International Young Riders Camp at Dienstl Estate
Fun and games for 7-14 year olds in their own camp, sleeping in modern wooden huts built around a camp fire. Mornings are spent learning how to care for your own horse and enjoying a full riding programme. Afternoons are spent learning about nature and wildlife on adventure trails into the woods, swimming in the eco-friendly natural pool, fun games of beach volleyball, meals around the camp fire and picnics. Also trips to St. Georgen and Hochhosterwitz castles and other places of interest.
The Riding
The school ponies are very reliable and child-friendly. Complete beginners will be started off with some sessions on the lunge in the paddock. More experienced young riders will spend some time in the jumping paddock or on riding treks in the surrounding countryside. The week's course ends with the Dienstl Estate Jump-and-Obstacle Race, followed by prize-giving and farewell barbeque.
7 days camp is available at Easter, July and August. Complete beginners and experienced riders welcome. The camp is a few hundred yards from the hotel, so accompanying adults can enjoy a restful break, a full riding programme on site or take off for some local sightseeing nearby. 15 children maximum, one qualilfied superviser for five children. All supervisors speak English.
The Riding Facilities
Separate summer camp. Indoor riding hall (20x60m), power-ground, jumping arena (70x80m), 1 polo ground, 2 training areas, dressage square (20x60m). 14 school horses. 6 polo ponies.
The Riding Centre
The summer camp is 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, fitness room, steam bath, massage and sauna. Accompanying adults can start the day with a hearty breakfast on the sunny terrace, lunch in the casual 'Stube' pub, tea by the open fire, then finish off the day with a delicious gourmet dinner in the elegant restaurant. Alpe-Adria regional cooking is the speciality here using fresh seasonal produce from local farms.
Activities for non riders and rest days
See the main Dienstl Estate holiday for details.
Press Articles
Young Riders Summer Camp for 7-16 year olds
7 days (Saturday to Saturday, includes 7 nights) full board accomodation and drinks with full riding/activity programme.
10 riding sessions for novice and experienced riders with experienced trainer.
Horse care and theory sessions. Round the clock care and supervision.
Availability: Easter week and from 1st July to 2nd September, Saturday to Saturday.
Cost: £395.
Family offer
7 days half board with transfer for 2 adults staying in the main hotel (25sq.m room) and 1 young rider staying at the adjacent summer camp: £1287.
Riding centre
7 nights half board with 12 riding lessons (jumping or dressage) or hacks for novice and experienced riders (adults and young people not attending the camp).
Availability: All year.
Cost: £644.
Riding lessons
- Lunge (30 mins): £13
- Private lesson (45 mins): £21
- Group riding lesson (45 mins): £13
Children (in parents' bedroom in main hotel)
Free until 3 years old, 3-7 years old £12 per day, from 7-10 years old £35 per day.
Single Supplement:
No room supplement. £44 supplement charged for transfer.
High Season Supplement:
No supplement.
Supplement for suite (40sq.m):
£15 per day.
Non Riders:
£578 per person for 7 nights half board based on two sharing a double room, £380 per person for 4 nights. Extra nights £66 per person including half board.
Guided half day and day hacks available.
Price includes:
Airport transfers. Local taxes. Meals (except lunches and where stated).
Price excludes:
Flight/travel to Austria, insurance, rest day excursions.
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.
See our Polo page for more information about the Dienstl Estate.
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).
Thomsonfly (Manchester to Klagenfurt).
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
novice riders are those who have limited riding experience or who ride in a controlled environment.
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.
What to bring
Helmet, Riding trousers, gloves, riding boots or high sports shoes. Swimming things in the summer.
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.
Consumer protection
As a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT), an Association approved by the Department of Trade and Industry, this company has provided a Bond to meet the requirements of the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992. These regulations apply to packages sold in the UK and this Bond provides security for the money paid over by its UK customers and for their repatriation to the UK in the event of this company's insolvency.
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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Browse our Guest book or look at what the press have had to say.
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.
Please read our Terms and Conditions.
