Outside the Corral | Transhumance

Transhumance

The Transhumance ride is a real travel back in time, as you ride 200 kilometres along ancient drover routes, from Extremadura to the Gredos Mountains (or vice versa), just like cattlemen have done with their cattle for centuries. It’s a unique journey, crossing three different regions of Spain (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Castilla y Lyon) and riding long distances every day.

Best period

February, March, October

Price

From € 2.700

Ideal length

9 days - 8 nights

Level

Experienced

Highlights

Ride in the footsteps of an ancestral tradition of Spanish culture: the transhumance, the migration over long distances between the mountains in summer and the lowlands in autumn and winter.

Experience the thrill of a real expedition through Spain, with your beloved four-legged friend taking you to a new place every day.

Ride well-trained PRE (Pura Raza Española) horses, personally bred and trained by your guide.

Be pampered by a small and personal team of locals.

Quick facts

Riding Expeditions

9 days - 8 nights

Experienced

90KG

Groups up to 10

5 - 7 hours/day in the saddle

Madrid

At a glance

On this authentic 9-day trail ride (8 nights, 7 days of horseback riding) from hotel to hotel you will explore on horseback the Sierra de Gredos and Extremadura region, located west of Madrid. You will ride 200 kilometres (25 – 35 kilometres per day) following the Cañadas Reales. These are ancient drover routes criss-crossed in Spain, that have served the pastoral communities for many years. These tracks are 75m wide and stretch for 700km in length. Today they are still used by cattle herders who move their cattle between summer pastures in the mountains and winter pastures on the lowlands, called the transhumance. On this ride, you will follow the Cañadas Reales from Trujillo to Navarredonda de Gredos (or the other way around, depending on the time of year), crossing three regions of Spain – Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Castilla y Lyon.

More information

On this trip, you’ll be firmly pampered. From the moment you land in Madrid until the end of the trip you will be in the hands of your friendly, knowledgeable hosts Emilio and Mamén. They know the area inside out and love sharing their local knowledge with you. You will stay in characteristic, rural hotels. The accommodation was carefully selected for its quality and the presence of adjoining pastures for the horses. During the day on the trails you will be spoiled by relaxing lunch and tapas breaks with delicious homemade Spanish dishes such as paella, tortilla, Spanish ham, followed by a siesta in the quiet countryside. At dinner you can again enjoy renowned local Spanish recipes and specialties. This is not the place to go hungry!

The horses are without a doubt one of the highlights of the trip. Guests ride PRE (Pura Raza Española) horses, almost all of which were bred and trained by Emilio himself. They are strong, reliable and very nice to ride. The horses are considered part of the family and are treated with the utmost care. The rides are easy-going, with exciting canters in between. The average distance covered per day is 25 to 35 kilometers. The group consists exclusively of advanced riders, with a maximum of ten (and the guide). The equipment (English saddles and bridles without bit) is excellently maintained.

In February and October the route goes from the Sierra de Gredos to Extremadura. In May, the route is the other way around.

What do others say?

I absolutely loved my trip to Monte Velho! The setting is incredible and the accomodation is outstanding. The horses were amazing. Very well cared for and in great condition. The stables, arenas and land are all immaculately kept. Doing a mix of dressage lessons and trail rides was great. Having never ridden in a dressage saddle, or ridden a classically trained dressage horse before visiting Monte Velho, I was a little nervous about my first lesson. However there was no need to be, and I felt very comfortable. I learnt a lot from my lessons, with tips that I was able to bring back home to improve my riding on my own horse. All of the horses are so well trained, and it really makes you ask for things correctly to get the right response! The trail rides were such fun, and the grounds are just incredible. The staff were fabulous. All so friendly and attentive. The food was great too. I would highly recommend booking through Outside the Corral. Laure-Anne is so attentive and easy to deal with. The booking process was so easy, and I felt at ease that everything was well handled. Laure-Anne was always very quick to respond to any queries and questions. Thank you Laure-Anne for organizing such a perfect trip. It definitely won’t be my last booking through Outside the Corral!

Sarah Morcombe

Via

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About

I would have probably visited Argentina, but the unforgettable experience and memory for me lies in the place where OTC, Laure-Anne, took me. An intimate and family farm hidden in the vast Argentine pampas, which exudes grandeur through its unique hospitality, combined with a gastronomic exploration of the local cuisine. The warm and homely feeling experienced over days is reflected in the care for the horses. This makes the trip more than just a trip, it creates a memory imbued with countless wonderful stories. I highly recommend this location and Laure-Anne’s guidance.

Wouter D’Hondt

Via

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About

What an amazing service, and most importantly, an incredibly cool trip! We intentionally chose to book through OTC for that extra sense of security. Going away for the first time is always a bit thrilling, but OTC provided us with great peace of mind through their excellent guidance and abundant information. We had several questions beforehand, and Laure-Anne promptly, thoroughly, and kindly answered them all. Even when there were some uncertainties upon arrival, she handled it well, and everything was resolved smoothly. Additionally, the location in Poland (Warmia-Mazuria) was truly stunning—a beautiful estate, friendly people, well-cared-for horses, and exciting rides (especially the cross, which is a must-try!). I would wholeheartedly recommend both this place and OTC itself. It was top-notch!!! Thanks so much!

Rianne Riemens

Via

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About

What an unforgettable journey… Namibia is a place that will stay with me for a long time. Not just because of the landscapes or the adventure itself, but especially because of the way we were able to live alongside the horses: 24/7, like a close-knit herd. That brought a depth to the experience that I will never forget.

What did I take away from this ride? That horses thrive when they have a purpose, just like us. That it’s okay to let go and trust them to choose where to put their feet. And that when you truly start functioning as a “herd” within a group, you discover a strength and peace that can’t be forced.

The experience was raw, honest, sometimes challenging, but above all magical. It’s not the kind of adventure you can plan, it’s the kind you create and make possible, and that’s exactly what Outside the Corral enables. Thank you for making this adventure possible. I feel so grateful to have been part of it!