The meeting point is at the equestrian centre at 8:30am to be ready to ride around 9:30 am. On the last day, every rider leaves individually after 6.30 pm.

Every riding day is dedicated to a big loop with the objective of joining one of the wonderful castles of the Loire valley where we will stop for a lunch break

At every stage of the trip, you will be able to enjoy some free time to relax, or to visit the castle (entry to be paid on the spot). The time of visit of the castle is about one hour. Every riding day varies depending on the weather, the level of the riders... However, they are all magnificent. Back to the equestrian centre at the end of the day.

Our different riding excursions:

Morning at the heart of the big forest of Sologne and its game parks. You may have the chance of seeing deers, hinds and boars. Friendly picnic near the washing place of Cheverny at the edge of the castle's surrounding walls. It is the estate that inspired the Belgian author Hergé for the Moulinsart castle of "the adventures of Tintin". Castle visiting time (about an hour) or relaxing time before starting our horse ride again through the 2000 hectares of the beautiful forest of Cheverny.

Morning through the "Grande Sologne" and its numerous ponds to arrive at one of the rare Baudet du Poitou donkey breeding in France. Villesavin, also known as the "Chambord work basement" was the old house of the manager of Chambord. Lunch on the castle's lawn followed by an independent visit of its gardens, and/or a guided visit of the inside of the castle (voluntary). Back to the equestrian centre by the village of Fontaines-en-Sologne and its great church from the XII century.

Today, we reach the biggest and probably the most prestigious of the Loire's castles : Chambord. Its building was supervisedby François the First, it contains a double spiral staircase, unique in France. The morning will bring you to thye heart of the "Grande Sologne" and its numerous ponds. The crossing of the National Park, the biggest in Europe with a surface of 50 km², to see, in between the trees, the shape of the biggest Loire castle and reach our picnic area near the Nizeron. Back in the saddle to see the castle emerge from the trees in the middle of the afternoon. Voluntary visit of the castle(about 1h) or free timpe for the nap, the rider's choice, before riding again to go back to the equestrian centre through the traditionnal "Chemin du Soldat".

In this version, in the morning, we follow the paths of the Domaniale forest of Boulogne, to reach, at the end of the morning, the village of Bracieux and its really nice covered market with floors dating back from the XVII century. Picnic at the bottom of the village's small church followed by a coffee break at the Choco'Bar of the famous chocolate factory Max Vauché. In the beginning of the afternoon, entry in the National Park, the biggest park in Europe of a surface bigger than 50 km², to see emerge, in between the trees, in the middle of the afternoon, the shape of the biggest of the Loire's castles, masterpiece of the XVI century. Chambord, whose construction was supervised by François the First, contains a beautiful double spiral staircase, unique in France. Back to the equestrian centre by car after some free time for a voluntary visit of the castle.

For this day, there is a change of theme. You will discover the regional specialties of the Val de Loire. You will leave the equestrian cenhtre around 9:30 am to spend a day in Sologne des Etangs. You will enjoy its sand aisles, suitable for the gaits to reach the Banguin's Goat Farm in the end of the morning. You will taste the farm's products served with wines from the Val de Loire Cherverny and Cour-Cheverny before lunch. A small visit near the goats and you are back in the saddle between forests and ponds to go back to the equestrian centre.

 

Other itineraries, allowing to access other castles, as, for example, Beauregard or Troussay's castles, small by size but full of charm, can also be organized. Or, in another style: the chocolate factory Max Vauché or a day in Sologne without a living soul. The richness of the region allows you to vary the itineraries, to come and to come back to explore them on horseback!

"One day/One castle" Horse trail - 2025

April 5 to 6	420 €	avalaible > book it
April 19 to 20	420 €	avalaible > book it
May 3 to 4	420 €	avalaible > book it
May 31 to June 1st	420 €	avalaible > book it
June 14 to 15	420 €	avalaible > book it
July 12 to 13	420 €	avalaible > book it
September 13 to 14	420 €	avalaible > book it
October 18 to 19	420 €	avalaible > book it

 

Supplement / Discount / Option (/pers.) - 2025
Single room supplement - compulsory if you travel alone, refunded if you accept to share and we find someone to do so	50 € / night
Extra night before or after the trail To be paid on the spot, diner and breakfast included, price per person	120 € / night in a double room or 180 € in a single room

Our horses and required riding ability

Sophie & Ken, are international competitors and winners in TREC competitions. They have been running the equestrian center as well as the breeding farm for many years. They speak french and english.
They'll be your guides on the trail and will allow you to discover "their" Loire Valley.

Meals

 Breakfast and dinner is at the hotel. The cooking honors the local products. For lunch, we have a picnic in the countryside. In general, you will have salads, meats etc.
Drinks are included except for diners.

Franche Montagne horses are used to be calm and strong, and are nowadays more and more nice pleasure horses. They are trained using the ethological approach by the guides who welcome you, and you will be safe and comfortable riding these horses to visit sites which are one of the most beautiful of our heritage!.

"Alexandre and myself came back delighted. We really appreciated the concept of mixing castles and horses. Ken is very professional and attentive to his riders. His horses are perfectly looked after and we can feel his love for them. None of them has any problems. The lunch formula is really conveninent and the restaurant in the evening allows us to taste very good products. The small hotel is really clean. It makes us want to go back to discover new castles." - Christine C. (2020)

"Thank you for proposing a tour with this level of quality! The team is incredible, the logistic, the horses and the accomodation are of very high quality. Ken's kindness and professionalism really impressed me. The program is really interesting and Ken gladly shares his knowledge about the region, its fauna and flora, its architecture and its specific features. I will gladly recommend this tour and this brochure to friends. I sincerely thank you for setting up this trip at short notice." - Gaëlle M. (2020)

"Don’t hesitate to do this riding tour!! The guides are skilled, the trail horses have no vices, and they are kind and well-trained. The castles are wonderful !" - Anaïs B. (2017)

"The weekend was perfect!!! Ken and Sophie are real horse and trail lovers... and they are consequently perfect guides." - Julie A. (2016)

"Sophie and Ken were fantastic hosts. Sophie's cooking was delicious and Ken's guided treks to the Loire Castle was great. The riding was fast and the trails varied and interesting. The horses were of a very well trained and fit and strong. We were very happy with all aspects of our 4 days and would recommend them to anyone looking for a genuine French horse riding holiday experience." - Debra C. (2015)