such a relief not to have to worry about anything (or to pay for anything beyond drinks and souvener books at Lipica stud farm outing). Milan and Sylvia were fantastic, it was so calm, beautiful and relaxing there. Their horses looked like unicorns on the lawn in the evening. When my daughter has children, I can't wait to take them there. The riding was a bit limited since there are only 2 trails - one in each direction, it seems it is restricted because it is in a protected national park - not their fault. Of course, I am so spoiled by living in Point Reyes..... Frederica, USA (Pristava chalets).

The Pule Estate was completely fortuitous. It is spectacular. The new trainer is unbelievable!!!! I learned so much from him in 2 days riding his grand prix schoolmaster and the Lipizzaner trained through high school. The rides out are amazing. It looks as though Itzok (the trainer there) is going to help me find my new dressage horse in the Netherlands this fall. An incredible connection. I am planning to go back as soon as I can train further with him. I am hoping for perhaps 10 days in the Spring. The owner of Pule was there when we were there as the only guests. I rode out with him and Itzok Sunday am. I think that he gave us a lot of little extra special things; my bill was very small when I left. They have not yet trained the driving horses, but are working on it. Also they will soon be building an indoor riding hall and stalls for 25 horses, so keep your eyes on them for your clients who want really high level training. I am looking forward to going back to Pule to train with Iztok Humar in the next several months.
Thank you again for everything. It could not have been a better holiday!! Frederica, USA (Pule Estate, Slovenia).

The time at Strasserwirt was lovely and we plan to return sometime so that says it all really.
Megan ,the competent rider,enjoyed the tuition greatly. Suzi the main trainer did a great job and Dawn enjoyed the schooling and ride outs. Suzi I would say is very hardworking and organized.I was very impressed by the general standard of the horses and stables. The setting at Strasserwirt is truly stunning and we witnessed the fires up on the mountains for the longest day. My knee injury held me back a little but the gentle walks and trips up the chair lifts were fine as the weather was kind to us. So finally thanks for getting us there and we will speak again soon no doubt.
PS. Megan says the horses were of a very high standard as Dad doesn't know anything. please pass on how much we enjoyed the holiday to all the Nothegger family and hope to see them again soon. Thanks again Kat for introducing us to this lovely place. Craig and family, Norway, (Strasserwirt).

Thank you for the excellent vacation. We loved every minute.It was one of the best horse travel we had, though it was a bit too short. Our schedule was tight. Marvelous people, great place, wonderful time - a prescription to a perfect enjoyment. Ofra and Hanoch, Israel (Medieval Castle).

Just to let you know that all our group thoroughly enjoyed our week in Austria. The transfer from and to the airport was very efficient with very friendly and helpful staff at the hotel. The scenery was wonderful despite mixed weather and we loved the horses. We would all highly recommend the holiday and will be looking at others you offer. Thank you for your help in making the holiday a memorable experience. Colin and friends, (Schlosswirt).

I just wanted to thank you for organising such a brilliant surprise weekend for my husband and I last weekend at the Supreme Hotel. We had a fabulous time and hope to do more riding holidays in future next time perhaps with our children. Sam and Maurice, London (Supreme Hotel).

I had a lovely time in Austria, the hotel was very nice and I was really impressed with the quality of the spa and the food. I enjoyed the riding (I had 2 private hacks on the last ride had one other person) I rode the same horse for the first 2 rides and a younger horse for my last ride out, I was very happy with this as the first horse was experienced and didn't spook etc. which helped me to get my confidence back up, but it was also good to ride a more frisky horse on my last day to add a bit of variety. The guides both spoke very good English and we had interested conversations in between cantering, the scenery is lovely (reminded me a bit of the Cotswolds) and I was lucky with the weather for April. The staff in the hotel were very friendly, I ate in the restaurant and buffet for 2 nights each (the restaurant is pretty formal so I would advise people to bring something smart to wear, or at least something different from jeans & jodphurs!) they provided me with an English copy of menu each day so I could decide where I wanted to eat. The spa was very nice with a good variety of different pools/saunas etc. I also had a massage on the separate treatment centre. Unfortunately most treatments were already booked up so I presume other guests book the treatments in advance, the beauty salon didn't have any available room until Tuesday afternoon.
Overall I had a very relaxing time and really enjoyed riding the Lipizanners. I think that 4 nights is a perfect amount of time to stay there, although there are onsite activities (wine tasting, walking etc.) Ceris, London. (Supreme).

I had an excellent time at the estate plenty of riding and polo. Brigitte and Sasha looked after me very well and taught me all they could about the game. With Thanks, Rich. (Dienstl Estate).

We had a lovely time on our holiday at Strasserwirt. The taxi was waiting for us when we came out of the baggage reclaim and whisked us up and away through the snow to Strasserwirt.
On the Monday we went to the stables and this time a new face was there and this was Susie, who got us booked into a lesson and then had to help us prepare our horse and pony when I explained we were not good at this as don't do it here. She was fine with that and from then on we left ourselves plenty of time to get organised and we can now tack up well, which is great. From that day onwards we had our two lessons each day.
Georgia and I both rode a range of horses and ponies, Susie considered how you were doing and then selected a horse/pony for the next session depending on what she thought you could/should handle. I find this good as I believe that if you can ride then you ought to be able to get on anything and get somewhere. Some were more of a challenge than others and that was fine.
It was great to have lessons in groups of no more than 6 and also there is real freedom within the lesson. Once she gets to know your standard everyone in a lesson is encouraged to ride 'by themselves' ie do rising or sitting trot, do 20 cm circles, go large, down the centre line, or serpentines, sometimes over trotting poles etc and then Susie will talk to each of us individually bringing to your attention what you need to work on, or call you into the centre to do some closer work on transitions or canter or whatever you need to work on. There is no expectation that you do the same as everyone else even though the horses might want to do that so you really have to work on your own and be in control. Menu was in German and food was Austrian and very good. The hotel was very welcoming to children and Georgia got friendly with some other children from Switzerland and Germany around her age towards the end and they all had a good time too playing around the hotel and stables.
The owner himself drove us back to Salzburg on the Saturday evening and Georgia was rather upset to leave the friends, horses, dogs and cats that she had got to know. I hope, if all goes well, that we might return next October half term as it seems like a good time to go and we certainly came back as better riders and we will ride out next time! Jane and family, London (Strasserwirt).

So sorry to have missed you during our FABULOUS week at the Strasserwirt. Food FANTASTIC accommodation SUPERB and the riding and scenery - WOW !!!!!
Tam and I had a wonderful time and are already trying to work out how we might visit again. Full marks to the amazing job Susie does in the yard .We have lots and lots of pictures and will send you a couple when we have got them sorted. Thank you for a brilliant time. Gillie and Tamara, Croydon (Strasserwirt).

We had a really good time, we enjoyed the Hotel and had a nice room, the food was excellent and the staff were very attentive, one point, having the opportunity to make tea in the room in the morning would have been useful, you know how we Brits can't start the day without a cuppa! The horses were well behaved and the trekking was fun. The Ski resort suffered on the lower runs but that was due to the time of year and nature. On the whole we enjoyed our break, oh and the taxi company were very good too. Julian, Hants.

The holiday was brilliant. The hotel and staff were great. The ski village and resort was just what we were looking for and had plenty of snow. The horse riding was fantastic. If it wasn't for Ryanair baggage allowance, Toni would be missing two ponies! Thank you for all the information and help. We are sure we will return. Phil and Anne, Rugby (Ski & ride, Schlosswirt).

I had a great few days and enjoyed the riding very much the haflingers were wonderful and responsive to my cues but knew when I needed them to take over. The rides were spectacular and the views were wonderful. I loved the hotel and the food was lovely, everyone was so friendly and caring which is particularly noticable when you are on your own.
Thank you and I will spread the word amongst my fellow western riders. Alice, Sussex (Schlosswirt).

We had a wonderful holiday and keep wishing we were back in Austria. The hotel exceeded our expectations in many ways.
The staff were absolutely superb. They were very friendly and welcoming. The manager took time to speak to us every day and Karl Reiter spoke to us personally, this made us feel valued and special which is nice. The food was absolutely wonderful. I don't eat meat so was a little worried about Austria, but there was always a fish or veggie choice every day. We were always looking forward to our meal at the end of the day!
We were also suprised at how much else there was to occupy ourselves each day, especially for the non riders. The hotel put on different activities you could sign up to. For example we did an introduction to golf lesson, fortunately with an english instructor. We also enjoyed time in the spa every day.
I also enjoyed the lessons. I certainly had learnt quite a bit when I went back, Sabine was trying to get rid of some of my 'warm blood' bad habits with the classical style. Certainly my horse back home is happy about it. I rode 2 5 year old stallions who were both wonderfully schooled, and showed up when I was doing things wrong, but when I did things correctly the results were great. In summary, we thought the hotel was good value for money and would have been much more expensive in the UK. We will definately return to the Supreme hotel. Stella, Shropshire (Supreme Hotel).

I had a great holiday thanks. The riding was excellent. The horses that I rode for the group and private lessons were ideal for what I wanted to do. My confidence jumping improved, I jumped 1.20m which I haven't done for years. There was also the opportunity to ride some laterall work and flying changes. Suzy the instructor was very good, only slight differences eg how high to carry your hands from the UK. I rode 4 different horses in the lessons. The views from hotel and the riding out were fantastic. One of the highlights was a 5 hour ride. The hotel was friendly and the food was good.
One of the plus points for me travelling alone was that I was collected from the airport and didn't need to hire a car and find the hotel. Overall I would certainly recommend this holiday. Alison, Sheffield (Strasserwirt).

Sally and I had the most wonderful holiday at Dienstl. Briggitte is such a lovely friendly warm person, she made our holiday. We felt like we were her friends staying as guests not paying customers. The polo ponies were very good and knew their job much better than us, we did swap around a little at the start but then stayed with the same one for the rest of the week. The polo instruction was great and we had loads of fun trying to hit the ball and learnt a lot in a short time thanks to Briggitte and Sasha. We enjoyed the polo so much that we only had 2 rides out into the countryside, Sasha took us on quite a long one up to the nearby Castle one day where we stopped for refreshments before returning to Dienstl, then we went on a shorter one the day before we came home for only an hour approx which was just local but was still very good as it was mainly off road and we could have some nice long gallops, the horses are very safe and reliable (we were still riding the polo ponies). Briggitte made the time to really make our holiday special, she took us to the Castle one day in her car so that we could climb to the museum at the top and explore on foot then picked us up later, another day she arranged to take us to nearby St Veit to a little shopping, and even took us to a beautful lake on our last night for a meal out. I can't possibly tell you how much we enjoyed our stay, Briggitte and all her staff are wonderful and I hope you will let her know how much we appreciate what they did for us. Gill & Sally, North Yorkshire (Dienstl Estate).

We had a brilliant holiday!
The weather couldn't have been better; we even managed to get into the outdoor pool. The hotel was great; the staff were extremely friendly and very attentive; especially with the children. It was also spotlessly clean and the food was excellent.
The younger children had a great time in the Kiddies Club, although there was less for the older children to do because it was so early in the season. It was a good job we had the use of the pool, otherwise the older children might have got a bit bored. It might be worth mentioning on the website that not all the activities are available throughout the year for the older children; it really depends how busy they are at the hotel.
The riding was great. We all rode the same horses for the four trail rides that we did. We all felt slightly differently about that, mainly because a couple of us had slightly more responsive horses than the others. We went on four different trail rides, which really gave us a great opportunity to see the local countryside. Our riding instructor (Renata) was great; very patient and good with the children; she let the older two children help out at the stables in the afternoons. The horses were well looked after and it was good that we were able to groom them and tack/untack; it helped to get to know the horses even better.
Overall we really had a great holiday; we were all quite sad to come home! It would definitely be somewhere that we would return to in the future, possibly in the winter to mix the riding with skiing/snowboarding. Lisa and kids aged 10 and 5, Gloucestershire (Kroller Western riding ranch).

Thank you so much for such an amazing holiday. The hotel and Austria was just breathtaking. I had THE most amazing time and I didn't want to leave. The Dienstl Estate was beautiful and Brigit and her team were very lovely and treated me like a superstar. The food was also brilliant.
I have never been to Austria and would really really like to go back next year, the people are so friendly! I played polo all holiday and it was additive and great fun, my polo horse was called Flecha and she was such I good girl. We hacked out twice and I loved the countryside it was surreal.
I have enclosed some photos. (I am in the black and silver hat) The ladies that were on holiday were so kind and really looked after me. It was the best holiday experience of my life, I would highly recommend Austria and The Dienstl Estate to anyone.
Thank you so much. Louise, Blackpool (Dienstl Estate).

I had an excellent time at the estate plenty of riding and polo. Brigitte and Sasha looked after me very well and taught me all they could about the game. With Thanks Richard (Dienstl Estate).

We had a lovely time on our holiday at Strasserwirt.
The taxi was waiting for us when we came out of the baggage reclaim and whisked us up and away through the snow to Strasserwirt. On the Monday we went to the stables where Susie had to help us prepare our horse and pony when I explained we were not good at this as don't do it here. She was fine with that and from then on we left ourselves plenty of time to get organised and we can now tack up well, which is great. From that day onwards we had our two lessons each day. Georgia and I both rode a range of horses and ponies, Susie considered how you were doing and then selected a horse/pony for the next session depending on what she thought you could/should handle. I find this good as I believe that if you can ride then you ought to be able to get on anything and get somewhere. Some were more of a challenge than others and that was fine. It was great to have lessons in groups of no more than 6 and also there is real freedom within the lesson. Once she gets to know your standard everyone in a lesson is encouraged to ride 'by themselves' ie do rising or sitting trot, do 20 cm circles, go large, down the centre line, or serpentines, sometimes over trotting poles etc and then Susie will talk to each of us individually bringing to your attention what you need to work on, or call you into the centre to do some closer work on transitions or canter or whatever you need to work on. There is no expectation that you do the same as everyone else even though the horses might want to do that so you really have to work on your own and be in control. Menu was in German and food was Austrian and very good. The hotel was very welcoming to children and Georgia got friendly with some other children from Switzerland and Germany around her age towards the end and they all had a good time too playing around the hotel and stables. The owner himself drove us back to Salzburg on the Saturday evening and Georgia was rather upset to leave the friends, horses, dogs and cats that she had got to know. I hope, if all goes well, that we might return next October half term as it seems like a good time to go and we certainly came back as better riders and we will ride out next time! Jane , London (Strasserwirt).

So sorry to have missed you during our FABULOUS week at the Strasserwirt. Food FANTASTIC accommodation SUPERB and the riding and scenery - WOW !!!!!
Tam and I had a wonderful time and are already trying to work out how we might visit again. Full marks to the amazing job Susie does in the yard .We have lots and lots of pictures and will send you a couple when we have got them sorted Thank you for a brilliant time. Gillie & Tamara, Croydon (Strasserwirt).

We had a really good time, we enjoyed the hotel and had a nice room, the food was excellent and the staff were very attentive, one point, having the opportunity to make tea in the room in the morning would have been useful, you know how we Brits can't start the day without a cuppa! The horses were well behaved and the trekking was fun. The ski resort suffered on the lower runs but that was due to the time of year and nature. On the whole we enjoyed our break, oh and the taxi company were very good too. Julian, Hants.

I had a great few days and enjoyed the riding very much the haflingers were wonderful and responsive to my cues but knew when I needed them to take over. The rides were spectacular and the views were wonderful. I loved the hotel and the food was lovely, everyone was so friendly and caring which is particularly noticable when you are on your own.
Thank you and I will spread the word amongst my fellow western riders. Alice, Sussex (Schlosswirt).

We had a lovely time in Austria; hotel was brill and food even better! (not sure about the Schnaps tho and I tried most of them!!). The riding was great fun - the ponies were so sure footed and well behaved they never gave us an anxious moment. Their condition was fine - wish we could get such lovely hay in England. We would both like to come back at some point and ride in the summer - We've put it on our 'to-do' list. Thanks again. Liz & Jan, Suffolk (Schlosswirt).

The holiday was brilliant. The hotel and staff were great. The ski village and resort was just what we were looking for and had plenty of snow. The horse riding was fantastic. If it wasn't for Ryanair's baggage allowance, Toni would be missing two ponies! Thank you for all the information and help. We are sure we will return. Phil & Anne (Schlosswirt).

Just a quick note, to thank you for the overwhelming warmth and hospitality shown by yourself and your staff at The Lodge Hotel. Whilst the activities where fun, and the hotel one of the very best I have stayed in anywhere, the trip will be remembered for the people, their judgement and efficiency in changing the programme, their eagerness to become involved with what we where doing and their open honesty. Again thank you, and I wish every sucess to what you are trying to accomplish. Garry Ashton-Coulton from Horse Magazine at the Lodge Hotel, Bulgaria.

Thank you for all your work arranging the trip, I thoroughly enjoyed it - a lovely place with lovely people. Lucy Holden from Adventure Travel at the Lodge Hotel, Bulgaria.

We had a fantastic time at the Dienstl. Feedback: polo brilliant we are all totally hooked. Lottie found it slightly hard work as she is very small and the pony was larger than she was used to and the stick quite heavy, but she still managed to have a really good go. The Dienstl was super, the staff could not have been more helpful and pleasant, the food and service were excellent. We all felt that we would go back and would recommend it without hesitation. Jessica & family (kids aged 12 & 14), West Yorkshire (Dienstl polo course).

We had a fabulous holiday, although too short. The children all enjoyed themselves although they were exhausted by the end of the 4 days! It is an ideal hotel for families with the rooms we had and the general relaxed feel of the place. I never felt that the children were in the way. The skiing was great according to the boys - us girls never got off the nursery slopes! Having said that the nursery slopes at Heiligenblut were ideal to learn on and the instructors were friendly and helpful. The food was great - it was good not to get choices but just get served stuff you might otherwise not try. I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for helping towards our very memorable holiday! Emma & Hellen, Berkshire.

Just to say thank you for a great holiday. The hotel was charming - just right - utterly friendly, great with children, comfortable and authentically Austrian. We could not have been happier. The haflingers were such a hit that we are now trying to buy one. If you know any good breeders or sources let us know! I shall certainly be recommending the trip to other people and hope to try out some of your other destinations in the future (although my daughters have asked us to make the Schlosswirt an annual event!) Susanna, London (Schlosswirt).

I would personally like to thank you for all your efforts to make my holiday in Vienna so special. From the information I received before I left, to collection from the airport it was all first class! The seats at the Spanish horse show were out of this world and of course the actual performance was magical. I really enjoyed the carriage ride around Vienna - what a perfect way to see Vienna and having it starting and finishing out side the hotel was yet another fantastic touch. Yvonne & Martin, Ipswich.

'My' horse is Kamai, about 9 years old, mixed breed from Iskar, the best horse in the world. I passed several adventures with him at the Iskar and I never knew a horse so balanced and strong at the same time like him. I've ridden him in the night towards 20-30 wild boars, passed mud and rivers and even during climbing tours where some humans would have had problems to pass he was calm. I got to know him 4 years ago at my first holiday at Iskar and it was love from the first moment. He, all the wild animals and kind people there are the reasons for coming back since 4 years to the same place.
Here I have all I want and can do all I want: I can ride the best horse in the world, I can swim with the horses. Most times I join other riding guests, but I am free to ride on my own and I enjoy it to be sometimes alone with my horse. To trot or gallop how long and where we both want, to have a break and let him graze, to ride through the forest to search for mushrooms and horns, to go to the mountains with the horse; I've been twice in the Rila mountain and once in the Vituscha. During a short holiday it is not always possible to do such a trip; it's worth to stay a bit longer, it is possible to take the canoe or a boat or to go fishing or even to take a rest in the sunshine, riding in a very nice, changeable and varying environment. Lake with nice long paths to trot or canter, the deciduous and coniferous forest, often interrupted with pastures; hilly with a nice view on the large Iskar lake. I like the friendly people there. I like the international atmosphere, sometimes speaking German, English, French or Bulgarian (I know only a few words, it's hard to learn with the Cyrillic alphabet). If you stay a bit longer you have the possibility to meet a lot of people, to join them or to go your own way. There is no stress. There are routine times for riding, but it is no problem to say that you'll ride later or earlier or to have a picnic and ride the whole day. I feel at home there and can relax very well. Marion, Hamburg (Iskar/Borovets in Bulgaria).

We had a brilliant holiday! The horses (mine was Anton) were lovely and very well behaved. He never put a foot wrong even on steep slopes covered in ice and snow I was very at ease with him. The scenery was beautiful and the weather couldn't have been better. The Schlosswirt was very nice and the double room was superb. Our food served in the evening was fantastic and plentiful - No Complaints. I do hope to return in the Summer and would recommend the holiday very highly to my friends. Thanks for a lovely holiday. Rosemary, N.Ireland.

I am back in London, all with the pleasant memories of the past 4 days. Thank you very much for your assistance - it was a lovely holiday and I look forward to coming back to Austria again. Ksenia, London.

We had a great time in Austria largely due to your efforts to make it enjoyable for us. It was great to have so much to do during our stay. I am very happy I've rediscovered the cross-country skiing for myself and Dasha enjoyed her riding adventure. Thank you very much for everything. We are already looking forward to coming back next year. Alexandra & Dasha, London.

We really loved Dienstl - what a lovely atmosphere with friendly families, horses and dogs. Everyone was very friendly. We thoroughly enjoyed everything and are already recommending it to friends. I was exhausted when I arrived but was soon restored - it was so relaxing. Good value.
Riding: Zuleika loved the polo. Sacha was an inspired and fun teacher in spite of not speaking fluent English - he communicated well with help and gestures. Zuleika was playing chukkas in her second lesson! The horses/polo ponies are lovely - very well kept and in excellent condition and above all safe. Obviously they all had their different characters - it was fun to compare when talking to other guests. What a fabulous setting. It was pure pleasure sitting on a jump in the sun watching the polo chukkas. The dramatic backdrop of the castle looked different each day. You need to be able to be a fairly competent rider to learn polo and get enjoyment from it - which my daughter is - all those years with the pony club not wasted. Zuleika had such fun - each session was different depending on who played with her. I think she loved her one to one with Sacha - it was fast furious and very good fun to watch! The staff were good fun. They worked so hard and were so patient with everyone. We had terrible weather and they had to change all the riding to the indoor school which must have been a scheduling nightmare. They were great with the younger children who were staying in the summer camp.
Food/Dining: The dinners each evening were absolutely delicious and we enjoyed the vast and healthy breakfasts.
Room: We loved it - spacious - comfortable - good bathroom. Fabulous view - took some amazing photos from the window.
This place is not for people (and I have friends who I include in this) who dislike animals, dogs, horses around. I loved it for all these reasons. Loved the Irish wolfhound in the dining room. I frequently wandered up to the stables to see what was going on and enjoyed it. I loved the family atmosphere. It is a riding school with fab hotel/accommodation attached not the other way round. Very special.
Would definitely book through you again and recommend your company. Diana & daughter Zuleika, Norfolk (Dienstl Estate).

On the first day we were invited to join a group of riders that were on their return journey to the ranch after a 6 day trip (inc the Rila Monastery). This was a good day but tiring as it was about 6 hours in the saddle. I was riding a mare, so for the majority of the ride, had to stay at the back of the string because the guide 'Vasco' was riding a stallion! The second day we were able to change horses, I met the ranch manager Mr Y, and I asked for a 'Man' to ride! I was given 'Favorite', one of the ranch's painted stallions! He was great!! Very stocky, well behaved, and forward going. Nicola was given a lovely horse called 'Gallant'. We decided that for the rest of the week, we would like to follow the formula of 2 hours riding around the reserve, then lunch then 2 hours back to the ranch. This worked really well. Favorite liked being the leader at the front, which I was really pleased about. We went out with guide 'Emil' on Saturday, he was quiet but had a sense of humour. For me this was the best day for the riding, as he took us on a beautiful route to a lake towards the north of the reserve, we waded our horses through the Iskar lake trying not to get our feet wet, and had a lovely gallop along a bit of sandy beach. We stopped at lunch for sandwiches at the lake. We had Eva with us from the Lodge Hotel who was able to translate. I kept Favorite again for the next 3 rides (Sat, Sun, Tuesday). Nicola decided she would stay with Gallant and not change as she liked him.
Sunday, we went out with Vasco's son as our guide, this time we stopped at a small lodge within the reserve for lunch, sandwiches and then we had a lovely gallop across a grass field to end the day. Today we were joined by our driver/escort from the hotel, 'Ivan', who was great fun, and was able to translate for us.
Monday was a much needed day off, to relax at the hotel, have some massage treatments, explore around Borovetz, take a ride in the gondolas to the top of the mountains and generally unwind.
Tuesday we were told that we could have a BBQ for lunch - so off we went with Vasco as our guide, again a lovely day riding each time seeing something new, more deer. Lunch was fab - we went into an enclosed area which had a natural reservoir, and a little lodge with a large table in the front. We sat down to a lovely 4 course meal, starting with Bulgarian feta type cheese with chopped tomatoes and cucumber, then a lentil soup, then some pork chops and pork burgers with bread and fruit etc. We joined a German family who had just arrived a day or two ago, and I went out in a boat on the reservoir after lunch.
Wednesday, the last day of riding, I changed my horse to another stallion called 'Kamai' (who was usually only ridden by Vasco) but I was very happy when he said I could ride him for my last day! I had been eyeing him up! We stopped for lunch at the lodge in the reserve again, and sat down to a lovely lunch of grated celeriac to start, then cannelloni bean soup, then these homemade type pasties, fried with chips and then a strawberry mousse for pudding plus fresh watermelon!! A real feast. We were very sad to say goodbye to the horses. We bought a bag of apples and gave them to the ones we had ridden. Mariella & Nicola, London (Iskar Ranch and The Lodge Hotel, Borovetz, Bulgaria).

I had a wonderful time at the Dienstl Estate. Absolutely beautiful place, loved the pool, scenery, silence, birds etc. All very efficient, friendly, well looked after, wonderful breakfasts and dinners, and free cake and coffee at 2pm.
My riding instructor Evelyn was lovely, really helpful, nice and funny, although her English was not very good. I did have a jumping lesson with a young instructor, Marcus who spoke perfect English, but in that case I don't think he understood how nervous I am with jumping, specially as the horse (2pac) was too strong for me and ran away with me twice (narrowly missed falling over the barrier and into the trees twice). Saying that it was raining/thundering, he was a bit agitated, and was calmer when we moved inside.
Really enjoyed the polo lesson with Sascha. In the normal lessons I got on very well with their new horse Brasil, and was glad to have the opportunity to ride him several times, as had had the right sort of calm temperament for me, but did not just follow the other horses. Daisy, London (Dienstl Estate).

Just a quick email to say thank you so very much for a wonderful holiday. I know it was meant to be work but it's hard to say it was anything other than a holiday. I've never felt so well looked after or as though those looking after us really were enjoying doing so.
Thank you also for your generous attitude towards my demands - for a clock in the pool. Also I do think you need to rewrite the welcome pack so that it says ok to demand tea/coffee/the best hot chocolate in Europe free to your room - perhaps if you give another welcome tour you should add that in and mention the spa is open till 8pm so there's plenty of opportunity to swim without demanding the staff get up early.
That's all for now but thank you once again, Anna Bruce, equestrian journalist, at the Lodge Hotel, Bulgaria.

Had a really nice time on holiday at The Post. Weather very mixed - on windy days we did the same ride twice, which was one which stayed in the valley, and I think this was the right decision under the circumstances. I then went for 2 other hacks up in the mountains, which were great, and awarded myself one day off, so didn't go for my 5th hack by my own choice.
The lessons were good, but over here, private lessons are always 30 minutes, so I assumed that would be the same over there. Anyway, an hour on your own is a very long time, and to start with Hannes and Angelica didn't really understand the need for several breaks during an hour private lesson, but I did manage to make this clear after the first few days, and really enjoyed the lessons. The horses were very well schooled, and I benefited from having someone new looking at my riding, pointing out my faults, and helping me sort them out a bit. But it was still exhausting, even with breaks, and most days I hacked out in the morning and did lessons in the afternoon, so I'd already done 2 hours riding before I got to the lessons..
The hotel was great, staff very friendly and professional, food wonderful. Cathy, Stockport (Post hotel, Italian Dolomites).

We both enjoyed our holiday with you and thought that the area where we were riding was breath taking. I was impressed at the standard of care and quality of your horses. We are at both ends of the riding ability and the riding was challenging enough for me while I had absolutely no worries with Josh, as I felt that the horses were sensible enough not to put him in danger. Having ridden for many years it was nice to have horses that you had to 'ride' rather than them just follow each other along the tracks.
The accomodation was excellent, the food was delicious and all the staff very friendly. Everyone made us feel welcome despite the obvious language difference. The facilities of the pool and the dreaded ping pong kept Joshua entertained even in the rain! I would not hesitate in recommending your hotel to other people and wish you all every success in the future. Thank you once again and you never know we may be back! Fiona & Joshua (aged 12), Dorset (Kroller Kids' hotel).

We all thoroughly enjoyed our break at the Post. The hotel and accommodation was excellent. The room was very nice, spacious and comfortable. The service at the hotel was very good and the staff very friendly. The food was delicious.The location was perfect as it really was only a short walk to the riding centre. The girls had some good little horses to ride on and they really enjoyed their lessons in the mornings. They had a combination of Angelica and Marion who both spoke excellent English. The tuition was very good and the girls felt calm and comfortable. I had my 3 jumping lessons on one of the warmbloods - a lively gelding called Herceg. Angelica taught me for all the lessons and I really enjoyed them. I really felt that I had made progress on my jumping and felt very much more confident in my abilities when I left though my only regret was that I couldn't do any more!! We all three managed 3 hacks. We did do one 2 hour hack together but it really was too much for the children and they were much more comfortable on just the one hour hack. Overall we had a really fun break and we all thoroughly enjoyed the riding and the location. We are also considering coming back next year but bringing my husband who is a keen cyclist. Finally the transfers to and from the airport were excellent. Looking forward to perhaps booking again for next year. Mrs Clarke & daughters, Wimbledon (Post hotel).

We thought that our all inclusive holiday at the Avance was very good value for money. Nothing was too much trouble for the hotel staff. I played tennis there a couple of times after the reception staff successfully managed to find me a partner. The kids loved the climbing wall and slide in the kids pool and we all enjoyed the thermal pool with its whirlpool and waterfall. The four of us had golf lessons which were great fun. The kids never formally went into the kids club but dipped in and out doing silk painting and painting mouse mats. The kids club was very well equipped. The children enjoyed the riding course where they were not only taught riding but went on a carriage ride, learnt how to groom the horses and made horse cookies! We were able to go to the stables whenever we wanted to stroke the horses, there was a one month old foal and while we were there another foal was born. There were also goats, American Mini Horses and Shetland ponies. We really enjoyed our stay there. Alexa and family, North London (Avance Family Hotel, Burgenland).

We had a lovely time. The hotel was first class. My husband had 3 lunge rein lessons with my younger daughter of 5. I was initially put in a lesson with my elder daughter of 8 years but then I joined a more advanced group of 3 riders and we worked our horses individually. My husband and elder daughter also rode out with another couple that only wanted to walk and trot.
I loved the riding facilities, and the chats I had with Angelica were very interesting on a dressage level. The less experienced riders were helped tacking up their horses and all the staff was very friendly and helpful. The horses we very well schooled and well behaved. All the people that I met there had either been there before or were planning on coming back again and my family and I are seriously considering going back next year for a longer period.
The food and hotel facilities were excellent. We had a great time and would recommend this holiday to all our horsey friends whether they have children or not. It was the first time that I booked such a holiday by internet and I must admit that I was a little worried but I can safely say that it was a very positive experience for us. Trudy and family, Issoire, France (Post Hotel).

We had an absolutely fantastic time at Pristava. We didn't want to come back home one bit!
We really enjoyed our day trip to Lipica. We thoroughly enjoyed the carriage ride, it was wonderful as was the tour of the premises and the performance.
Milan and Silvia could not have been more helpful or welcoming. Nothing was too much trouble for them.
They arranged for us to be taken to Bovec so that we could go up the mountain in the cable car on our first day there, arranged for us to go rafting and for Steve to go canyoning and drove us to the start of the mountain hike on the second day. We borrowed bikes and cycled to that venue too and another day cycled to Bovec. It poured with rain when we got there so we had to buy dustbin bags from the supermarket to ride back in!!! Very stylish!!
The log cabin we stayed in was first class and the food at Pristava was delicious. We did not go solely for the riding and thought that Slovenia was the most beautiful place we have ever visited.
The horses at Pristava were all very well looked after, clean, obedient and kind. Milan escorted us on the short rides and the two hour ride and the girl on the three hour one. Milan said that it was 'good to ride with us' so we must have been all right!!
The pool, sauna and Jacuzzi were immaculate and a lovely way to relieve our aching muscles!
Harry was a lovely driver and very informative. Sue and Stephen, Newborough, Staffs.

Many thanks for all of your help and for setting up my holiday. I had a fantastic time and the owners of the Medieval Castle made me feel right at home and included me in their events. The food was fantastic, the Castle was very comfortable and no amenities were lacking! They really have a great operation.
I did learn a lot in my dressage lessons and learned even more in the theory classes. Robert is a great teacher. I rode two different horses in two days and we continued to use the second horse for the rest of my lessons. All of the horses are in good shape and well taken care of which I was glad to see.
Robert is a very good instructor therefore I would recommend him again. I also believe he did a good job of matching me to a suitable horse. He also allowed me to ride a bit on my own so that I could practice which was very much appreciated.
For our ride out his son, Phillip, took myself and two other children out to the Danube river. It was a great ride through the forests and even through a river. I also really enjoyed the carriage ride and learning how to drive a carriage.
I would highly recommend this to friends, and have! Thanks again for a perfect and very relaxing holiday. Kristine, Texas.

The Schlosswirt is a lovely hotel with a very homely feel to it. As for the riding, after I changed my first pony after a few enthusiastic bucks on the way back, I found a much calmer, but still forward going pony 'Salut' which I could have quite happily taken home with me given half the chance. Chris also kept 'Anton'. It was great to keep the same pony as you got to know them really well, including grooming them before and after the treks.
We did some lovely rides out, along and through the river, through the woods and some more adventurous ones up the mountain led by Toni. It was amazing what the ponies could scramble up and down, and when I dared to look the views were amazing! The ponies were so good as there was not much of a path for them to walk on.
The rides were usually between 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day. I did like the way that they tried to vary the rides, even though it was getting more difficult for them by the end of the week. They also split us into different ability groups so we could have a great gallop along the river which we loved. Thanks again for organising it for us both - we really enjoyed ourselves in such a lovely place! Hayley & Chris, Nuneaton.

The Strasserwirt is a good example of the kind of quality, family run Austrian hotel that we've come to know and love over the years (we've travelled to Austria for skiing holidays for many years now, but this was the first time riding).The rooms are comfortable, reasonably spacious and well furnished. The staff were fantastic. Friendly, efficient and keen to help with any little problems we had. The food was excellent and plentiful.
The skiing is fairly limited for advanced skiers, but we still managed to enjoy several hours skiing per day.
The school horses were also very good. We mostly rode the same horses all week, swapping occasionally for variety (Oskar was a sweetie, Gazal needed a firmer hand!). Usually it was just myself and Andrea in a class, but occasionally other riders joined in. Suzy, the instructor, took care to adapt the exercises to our ability level and spoke quite good English.
We only managed 2 hours riding per day, usually from 10am to 11am and again from 4pm to 5pm, with a few hours skiing in between. To be frank, this was quite enough. After riding, skiing and then riding again, we were quite ready for dinner and an early bed! I think it would only be possible to ride 3 hours per day if you skipped the skiing altogether. Overall, we really enjoyed ourselves, and will definitely return to Austria for a summer riding holiday. Thank you, we had a great time on our holiday. Dave & Andrea, Hull.

Hotel: The holiday was one of the best we have had - the hotel was superb - we loved the dècor, food, staff etc. The staff were friendly without being pushy and very accommodating.
Riding: The fact that I couldn't ride as much as I had intended in fact was good for me as I am just getting back to riding regularly after our wet winter. The 1 hour rides were fabulous and very varied. Ariane was lovely and very helpful and she looks after the ponies very well. The ponies are first class and forward going.
Skiing: Colin enjoyed his skiing - especially after the new snow on Wednesday. The ski school instructors were quite laid back but technically very good and his group were great fun.
Please give our best regards to Toni - we had one of our best holidays ever. Best wishes to you also. Denise & Colin, Northants.

Here we are back in blighty, warm and sunny although nothing like the alpine sunshine we basked in on Friday. It was good to meet you and your family last week. We want to say thank you for providing a superb service and holiday, and for finding us such a wonderful hotel. The Schlosswirt had an excellent family atmosphere and the staff were so willing to oblige. The facilities were great and our family room was a real bonus (we were expecting to share one room with the girls). Tony was very approachable and accessible and Anton was extremely amicable too. The waitresses were excellent and the food fantastic. The resort was delightful, we enjoyed the skiing, the riding and the walking in such beautiful surroundings. The village was quaint and all the local people were friendly, obliging and polite. We really found ourselves relaxed and comfortable and are very seriously considering returning. Thanks once again. Graham.

We thoroughly enjoyed the riding. As you know Tamsin had a bad accident last summer at a show and ended up with a fractured pelvis. She was therefore nervous about riding strange horses in a strange place. The horses were extremely well behaved with the exception of one horse on our first ride. Ellie and I had a superb fast ride on the last day up mountain tracks. I would say the riding is not for the faint hearted to get max enjoyment. The mountain tracks have some huge drops and you have to trust your horse. We hit a problem on the first day as the stirrups were too long for the children and Ariana, the ride leader, was quite worried but managed to contact Tony who advised her. These were only minor points and the first incident was just unfortunate. We loved the riding and horses.
I can only agree with Graham's comments re the hotel. I don't think I have ever felt so at home in a hotel and so well cared for. We all had a wonderful holiday and really appreciated your help in achieving that. We enjoyed meeting you and all your family. Rachel & family, Harrogate.

We had a great time and thought that the Strasserwirt was a lovely hotel and the staff were very friendly. We had a room overlooking the Riding School and a lovely balcony which we used a lot as the weather was perfect and very warm. I enjoyed my riding very much. In the end we did not ski as we spent so much time exploring the different areas and using the very useful free buses. My partner really enjoyed the food at the hotel but as a vegetarian i did find it quite limited and there was normally only one option i could have. Overall we had a great time and would love to visit Austria again in the summertime although we are thinking of a ranch style holiday next as i would love to do some western riding.
Many thanks for all your help and we would certainly use The Riding Company again. Rosanna & Adam, Sussex.

We had a wonderful time, thank you.
We were met at the airport, and both transfers worked very smoothly. The hotel was great - very appropriate and warm and welcoming and ready to help.
The horse riding was lovely. I think Manuela was a little disappointed that we didn't canter up a cliff face, but as we always did the rides early evening after a full day of skiing we had tired legs and didn't want anything too energetic and a gentle walk in the evening was just right for us. The horses were very good natured and used to novices.
It all went incredibly smoothly and we had a fabulous time and hope to be back next year. Sue & Justin, London.

We had a superb holiday we loved the hotel and surrounding area and will definitely visit againl. The holiday went like clockwork with all flights and taxis on time. The riding was just how I hoped. We rode on a variety of paths and tracks mostly through snow some as deep as the horses legs which was exciting and very different. The horses were fit and very sure footed and were responsive to their rider which was necessary as some of the tracks particularly high up were narrow and icy. The horses were well cared for and it was clear their welfare was paramount. I would not hesitate to recommend this holiday. It was only me and the guide riding out as no other guests were riding, this did not present a problem for them or me and I was given a choice as to where and how long I rode. Debbie, Reading.

I had a wonderful time in Austria, I wish I had booked longer. The hotel was very nice and staff very helpful. The best bit of course were the ponies, I would have bought Stocki (the pony I rode) if I could and brought him back to the UK! I have never rode western style before but the saddle certainly helped me to hang on over the steep territory and deep snow! Something we never get to experience in London. The trekking was excellent, the snow and ice prohibited us a little bit but I still got the chance to ride into the mountains and view the amazing scenery and gallop through the snow. I was well matched to Stocki and he has tempted me to buy a Haflinger! Next time I think I will take a longer trip during the summer months and see more of Austria. Anastasia, London.

We enjoyed our holiday greatly, the hotels were both very good. Being in the centre of Vienna made life easy, the Spanish Riding School is most interesting, I last went there 30 years ago! The training sessions are particularly interesting. The music museum is good and took several hours to get around. Having an internet cafe opposite the hotel pleased the girls! Both my husband and elder daughter have made progress skiing but they had to leave the afternoon lessons as they were too tired. My younger daughter really enjoyed the riding and my husband rode instead of me sometimes. The hotel is really beautiful and the food is excellent. Thank you for all your help. Lindsay, Cheshire.

The holiday was super. Tony and Martina are delightful hosts and we felt really well looked after. The Schlosswirt is really comfortable and the food is delicious. I managed 3 rides out and rode Netto who is 20 years old and very steady. I felt very well looked after by him! I found I have no head for heights and I didn't like riding in the mountains, but that's no-one's responsibiity but my own and Tony and Netto looked after me. My other two rides were in the valley & along the river. When I said I felt nervous after the mountain ride Tony was very understanding and supportive and we went for a gentle walk, ponies permitting! The haflinger ponies are lovely and very well looked after and seem very happy. Peter enjoyed the skiing and so we didn't see him all day. He found a ski school for 3 days and also went up on the slopes. He seemed very pleased with that side of things. So overall we thought the holiday was great! Carole, Brighton.

We had a marvellous holiday at the Medieval Castle, the Wurmer family are superb hosts and made us feel very welcome. The carriage driving was excellent and both Robert and Brigitta proved to be good tutors. I spent half a day with Robert visiting two stables where horses required their feet trimming and shoeing, it was interesting to see how this was done in Austria - a definite advantage when the farrier is also the vet! The rides out were enjoyable and the horses were typical of those one would find at many riding schools in England. My husband enjoyed his cycling and spent many happy hours touring the surrounding area. Joan, Cheshire.

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