Avoid bringing valuable items. Gaming consoles are not permitted (PSP, Nintendo, etc.). For stays of two weeks or more, we do laundry regularly, so there is no need to bring too much luggage. Please bring only what is necessary, namely:
- 1 pair of long trousers.
- Swimming costume and beach towel.
- Riding helmet, riding boots (or chaps) and 3 pairs of jodhpurs.
- Body protector (optional; some are available here).
- 2 jumpers or sweatshirts.
- 1 light rain jacket.
- 1 pair of trainers.
- Slippers.
- 2 pairs of pyjamas.
- Underwear.
- Towel and toiletries.
- Notebook and pens.
- IMPORTANT: please bring your European Health Insurance Card or valid private health insurance for Spain.
- Campers travelling alone will be collected by a representative of La Gerencia Equestrian Center from BILBAO.
- Transfers between 16:00 and 21:30 are FREE OF CHARGE. Outside these times, or if the meeting point is Santander instead of Bilbao, a charge of 50 € per student and per transfer will apply.
- It is very important that, if an underage child is flying unaccompanied, you contact us before booking the ticket so that we can provide the details of the person who will collect your child. These details must be given to the airline. Without this authorisation, we will not be able to collect your child from the airport.
- If you book a flight for a minor online, please make sure that the airline allows unaccompanied minors to travel. Otherwise, you may find at the airport that the child is not allowed to board.
- Do not forget to check in online TWO days before travelling. Airlines currently reserve the right to reassign the seat even if you check in only shortly before departure.
- Please send the full travel details in good time: origin / destination, departure and arrival times, airline and flight number.
- It is important that we are given your son’s / daughter’s mobile phone number so that we may contact them if necessary. We will also provide the phone number of the person responsible for collecting your child.
- We will be waiting for you on Sundays between 9:30 and 13:30.
- Please let us know well in advance what time we need to collect your children from the airport, bus station or train station.
- If one of your children is arriving outside these hours, please let us know in good time.
- On arrival day, we try to welcome and check everyone in as personally as possible, while also keeping things moving, as many families have a long journey home ahead of them. Please contact us beforehand by phone or e-mail if you have any questions.
Riding lessons are organised in groups of the same level in each discipline: dressage, show jumping, cross-country and also vaulting.
Each day includes:
- 4 hours of riding, split between morning and afternoon. These sessions include dressage, jumping, cross-country, rider position work and vaulting.
- 2 hours of theory: veterinary basics, feeding, breeding, basic anatomy, riding theory, documentation and regulations.
- Stable management: bandaging, plaiting, lunging, etc.
- Free-time activities (always supervised by a teacher), including games, beach time, walks, barbecues, dancing, singing and storytelling.
A normal day is as follows:
- 8:45 am: Breakfast.
- 9:30 am: Riding lessons.
- 2:00 pm: Lunch.
- 4:30 pm: Riding lessons.
- 9:30 pm: Dinner and evening activities.
Every day the children have two hours of free time, always supervised by teachers, plus some rest time after lunch.
Every evening after dinner, we spend time playing games, dancing, telling jokes and reading messages from our famous “message box”, where pupils can leave encouraging notes for one another about their progress during the week.
We have different bedtimes so that the more tired children can go to sleep earlier, although most prefer to stay up for the last turn, when the teachers are usually the ones struggling to keep their eyes open.
We provide home-cooked food and accommodation in a private residence, a beautiful 19th-century Irish house that has been refurbished and extended.
At all times the children are under the supervision of the staff of La Gerencia Equestrian Center.
Only on Fridays and Sundays from 9:00 pm to 9:30 pm.
Parents of children under 12 years of age may call us during the first few days so that we can let you know how they are adapting. These calls should be made between 13:30 and 14:00 or between 20:00 and 21:00.
USE OF MOBILE PHONES: Mobile phones are kept switched off and safely stored in La Gerencia’s office. They are only handed out on the days and at the times indicated above. Any mobile phone that has not been handed in may result in expulsion with no possibility of a refund.
The first few days can be tiring, and some children may need a longer adaptation period. We ask you to trust in our many years of experience running riding camps and to work with us to help your children adapt to camp life.
You can be sure that no decision is taken lightly, whether it concerns horse allocation, group placement or room sharing.
We know how difficult it is to trust others with your children, but as parents ourselves we aim to treat them as if they were our own.
If the staff notice any settling-in problems or anything unusual, we will contact you immediately so that we can understand and resolve the issue together.
Family members are not allowed to stay at the riding centre during the camps, apart from departure day. On that day you will be able to watch your child ride and show the skills learnt during the camp.
To avoid money getting lost, we prefer that you leave it in the office at La Gerencia when you arrive. A record is kept of how much each camper uses. We recommend a daily limit of 2 or 3 €. The “bank” opens once a day.
If, for any reason, a child needs more money, we will give it to them with your permission.
We accept no responsibility for the loss of money or valuables if they have not been handed in to La Gerencia Equestrian Center.
Our aim is to offer a friendly and comfortable environment that is at the same time fun and educational. The following rules are in place to help ensure that.
In order to attend the camps, you must accept these terms and conditions:
- You must respect the facilities and materials provided at La Gerencia. Any damage caused deliberately will have to be paid for by the camper.
- You must keep your room tidy and make your bed every morning. Sheets are changed weekly, or more often if necessary.
You are not allowed to keep food or drink in the bedroom, apart from water. Food that needs to be kept for medical reasons can be stored separately if required.
Bedrooms are only for sleeping, and each camper must sleep in their own allocated bed. Games and socialising take place in the designated areas. Entry to the bedrooms during classes and activities is not allowed, except in case of illness.
- Please respect the timetables and do not disturb other campers during rest hours.
- (For stays of 2 weeks or more) At night, dirty clothes must be left in the baskets provided. There is no laundry service for stays of one week or less. To save time, we mainly wash riding clothes and underwear, except for pupils staying for a month.
- We receive weekly visits from a doctor. If we have to take any child to the doctor, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU COMPLETE THE MEDICAL FORM.
If the camper has to take prescribed medication, please label it with their name, dosage, time of administration, etc.
The use of aspirin is strictly forbidden, as is the use of any medication without prescription or authorisation.
- Under no circumstances will mistreatment of horses or tack be accepted.
- The decisions of the instructors must be respected both in and out of class.
In the rare event that a camper’s behaviour has a negative effect on others, we may be forced to expel them without any possibility of a refund. Before reaching that point, every possible effort will be made to avoid it.
If you want to come with your own horse, we offer a free livery service for stays of 2 weeks or longer.
- Under no circumstances will unvaccinated horses be allowed. Horses must be vaccinated against Equine Influenza and Rhinopneumonitis, at least six months before and no later than fifteen days before entry to our Equestrian Centre, and must have been wormed within the previous month.
- It is compulsory to present a valid passport signed by a vet. Third-party liability insurance is also required.
- You must bring enough feed for the whole stay. Changes in diet should be made gradually, so for short stays it is best to keep the horse on the same feed.
On departure day, before lunch, you will have the opportunity to watch your children ride in front of family and friends.
Your children will tell you the exact timings during the phone call on the previous Friday. We try to organise everything so that as many families as possible can watch them ride. It is not compulsory to attend these activities.
Through this small exhibition, we thank you for the confidence you place in us. Our goal is for you to enjoy a special, intense and happy camp, full of friendship and riding.
Above all, we hope you will want to come back the following year. And for those of you who are already returning, some for the fifth or sixth year, we can assure you that the camps remain what you know them to be: something special for true horse lovers.
