• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-iFT1lU-Is

Here some information to understand what is actually – barehoof- :

Jaime Jackson ( AANCHP): “The biology of Equus Caballus, the result of 60 million years of natural selection that culminated more than one million years ago, demands that we work with its nature — not against it. The equine species is genuinely adapted to go barefoot. It is only through human ignorance of the horse’s natural state that led us to the incorrect, and harmful, conclusion that shoes are necessary — or useful. They aren’t, and, moreover, contribute significantly to the lameness we see everywhere around the world.”

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A barefoot horse is showing no deformity, but healthy and fully functional feet. These  horses can go anywhere like our our rescued horses are doing.They walk over any kind of ground and up into the high mountains without any problems.

Day 1
Starting from the stable in Pollenca Bay at 9am, you will prepare your
horse for the journey and then ride by small finca roads along the riverbed to Pollenca town.There you will tie up your horse near the historic Roman Bridge whilst you have
coffee or a drink. Afterwards you will take the ancient pilgrim’s path –
the Cami Vell de Lluc – to the Monastery at Lluc 18 kilometres to the
south west. Passing along gravel and earth tracks, through the river bed
and ancient holm oak forests you will climb steadily towards
the monastery. You will find charcoal burning platforms from the days
when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca - used to make
lime in the mountains and as a cooking fuel. And also ice houses where
compacted snow would have been stored after being carried down
from the snow-capped mountains in winter to provide ice to the towns in
summer. You will stop for lunch in the middle of the mountains and forest to enjoy a picnic. Arriving at the monastery in Lluc retains all of the sense of welcome and
of peacefulness, at the end of a journey traditionally associated with a
place of pilgrimage. You will take your horse to the lush field provided
by the monastery, un-tack and feed them. You might fancy a drink in the
bar now before finding your monastery cell. Simple and comfortable with
private bathrooms – but be prepared to make your own bed!Best to do this before dinner and getting tired. An excellent typically Mallorquine menu awaits you in the Monastery restaurant.

Day 2
After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the
downward journey home. At first you will take a different route through
what looks like an enchanted wood, eventually returning to a familiar
landscape, down the steeper paths to the shallower inclines of the
Tramuntana. There are some canter tracks along the way and many
narrower tracks with lovely and frequently changing scenery. You will
pass beneath the steep north facing crags of Tomir mountain. Stopping
again in Pollenca, you will enjoy an excellent Mallorcan lunch such as
paella with wine – served in a small bar frequented by local people. Now
the final ride back to the stables where you will complete your second
day’s riding at about 6pm.

Day 2
After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the journey
towards to peak of Galilea. You will find more of the charcoal burning platforms which are also on the old road from Pollenca to Lluc. These are from the time when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca.
It was used to turn the lime stone into quick lime for farming, to make mortar and paint for buildings and as a cooking fuel. Your horse will now take you on an exhilarating journey up steep tracks to what feels like the
top of the world. In fine weather you will see the most stunning views of the Mallorcan coast line before descending into a wide valley with views of Puig Major – Mallorca’s highest mountain. Birds of prey can frequently be seen circling in the sky like the black vultures of Mallorca.You continue towards a densely wooded landscape and then along narrow, winding and eventually steeply rising track – before descending to the Refuge at Tossals Verds.
There are often charming donkeys to share the horses’ field, which includes a shelter for tying up, grooming and feeding. At the refuge you can order water, wine, beers, coffees and a few spirits before being
served a communal set meal shared at trestle tables with the other guests. You will sleep in a dormitory so try not to snore too much! There are separate men and women’s toilet and shower rooms.

Day 3
Breakfast is again served communally, after which it’s time to saddle up
for day 3, packing a picnic lunch prepared by the Refuge. Today you
will retrace parts of the route of the previous day, with some differences.
Notice particularly how the ground cover changes from scented pine and thick undergrowth to bare mountain side with tiny wild flowers. Having seen many smaller ice houses along your way, today you will visit an enormous snow house close to a long abandoned building called the house of Galilea. This would have fed the smaller ice houses with
compacted snow from the mountain tops in winter, ready to be carried down to the towns for use in summer.
Admire the astonishing views of the coastline before beginning your descent down a beautifully restored stone stairway (which is part of the recently completed Routa de Piedra en Sec) where you will need
to dismount to relax horses and riders. Then continue riding through the varied landscape until you return to the monastery and your horse to its green field.
You will be well into the routine of un-tacking and feeding your horse now.
Dinner is served at Lluc in the informal circular bar restaurant on the outer edge of the monastery site, where
the food is excellent.

Day 4
After breakfast on the final day groom your horse and tack up for the downward journey home and notice the horses’ sense of excitement as they return to their most familiar territory. At first you will take a different route to the one you first arrived by, through what looks like an enchanted wood, eventually returning to a familiar landscape and the shallower inclined of the Tramuntana. Stopping again in Pollenca, you will enjoy an excellent Mallorcan lunch such as paella with wine – served in a small bar frequented by local people. Now the final ride back to the stables where you will complete your second day’s riding at about 6pm.

Day 1
Starting from the stable in Pollenca Bay at 9am, you will prepare your
horse for the journey and then ride by small finca roads along the riverbed to Pollenca town.There you will tie up your horse near the historic Roman Bridge whilst you have
coffee or a drink. Afterwards you will take the ancient pilgrim’s path –
the Cami Vell de Lluc – to the Monastery at Lluc 18 kilometres to the south west. Passing along gravel and earth tracks, through the river bed and ancient holm oak forests you will climb steadily towards the monastery. You will find charcoal burning platforms from the days when charcoal was an essential commodity on Mallorca – used to make lime in the mountains and as a cooking fuel. And also ice houses where compacted snow would have been stored after being carried down from the snow-capped mountains in winter to provide ice to the towns in summer. You will stop for lunch in the middle of the mountains and forest to enjoy a picnic. Arriving at the monastery in Lluc retains all of the sense of welcome and
of peacefulness, at the end of a journey traditionally associated with a
place of pilgrimage. You will take your horse to the lush field provided by the monastery, un-tack and feed them. You might fancy a drink in the bar now before finding your monastery cell. Simple and comfortable with private bathrooms – but be prepared to make your own bed!Best to do this before dinner and getting tired. An excellent typically Mallorquine menu awaits you in the Monastery restaurant.

Day 2
After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the journey towards the peak of Galileu. Your guide will have organised a picnic lunch for you to carry with you. Your horse will now take you on an exhilarating journey up steep tracks to what feels like the top of the world. In fine weather you will see the most stunning views of the Mallorcan coast line.
You will break for lunch near an abandoned house and see an enormous
ice cave dug into the earth and lined with stone. Stop to explore and rest before riding back along the ice man (or Navar’s) route. They carried the ice in wooden containers and barrows over the same rough where you will ride.
Return by one of two routes your guide will let you choose. Either down a beautifully restored stone stairway (which is part of the recently completed Routa de Piedra en Sec) where you will need to dismount and walk as it is better for your horse; or alternatively across the same softer
ground that you crossed in the morning.The rare black vultures of Mallorca are often our company and it´s a special moment to have them flying above us.
You will return to the Monastery, taking your horses back to their green field, where you will be well into the routine of un-tacking and feeding them. On this second evening at Lluc we will enjoy dinner in the restaurant on the outer edge of the monastery site, where the food and service is very good.

Day 3
After breakfast the next day, groom your horse and tack up for the
downward journey home and notice the horses smarten their pace as
they return to their most familiar territory. At first you will take a different route through what looks like an enchanted wood, eventually returning to a familiar landscape and the shallower inclined of the Tramuntana.
Stopping again in Pollenca, you will enjoy an excellent Mallorcan lunch
such as paella with wine – served in a small bar frequented by local
people. Now the final ride back to the stables where you will complete
your third day’s riding at about 6pm.

Min. Age 18years,riding experience,languages and driving license are plus points!

Please contact us if interested:

E-mail :info@hipicaformentor.com

Our horses are kept in the herd the whole year and enjoying their social life.

You are more then welcome to help us rescue badly treated horses in Majorca and we are thankful for any help.
Come and join us on our rides or tell people about us and we gladly accept donations!
It is not easy at the moment for everybody and we are also affected by these times.
We are rescueing horses since 12 years and would like to do it many more…………………..

Rescue horses

For many years, we have dedicated our lives to rescuing horses in Mallorca.With little legislative protection for animals in Spain and with none of the large animal welfare charities such those in the UK, the horses we take in are often in a terrible state.  Some have been abused or neglected.  Many have been kept in appalling conditions.

We buy them from their owners and then our work begins.  First, we nurse them back to health then Lorenzo, a horse whisperer and bare hoof specialist, starts to rebuild their confidence and train them to take riders.  Within a few months the horses are unrecognisable from the sad creatures who first arrive here.  They live in a herd outside, bare hoofed and are ridden bitless because we want to make the riding experience as natural as possible.

Each horse has a story.Take Banderin, a black Andalusian.We rescued him from a dark stable where he was starving and frightened.Or Rupert…he was regularly beaten by his owner and had lost his trust in people.Thanks to Lorenzo’s care, he is now a firm favourite with riders at Hipica Formentor.

Our work is vital – there are many horses in need on Majorca.Every week we receive phone calls about another neglected or abandoned horse but rescuing them is expensive and we are struggling financially to care for the horses we already have.

Please help us to help Mallorca’s horses in need!

Thank you!

Lorenzo, Christiane and Courtney Crespi

It’s easy to help us:

• Ride with us!
• Recommend us to others
• Make a donation at  Santander IBAN: ES64 0049 3978 6322 9406 7138   SWIFT: BSCHESMM