Fantastic travel advice, personal approach and great service! Thanks to Outside the Corral, I was able to experience an unforgettable riding holiday in beautiful Portugal.

Our riding holiday to Monte Velho Equo Resort with Outside the Coral was absolutely fantastic. Everything was perfectly organised – the hotel, the lessons, the horses – but what truly made the experience special was the care and attention Laure-Anne gave to every single detail. This is not a traditional travel agency. Instead, it’s all about personal, thoughtful and genuinely warm guidance. We booked our trip well in advance and were kept regularly informed with updates and additional information in the months leading up to our departure. We received a detailed itinerary, practical tips, and even a handwritten card in the post shortly before we left. The day before departure, we received a lovely email wishing us a great trip. These may seem like small gestures, but they make a world of difference.

We usually have some concerns when booking horse riding holidays: What are the horses like? Are they well treated? Unfortunately, we’ve had disappointing experiences in the past. What immediately reassured us was knowing that Laure-Anne personally visits every location she offers. She knows exactly where she is sending her guests, and that confidence is instantly reassuring. The horses were clearly well cared for, received proper attention, and were treated with genuine respect. The lessons were professional and adapted to each rider’s level, with excellent instruction in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. And the hotel? Beautifully set in nature, peaceful, well maintained — and the foals roaming around were the perfect finishing touch. We will definitely book with Outside the Coral again. The entire experience was so personal and so well organised that it’s hard to put into words.

My friend and I went to Monte Velho, Portugal, through Outside the Corral. From the very first email, Laure-Anne was enthusiastic, which was a great sign for us. She patiently answered all our questions, and the fact that she had visited herself made us feel reassured. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking the first time, but Laure-Anne made everything very personal: regular emails with updates, a clear final email with the detailed program, and even a personal card in the mail! At that point, we knew we were in good hands.

On-site, everything was perfectly organized. Monte Velho is a stunning place to completely immerse yourself in your “horse bubble.” It was amazing: beautiful rooms with even more beautiful views, delicious meals three times a day, and after an intense day of riding, relaxing in the jacuzzi while overlooking the fields with the mares. The horses were incredible: well-mannered, responsive, gentle, and well cared for. During the lessons, they never put a foot wrong, even when we were trying things we had never done before; they did exactly what was asked, with or without help from the instructors. And the instructors themselves were fantastic: enthusiastic, which sometimes took a little getting used to, as their English occasionally had a Portuguese twist, haha. All in all, we had an amazing holiday and would go back in a heartbeat, maybe even as soon as next year!

Wow wow wow! I have no more words to say how fantastic I thought my trip in Portugal was: the location, the horses, the group, the instructors, the rooms, the food, the rides. Wow! Also very satisfied with the preparation of the trip: clear emails, being able to let all control go, good communication. I’m already thinking about another riding holiday with Outside the Corral!