There is no better place to learn horse riding than in Italy.

A reasonable amount of the lands in this area are preserved. Italy also has a diversity of horse breeds with different skills and experience to match different types of riders; from novice to beginners to experts.

If you are looking for a great school to learn horse riding, Il Paretaio will be your best bet.

Il Paretaio is a property of Giovanni and Cristina De Marchi managed in the Tuscan country house. The special features of Il Paretaio are treks and riding classes. The facility has over 20 horses (cutting across breeds like Pony, Merens, Kwpn, Arab, Maremmano, Holsteiner, Lusitano, Sella Italiano, and Anglo-Arab) which are specially trained to have an easy-going and gentle personality. Giovanni and Cristina De Marchi who manages the facility train the horses themselves.

Il Paretaio has appeared in different horse-riding magazines like Your Horse UK, Horse&Rider UK, Horse&Hound UK, Dressage Today USA, and many more. Il Paretaio is also recommended by the English Training the Teachers of Tomorrow (T.T.T). Il Paretaiois located in the Chianti region surrounded by spectacular landscapes that creates the perfect scene for dressage, ride out, and riding lessons.

Prices Of Riding Classes

There are different prices for riding classes which may vary depending on a number of reasons including season, the length of stay, and the number of people involved. The riding lesson may also vary depending on where you are taking the lessons.

Half board and riding (a package that includes breakfast, dinner, and weekly horse riding) can cost as low as €975 for off season and as much as €1295 during high seasons. Children from 0 to 5 years are taught for free while children between 6 to 13 years are taught at a discounted rate. Riding lessons alone can cost between €35 and €89.

Riding lessons are usually divided into two sections, 50 minutes morning session and 40 minutes afternoon sessions. The time of the lessons can also vary depending on the time of the year. Ride-outs—a time for taking the horse to the fields—lasts between 1 to 3 hours. The instructors are approved by the British Horse Society or F.I.S.E. The riding time varies but most often begins by 7:30 am.

Other Activities Offered By Il Paretaio

The riding programs offered by Il Paretaio are evenly spaced out to give the riders ample time to explore various tourist destinations like the Santa Cristina Castle and others which are just half an hour away. Castel del Nero’s Spa is just 10 minutes away from the facility and offers al the castle charm.

When you are not engaged in horse riding, you can also explore other sporting activities. About 10km from Il Paretaio there are tennis courts and accessible golf courses in Siena, Castelfalfi and Florence. You can also unwind by visiting the surrounding villages of Tavarnelle and Barberino Val d’Elsa on foot or bike.

What To Expect?

Il Paretaio almost feels like a horse rider’s pilgrimage center. The beginning of the lesson usually focuses on the loosening the horses. Some students prefer to skip this part. The students first walk their horses briskly to loosen their body. Giovanni explains that most riders make themselves and their horses stiff by excessive use of the sitting trot.

There are over 300 reviews on Il Paretaio on TripAdvisor. The talking point of most visitors is the excellence of the instructors in matching riders with the horses that are most suitable to them. The instructors also gradually walk the riders through their primary ambition ranging from catering to dressage to riding. The instructors are young and friendly.

What differentiates Il Paretaio from all other riding lessons around the world is that they cater for all levels of riders including children. Most other riding lessons usually focus on adults and experts. Another important feature that makes horse riding lessons in Il Paretaio different from anywhere else around the world is the timed breaks that give the riders the chance to explore the natural scenes of Italy.

Il Paretaio also has lovely rooms that are warm and well-decorated in the traditional Italian style. The guests are treated to Tuscan dinners and quality Chianti wine.