CELEBRATING THE YEAR OF THE HORSE
This Friday marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year, and 2014 is host to the Year of the Horse. Associated with personal drive, passion, loyalty and an appetite for freedom, we adore the horse and everything it represents.
Each year we like to improve a skill as part of our new year’s resolutions (last year we tried to improve our photography skills), and this year we’re using the Year of the Horse both figuratively and literally. Figuratively due to the sense of drive and motivation it represents for us at Drake London, and literally as an inspiration to get back into the saddle to reignite a passion of ours: riding.
Wild about horses
We’ve always had a passion about horses and all things equestrian. We rode often as a child and joined weekly lessons, and it would seem that these elegant animals literally run in our blood; over the centuries various family members have trained, raced and bred horses. We’ve even had an Olympic show jumper! We’ve been known to go to the races after a wedding day, prior to the honeymoon departure!
When it comes to ourselves, however, Olympic aspirations are quite a way off, so what better way to hone our skills than with a spring visit to Casa de Carmona and a trip to the nearby local finca, only 15 minutes away.
Riding at the local finca
The town of Carmona conjures up images of everything we love about Spain. Medieval and Moorish relics are as commonplace as the winding alleyways that lead you right to the door of Casa de Carmona, a Renaissance palace with a Moorish theme, featuring inward-facing rooms overlooking an arabesque courtyard. A mere 20 minutes from the Andalusian capital of Seville, Carmona offers the best of town and country Spanish living.
Spain, and particularly Andalucía, has an affinity with horses, and the Casa de Carmona has strong links with the nearby finca, which is also a prestigious equestrian centre. The best time to visit is spring, with the arrival of new-born foals (a lovely time to take the children along), the opportunity to watch the award winning stud farm and training in action, and, of course, the Feria de Abril.
The Feria de Abril
Seville’s annual spring fair is home to horses and equestrian pursuits by day, and dancing sevillianas, drinking manzanilla sherry and eating jamón Serrano at night. With Seville’s finest dressed in traditional attire for the occasion, and the quaint and colourful casetas, a sight to behold in their own right, this truly is an event not to be missed.
With the Feria de Abril as inspiration, we got back into the saddle at the finca. It truly is a skill you never forget, just like riding a bicycle, and thanks to the trainers’ expert guidance and instruction, we were soon cantering along like some of the riders we saw at the Feria. After a morning trotting through the countryside and admiring the beauty of the surrounding area, we decided to relax back at the finca with a picnic in the grounds by the pool, sampling the gastronomic delights that Spain is famous for worldwide. Barbeques in the grounds of the finca can also be arranged for groups on request.
Then it’s back to the poolside at Casa de Carmona to enjoy a book and some tapas. Guests can also join in orange picking, visit a local olive grove, or simply relax in the haven that is the Casa de Carmona. A perfect insight into Spanish country living; we can’t wait for our next trip back and this year will truly be the Year of the Horse!