Horses into Galicia

[DenWhite]

My wife and I are commencing C/F from Leon in June. There is a reference in the Brierley Guide between Herrerias and O'Cebreiro to hire horses from Al Paso stables for the climb up. Has anyone chosen to do this and/or is the option still available as sounds interesting for something a bit different to experience?

 

[mspath]

My wife and I are commencing C/F from Leon in June. There is a reference in the Brierley Guide between Herrerias and O'Cebreiro to hire horses from Al Paso stables for the climb up. Has anyone chosen to do this and/or is the option still available as sounds interesting for something a bit different to experience?

For more re the horses up to O Cebreiro see these earlier threads--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/renting-horses-to-climb-ocebreiro.32546/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/horse-hire-for-8km.47873/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/renting-a-horse-for-small-portions.51604/

Good luck and Buen camino to you both!

 

[kelleymac]

Yes, my son and I did it. It was beautiful, and wonderful respite for me (I had some bad blisters.) We were early in the season (early April, Holy Week), and so waited for another family to join us. So I helped tidy up the horses a bit -- You don't have to do this, we own horses and were happy to be with equines for an hour or so. They will put your packs in a car and have them up at O'Cebreiro for you. Or you can keep them on while you ride. -- The horses were in good health- they were a bit muddy and shaggy (they were loosing their winter coat). Their hooves were in good condition and the owners are fond of them. The man running the stable trotted up the hill beside us. On his own feet, not horseback, as all the horses were taken. The horses know exactly where they're going and are gentle hacks.-- Al Paso has a Facebook page. --

 

[DenWhite]

Yes, my son and I did it. It was beautiful, and wonderful respite for me (I had some bad blisters.) We were early in the season (early April, Holy Week), and so waited for another family to join us. So I helped tidy up the horses a bit -- You don't have to do this, we own horses and were happy to be with equines for an hour or so. They will put your packs in a car and have them up at O'Cebreiro for you. Or you can keep them on while you ride. -- The horses were in good health- they were a bit muddy and shaggy (they were loosing their winter coat). Their hooves were in good condition and the owners are fond of them. The man running the stable trotted up the hill beside us. On his own feet, not horseback, as all the horses were taken. The horses know exactly where they're going and are gentle hacks.-- Al Paso has a Facebook page. --

Thanks for this insight Kellymac.

 

[DenWhite]

For more re the horses up to O Cebreiro see these earlier threads--

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/renting-horses-to-climb-ocebreiro.32546/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/horse-hire-for-8km.47873/

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/renting-a-horse-for-small-portions.51604/

Good luck and Buen camino to you both!

Thanks for this info and for the 'good luck'.

 

[Anamiri]

Thanks for this info, i'm planning next year to take my husband and 2 eldest grand kids, and the horse ride up to OCebreiro is something they are looking forward to.

 

[trecile]

I met some pilgrims last year that wanted to ride up to O Cebreiro, but had trouble connecting with the horse owners. Eventually a few of their group decided to wait until the next day to ride the horses.

 

[DenWhite]

Thanks for that. Won't be that keen but will try phone contact the day before.

 

[DebR]

My wife and I are commencing C/F from Leon in June. There is a reference in the Brierley Guide between Herrerias and O'Cebreiro to hire horses from Al Paso stables for the climb up. Has anyone chosen to do this and/or is the option still available as sounds interesting for something a bit different to experience?

I and three camino friends did this in May last year. Not being a horsewoman of any kind, I found it both nerve-wracking and exhilarating...the horses are beautiful and know the path very well, and Victor was wonderful guide, especially for a nervous rider. I’d recommend it in a heartbeat.

 

[gloria lowe]

I did it and it was great fun. Victor is awesome. My horse Bonnie.

 

[kelleymac]

I did it and it was great fun. Victor is awesome. My horse Bonnie.

I rode Bonnie too!

 

[donalomahony]

 

[gloria lowe]

I did it and it was great fun. Victor is awesome. My horse Bonnie.

 

[expmrw]

My wife and I are commencing C/F from Leon in June. There is a reference in the Brierley Guide between Herrerias and O'Cebreiro to hire horses from Al Paso stables for the climb up. Has anyone chosen to do this and/or is the option still available as sounds interesting for something a bit different to experience?

A great idea but we gave it a miss as it was the horses lunch break and we decided not to wait

 

[Curt Leiker]

Nancy and I rode the horses in late September last year. The trip up was fun and the horses are gentle and kind to the rider. Except that they constantly wanted to grab a bite of grass beside the trail which required a continually snug rein to let them know that was a bad habit. But we were so exhausted from forty days on the trail that the steep climb to O'Cebreiro and into Galicia seemed undoable. These horses helped us continue on to Santiago when we felt we had reached our endurance limits.

 

[naplesdon]

I loved it. I had walked there from Trabadelo in the rain covered with a poncho, so I was understandably a little sweaty. There was one horse available so I opted to ride. As we climbed the hill to O'Cebreiro the temperature dropped rapidly and we were in a sleet/snow squall, I swear I had ice cycles inside my poncho when I dismounted and headed for the warmest place I could find for a bowl of soup and some vino tinto.