5 of the best horse riding escapes

With 240 acres of parkland, Coworth Park stands out as the Dorchester Collection’s only UK country estate. In this private haven, guests can learn to play polo alongside members of the internationally renowned Guards Polo Club. There are eight immaculate horses to choose from, but guests can also bring their own noble steeds, who will be pampered with organic carrots, an aromatherapy massage and a post-ride bubble bath. After a brisk ride, head to the Drawing Room for a sumptuous afternoon tea.

Hollywood’s romantic vision of the Wild West gets reimagined with a 21st-century twist at The Ranch at Rock Creek. Owner Jim Manley found his perfect 6,600 acres nestled in the sagebrush-covered foothills of Montana’s Rocky Mountains, and transformed it into a 125-guest ranch, complete with open-air pool, hot tub and a sensational spa. Horsemanship is at the heart of the ranch experience; with a team of wranglers and 75 horses, riders of all abilities can have a great time in the saddle. Set out for a 1-4 hour ride and keep your eyes peeled for elk and bighorn sheep on the trails.

Les Manoirs is a luxury hotel consisting of a main mansion and four smaller manors, nestled in the heart of the Normandy countryside, in Deauville. There are 57 rooms and 35 suites, an indoor pool overlooking the park, and a 50-seater cinema room. The area has drawn in artists, writers and designers over the decades, from Gustave Flaubert to Colette to Yves Saint Laurent; Coco Chanel opened a boutique in Deauville in 1913 and took style inspiration from the area’s equestrian reputation. Sign up to the hotel’s Horse Whisperer package, which includes rides along the pale sands of Deauville beach, as well as a treatment in the Esthederm spa.

This 2,700-acre estate on the Umbrian-Tuscan border, near historic Lake Trasimeno, is home to seven villas, each of which comes with outdoor living space, three acres of private land and pool access. Castello di Reschio is a place to come for peace and quiet – such landscape is heaven for its Andalusian horses, who live in impressive stables, catering to beginners and more experienced riders. Osteria, the estate’s restaurant, serves organic, regional dishes. Other cultural and sport activities on offer include tennis, art classes and wild boar hunting.

The best way to explore Ibitipoca’s rare wilderness is on the sturdy horses of the 18th-century lodge Fazenda do Engenho. This is the world’s biggest quartzite terrain; you are kicking tourmalines through the dust, riding through streams that run red over mineral-rich metamorphic rock. Ibitipoca is committed to long-term rewilding and reforestation projects, as well as the reintroduction of endangered indigenous species. Ride up to the reserve’s highest point, Eagle’s Nest, and a welcoming lentil soup and warm bed beckons for the most memorable night’s sleepover in a wooden hut on the very edge of the world.