EQUESTRIAN ITINERARIES or TRAILS
by Saskia Mier
Andalusia is carved by many old cattle tracks flanked by hills and walls of stone, as well as bridle paths and paved Roman roads that are steeped in history. The assigned horse riding routes in Andalusia are known as Itinerarios Ecuestres (Equestrian Itineraries) and will be written here with the abbreviated form IE followed by a number. The itineraries are marked and approved by the Real Federación Ecuestre Española de Turismo Hípico (Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation of Horse Tourism), as well as the Andalusian equestrian businesses belonging to the AGETREA organisation. The fact that the equestrian routes have been approved means that they meet the required safety and quality standards.
There are over 40 equestrian itineraries in the whole of Spain, 16 of which are in Andalusia and are listed below, along with registered equestrian centres that organise trips for these itineraries:
Gran Vega de Sevilla (IE-007)
The IE-007 crosses land between the city of Seville and the province of Córdoba, in a wide valley between Sierra Morena and the Sevillan countryside, where a great variety of ecosystems converge. It has a total length of 100 kilometres starting at La Cantina, travelling north-east to Alcalá del Río, Brenes and Tocina, and finishing in Peñaflor.
Escuela de Equitación Hermanos Campos
www.es-es.facebook.com/people/Escuela-Equitacion-Hermanos-Campos/100002298230746
Guillena, Seville
Escuela Ecuestre Jesús Domínguez
www.cuadrajesusdominguez.com
Guillena, Seville
Picadero "Curro Jiménez"
www.picaderocurrojimenez.com/equitacion
Torre de la Reina, Seville
Centro Hípico El Polvorín
www.facebook.com/Centro-h%C3%ADpico-El-Polvor%C3%ADn-136665129678750/
Villanueva del Río y Minas, Seville
Los Palacios y Villafranca-Utrera (IE-009)
The IE-009 enables visitors to explore and enjoy the unique countryside around the lower Guadalquivir River, cultivated fields, marshes and vineyards. The route takes you to unusual places, which can only be reached on foot or horseback. It has a total length of 16 kiometres, starting at Los Palacios y Villafranca, and travelling east through "fincas" and "haciendas", before finishing in Utrera.
Yeguada Ayala
www.guarnicioneriaayala.es
Utrera, Sevilla
Las Cabezas de San Juan (IE-010)
The IE-010 links the town of Las Cabezas de San Juan with the Complejo Endorreico Las Cabezas-Lebrija nature reserve, a beautiful area with different species of native birds such as the red-knobbed coot and white-headed duck. It has a total length of 23 kilometres, starting at Las Cabezas de San Juan, travelling east and then south through "haciendas" and various watering holes, and finishing at the nature reserve, also known as Laguna de Bujadillo or Charroao.
Sierra de Los Filabres (IE-014)
The IE-014 was the first horse riding route to be approved by the Royal Spanish Equestrian Federation in the entire Almería province. The section that runs through the town turns into an ethnological and cultural journey, providing a glimpse into the authentic history of Abla and the Almería Alpujarra region. It has a total length of 12 kilometres, starting at the Shrine of Los Santos Mártires in Abla, travelling north with views of Abla and the Nacimiento River, and finishing at Sierra de los Filabres. If it's an authentic cowboy experience you're looking for, exploring the old western film sets of the arid deserts of Almería might just be the answer!
Centro Ecuestre "El Serbal"
http://centroecuestreelserval.blogspot.com.es/
Abla, Almería
Sierra Nevada (IE-019)
The IE-019 lies within the Sierra Nevada National Park and Nature Reserve. This means you can enjoy outstanding plants and wildlife as well as the geomorphology and landscapes of a unique natural setting that create an idyllic horse riding route. It has a total length of 14 kilometres, starting at Venta El Serbal recreational area, and travelling south and south-west through the park in a circular route which finishes back at the recreational area. This high mountain route requires experience in such terrain, as there are sharp drops and rises.
Centro Ecuestre "El Serbal"
http://centroecuestreelserval.blogspot.com.es/
Abla, Almería
El Puerto de Santa María-Jerez de la Fontera (IE-021)
The IE-021 crosses the marshes of El Puerto de Santa María and some of the best beaches in Andalusia. It has a total length of 23.7 kilometres, starting at El Puerto de Santa María, travelling north through the Complejo Endorreico del Puerto de Santa María nature reserve, and finishing at Jerez de la Frontera.
Centro Ecuestre Jerez 2002
www.centroecuestre2002.es
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
C.I.E.H. El Juncal
https://es-es.facebook.com/centro.ecuestreeljuncal/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
La Churumbela
https://www.facebook.com/yeguada.lachurumbela
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Laguna de Medina-Las Pachecas (IE-022.1)
The main attraction on the IE-022.1 is the lake itself, although it is also worth noting the evergreen scenery of Los Regaderos, and the shacks built 80 years ago by farm workers in Las Pachecas. It has a total length of four kilometres, starting at Laguna de Medina nature reserve and travelling north to Las Pachecas.
Centro Ecuestre Jerez 2002
www.centroecuestre2002.es
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
C.I.E.H. El Juncal
www.facebook.com/centro.ecuestreeljuncal/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Centro Ecuestre Los Lagos
www.informacion-empresas.com/CENTRO-ECUESTRE-LAGOS.html
www.facebook.com/centroecuestreloslagos/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
La Cartuja-Jerez de la Frontera (IE-022.2)
Although the Campiña Jerezana (Jerez region countryside) is full of charm, the main attraction on the IE-022.2 is the architectural complex of the Carthusian Monastery of Santa María de la Defensión (La Cartuja), the most important religious structure in the province. It has a total length of four kilometres, starting at the historical monument of La Cartuja and travelling north to Jerez de la Frontera.
Centro Ecuestre Jerez 2002
www.centroecuestre2002.es
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
C.I.E.H. El Juncal
https://es-es.facebook.com/centro.ecuestreeljuncal/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Centro Ecuestre Los Lagos
www.informacion-empresas.com/CENTRO-ECUESTRE-LAGOS.html
www.facebook.com/centroecuestreloslagos/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Puerto Real-La Carrascosa (IE-023)
The IE-023 has a total length of 14.4 kilometres and starts at Puerto Real in the Bahía de Cádiz natural reserve, travelling past its three lakes, and finishing at La Carrascosa. Soon the route will reach to the Laguna de Medina.
Centro Ecuestre Los Lagos
www.informacion-empresas.com/CENTRO-ECUESTRE-LAGOS.html
www.facebook.com/centroecuestreloslagos/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Laguna de Medina-Rajamancera (IE-024.1)
The IE-024.1 has a total length of seven kilometres, starting at Laguna de Medina Nature Reserve, and travelling east through fields of crops to the Rajamancera district of Jerez. The route connects with the IE-022.1 Laguna de Medina-Las Pachecas and, shortly, will connect with the IE-024.2 El Torno-La Barca de la Florida.
Centro Ecuestre Jerez 2002
www.centroecuestre2002.es
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
C.I.E.H. El Juncal
https://es-es.facebook.com/centro.ecuestreeljuncal/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Centro Ecuestre Los Lagos
www.informacion-empresas.com/CENTRO-ECUESTRE-LAGOS.html
www.facebook.com/centroecuestreloslagos/
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Centro Hípico "La Suara"
www.facebook.com/Centro-H%C3%ADpico-La-Suara-476647625801061/
La Barca de la Florida, Cádiz
El Torno-La Barca de la Florida (IE-024.2)
The IE-024.2 has a total length of 7.5 kilometres starting at El Torno, travelling through farmland and past the banks of the Guadalete River, and finishing at the hamlet of La Barca de la Florida in Jerez province.
Centro Hípico "La Suara"
www.facebook.com/Centro-H%C3%ADpico-La-Suara-476647625801061/
La Barca de la Florida, Cádiz
Alcántara Ecuestre
www.alcantaraecuestre.com
Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz
Costa de Trafalgar: Llano de las Maravillas-Conil (IE-025)
The IE-025 has a total length of 18 kilometres, starting at Llano de las Maravillas in Chiclana de la Frontera, travelling through the sand dunes of Pinar de Roche, and finishing at Conil de la Frontera.
Costa de Trafalgar: Vejer-Barbate (IE-026)
The IE-026 has a total length of 10.7 kilometres, starting at Vejer de la Frontera, travelling through the dense pine forest of La Breña y Marismas del Barbate nature reserve, the largest in Cádiz province, and finishing in Barbate.
Costa de Trafalgar: Vejer-Manzanete (IE-027.1)
The IE-027.1 has a total length of 8.2 kilometres, starting at Vejer de la Frontera, travelling past Montenmedio Golf and Country Club, and offering wonderful views of the marshes of La Breña y Marismas del Barbate natural reserve before finishing at Manzanete.
Costa de Trafalgar: Antigua Laguna de la Janda-Facinas (IE-027.2)
The IE-027.2 has a total length of 25 kilometres, starting at the old Laguna de La Janda, reaching the limits of Los Alcornocales natural park and finishing at Facinas.
Costa de Trafalgar: Guadalmesí-Tarifa (IE-028)
The IE-028 has a total length of 10 kilometres, running all through the Del Estrecho nature park, offering spectacular views of Africa and the Strait of Gibraltar, where the stunning geological formations of the coastal cliffs are worthy of note. The wild and unspoiled white sandy beaches along the south coast offer plenty of scope for galloping on a deserted beach or riding through the dunes.
Campiña-Alcores of Seville (IE-029)
The IE-029 has an impressive length of 78 kilometres, starting at Los Molinos Reserve (Mairena del Alcor), joining two geographical areas of the Seville province through the River Corbones basin, with numerous sections suitable for carriages, and finishing at Centro Hípico Silva in Écija. It is a rich and extensive area of cereal crops, olive groves and livestock on the left bank of the River Guadalquivir, and home to species of interest such as the steppe birds.
Centro Ecuestre Epona
www.eponaspain.com
Carmona, Seville
Yeguada Teodoro Herce
www.yeguadateodoroherce.es
Fuentes de Andalucía, Seville
A Girl and A Horse and A Dog
Belinda Braithwaite, in her bestselling book "A Girl and a Horse and a Dog", describes her adventures as she rode her Andalucian horse Dragon 1,700 miles (2,735 kilometres) from Sotogrande to Paris. The book includes a moving description of a bullfight in Ronda. Dragon lived in the stables at El Aguilon in Tarifa where he sadly died at the grand old age of 24 in 2006.
Buy A Girl and a horse and a dog online here.