Villa Based Ride
2 October 2022
Villa Based Ride
25 September 2022
Anita who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. 5 Star | Absolutely love the horses the wonderful people that look after us, the amazing food, all round fantastic.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for taking the time to leave us your feedback. We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed Los Alamos.]
Villa Based Ride
11 September 2022
Angela (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Absolutely Fabulous Holiday!!! | I had the most fabulous holiday at Los Alamos from the 4-11 September.
From arriving at Gibraltar airport, everything went so smoothly from the outset as Andrew was already there waiting with transport. Spot on throughout!!!
Andrew and Rhiannon are wonderful hosts , as are the rest of the family, Rachel, Jack, Denisa and, the one and only Derek!!! The food was lovely and the open bar (non-alcoholic or otherwise) was great!!! The plentiful Rioja was very good!!!
As for the riding and the horses well, it was everything I expected, hoped for and more!!!
My horse for the week was a stunning PRE called Galeno…I absolutely loved him and as he was classically trained, I had a great time with all the moves in between the canters and gallops.
There’s a lot of walking but, that’s essentially down to the soft ground/sand but, the forest, firebreak and beach gallops were fantastic, absolutely fantastic!!! I didn’t want the holiday to end.
The horses are so incredibly fit and well behaved…they certainly know their job too. They work so very hard…they’re all amazing and a real credit!!!
Thank you so much Galeno and also the ride leaders, Jose and Roberto…they were fabulous and great fun!!!
I’ve got wonderful lifelong memories and will definitely be back next year, maybe even twice, if they’ll have me.
All the other guests were really lovely people and all rode well. I’ve also got some wonderful full action photos of my beach gallops and they are so getting framed and going pride of place in my house!!!
Thank you also to Lois at In The Saddle for her knowledge and experience and a seamless booking throughout, as well as the lovely chats too.
All in all….11 out of 10 and, I’ll see you at Los Alamos next year ….I really hope to ride Galeno again and, on his day off, hopefully either Ruvia or Olivero.
No wonder Los Alamos is so popular…they’ve provide fabulous holidays and horses and roll on my next visit!!! Thank you!!!
A couple of tips:-
1) Take ear plugs as the dogs, cockerels and other animals nearby are often nocturnal and noisy. There’s two very early morning calls for the beach riding.
2) I totally recommend flying into Gibraltar…it’s seamless and fast!!! It’s also smaller and much more personal.
Example:-
EasyJet take off from Manchester bang on time at 06.05. I landed in Gibraltar bang on time at 10.10am.
Plane fully offloaded (including luggage) by 10.25am. By 10.30am, I’d already negotiated passport control, had my luggage and was with Andrew. Absolutely unbelievable and the quickest airport run through ever and, I’ve travelled a lot in my life. Thank you Gibraltar airport.
I just wish my week hadn’t flown by so fast!!! Thank you again Andrew, Rhiannon, Jack, Denisa and Derek and, the INCOMPARABLE GALENO!!!
Villa Based Ride
4 September 2022
Kath who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Fabulous horses, stunning scenary and great hospitality | I visited Los Alamos with my daughter and good friends. Los Alamos holds a special place in our hearts and memories of a very dear friend.
We had a wonderful week and Rachel as always matched us to suitable horses. I rode Gordi and Hercules who were both absolute gentleman but also fast and fun rides.
The scenary as you ride through the forest, along the coast and on the huge beach is stunning. Much of the riding is at a steady pace so you can take it all in but there are also some very fast and exhilarating gallops. Cantering and galloping through the forest in darkness to get to the beach for sunset was an amazing experience!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your lovely feedback. We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your return to Los Alamos.]
Villa Based Ride
4 September 2022
Karon who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Didn’t want to come home | The accommodation was lovely very comfortable and you are made to feel very welcome. The food was amazing, couldn’t fit into one of my dresses by the end of the week! How Rachel matches you with a horse is incredible just from a small informal chat. The riding is fast but you feel so safe on the horses as they know their job. The scenery is beautiful and everyday you see something new. Will be back for sure.
Villa Based Ride
4 September 2022
Julie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Truly Magical | The guides knew the terrain so well, they made every ride magical - the scenery was breathtaking, riding on the beaches and through the National Park was idyllic.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased you enjoyed your time at Los Alamos, thank you for leaving us feedback.]
Short Break
18 August 2022
Rebecca who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Incredible riding holiday at Los Alamos | This was our second time staying at Los Alamos and it didn't disappoint. We had incredible horses and rode through some wonderful terrain. The amazing Los Alamos team were fabulous! Comfy beds, great food, lovely wine and we were very well looked after. We cannot wait to return.
Many thanks Becky, Sally and Kaye
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback and we are so pleased you enjoyed your return to Los Alamos.]
Short Break
18 August 2022
Kay (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) We couldn't have wished for a more perfect holiday! | The rides through beautiful scenery and on the beach were very well organised and the horses were well behaved. The faster paces were always explained and everyone was given an opportunity to ask questions if needed. All of the leaders were experienced, friendly, professional and a pleasure to ride with.
Short Break
7 July 2022
Andrea who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Short stay riding holiday - Spain | Excellent
Villa Based Ride
3 July 2022
Steven who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Amazing | Great riding, enjoyed the fast canters and gallops, especially on the beach.
My wife was lacking confidence due to bad fall before the holiday, Los Alamos matched her perfectly with a horse that boosted her confidence and was able to thoroughly enjoy all the rides
Villa Based Ride
12 June 2022
Brian who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. A terrific week,great food ,lovely company. Everyone at L.A. went the extra mile and more. | The riding was as good as my last trip 11 years ago. Time has caught up with me but Rachel put me on 2 horses that suited me well which is why I have made so many visits there. All the guides went out of their way to help everyone on the ride. If my health permits I would have have every hope of going back.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your return to Los Alamos.]
Villa Based Ride
12 June 2022
Pat (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Confidence Building | Excellent guides
Villa Based Ride
5 June 2022
Louise who has been on 19 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic | Excellent as always
Villa Based Ride
5 June 2022
Ann who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. exhilarating horse riding under the Spanish sun | The horses are very fit, well behaved and well trained, very responsive to your aids, can stop from a gallop on a sixpence, and light to the hand, none of my muscles ached after riding which was delightful, although if you do have any aches and pains they can organise a massage!. I rode the same horse all week except for the last day, and they were very well matched to my ability. We enjoyed two beach rides on our trip, at the same beach, and despite the beach being very popular with locals for exercising or dog walking, we still managed to get our canters and gallops in. Our guide Jose is quite rightly very safety conscious, and is careful not to put any rider or walker at risk.
Villa Based Ride
29 May 2022
Vivien who has been on 39 In The Saddle rides. Fab as always | Great holiday at Los Alamos as always. I had the pleasure of riding Polly for a couple of days, a real bundle of joy and proper speed queen - appearances are deceptive! It was a really nice group too with lots of laughs.
Villa Based Ride
29 May 2022
Patti (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A lovely week! | The horses were beautiful but the riding was very 2 paced - it was either walk or gallop. (the guide kept saying we would have a slow canter, but such a thing did not exist!) We were all experienced riders and the galloping was great, but we had to walk a lot to allow the horses to cool down, so personally I would rather have had some nice slow canters and not quite so much walking. And for me personally, probably as I have ridden in coastal Australia a lot, the landscape got bit samey. There were people who were back for the 12th time though!!
Really nicely structured with only 4-5 hours riding (much of it walking) so if you hadn't ridden for a year like me, it was no problem and it was really nice having the afternoons round the pool.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback, we're glad you enjoyed your time at Los Alamos.]
Villa Based Ride
22 May 2022
Sophie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Absolutely Perfect! | The riding was amazing, I felt so confident on my horse and you could tell all the horses are well cared for.
Jose and Roberto were so knowledgeable and friendly and I felt in such safe hands throughout the entire trip. They couldn't do enough.
Rachael matched us all up perfectly, she came out with us on the first day to ensure we were all happy and confident and met us numerous times throughout the week and back at the stables.
The riding was relaxing, exhilarating, fun, and exciting all at the same time.
The entire team couldn't have done any more for you, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this holiday to anyone. I just wish I could have brought the horse home with me as he was so perfect!
Villa Based Ride
22 May 2022
Suzi who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Los Alamos - absolutely perfect | My time at Los Alamos surpassed expectations. We were all so well looked after and felt relaxed literally from being greeted at the airport. I expected to be quite let down by the food as I'm a vegetarian, however, nothing was too much trouble and I ate some of the nicest food I've ever had. A real home from home feeling at the house. Our hosts were absolutely amazing and nothing was too much trouble. I always felt safe and well looked after on the rides. The horses were so well schooled and knew what they were doing. The rides were well organised and very exciting. I can't wait to go again next year.
Villa Based Ride
22 May 2022
Ase who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Very good, lovely riding and very good organized. | Excellent
Villa Based Ride
22 May 2022
Ellen who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Everything was great! Very nice hosts and we had lovely meals, so I will be back !
Villa Based Ride Jerez Feria Week
15 May 2022
Helen (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Everything I dreamed of and more. | The riding blew all my expectations. The guides were informative and ensured our safety at all times. The horses were in top condition and obviously very well cared for.
Rachel constantly checked we were happy with the horse we’d been given and made sure they had adequate rest days.
Villa Based Ride Jerez Feria Week
15 May 2022
Izzie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Los Alamos - Fabulous | The riding was spectacular through the forest and on the beach
Villa Based Ride Seville Feria Week
8 May 2022
Elise who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Fabulous and varied rides on well mannered and forward going horses. | The horses at Los Alamos are very much loved. The riding is at varied paces and exhilarating at times. If you like a more forward going or steadier horse there will be a suitable horse for you. I have always felt safe and Rachel and her team at the stables are excellent hosts and look after horse and rider very well.
Villa Based Ride
1 May 2022
Juliette who has been on 18 In The Saddle rides. As fun as it always is | Excellent
Villa Based Ride
1 May 2022
Caroline who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. The perfect holiday | Perfect balance of good riding and relaxation
Villa Based Ride
1 May 2022
Alison who has been on 18 In The Saddle rides. So good to be back! | Excellent
Villa Based Ride
24 April 2022
Sally who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Beautiful horses in Andalucia! | I had no expectations having not been on a riding holiday before, and went with an open mind.
I found the horses a joy to ride, as they were naturally so forward going, and needed only the lighest touch of aids. They were also very well mannered.
The trails were beautiful and peaceful through the forest, and exhilerating and wild along the beach.
Villa Based Ride
24 April 2022
Jane who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Best thing I’ve done in a very long time | The rides met and expanded on my expectations. Of course an early highlight was that first beach gallop yet there was also such peace and tranquillity in meandering through the pine woods. I thoroughly enjoyed every single ride.
One thing I would say to anyone who, like me, rode a lot as a child but now only rides once a week in the past few years as an adult: You do not need to say you’d like a forward-going horse as they are all incredibly fit and responsive. Rachel matched me with a beautiful Arab gelding who was very sweet natured and I was extremely happy riding him for the whole week. Most of my fellow riders were far more experienced than me and I wouldn’t have been as comfortable as they were riding the more spirited horses.
Villa Based Ride
24 April 2022
Jane who has been on 20 In The Saddle rides. The horses at Los Alamos never disappoint. The riding was wonderful and the beach as stunning as ever.
Villa Based Ride
24 April 2022
Sarah who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. A great holiday with my lovely sister! | The riding on this holiday was excellent for many reasons: the horses were lovely to ride, well trained and willing. the terrain, views and beach were perfect and the length of time in the saddle was just right for me...not too long so as to be tiring but plenty of time to relax and enjoy the whole experience. The gallops were amazing!
Villa Based Ride
10 April 2022
Kim who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. Perfect | This was my fourth visit to Los Alamos and my favourite. The riding, as always, was perfect for the terrain and climate. The horses are extremely fit and forward, even the more sedate ones! They need to be ridden, not just sat upon, but they are very forgiving when you use a bit too much ‘English style’ before you’re used to the more relaxed ‘Spanish style’! Rachel clearly loves her horses and will always ensure their needs are met and no horse will do more than its fair share, reassuring if you love horses!
Villa Based Ride
10 April 2022
Sarah who has been on 14 In The Saddle rides. Riding holiday | Riding was fantastic. Good balance of relaxing and exhilaration. Horses I rode were all very fit and well mannered.
Sarah who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Outstanding. | Horses were superbly looked after. Rachel had great insight and diplomacy, with all the riders. Unusually we were allowed to gallop on the beach day 1. (We only found out after they normally assess you first but seemed happy w us after we said we hunted regularly). There was not a single horse that misbehaved or put a foot out of line at any point in the week. Fantastic ratio of horses to riders to ensure adequate rest time between work. They all knew their job and are a great testament to Rachels investment into training over a long period. They were all well shod, sound and a delight to ride. I was given three greys through the week.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback, we are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your holiday at Los Alamos.]