The European Showjumping Championships has become a global benchmark, held every two years, in the intervening years between the Olympics and the World Equestrian Games. This year it will take place 16–20 July at the Casas Novas Equestrian Center, located in the beautiful region of Galicia, northwest Spain.

If you’re planning a trip to the venue, check out these hotels near the Casas Novas, plus guesthouses and holiday lets. Accommodation is listed in order of distance from the the European Showjumping Championships venue – jump down to…

• Hotels near Casas Novas
• Apartments and holiday lets near Casas Novas

Hotels near Casas Novas in Spain

Apartments and holiday lets near Casas Novas in Spain

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One of the equine stars shining in Milan at the European Showjumping Championships is the Spanish horse who spends 20 hours a day asleep – but is always happy to wake for a banana.

Manuel Fernandez Saro and Jarlin De Torres, who are both Spanish-bred, from Andalusia, tipped just one pole today to sit in 32nd place individually. Their score also contributes to Spain’s eighth place as they try to secure qualification to next year’s Paris Olympics.

Manuel said he took on the Jarnac gelding five years ago, for his owner/breeder Richard Golding.

“He’s from the same area as me, Andalusia, which was actually quite nice,” he said. “We’ve gone together all the way up; he did his first championship in Riesenbeck [in 2021], and then last year, he went to Herning, and now here.”

Manuel said the 12-year-old is different to ride from the way he might appear.

“He looks slow and like he’s no blood and it’s the other way round,” he said. “He’s a lot of blood and power, and he’s sensitive.

“In the stables and lorry and to handle, he’s fantastic, but I’ve never had a horse like it. He spends 20 hours lying down, every day. That’s winter or summer, at home or a show, 20 hours minimum lying down. But if you come with a banana, he doesn’t have to see it, he can smell it from 20 metres, then he’s happy.”

Jarlin De Torres enjoys the peel as much as the fruit, Manuel added, and he made sure a stock of bananas came with them to Milan.

“He has them every day; [his owner] Richard brings them,” he said. “He’s well known for that in our team.”

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Nine horses are receiving “close monitoring” in hospital in Valencia – eight of whom are showing neurological signs of equine herpes virus (EHV-1).

H&H reported that the organisers of the Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Oliva Nova, Spain, had cancelled the second part of the showjumping tour (7-26 February) as four horses on site had tested positive for EHV-1. Ten horses, six of whom were showing signs of illness, were put in isolation on 21 February. Swabs were taken, four of which were positive, four negative and two inconclusive. At the time none of the horses were showing signs of neurological illness.

The Valencia Veterinary department decided that all the horses stabled in the same tent as the four that had tested positive had to remain on the venue for at least one week.

In an FEI update on 2 March a spokesman said the Oliva organising committee had set up a “strong organisation” and continues to closely collaborate with the authorities, the national federation and the FEI. The Spring MET III Tour (7-26 March) has been cancelled and the organising committee has put meetings in place to keep all athletes informed on the most recent development.

The spokesman added that the venue is operating under the auspices of the regional veterinary authority, which is monitored by the federal veterinary authority, MAPA. An FEI vet has been appointed as responsible for the venue, leading the work on site and reporting back to the regional veterinary authority.

“To date, there are nine horses at the University Equine Hospital in Valencia (CEU) for close monitoring, eight of which have displayed neurological signs. As a preventive measure and to ensure enough treating space, the FEI has ordered 12 temporary boxes to be set up at the hospital grounds in case more horses are brought in,” said the FEI spokesman, adding that 103 horses remain at the venue in Oliva, and these have been divided into groups depending on their health status.

“The temperature of all horses at the venue is taken two to three times daily, and in the latest report from 1 March, no horse had presented fever or any clinical signs.”

MAPA, supported by the FEI, has extended the initial safety measures to avoid a further spread of virus from the venue. To leave the venue, horses must present a negative sample, followed by a second sample 14 days later, and a third on day 15. All three samples must be negative for EHV.

To be unblocked from the FEI database and return to competition horses must fulfil certain health requirements; either 21 days’ isolation with a nasopharyngeal sample taken on day 21 at the earliest – or a minimum isolation of 14 days, with a sample taken on day seven, and a second sample taken seven days later at the earliest. All samples must be analysed by a PCR and return negative. The measures also include twice-daily rectal temperatures.

“Release from isolation” can only take place on the advice of a vet, and to be compete at an FEI event, horses need to complete with all the return to competition precautions and have the restriction lifted by the FEI vet department.

In Lier, Belgium, where one horse had tested positive, the venue has been “given the green light” to reopen for competitions following an inspection by the Belgian national head vet. The affected horse, and each of the 25 in-contact horses, may not attend any FEI events under they have fulfilled “certain health requirements”, which are imposed in order to minimise any potential transmission of the virus, to their own horses and the wider horse population.

Discussing the current status of the spread of the disease, the FEI spokesman confirmed seven horses departed Oliva prior to the first confirmed case of EHV-1; one travelled to Valencia, Spain, four to Vejer de la Frontera, Spain, and two to Doha, Qatar.

“They were immediately isolated on request of the FEI and are currently applying the FEI return to competition protocols while in isolation. To date, none of the horses have been reported to present fever or clinical signs,” he said.

The spokesman added that six horses returning from Oliva to Limburg, the Netherlands, have tested positive for EHV-1 and have been placed in quarantine, where they are being closely monitored.

“Unrelated to Oliva, in Vilamoura, Portugal, two horses with fever were placed in isolation, however their test results for EHV-1 were negative,” he said.

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Spain’s José Antonio Garcia Mena and the striking chestnut mare Divina Royal set the tone for a top-class grand prix special day with a new personal best in the World Dressage Championships results.

This partnership has solidified their partnership since their first appearance on the world stage at last summer’s Tokyo Olympics, which came just months after their first international grand prix together.

José Antonio and the 12-year-old mare were first into the arena in the grand prix special at the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Championships today (Tuesday, 8 August), setting the bar with a score of 73.88%.

Jose Ignacio Diaz Bravo’s mare showed scopey trot work, trending around the 74% mark, with her light, expressive passage a treat for viewers. The highlights kept coming, with a flowing canter zig-zag and bold, forward two- and one-time tempi changes.

Carl Hester providing commentary on the livestream summed up her elegant test as a “shout out to the chestnut mares of the world”.

José Antonio said afterwards that he was able to take more risks today than in the grand prix team test, where he scored 71.82 % – helping Spain to team seventh.

“Today I had nothing to lose and our chance to be very on the limit in the special,” he said, adding the special suits this mare better than the grand prix. “Tokyo last year was a very fast year, because my first CDI [big tour] with her was in April last year, so some three months later, she was in the Olympic Games.”

He added the winter has been pivotal in building their relationship and now they are “on their way”.

José Antonio’s team-mates Jose Daniel Martin Dockx, riding Malagueno LXXXIII, and Alejandro Sánchez del Barco, aboard Quincallo de Indalo, are also in this first grand prix special session, which will decide the first set of individual World Dressage Championships results.

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POOR decision-making, a lack of cooperation and human error are among the factors contributing to the equine herpes (EHV-1) outbreak that brought horse sport across Europe to a halt during spring 2021, as the FEI concludes “mistakes were made”. 

The outbreak started in February when a number of horses who had been competing at the showjumping CES Valencia Spring Tour tested positive for EHV-1, and resulted in a six-week shutdown of equestrian sport across the continent. In total, 18 equines died during the outbreak, and 10 countries had confirmed cases. 

Concerns were raised at the time about the management of the outbreak and in March 2021 the FEI said it would conduct a “full and thorough investigation”. On 28 February 2022 the first section of a three-part report was published, providing a “comprehensive and factual picture” of the outbreak and analysis.

The report states that on 20 February, the FEI was first notified of horses with a fever at CES Valencia. The FEI told organisers to cancel the event – but the following day the show continued. It was eventually stopped that afternoon when the FEI warned disciplinary action would be taken if it did not stop immediately. 

That day, 131 horses from 11 countries left the venue without the “required health papers”. On 22 February the FEI traced and blocked all 752 horses from CES Valencia on the FEI database.

The rapid spread of EHV-1 at CES Valencia was investigated and factors included the number of horses on site sharing the same airspace, direct and indirect contact, and a lack of preventative measures. 

The FEI received information that examination on arrival at the venue “was not correctly conducted” and despite “numerous requests” for the organising committee to provide the FEI with its biosecurity contingency plan – a plan venues must have under FEI rules – this was never provided. 

The FEI was told there was “knowledge on site” at CES Valencia of an EHV-1 case in a horse who left the venue on 14 February and returned to France, but there was no official communication to the authorities, the FEI or those at the event. Although six horses onsite had a fever on 19 February and despite the knowledge of the French case, no action was taken to isolate sick horses at CES Valencia that day, and the FEI was not told immediately. 

The investigation included the Spanish Sunshine Tour at Vejer de la Frontera, where two horses showed signs of EHV-1, but none tested positive on site. According to sources, the report states, there was an “unwillingness” at the show to test horses specifically for EHV-1. The report states it is “likely” at least one of the horses who left CES Valencia for the Sunshine Tour from 7 to 14 February carried the virus and transmitted it to one or more horses – and examination on arrival at the Sunshine Tour “was not correctly conducted”.

The report concluded while it was “not possible to pinpoint” a single reason or person responsible for the outbreak, several risk factors were present including a lack of preparedness and compliance with regulations, combined with poor decision-making and a lack of cooperation with the FEI. 

“The disease itself was not the problem, rather it was the management of it, and unfortunately there were factors – including human error – that allowed the virus to spread much more rapidly than it would have done if the mandated biosecurity protocols had been followed correctly and immediately,” read the report.

“In hindsight, the FEI should have requested permission from the Spanish authorities to allow additional veterinarians on site more rapidly. The FEI did not send help earlier because FEI headquarters was not immediately informed how critical the situation was until alerted by an owner whose horse was seriously ill.”

The report said it was “clear mistakes were made, and everyone – including the FEI – has to take their share of responsibility where appropriate” – adding there has to be accountability for actions or non-actions that enabled the spread of the disease. 

CES Valencia did not respond to H&H’s request for a comment. A spokesman for the Sunshine Tour told H&H they did not wish to comment.

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A top Spanish equestrian centre will play home to the world’s largest “removable” indoor arena.

Vejer de la Frontera-based centre the Dehesa Montenmedio, host of the Sunshine Tour, has invested 750,000 euros (£640,000) into building a new 90x45m indoor arena. The arena, which is a tent-like structure rather than fixed, will add to the 20 grass and sand arenas on the site.

A spokesman for the centre said the arena, which will be first used in January 2022, will allow competitions to be held when weather conditions are not favourable and it offers “great versatility and functionality” owing to its “dismountable nature”.

“It has a two-layer roof of polyester textile membrane coated in PVC with high-frequency welded keder. The two layers form an air chamber that provides high thermal insulation and wind resistance,” said the spokesman, who told H&H that the centre does not have a building permit so they cannot build an arena with a fixed structure.

Sunshine Tour director Teresa Blazquez said the new arena is the “icing on the cake” for the centre.

“One of the keys to the success of the Sunshine Tour is that when in the rest of the world it is impossible to compete on outdoor tracks [all year round] due to the climate, we are the oasis of Europe. Everyone knows with us they are guaranteed to be able to compete outdoors, which is essential for young horses. Inexperienced horses come to the circuit and leave Montenmedio in good shape. Now with the new indoor we give them the possibility to alternate the indoor arena with the others.

The spokesman added that the president of the Spanish equestrian federation Javier Revuelta “checked first-hand” the execution of the project and was “very satisfied” Spanish equestrian sport has a new facility of this “magnitude and scope”, providing a “definitive boost” for the circuit to establish itself among the world elite of equestrian facilities.

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Wave goodbye to a summer of unpredictable British weather with this luxury villa for sale in Seville, Spain. 

Owned by Joanne Hearst Castro, granddaughter of William Randolph Hearst, the press baron who inspired the main character in ‘Citizen Kane’, this incredible villa is 15 minutes from Seville’s international airport, two hours and a half from Madrid by train, and two hours from Costa del Sol.

The impressive 3000m² cortijo was built in 1929 by Spanish architect Aníbal González and underwent some updates in 1999.

Offered for sale by Sotheby’s International Realty, it is on the market for €13.5million (£11.8million)

Set in 376 acres, the estate has been home to a stud started in the 1980s, with a stallion from the Marquis of Salvatierra ranch and several mares from González-Barba.

At present, the yard features this large courtyard of stables, and there are currently nine employees working on the estate to help with the mucking out…

The horse-drawn collection includes the carriage used by the Infanta Elena, Spanish Emeritus King’s daughter, during her wedding day in Seville.

The estate also offers a bull ring with Mexican hand carved wood works as well as two other on-site dressage arenas.

Other fun features include a hermitage for religious celebrations, a leisure pavilion that includes a Mexican decorated bar, an Andalusian cellar and a large swimming pool.

The house has 15 bedrooms, a cinema theatre and a billiard are. 

Dine in style in this grand dining hall…

…and make the most of the Spanish siesta with this plush living room.

Don’t forget, the price includes all furnishing, décor, livestock, saddlery, carriages, antiques, and costumes…

… what a bargain. When can we move in?

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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The popular Costa del Sol Equestrian Tour for showjumpers has been cancelled this year.

Authorities at the Spanish city of Mijas, where the tour is based, have denied permission for the 2018 spring and autumn fixtures to go ahead.

The reason for this is said to be differing views over the use of the site.

The Costa del Sol Equestrian Tour was scheduled to run from 6 February until 25 March, and again from 23 October until 11 November this year.

Its classes range from young horse up to CSI3* and it is popular with riders from Britain and across Europe.

Classes are held in the 35,000sqm arena and the venue also features bars, restaurants, a shopping village and a 24-hour vet clinic.

A statement from the organisers said the city signed a contact several years ago to use the space for equestrian sport for 20 years.

The statement adds this contact is “far from over” and centre owners Manuel Blazquez and his son have made “millions of dollars of investments” on the basis of the contract.

Article continues below…

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“Talks with the city and the mayor have already been held repeatedly and without result,” adds the release.

“Now the Spanish judiciary has to decide on the progress. If there is no agreement on its use, it is likely that the municipality will incur millions of dollars in costs and investments under the 20-year contract.”

Alexandro Barreras, manager of the Costa del Sol Equestrian Tour and initiator of the tours in Vejer de la Frontera and Oliva Nova, added he is “very disappointed”.

“The process will certainly take several years,” he said.

Other Spanish dressage and showjumping tours are going ahead as normal.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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Winter sun-seekers are not the only tourists to have fallen victim to recent exceptional weather in Spain.

British and Irish showjumpers are among the visitors to have headed to what they hoped would have been warmer climes, only to be caught up in blizzards and storms.

The Mediterranean Equestrian Tour in Valencia, eastern Spain, has had to cancel and reschedule days of competition due to the freak weather.

The first two-week show of the year, Met I, runs from 17-29 January and features CSI* and CSI2* plus international young horse classes. Riders from across the world have entered and it has a total prize-pot of €264,000.

Event director Bettina Pöhls told H&H on Thursday (19 January) this was the first snow to fall there in 30 years.

“We had to delay the young horse classes [on Wednesday], but were able to jump in the afternoon,” she said. “The real snow was just up the hill behind us.”

Unfortunately the venue was forced to cancel classes on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday due to very stormy weather and hard rain.

Cancelled classes were rescheduled, or prize money added to similar classes, to be held this week.

Although normal temperatures for January in the region are about 9C, the mercury has dropped to around the freezing mark.

More than half Spain’s 50 regions were put on alert for sleet and snowstorms last week, with heavy snow causing problems for travellers on the roads in the east of the country.

But there is more positive news for the remainder of the show, with sunshine and highs of 17C forecast for the next three days.

Despite the rain, British riders have been enjoying success at the show.

Holly Smith and Elore finished third in the two-phase CSI2* 1.40m today (Monday), while Jemma Kirk and her own Tchoupi Pironniere finished second in the CSI2* 1.40m on Friday.

Leonne George scored a first British win of the show on Friday, taking the CSI* 1.10m with I Candy II, before adding another victory to their collection the CSI* 1.15m today (Monday).

Benjamin Raistrick and Top Limit took top honours in today’s CSI* 1.25m today (Monday), with Gemma Wright, Victoria Bennett, Anja Jackson, Louise Simpson, Caroline Breen, Emma Stoker all notching up top-six placings so far.

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Toblerone, a donkey wearing a sombrero and a bottle of questionable spirits — all things you may consider classic holiday trinkets. But two ladies have brought home some much larger “souvenirs” to remember their Spanish horse riding holiday — a pair of Andalusian horses.

Friends of 30 years Sara Llewellyn and Sue Whitehouse, who kept their horses together for many years, had long-discussed going on a trail riding holiday.

“We always said we wanted to ride a trail and stay in different places along the way, but we never got round to it — life got in the way,” Sara told H&H.

Last year, Sue moved back closer to Sara again and they decided to “just do it” and booked a riding holiday through the Pyrenees through Venture Co for this summer.

“We didn’t go out there with the idea of buying a horse at all — I wasn’t looking for anything!” said Sara.

“After the first day we fell in love with our horses and as the week progressed we bonded with them even more.”

The horses were not for sale, but part-way through the week the pair made enquiries.

“I think [our guide] kept an eye on us to see how bonded with the horses we were,” she said.

“I texted my husband and said ‘I have fallen in love with a Spaniard’.

“Eventually I let slip that it had four legs and I think he was a bit relieved.”

During the holiday they rode across varied terrain and even swam with the horses.

“The horses were fabulous and they looked after them really well,” she said.

“Every time we stopped the horses were cared for first.

“We just had the most fantastic time — we went through the Pyrenees and were in the saddle for around eight hours a day. Sudocrem and Deep Heat were our best friends!”

On returning to the UK, the pair kept in touch with the guides and the horses’ previous owners.

Sara then made contact with one of her friends, who runs an international horse transport company, and arranged for the pair — Lucero and Llampec —to be brought to Britain.

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“We came home and told everybody that we were buying the horses and they all told us we were bonkers,” said Sara.

“The whole thing seemed to run really smoothly — I was completely amazed.”

They were given all the details of the route, the lorry, the driver and his qualifications and the horses arrived safe and well at their new Somerset home in September.

Sara said they are being carefully managed and are settling to the way of life in the UK.

The pair have started hacking them out and are hoping to enjoy some riding club activities with them.

“They are beginning to show their real characters now,” Sara added.

So is Sara glad she decided to bring her four-legged Spaniard home from her holiday?

“Absolutely!”

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A rescue fund has being launched by a Bedfordshire breeder to help a group of starving Trakehner horses in the Spanish town of Medina Sidonia (news, 21 August).

Sue Attew, owner of Holme Park Stud in Bedfordshire, who bred many of

the horses now owned by Sue Jenkins in Medina Sidonia, has started a fund to pay for feeding the horses until they can be rescued.

She said: “We’ve received hundreds of emails of support offering homes for the horses and we’ve started a fund to support CACMA, the Spanish animal welfare group that is trying to keep the horses alive.

“Sue Jenkins is allowing a vet in but no one else, so it’s very difficult.

“Everyone is walking on eggshells as there’s no RSPCA in Spain and Andalucian law requires the horses put down if the authorities have to remove them.”

Sixteen out of fifty thoroughbred Trakehners were reported dead from neglect on the English-owned Spanish farm.

The owner Sue Jenkins is already being prosecuted by the RSPCA for cruelty to horses and is due in court in Gloucester in October.

For more information of the fund go to www.holmetrakehners.com

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A British woman faces prosecution in Spain following the death of 16 horses. Another 36 are in a critical condition.

Suzanne Jenkins, who is also being prosecuted by the RSPCA, for cruelty to horses in the UK, faces court in the town of Medina Sidonia.

Ms Jenkins was reported by local animal welfare group Colectivo Andaluz Contra El Maltrato Animal y Medio Ambiental (CACMA), which is working with the Guardia Civil (Spanish federal police).

CACMA’s Antonio Moreno said the horses are starving and are in a terrible condition.

CACMA is trying to save them, but if they are removed, under local law, the horses cannot be rehomed and will be destroyed.

Ms Jenkins, formerly of Kilcot in Gloucestershire, is to appear at Coleford Magistrates Court on 13 October to face eight cruelty and neglect charges concerning 15 horses.

World Horse Welfare gave her guidance on how to keep horses after a member of the public reported her in 2006.

A spokesman for World Horse Welfare said: “She obviously ignored our advice.”

The majority of the horses in Spain are Trakehners, worth up to £12,000 each, some of whom were purchased from Marleen Smith’s Singing Stud in Herefordshire. They include mares, foals and a stallion.

David Clark, chairman of the breed society, Trakehners UK, said: “I called Marleen and she almost collapsed in shock. She’s terribly upset as she recognised some of the horses in the photos [taken by CACMA].

“These horses will have cost Ms Jenkins tens of thousands of pounds. It’s extraordinary behaviour.”

H&H managed to contact Ms Jenkins in Spain.

She said: “The Guardia Civil have been very helpful. But I’d rather not comment as I’ve got too much going on.”

This news story was first published in Horse & Hound (21 August, ’08)

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Beatriz Ferrer-Salat has withdrawn her horse Faberge from the Olympic dressage competition. The black Hanoverian has suffered a leg injury.

The news is devastating for the Spain team as they have no travelling reserve in Hong Kong, which just leaves riders Jordi Domingo and Juan Manuel Munoz Diaz to ride as individuals.

This is the second time that Beatriz Ferrer-Salat has missed out on a major championship due to an injury to her horse. She also missed the 2006 World Equestrian Games because of an injured Beauvalais.

The Spanish rider won team silver and individual bronze in Athens four years ago.

Stay in touch with all the Olympic news as it happens on HorseandHound.co.uk and don’t miss H&H’s full report from the Olympic eventing in Hong Kong — on sale Friday 15 August.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now