Laure-Anne from Outside the Corral has made a dream come true for me. Not only did I go to a beautiful country to hike for days with these beautiful animals, she encouraged me to realize my very first (!) vacation alone. The fact that those 2 things were allowed to come together was really a gift. It was a last-minute decision of mine: within 2 weeks I was already traveling! All my ideas came together in a trip to beautiful Slovenia. I made wonderful memories there and made new friends from all over the world. If I wanted to do something for myself again and combine this with my passion for horses; then Laure-Anne is under my speed dial!

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!

After a 10-year riding break, I made the decision to return to horseback riding at Monte Velho, and it turned out to be an unforgettable experience. The fantastic location, delicious food, and the camaraderie of the group, along with personalized dressage lessons and trail rides for each rider, ensured that I had an exceptional stay!

What a wonderful holiday! I wanted to plan a fun trip with horses for my daughter and myself, and after searching online, I discovered Outside the Corral. Communication with Laure-Anne was very easy and pleasant. She knows all the destinations personally and was able to put together a proposal that suited us perfectly. After that, it was simply a matter of eagerly counting down to the holiday and we already had so much fun anticipating it.

The holiday itself exceeded all our expectations. We enjoyed every moment. The surroundings were stunning, and everything was organised down to the smallest detail. The horses were truly wonderful. My daughter especially loved the high-level lessons and learned so much from them. The rides through nature were superb, and the food was always delicious and freshly prepared. And I still miss the view from the jacuzzi! A special recommendation for the location in Portugal: don’t miss the evening with live music, it’s absolutely magical.