Enjoyed the most

What went great: the hotel is great, and the service was amazing. Receptionists were just the most wonderful people you can ever meet. They were helpful in all aspects of my stay, but they know very little about the riding program. They can just point to the direction of the stud farm. The food was great! I was the only guest staying for the riding program and often found myself completely alone in the restaurant. The chef was cooking just for me. All of the people at the stud farm were super nice and tried to help me with whatever I needed. The stud farm itself is pretty world-class. They even have an awesome museum. Reliable taxi and good internet all over the stud farm. Many great places to visit in Slovenia and Trieste, Italy if you have a car

Bothered you

What went wrong: there is no local host (there is a name on the travel voucher, but I have never met that person). Receptionists at the hotel are very very lovely people, but they don't know what is happening with the riding program. I met my riding instructor, who was cool, but she called in sick on day 3, and I got set up with two young riders who just started working there a week ago (they were pretty clueless themselves, although very pleasant). The program is advertised as "two lessons per day". Nope. I have been told that those are 30 min lessons, and I just spent an hour in a saddle, therefore, there won't be "two lesson a day" scenario. So there I was, a very capable rider who rides flying changes and piaffe, being put on a longe line for an hour once a day by two novices. And please, don't advertise the horses as highly trained schoolmasters. They are not. They are "tourist horses" who know how to walk, trot, and canter. Two lessons a day that never happened, world-class instruction that never happened, 30 min carriage ride that never happened, highly-trained horses...not; advertised pool and sauna that were closed for repairs for 6 years.

Enjoyed the most

The horses themselves.

Bothered you

Flies in and around the restaurant. Lack of the instructors command of English language.

Enjoyed the most
Being completely surrounded by Lipizzan horses and the beautiful farm they live on and its breathtaking surroundings - lush oasis. Instructor (Petra) was great, patient and encouraging. Enjoyed the chief's presence also. Majority of the staff at the Centre went out of their way to accommodate our every need and desire. After day 2, we had permission to freely roam the grounds and stables as if we were staff. Presentations (shows) certainly display the best of the Lipizzans and riders. Carriage ride was enjoyable - our driver was obviously a skilled driver and extremely nice man. He went out of his way to get us camera batteries.

Bothered you
A particular male server in dining room who I found quite rude, as well as a peculiar man who I believe lives and works on the farm who brought attention to himself in odd ways - his dress code and verbal communication with self.

Comments
Pretty much entire process was done on-line and through e-mails. Thanks Ryan and staff at Hidden Trails!

Worth every penny. Folks at Hidden Trails are thorough, helpful and prompt to respond to emails. Thank you for helping to organize such an amazing experience. Encourage anyone to take full advantage to observe other riders and accept any invitation to view instructors when they are riding - as I did. You can learn so much just by watching and discussing.

Never imagined being schooled on stallions, thought it would be on geldings.
Recommend full-seated riding pants for dressage training.  Easy to over-estimate riding ability but quickly realize that there things are done differently in different countries and on different breeds of horses.
Easy to get attached to horse(s)
Room at the Maestroso was large, clean and comfortable.  Food was good but after third day, it was the same foods being offered.

Enjoyed the most: The Country! Everything was great, especially our trainer Nejc Turinek!

Bothered by: Nothing!

Enjoyed the most: I enjoyed the meals - non-rider. My wife enjoyed the the riding. Our guide, Nejc (Nate) was a true professional.

Bothered you: The accommodations were great except I would have liked better internet and at least one English TV channel. Very limited internet. But I DID know it was limited before I went.

Comments: Slovenia is an amazingly beautiful country. The center caters quite well to euro travelers - especially the Italians. Expect to be the only Americans present. But english-speaking citizens are plentiful. They get quite a few Brits. Do not expect American-style amenities.  The meals were outstanding.  I believe it was a good value.  More Americans need to experience Slovenia.

Enjoyed the most: The horses were wonderful, the stud was unbelievably magnificent. Watching the classical riders practice or perform every day was a privilege.

Bothered you: Mounting was a problem for me. You might want to warn people that if they cannot mount from the ground they need to be very assertive for assistance.

Comments: Very happy with Hidden Trails. Thank you very much.