Across the wild hills of La Donaira, more than 90 Lusitanos are given the freedom to learn, play and grow within the herd. Relationships with humans begin just as naturally, through patience, trust and an understanding of the way horses communicate. On this estate-hosted journey, you’ll spend time with Seamus Gaffney and La Donaira’s equestrian team, learning the language of horses, finding connection in the saddle and riding together across the Serranía de Ronda.
Learning to Listen
in Andalucía
Get close to La Donaira’s Lusitanos, discovering what horses can teach us about trust, awareness and one another
La Donaira, Andalusia, Spain
Map View
Overview
Natural horsemanship
Countryside hacks
Meet a real cowboy
Estate dinners
Tired legs massage
Eco-luxury stay
A Signature Journey
From £0
Tailored to you
No two journeys are exactly the same. Every experience is adapted around your interests, preferred pace, group size and travel dates.
BackWhat we love
The language of horses
Watch Seamus Gaffney with a young Lusitano, and the connection is extraordinary. A horse circles the pen before moving close enough to meet him almost head-to-head. Seamus shifts his stance and the horse moves with him; he steps away and it follows. After a lifetime spent working with horses, Seamus reads the smallest signals while remaining equally aware of his own. The conversation between them is constant, yet not a word is spoken.
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Harmony
Learning to listen
Watch Seamus work with one of La Donaira’s young colts, gently introducing new skills through movement, patience and trust. Stay close to the exchange or under his guidance, explore the signals passing between horse and human. Move, pause, adjust and try again. Something clicks: the horse responds and, for a moment, there is mutual understanding.
Breathe
Finding your balance
For a first encounter on horseback, there is nowhere you need to go. Settle into the saddle and become aware of the warmth and movement of the horse beneath you. Guided by La Donaira’s equestrian team, find your balance, soften into the experience and begin to match your breathing to the horse’s. Gradually, two different rhythms begin to settle into one.
Live
Growing up free
La Donaira’s foals remain with their mothers until around three, roaming the hills and learning their place within the herd long before formal training begins. Head out across the estate with the breeding team to find mares and young Lusitanos grazing beneath ancient oaks or moving through open pasture. Spend time among them, watching foals play, learn and communicate with one another. Here, horses learn how to be horses first.
Ride
Across the Andalusian hills
Whether you’re relatively new to riding or have spent years in the saddle, La Donaira’s equestrian team shapes the ride around your experience. Follow ancient livestock tracks through oak woodland and open pasture, with the Serranía de Ronda stretching away beyond you. As the miles pass, you settle into your horse’s pace, following the rise and fall of the land and discovering the pleasure of simply moving together.
Stories
Life around the horses
As evening settles over the hills, join Seamus for dinner and estate wine. Stories travel from rural County Cavan, where his first job was collecting milk by horse before school, to Montana, Brazilian cattle ranches and wild ponies in the Welsh mountains, and eventually to Andalucía. For Seamus, horses have always been more than a life’s work. They’ve been companions along the way.
Reflect
What passes between us
A young Lusitano meeting your gaze. The warmth of a horse beneath you. Hooves following dusty tracks through the Serranía. Spend enough time among horses and communication begins to feel less like something we say and more like movement, intention, trust. Perhaps understanding one another begins with becoming a little more aware of ourselves.
On the journey
Signature moments, curated around you
Every experience is thoughtfully shaped around your interests, pace and the season, while staying true to the spirit of the journey.
- Natural horsemanship with Seamus
- Young Lusitano training session
- Grounding on horseback
- Time among mares and foals
- Skill-matched Andalusian trail rides
- Horse-drawn carriage experience
- Private dressage for experienced riders
- Restorative tired-legs ritual
- Dinner and stories with Seamus
- Time to enjoy the spa
- Eco-luxury stay
Where you'll stay
Among the Lusitanos
La Donaira is an intimate retreat within a beautifully restored 111-year-old Andalusian cortijo. Rooms and suites layer natural stone and wood with rare antiques, original art and handwoven rugs. Copper baths, custom fireplaces and fine Portuguese linens add warmth, while botanical soaps are made with plants from the medicinal gardens. Beyond the windows, open pasture stretches into the hills, with La Donaira’s Lusitanos never far from view.
Additional Information & Cancellation
Good To Know
Local insights, insider tips and practical information to help you plan your journey
Where is La Donaira in Andalusia, and how do you get there?
La Donaira is a beautiful country estate in the Serranía de Ronda, near the whitewashed village of El Gastor in southern Spain. Surrounded by rolling hills, oak woodland and open pasture, it's a wonderfully peaceful part of rural Andalusia, around 30 minutes from Ronda. Málaga and Seville are convenient arrival airports, and we'll arrange your private transfers to the estate and any experiences beyond it.
When is the best time to enjoy horse riding at La Donaira?
Spring and autumn are particularly lovely for riding in the Serranía de Ronda. March to May brings green pastures, wildflowers and comfortable temperatures, while September to November offers beautiful light and cooler conditions after the Andalusian summer. Summer riding is generally best enjoyed early in the morning or later in the day, when temperatures are more comfortable for horses and riders. Winter can be wonderfully peaceful, although some activities depend on the weather. We'll shape your journey around the horses, the season and your riding preferences.
What makes La Donaira's Lusitano horses so special?
The Lusitano is one of the Iberian Peninsula's oldest horse breeds, known for its intelligence, agility and close partnership with humans. At La Donaira, a herd of more than 90 Lusitanos lives across the estate's extensive pastures, with young horses given time to grow and develop naturally within the herd. Spending time with the breeding and equestrian teams offers a fascinating insight into how horses learn from one another long before their formal training begins.
Who is Seamus Gaffney, and what can we learn from him?
Seamus Gaffney has spent a lifetime working with horses, from his childhood in rural Ireland to cattle ranches in Brazil, the open landscapes of Montana and the wild ponies of Wales. Today, he brings that experience to La Donaira, where his approach to working with Lusitanos is built around patience, observation and trust. Spend time watching Seamus with a young horse and you'll discover just how much can be communicated through the smallest movements, changes in posture and quiet understanding. Where available, we'll arrange time with Seamus to hear his stories and experience his approach firsthand.
What is natural horsemanship, and can I experience it at La Donaira?
Natural horsemanship is an approach to working with horses that pays close attention to their behaviour, body language and responses. Rather than relying only on commands, it emphasises communication, patience and building trust. At La Donaira, you'll have the opportunity to observe Seamus Gaffney working with young horses and, where appropriate, explore some of these principles yourself through supervised groundwork. It's a fascinating way to discover how much can be communicated without words.
Do I need horse riding experience to enjoy this journey?
Not at all. This journey can be tailored for beginners, confident riders and those with years of experience in the saddle. If you're new to riding, the equestrian team can introduce you gently to the horses, helping you find your balance and confidence before exploring suitable routes. More experienced riders may enjoy longer trail rides or specialist dressage sessions. Riding activities are matched to your ability and the horses available, and there's plenty to enjoy even if you'd prefer to remain on the ground.
Can we spend time with La Donaira's mares and foals?
Yes. One of the most special parts of this journey is seeing how the estate's young Lusitanos grow up within the herd. Accompanied by the breeding team, you may have opportunities to observe mares and foals grazing, playing and communicating in the open pastures. La Donaira's approach allows young horses to develop social skills before beginning formal training. Any close encounters will be guided by the team, with the horses' wellbeing and safety always coming first.
What is the riding terrain like in the Serranía de Ronda?
The Serranía de Ronda offers beautiful and varied riding country, from quiet livestock tracks and open pasture to oak woodland and rolling mountain slopes. The terrain can be rocky or uneven in places, with hills and changing elevations adding to the experience. La Donaira's equestrian team will choose routes suited to your confidence and riding ability, allowing time to enjoy the landscape rather than simply covering distance. Longer or more challenging rides can be arranged for experienced riders where appropriate.
Can we enjoy other experiences at La Donaira beyond horse riding?
Absolutely. La Donaira is much more than an equestrian estate. Its organic farm, gardens and surrounding countryside offer opportunities for nature walks, seasonal food experiences and time to enjoy the estate's peaceful setting. Depending on availability, we can also explore restorative spa treatments, horse-drawn carriage rides or more adventurous experiences such as tandem paragliding. We'll help you create a balance of riding, discovery and relaxation that feels right for you.
Are the experiences private, and is everything arranged for us?
This is an estate-hosted Signature Journey, thoughtfully designed around you and your travelling companions. Working closely with La Donaira's equestrian and hospitality teams, we'll coordinate your accommodation, riding experiences, time with the horses and other activities. Private sessions with specialist hosts, including Seamus Gaffney, will be arranged according to availability, while some estate activities may be shared with other guests. Your personalised proposal will confirm exactly what's included and which experiences are private or shared.
Can I extend my La Donaira journey or explore more of Andalusia?
Absolutely. We recommend four days or more to enjoy this journey, but the duration and programme can be tailored to your interests and preferred pace. You might spend longer developing your riding skills, enjoy more time with the horses or simply settle into the rhythms of estate life. We can also combine your stay with Ronda, the white villages of Andalusia or a beautiful coastal retreat, taking care of accommodation, private experiences and transfers along the way.
Cancellation
Wellness Traveller Tailor-Made Travel Booking Conditions
This Signature Journey is designed by Wellness Traveller Ltd and delivered in partnership with our trusted local destination team.
Payment Terms
A 30% deposit is required to confirm your booking. The remaining 70% balance is due 60 days before your journey begins. For bookings made within 60 days of the journey start date, full payment is required at the time of booking.
Cancellation Terms
We understand that plans sometimes change. If you need to cancel your journey: 61 days or more before your journey begins: Your 30% deposit is non-refundable. Any payments made above the deposit will be refunded. 60 days or less before your journey begins: 100% of the total booking value is non-refundable. Some elements of your journey may require advance payment to local partners and may become non-refundable earlier. Where different cancellation terms apply, we will make these clear before you confirm your booking. A £25 administration fee applies to customer-requested cancellations, except where you are exercising a statutory right to cancel without charge.
Your Financial Protection
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Wellness Traveller, Member 5735, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:
• Non-flight packages
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Wellness Traveller. In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/
Travel Insurance
Adequate travel insurance is a condition of booking for our Signature Journeys.
We strongly recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking, including appropriate cancellation cover, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and any activities included in your journey. Contact Wellness Traveller If you need to cancel your booking, please contact us in writing at hello@wellnesstraveller.co and include your booking reference number.
For full details, please see our Booking Conditions
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