Riders in the Loire Valley along the Cher river
France > Paris - The Loire Valley

Pays de la Loire - Cadre Noir of Saumur

Enjoy an exceptional and unique horse riding holiday in Saumur as you are welcomed into life behind the scenes of the famous Cadre Noir riding school. The Cadre Noir de Saumur is world renowned for its incredibly complex horsemanship. Meet the expert ecuyer, attend private clinics and have a chance to ride the schools' international eventing courses. Experience a trail ride through western France's stunning countryside, follow the river Loire and take in the sights that unfold along the way.
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Trail Riding
6 days/ 4 days riding -
From £0
  • Riding in the world renowned Cadre Noir, France
    The incredible horses and horsemen of the Cadre Noir
  • France on horseback, in Pays de la Loire
    Horseriding holiday in France
  • Saumur, Pays de la Loire, France
    The beautiful city of Saumur in France
  • Cadre Noir, equestrian event in Saumur
    Equestrian event at the Cadre Noir
  • Jump training in horse school France
    Jumping training at the Cadre Noir
  • Cadre Noir, World renowned horse school in France
    Ecuyer's hat from the world-renowned school of Saumur
  • Cadre Noir riding school in France
    Ecuyers rehearsing for an equestrian event
  • Horseriding holiday in west France
    Sunset on the river in Saumur
  • Riding with the prestigious Cadre Noir in Saumur
    Rehearsal for the ecuyers in Saumur
  • Riding holiday at Saumur, France
    An ecuyer and his horse in Saumur

Itinerary

Highlights

- Gain an inside look into the famous French riding school - Le Cadre Noir de Saumur
- Attend private clinics and guided rides around the famous eventing course
- Trail riding following the river Loire and see the sights that unfold along the way
- See the beautiful Notre-Dame de Cunault, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture
- Stay in luxurious accommodation with fine dining
- Enjoy a spectacular ride with an experienced and knowledgeable guide
- See the Chateau de Saumur, built at the confluence of the Loire and the Thouet
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  • Day 1 1: Arrive in Saumur

    Travel to Saumur train station in the afternoon and be driven to the hotel - alternatively, you can make your own way by car.

    For your first night, you will stay in Hotel Saint Pierre, a XIVth century building located in the very heart of historic Saumur at the foot of the chateau on the banks of the Loire.

    A visit to the Chateau of Saumur will be possible (included).
    Over dinner you will meet your guide and discuss the plan for the week ahead.

  • Day 2 2: Chateau de Saumur - Cadre Noir Saint Hilaire st Florent - 4 hours riding

    Your ride will start in front of the magnificent Château de Saumur and take you to the heights of Saint Hilaire Saint Florent where the prestigious Cadre Noir and the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation (French National Riding School) are located. You will have lunch at the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation before enjoying a private ride inside.

    You will ride around the eventing course in the Hippodrome de Verrie and have the chance to see, from horseback, the jumps used in the International 3 days events that take place there.

    You will then have a private guided visit of the Cadre Noir and Ecole Nationale d'Equitation stables.
    In the evening, you will have an apéritif in Bar le Canter, frequented by riders and champions.

    After a full day, you will return to Hotel Saint Pierre

  • Day 3 3: Cadre Noir - Chenehutte - Trèves - 3-4 hours riding

    In the morning, you will attend a private clinic with an ecuyer at the Cadre Noir de Saumur. You will be given an insight into French riding traditions and their uses in the education of dressage horses. Lunch will be at the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation.

    You will ride through the countryside and enjoy spectacular views across the Loire as well as visiting the Romanesque churches of Chenehutte and Trèves.

  • Day 4 4: Chenehutte - Cunault - Gennes - Saumur - 4,5 hours riding

    After breakfast, you will head out to visit a masterpiece of Romanesque art, Prieuriale of Notre Dame de Cunault. You will stop for lunch at the l'Aubergade restaurant in Gennes. The afternoon will be spent riding through the Loire countryside, passing remnants of Neolithic architecture.

    An aperitif and dinner will be had on a traditional river boat cruising from Chenehutte to Saumur. You will spend the night in a 15th century stately home, Hotel Saint Pierre in Saumur.

  • Day 5 5: Saumur - Marson - Parc miniature Pierre et Lumière - Cadre Noir - 4 hours riding

    Your ride, starting from the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation, will follow wonderful sandy trails through the village of Marson (inhabited BC). There you will have the opportunity to visit troglodyte habitations, the Romanesque chapel and have a look at the private chateau.

    Following lunch in a troglodyte restaurant, your ride will continue to the underground sculptures of Pierre et Lumière; here statues have been carved into the limestone of a labyrinth of caves and you will find the home of the museum of mushrooms.

    In the evening, you will attend a gala at the famous Cadre Noir de Saumur and a gourmet diner in Saumur.

  • Day 6 6: Departure from Saumur

    After breakfast, you will leave for Saumur station and take the train back home or to a local airport, or alternatively you can make your own way to the Saumur station by car.

Dates & prices

Price details

No departure for this destination. Please contact our travel advisers for more information.
- Flights or transportation to your destination (international/domestic) are not included, but can be booked on request - please contact us for rates.     

- Rates are per person, based on two riders sharing a twin or double room during the ride. 

- Groups are composed of a minimum of 5 riders and a maximum of 10 international riders, plus guides. Please note: the ride will also confirm for fewer riders on payment of a supplement. Once the group has reached 5 people, we will remove this supplement from your invoice and refund you if you have already paid it.
If 4 people in the group: approx. €250//$275/£220 per person
If 3 people in the group: approx. €495/$545/£435 per person
If 2 people in the group: approx. €990/$1090/£870 per person

- Transfer from/to Saumur train station is not included (around €20 by car each way).

- If you sign up to the ride as a solo rider and there are no other riders likely to share your room, you will be charged a single room supplement of approx. €625/$690/£550. You will then be reimbursed if a sharer is found for you at a later date. 

- Rider weight limit: 95 kg / 210 lbs / 14.9 st.
Please Note
The itinerary may be modified at anytime for security reasons, meteorological or events beyond our control such as blocked roads, rivers in flood, drought, strikes and local holidays. Equus Journeys, our local partners and their local guides will always strive to find the best solution and will alter the itinerary as needed.
The names of the hotels and accommodation are given for information only and depending on availability, they may be modified without notice and replaced by another of a similar standard.

Price includes

Support Team

1 horse equipped with saddle and bridle per rider

Accommodation

All nights in a double room at a luxury B&B in a château

Meals

Full board from the first dinner to the last breakfast. All dinners are gourmet and accompanied by 2 glasses of wine

Price doesn't include

Meals

Beverages and personal extras

Transport

International flights
Train station transfers

Extra

Cancellation and travel insurances are not included. Please note that insurance is mandatory. We recommend to take out an insurance policy as soon as your travel is booked in case of cancellation.

Optional

Accommodation

Single room supplement
We are currently updating our dates and prices they will be online soon. If you want details of this holiday, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Equestrian info

Horses

Ride forward-going, well-mannered and reliable horses that are unfazed by traffic. The herd is made up of various breeds but many are Selle Francais crosses - docile, sure footed and used to the terrain.

There is a rider weight limit 100kg/ 15 stones 9lbs.

They are ridden in English tack and all have saddlebags to keep your sun tan cream, glasses etc.

Guide & local team

The ride is coached by fully qualified state certificated staff.

Minimum riding ability

Minimum riding ability

You should be a confident rider, in control of a horse at walk, trot and canter in the open.

Rider weight limit: 95 kg / 210 lbs / 14.9 st.

Pace

This is a rather fast-paced ride. There will be trotting and cantering along the way whenever the terrain allows.

Tacking ability and participation

You will be responsible for tacking and untacking your horse as well as feeding and watering them.

Trip conditions and Requested experience

A previous riding holiday over several days is a plus, but not a requirement. Riders who do not ride regularly must ensure they are riding fit before the start of the holiday as there are some long hours in the saddle.

Equestrian equipment

Comfortable English tack
Some saddlebags.

We recommend our riders to wear a helmet to the correct standard and you should bring your own to ensure a proper fit

Travel info

Comfort

You will spend the night at beautiful hotels: Hôtel Saint Pierre in Saumur, and Manoir de Beauregard in Chenehutte. All have a combination of great charm and comfort. Enjoy gourmet picnics of local delicacies and fine dining each evening.

Meals

Breakfast will be had in the hotels/ chateau.
Lunch will be had either in restaurants in the villages you're riding through or at the Equestrian school. For your evening meals and aperitifs, you will experience gourmet meals in your hotels' restaurants, onboard a river boat and at the Cadre Noir.

Climate

The Pays-de-la-Loire region enjoys a mild climate. Having a maritime climate means that winters can be cold, drizzly and stormy, however it rarely rains all day. Summer extends from early April to late September/early October with temperatures regularly recorded at 26 to 28°C throughout July and August.

Tips

In France it is customary to tip - usually this is by rounding up the price when you are satisfied with the service in a restaurant. You may wish to leave a tip with the guide who can split it amongst all members of the team.

Packing list

Head
- You are required to wear a riding helmet and we recommend that you take your own to ensure a correct fit. There are many lightweight options available nowadays
- Sunglasses - with a cord attached so they don't fly off when riding
- Buff or bandana

Upper body
- Thermals (long or short sleeved)
- Long sleeved shirts provide protection from the sun and are an extra layer
- T-shirts
- Lightweight fleece or jumper
- Warm fleece or jumper (and a spare in case one gets wet)
- Warm and waterproof jacket - it can rain at any time of year and the evenings can be particularly cold

Legs
- 2 Lightweight, comfortable riding trousers or jodhpurs - we recommend riding in them at home before taking them on holiday to ensure they don't rub
- Thermals
- Casual trousers for the evenings, such as jeans or tracksuit bottoms
- Waterproof over trousers

Hands and Feet
- Comfortable riding boots. We recommend short boots with half chaps but you may wish to take long chaps as an extra layer against inclement weather. We don't recommend taking your favourite long leather boots in case they get damaged
- Waterproof shoes/boots can be useful for abundant dew in the mornings or when it rains
- Trainers or equivalent light shoes for moving around the camp in the evenings
- Several pairs of warm, thick socks
- Gloves - your hands are particularly exposed to the sun, cold or rain whilst riding. Waterproof gloves can be particularly useful

Our Recommendations
- Please don't take a hard sided suitcase. Your luggage should be soft sided with a capacity of 60-80 litres. We recommend taking a backpack or similar.
- Backpacks cannot be worn whilst riding. We recommend a small bumbag or a coat with pockets so that you can carry small items with you during the day (passport, camera, sunscreen, lipbalm etc)
- We recommend travelling in your riding boots and carrying your hat and some riding clothes in your hand luggage - then if your luggage goes astray you are still able to ride!
- Dinners will be had at gourmet restaurants and you should dress accordingly.

Other useful items
- Camera and high capacity memory card. Spare battery
- Bumbag for carrying your camera and small items whilst riding
- Headtorch or small torch for moving around camp at night - bring spare batteries and bulbs
- Water bottle (2 litres or 2 x 1 litre)
- Swiss army knife (or equivalent)
- Small plastic bags for rubbish
- Ear plugs (for light sleepers)

In your hold luggage
- take any liquids, such as shampoo, moisturiser, deodorant unless they are less than 100ml and all bottles can fit in a small, clear, plastic ziplock bag. We recommend biodegradable washing products where possible.


In your hand luggage
- Any valuables, such as your camera, ipod, ipad etc.

Medical kit
- Any medication you regularly take
- Sunscreen and lip balm - should be high factor
- Insect repellent, preferably containing deet
- Blister plasters in case of any rubs
- Antiseptic cream, plasters, aspirin, anti-histamine, insect-bite salve etc...
- Spare prescription glasses/contact lenses
- Eye drops
- Imodium or similar anti-diarrhoea medication
- Antiseptic wipes
- Handwash gel

Miscellaneous
- We recommend taking a copy of your passport and insurance documents with you in case you lose your originals

Sustainable tourism

  1. Travel light. It's a little known fact, but the lighter you pack, the better for the environment as heavy bags will produce higher emissions (when flying a plane or driving a car!).
  2. Reduce plastic waste. Take your favorite reusable bottle with you. Avoid single-use bags, cups, or straws.
  3. Preserve nature. Always take your rubbish with you during the ride and recycle them. Leave all the flowers or plants as you found them, and never get too close when observing wildlife. Make sure to use eco-friendly products such as body wash or laundry detergent (if camping) to protect both your skin and the environment.
  4. Choose your experiences carefully. Respect animal life by not participating in any activities that abuse wild animals (shows, elephant rides, etc.).
  5. Support local populations. Buy local handicrafts, be respectful of customs, and learn about the culture of local communities.
  6. Share! Raise awareness among your family and friends about sustainable tourism.

For more information please see this page.

Did you know?

Did you know?

This riding holiday will take place in the Cadre Noir of Saumur. This institution, founded in 1828, is widely known for its excellence in equestrian training in multiple disciplines, including show jumping and dressage. In addition to its schooling and performing activities, the school has become an attractive landmark for tourists. Here, visitors may take part in guided tours and demonstrations that showcase the artistry and skills of both riders and horses.