Santa Marilha Horse Excursions — Attraction in Sal

My daughter and I did a 1.5 hour ride to the salt flats and kite beach. The guides were friendly but be warned: if you are used to European riding standards, were stables are usually all female, this has a very different feel. It's all guys and there is quite a macho atmosphere - and this applies to the treatment of the horses. I wouldn't say the horses are badly treated but the instructors are much rougher with them than we are used to. It was perhaps a little similar to cowboy culture. This meant that the horses were trained differently and responded differently from how we would expect. The beautiful gelding I was on liked to lead and wanted to over take, but as soon as I put him on a slightly sorted rein to ask him to stop, he became skittish and the instructors told me to keep a long rein. This of course meant my control was limited. For this reason I felt nervous and ended up being led (I had explained that I rode all my childhood but only sporadically as an adult and that I was not confident). I didn't really mind being led as the views were beautiful but it meant that I didn't feel confident to canter when we got to the beach (even though I cantered in a beach last year in Holland). My horse was so keen to canter that he pranced the whole way! 😂 My daughter enjoyed it too but she had the opposite problem - her mare was slow and very hard work to keep pace. We thought afterwards that we should have been on each other's horses. Overall, a good experience but not one I would repeat for the money (quite expensive). The guys are very competent and the horses are clearly well cared for with fairly...

I was so sattisfied with the horseback trip with Santa Marhila Horse Excrusions, I've been with them already 3 times. 😁🐎 Two trips (2h and 1,5h) November last year and one 1,5h trip last week. First of all, horses look very good, well-groomed and happy. 😊 The one I was riding just loved to do gallop on the beach and had the same fun as I did. 😁🐎 As far as it's possible to tell just after the trip, crew is treating horses nicely and with respect. 😊 Both trips (2h and 1,5h) are very pleasant and interesting, throug salt fields and desert. Than, on the beach there are some gallops allong the sea line. We had three guides, so we were all the time secured - as much as it's possible on horseback. 😉 All of as, participiants, could ride as fast as we want on the beach, because each guide can take different level group. And if someone after first gallop want to change the gropup for faster/slower - all OK! 😁 Than additional thing is that it's possible to buy pictures after - they are very professional and beautifull! 🤩 I can't imagine better souvenir from vacations than the picture in gallop on horseback with the beach and ocean on second plan. 🤩 I think it's very great adventure and very nice activity during vacation time! 😁 If I'm back on Sal, I would definietely go with Santa Marilha Horse Excrusions again! Thank you, Dear Guides, for such a nice...

There isn't a lot to do in Santa Maria unless you are a Kite Surfing, sunbathing enthusiast so if you want to do something different then a leisurely horse riding experience to visit the salt mines is a must do. Teo and his professional team will pick you up from your resort and take you a mile out of town next door to the Botanical Gardens to his stables. The horses are mostly rescue horses and given a great new lease of life in a clean and caring environment. Safety is of paramount importance and they cater for all levels of experience. The experienced guides are multi-lingual and will either tether you or let you ride alone depending on experience. The trip to the salt was very informative and the guides are very happy to explain the process and take photos for you. After the salt mines you ride through the sand dunes to the beach and depending on experience and the surf conditions, you can canter on the beach with great views of the dunes and kite surfers. A great excursion for all ages and experience Santa Marilha Horse Riding Excursions is highly...