The best Equestrian Clinics in Germany

Germany is one of the European countries with the longest equestrian tradition.

Its riding schools are world famous, and many champions of dressage, show jumping and other equestrian activities have been born and trained here.

Such is the impact and the number of enthusiasts in the equestrian world that there are several associations that promote it at a national and international level.

One of them is the German Equestrian Federation (FN), a national organization that brings together both breeders and riders of different disciplines.

The FN offers training for riders and trainers, promotes equestrian sports, promotes riding clubs and equestrian tourism, and coordinates with horse breeders.

If you are interested in learning to ride a horse or improving your riding skills, Germany is the place for you. You can also go on horseback riding tours to discover the beauty and history of Germany.

In this article we tell you about two equestrian providers located in two very different areas where you can do both.

Nordmann Sport Hotel

Located in the village of Stangerode (Southern Harz), they offer first-class service and accommodation. It is a good option to improve your riding level and at the same time discover the beautiful Harz countryside in Lower Saxony.

The resort is family-run and the friendly staff offer a comprehensive service to ensure you feel looked after in any of the activities on offer.

Surrounded by the relaxing nature of the Harz Leine Valley, you can choose between safaris through Nordmann's game and wildlife park, adventure hiking trails, carriage rides or riding lessons for all levels.

History of the hotel

In the early 90s, Manfred Nordmann, a forestry engineer by profession, bought the Stangerode sawmill. Together with a small group of employees he founded “Forst und Sägewerk Nordmann” and laid the foundations for a family business.

The Nordmann family had been breeding warmblood horses for decades, even in GDR times. They also rented out a small holiday apartment.

img src='https://ampascachi-bucket.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/media/blogs/imagenes/europa/alemania/familia-nordmann.jpg'/> But their greatest wish was to be able to accommodate riders, hunters and nature lovers in their hotel and for them to enjoy the beauty of the Harz landscape.

The family decided to build a stable with a riding arena and an outdoor riding ring. And, from 1997, they began to build the hotel.

Two years later, in 1999, the Nordmann Sport Hotel was opened, with 23 rooms, a restaurant, a spa area and a sports hall.

### Livery service for horses

One of the services offered to guest riders is an area where they can board their own horse.

They have modern stables and take care of the horse's feeding and care. You will find all the necessary equipment, such as saddles and a horse washing area.

The stalls are individual. The interior ones are 3 x 4 m, and the exterior ones are 3 x 5 m. They have drinking troughs, plenty of natural light and fresh air.

For exercising with them, the rider has at his disposal:

Indoor riding arena: 60 x 20 m, with a driving circle, grandstand and rider's bar.
Outdoor riding arena: 80 x 50 m, with adjoining riding area.

You will also have an unrestricted riding area to enjoy with your horse, through the forests and fields of the Lower Harz valleys.

Their equestrian programs

If you don't know how to ride or want to perfect your riding technique, you have:

Clinic for beginners with the basic course “How to do it”, where you will receive basic knowledge of cleaning and guiding, handling and saddling. The practical sessions are on the land near the hotel, under the supervision of the teachers.
Guided cross-country rides through the Leine Valley lasting between 20 and 40 minutes.
Long-duration riding lessons, with a jumping belt or in the saddle.

If you are an experienced rider, you can take the following courses, with your own horse or one from the center:

Wildpark Nordmann

One of the biggest attractions for guests at the Nordmann Sport Hotel is the Nordmann Nature Park, which belongs to the hotel.

There are 1000 hectares of wild forest to explore freely on horseback along marked trails that cover the entire park.

Wildpark Nordmann is the largest bison reserve in Germany.

The bison is an endangered species. The Park's breeding project aims to reintroduce these animals under scientific supervision.

In addition, the park is home to native animals such as deer, fallow deer, wild boar and mouflon. For those who like something more exotic, there are also ostriches, camels and nandus.

Find out more about them on their website: https://www.nordmannharz.de/

Schloss Sindlingen

They are located near the town of Herremberg, on the Upper Gäus plateau, between Schönbuch and the Black Forest.

The Gäu is a wonderful area for horse riding and hiking.

You will stay in a traditional 500-year-old German country house, with modernized rooms, but maintaining the original style.

Sindlingen was an agricultural estate belonging to the royal family of Württemberg, as the summer residence of Franziska von Hohenheim, the wife of Duke Carl-Eugen.

The castle, surrounded by a moat and bordered by old trees that form part of the park, opens to the south and becomes the riding ring.

It is both a holiday hotel and a riding school.

Programs of their Equestrian Clinics

They have three intensive courses:

Basic Program: Its objective is to provide or improve knowledge about horses and horse riding.
Dressage improvement program: its objective is, among other aspects, to improve the dressage seat, half-passes, leg yields and canter changes.
Showjumping improvement program: its objective is, among other aspects, to learn the correct jumping seat, mastering individual jumps and combinations.

Apart from these intensive programs, they also offer one-week courses, vacation courses for young people and advanced courses (two weeks long).

Horseback riding

With them you can go on horse rides lasting 2 hours, a full day or a week. You can bring your own horse or use one of the beautiful ones in their stable.

Let's take a look at the Black Forest program:

First day: Arrival at the center on Sunday.
Second day: First short ride around the castle to get used to the horses. Then you will go on a 6-hour horseback ride near the Black Forest, to a field near Freudenstandt, at an altitude of 1000 meters. Accommodation in a local inn.
Third day: You will ride through the Black Forest to Heights and Besenfeld, where you will stay for the rest of the nights.
Fourth day: You will go on a horseback excursion to the Murg Valley. Return to Besenfeld.
Fifth day: Horseback ride along the old wine route, at 1000 meters above sea level, and return to Grünhütte. In the afternoon you will continue to Enztal and, from there, you will return to the starting point, Sindlingen Castle.
Sixth day: Departure after breakfast.

Sindlingen Show Jumping Tournaments

Depending on the time of year you visit, you will also be invited to attend their famous show jumping tournaments.

Indoor events in February. Versatility test in the hall, open to Baden-Württemberg and guests. Class A and L competitions.
Versatility tournament in June with the Baden-Württemberg national youth championship. Class A exams: versatility, pony versatility and group terrain, open to all of Germany. Sighting to the youth championship in Warendorf, tournament exams from class E to L.
Youth Tournament in September. Jumping and dressage tests for young riders and young riders with versatility entry level VL for Ü-50 riders.
Sindlinger versatility in October. Internal versatility for Sindling riders, guests and course participants
Erwin Pape Showjumping in December. Internal showjumping competition for all riders for the Erwin Pape Challenge Cup.