Andalusia -
Epona Dressage Clinic
   with Raphael Soto
 

IT-SPSR30C
Rates include accommodations, all meals, 6 riding days and visit to the Spanish Riding School in Jerez.
8 days/7 nights  $ 2,850     Single: +$360
2008 Dates: 
01/13-01/20   02/10-02/17 
-- both weeks are sold out for 2008
Meeting:   Seville
Transfer:   A free transfer service is offered between 3.30 pm and 8.00 pm. After these hours the service will be charged.
Level:         Novice+ and Intermediate+
Tack:          English
Horses:      Andalusian and cross

Min/Max Riders: 2-5
Max weight: 220 lbs
Note: Ticket to Jerez riding School Euro 23
          Flamenco Show  Euro 33

The Clinics:
The clinics will be six days each. The first four days riders will receive six hour-long group lessons in the art of dressage from a highly qualified instructor from the well known Epona Riding Center. There will also be three lungeing sessions to improve your classical seat. On the last two days riders will have two 45 minute private lessons per day from Raphael Soto. The first four days of instruction will allow you to become accustomed to the horses and the techniques used by Raphael so that you can gain the most from private lessons from the master later in the week. It will also allow selection of the most appropriate horse for you to ride during the final lessons. Participants will also have a chance to watch the lessons being given to others which can be helpful.

Accommodations and meals:
You will be living in an authentic 16th century Hacienda which is divided in two wings: the family house and the guest accommodation built around two connected patios (courtyards). The main courtyard houses the family residence, guest sitting rooms, office, tack-room and three double guest rooms and the family guest room, all with en-suite shower rooms. The working court-yard contains three further guest rooms all with en-suite shower rooms and the carriage block. Both patios are connected. Single accommodation is possible, but a small supplement will be charged.
The rooms are comfortably but not luxuriously decorated, mostly with furniture that has been in the hacienda for years and from the Garcia's family. You will find a tea and coffee tray, mineral water, towels, hair dryer, air conditioning and fan in each room.
You will also be able to enjoy the large lounge that used to be part of the live oil mill, where you will be provided with free wine and sherry. A smaller sitting room with TV, video and internet connection is also at your disposition. You will find an outdoor swimming pool and plenty of garden areas where you can sit and enjoy a good book. In the late spring and summer most of your meals will be outdoors under the shade of our unique kiosk designed by Fernando. The rest of the year you will be in the small cafeteria with views of the schools where there is usually something going on whether it's lessons or horses playing.
Fernando has been working at Epona full time for nine years and will be serving a variety of Spanish and international dishes including a delicious sea food paella on the last evening. He is also prepared to cater for special diet requirements as vegetarian, gluten allergy, etc.
We serve continental breakfasts: juice, tea, coffee, toast, cereal, yoghourt, cheese, etc; no cooked breakfasts.

Horses:
The horses are Andalusians and Andalusian crosses. They are trained from elementary through to intermediate levels. This is a level just below grand prix, not to be confused with intermediate. The intermediate horses can do lateral movements at all paces, single flying changes, series flying changes, canter pirouettes, piaffe and passage. They do NOT do tempi changes and are not considered grand prix level so the clinic is not suitable for the most advanced dressage riders.

The instructor -Rafael Soto
Born in Jerez de la Frontera, where horse tradition is very strong, in 1957. Rafael is a dedicated horseman who has been training horses and riders all his life, following in his father's footsteps and commencing his riding career at a tender age when his father bought and ran an equitation centre in Palma de Mallorca. It was there that he had his first important dressage success, becoming Balearic Regional Champion in that discipline in 1982.
In 1987, he obtained his Spanish Instructor?s Qualification, and returned to his native city to pursue his equestrian career.
After winning his first National Championship in 1994, with 'Flamenco', he was chosen to form part of the National Dressage Team, representing Spain in the 1995 European Championships.
From that date on, he has continued on the Spanish Team, going from strength to strength with his two partners, first 'Flamenco' then 'Invasor', both Pure Bred Andalusian stallions.
His most important successes in Dressage competitions are:
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
5 times gold medalist, four with 'Invasor', one with 'Flamenco'.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP:
Team Silver Medallist in Hickstead in 2003 with 'Invasor', plus two other 4th places. Top ten individual qualifications in the last three European Championships in which he has participated, 1999, 2001 and 2003.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP:
1998 Team 6th Place
2002 Team Bronze Medal, Individual 6th Place
OLYMPIC GAMES:
ATLANTA 1996 Team 7th Place
SYDNEY 2000 Team 5th Place, Individual 12th
ATHENS 2004 Team SILVER MEDAL, Individual 8th Place