Horse riding in France

Don't delay - mail us today

2012-01-29T15:03:00.012+01:00

If you haven't already booked your holiday yet contact us now - we have some January offers that are just too good to miss and only 3 days left to take advantage of

Ride the very best horses in France on a riding holiday - visit the horses page on the site to meet them all -

http://www.chateau-de-laumiere.com/

Enjoy gourmet dining - alfresco lunches and dinner in the 16th century vaulted dining room

Relax in really peaceful surroundings in shady garden areas or comfotable, cool sitting rooms

Don't miss out on a truly memorable holiday - contact us now

A quick update for this season

2012-01-27T11:09:00.007+01:00

Hi - preparations for this season are getting well underway and ideas mulled around during the winter are coming together. Just to let you know how things are progressing here are a couple of events already booked plus a peek at an extremely handsome guy!

Our very popular lunch at Monique's on Thursday with her fantstic food and bubbly personality is something definitely not to be missed and she is looking forward to welcoming you with our usual table already reserved.

Over a glass of wine sitting round the fire one particularly damp & chilly evening just after Christmas, feeling pretty tired after riding out several horses in not ideal conditions during the afternoon, the idea of a bit of self indulgence was thrown about and thoughts of a relaxing massage started to materialise. Who thought of that? - none of us can remember but what a great idea so we tried it and it was!! Well, to keep this experience to ourselves wouldn't exactly be overly considerate of us would it so now Nadia will be arriving at the chateau each week for you to experience this too so go on pamper yourself a bit - click on the 'offers & events' button on the site for more details.

Here is someone you haven't seen on the site before - it's Mac (extremely handsome guy!). We all love hime to bits and when you meet him so will you, he will give you the ride of your life. To see what he has to say for himself check out the horses page of the site where you will find him plus an update of everyone else - some others of whom you won't have seen before either.

That's about it for now but don't forget that we are here and we will let you know what is happening every now and then

Another Year!

2012-01-02T15:44:00.002+01:00

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone from all of us here at Laumiere. It's not very bright here today but it's quite warm and the sun is making an effort to shine through every now and then. Having survived the Christmas and New Year celebrations we have now come back down to earth and started on preparations for this holiday season which starts mid April and will be here in the blink of an eye. We will have some new rides ready, new additions to the menu and are also working on a couple of new additions to the general schedule - more details of these later.

If you are at the point of wondering where to go for your riding this year take a good look at the site and get in touch with any queries. We have quite a few bookings already so if you have a particular time you would like do get in touch soon. Once booked, we will be here ready and waiting to to help you enjoy the best riding holiday experience you could imagine.

Looking forward to hearing from you soon

A View to Share

2011-10-30T14:46:00.003+01:00

Just looking out of the window this morning and thought - 'wow! this is sooo beautiful must share it with someone' - so here it is. If it's grey where you are, hopefully this will brighten your day the way it did mine.

Make a saving now!!

2011-09-07T16:23:00.003+02:00

As there are now only 7 weeks to the end of our season this is just a quick reminder of our offer if you are starting to think about next year's holiday. If you make a booking for next year before we close at the end of October we will hold your holiday at this year's prices.

Fireworks

2011-09-07T15:50:00.006+02:00

We all went off to Limogne the other evening for the last night of their fete - FIREWORKS!! Here are just a few of them

Summer Fete

2011-08-15T16:07:00.009+02:00

The onset of summer brings with it the fete season. Ours in Promilhanes is in July and runs over 3 days - Friday thru Sunday. Friday is quite low key with just a few social meetings and the action really kicks off on Saturday. In the afternoon there are games for the children running into early evening with a Farmers market where you can try and buy all manner of local produce. Later on various stalls appear with all kinds of prepared foodstuffs and you wander around and can purchas a full 3 course meal in stages which you eat at communal tables in the village square - salads, pate, aligot and sausage, couscous and finally scrumpsious pancakes with all kinds of fillings (yummmm!!) - accompanied by a variety of wines and other beverages. A huge covered dance floor is set up where you can dance the night away accompanied by a live band who this year were very very good. This continues through the night and the less faint hearted start to amble away between 5 and 6 am!! On Sunday there is another meal but this is a more structured affair. This year there were around 250 people - villagers, their families and friends all seated again in the square. This starts around 8 pm with an aperitif taken whilst milling around and generally socialising and is followed by a 4 course meal - an entree of fresh melon cut in half with the centre scooped out and filled with port accompanied with a slice of cured ham, main course of a local sausage and a huge helping of Aligot, a generous helping of Brie cheese then a coffee or chocolate ice cream desert. All this accompanied by delicious red wine and finished off with coffee for 15 euros - wow! The square is decorated with fairy lights and the evening's entertainment starts around desert time with a group of musicians walking around the tables playing and singing and eventually everyone joining in. Later they set up on the stage of the dance floor and dancing proper begins. Again this event is definitely not for the faint hearted - dancing the night away means just that and can carry on until dawn!

Autumn Holidays - August is full BUT

2011-07-06T17:23:00.005+02:00

We still have some availability in September and October when in addition to our usual 4 and 7 night holidays we have a limited number of 3 night breaks to offer. Either send an email or give us a call on

0033 565 21 44 84

to check out our Autumn prices. Looking forward to hearing from you soon

Hope is now part of the team

2011-06-21T16:22:00.015+02:00

At last our very first foal to be born at Laumiere is a full member of the team! She's changed a bit since the photo with Lucy was taken and grown into a really lovely and popular girl. She went through all her schooling like a true professional and started riding out to gain her confidence and get fit with Tanya and our helpers through last season. This year as you can see she's up and ready to go with the grown ups.

Off to the pool

2011-05-13T23:27:00.003+02:00

Well, at last we have the weather that everyone expects in the south of France in May - 28 deg.C today. After keeping everyone fed and watered after their ride we finally got around to planting all of our bedding plants which add a nice touch of extra colour around the pool and to various other areas of the garden and at this point decided to treat ourselves to a quick dip in said pool before dinner. This is where we went......

See you there??

Photos from Sari

2011-05-13T23:07:00.004+02:00

If you have read our guest book you will see the letter from Sari & Tina from Finland who were with us last wek. Sari sent through 2 photos taken whilst out on different rides - both the same view of Tina but different scenery. Thought you might like to see a couple of the tracks we regularly ride on.

Unexpected Availability

2011-05-08T17:55:00.002+02:00

Due to an unexpected but necessary change of booking we have 2 rooms available for week commencing Saturday 14 May. If you are in a position to book a last minute holiday be good to yourself and get in touch with us. I'm sure we could make you an offer very difficult to refuse!!

I Told You I Was Special!

2011-05-08T14:51:00.013+02:00

We love all of our foals but every now and then one tells you that he's extra special and you think "that's fine but it's no excuse for behaving like a real pain!" and then a few year's on he proves that he really is just that - 'SPECIAL'

Do you remember Uplah? - Here he is at around 6 weeks being that pain.

By 6 months he was so well behaved we thought someone had come along in the night and swapped him and he has carried on like this all the way. By just over 2 years he was getting to be such a big chap that we thought a little education would be a good idea. He took everything in his stride and remained completely calm whatever happened.

After bitting and accepting his tack as though he had been born with it we we went on to working in the school and the attitude was always 'OK done that, what's next?'

So earlier this year we backed him and his look said 'what's the surprise? there's nothing to this' Since then he has schooled on and taken each new challenge in his stride.

Next step new shoes. Only reaction here as you can see was 'Hm, that looks like a tastey shoulder' But it was only a very gentle investigation and Gary lived to shoe another day. Well a chap has to have something to do to take his mind off things doesn't he

'Now having done all this work are we going out or not?'

'Ok Trevor - lead the way'

'Just look at me now. I told you I was special didn't I? Why don't you come visit me'

23 April and we're open!

2011-04-27T16:32:00.006+02:00

Our first group of guests arrived for a 4 night Easter break on Saturday and they were fantastic!. We had Dania & Roger who are American currently living in the UK, Wayne & Elizabeth from Australia and Paul, Samantha & Rhiannon who are English and living just outside Paris. The horses are fit and ready to go and everyone had a great time riding, relaxing, sightseeing, eating and drinking - what more could you wish for?

Dania and Rhiannon arranged with Tanya for an afternoon ride which was supposedly going to be an uneventful trip around the local tracks just for a look around.

Here they are ready for the off

WELL! - this is the countryside and our intrepid little group of 3 were joined by a young but very large and inquisitive mule who showed rather too much interest in Ayva. Fortunately they were not very far from home and Chris and I got into the car and did the stagecoach rescue bit by getting between him and them so that they could get back through the gate without him following. Tanya then set off with a bucket of pony nuts to entice him back to his field and a neighbour let the owner know that it was time to raise his fences. This little escapade provided a subject for long and at times hilarious discussion through the evening. Oh well - never a dull moment. Why don't you come and see for yourself?

Where did that year go??

2011-04-11T11:04:00.005+02:00

We are obviously enjoying life a little too much as yet again a whole year has passed by in the blink of an eye - so here is some of the news.

New Bedroom

We have added an additional room on the ground floor next to the existing terrace room so now there are two rooms where you can sit overlooking the garden including the occasional performance by the new foals.

It has proved very popular as it's light and airy and has a huge comfy bed (it can also be split into two if you don't want to share)

2011-04-11T10:53:00.003+02:00

Speaking of New Foals

Here ia Aerial making a bid for independance

and here she is again back under the watchful eye of mum - Lucy

2011-04-07T12:38:00.008+02:00

A Social Event

Wim and Natalie of La Petit Folie had a 'Moules Frites' evening at which everyone is welcome to a really friendly gathering - it attracts lots of villagers as well as holiday makers

With entertainment supplied by a local accordianist a very good evening was enjoyed by all!

2011-04-07T12:09:00.010+02:00

Summer Help We have to say a big thank you to our summer helpers who came to stay this year.

Rachael yet again - this has been her 4th year and she has become so much part of the family that we are now seriously considering adopting her permanently

Sophie - this was Sophie's 2nd year with us and although she is such fun to have around and all the horses love her we know she really only comes for the chocolate pudding

and finally the two Charlottes who heard about us through Rachael and decided to come and check us out for themselves. It was good fun having you here girls - is this really work???

A very BIG THANK YOU girls, you all did a wonderful job and we really enjoyed your company. Hope to see you again soon

Calling all non riders

2010-04-23T00:30:00.005+02:00

This is a special for all of you with horse mad partners - something to try whilst they are out riding! Fiona McCall is offering introduction to sculpting sessions.

Why not come along and give it a try - mail us for details

2nd new arrival

2010-04-23T00:20:00.003+02:00

Here is Lucy's new addition

Aerial -a beautiful chestnut filly and a playmate for Ash

New Arrival!!

2010-04-11T00:10:00.003+02:00

Well, here is our newest arrival. A very handsome litle colt from Peaches, his name is Ash. We'll keep you posted with his developement

Who's that eating my grass??

2010-01-17T17:43:00.004+01:00

Well the snow has a cleared and everywhere is looking a lot brighter. We had a few days where everything was very wet underfoot but it doesn't take too long to dry out. I came into the dining room to see Tanya looking out of the window and muttering 'What are you doing eating my grass? - that field is for the new foals, leave it alone!' Looked out of the window and what did I see.......

Ah well!

We've got snow too!!

2010-01-11T10:50:00.008+01:00

Hi........ we hope you are all well and for those of you who think we live in permanent sunshine - here's a quick look around Laumiere today:

Trevor says:

"Hey guys - how about this, we can do wild and woolly too!!"

Do you remember these in the sunshine????!

And a last word in activities here at present - We've walked the course but Tanya says "sorry no cross country today"

But don't worry the sun will come out and it will be back to this before you know it -

Will keep you updated and fill in details on last post very soon. Until then we will carry on getting ready for this summer and look forward to seeing you here with us.

Where does the time go????

2009-12-29T09:23:00.000+01:00

Hello again and to our past and soon to be new guests and any of you out there who may be thinking of joining us -

A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

FROM US ALL AT LAUMIERE

After an enormous blank on the information front - for which the only excuse is that there has been so much happening - let's get started again. Here is a quick taste of the year and more detail will follow.
22 April 09 - Lucy's new arrival. Vegas - a handsome chestnut colt with 4 white socks a friend at last for Uplah! Here he is at 2 hours old.

Two new horses - Mac who has come to us from a succesful endurance career and Rocco our Portuguese romeo, a new pony - Charlie Brown (it's a girl!) add to this 2 new lawn mowers - Itsey and Bitsey and our family is growing very well.

Good plum crop resulting in yet more litres of Chris' Eau de Vie - you who have tried it will know that a very strong constitution is needed for this!
Tons of walnuts - have had a go at the walnut aperitif wine - will leave judgement on this to this year's tasters

Village wedding in August - photos to follow

New apartment for our very helpful summer volunteers which has proved so popular that some of them are coming back - anyone who feels that they would like to join us for some time in the summer please send an email asap for details

December and Father Christmas came to Promilhanes but as Rudolph and Co were resting in preparation for a very busy Christmas Eve he was escorted in by the lawn mowers

Well I think this qualifies as a quick taste so will sign off now and be back with more news in the very near future. Best wishes from us all.

Fun comes in numbers!

2009-03-18T14:19:00.004+01:00

Why not get a group together?

Everything is more fun if shared with friends or family so why don't you get a group together.

Group of 6 people - one person free

If you have a special occasion to celebrate - maybe a Birthday or Anniversary - come and celebrate with us and we will include a Champagne aperitif before dinner by candle light

For information of prices please go to bookings/enquiries page on website

Centre Equestre

2008-11-09T14:47:00.003+01:00

As you will see from looking through the site, we are now closed for holidays until 25 April 2009. BUT don't despair if you are in the area and would like to ride - we are still here. Why not have a look at our equestrian site which will give you details of everything going on outside the holiday period. www.centre-equestre-lot.com Do get in touch, we look forward to seeing you.

Photos at last!

2008-11-07T16:06:00.014+01:00

We are in the process of updating and adding photos to the main site but until this all goes live here is a quick preview of what's been happening.

The new pool has been extremely popular this year and very well used. The pool and decking terrace are in the sun all day and when you've toasted to a turn just a few steps take you into our 'secret garden'. Shady,peaceful and comfy lounging in the hammock, or on the swing seat. Why not give it a try?

The gites have proved very popular. For those of you who like their own space what more could you ask? Peace, quiet, comfort and for those crazy people who like us don't feel the world is complete without them - horses on your doorstep.

Last but by no means least our babies are growing!

Upsey

4 months and aren't I just sooooo beautiful

Uplah

Whoa! here I come

The Season Continues

2008-08-09T00:43:00.005+02:00

Well, it's June already. Rachael has come back for her second year with us to help out with the horses. Here as you can see, as usual, she is working really hard!!

Only joking Rachael - don't know what we would do without you!

They have names!

2008-05-09T10:31:00.005+02:00

After a great deal of animated discussion we have finally agreed on names for the new members of the team of the future.

Uplah - first foal of Mimisicu born on 22 April. A chestnut colt with very attractive markings - already full of his own self importance!

Upsey - Lucy's latest addition born on 6 May. A really beautiful Arab chestnut filly

Good news - the foals have arrived!!

2008-05-06T15:39:00.006+02:00

the good new is that both foals have arrived safely and everyone is well.

Latest new from Chateau de Laumiere

2007-12-20T10:22:00.004+01:00

We have our new pool (10m x 5m) which is surrounded by a decking terrace with loungers and positioned just beyond the shaded area of the garden with the hammock which we think makes it a really peaceful place to relax.

We have added new rides to the schedule, one of which we are really excited about as it will take most of the day instead of just the morning. Don’t at this point start thinking of a tender rear end as we hope to have saved you from this. We have had Quest broken to harness and purchased a rather smart little ‘wagonette’. The plan is that you leave Laumière as usual after breakfast and ride to Chateau Cougnac – home of the Comte & Comtesse D’Armagnac where you will be their guests for lunch in the grand dining hall. The horses will be transported home whilst you are relaxing over lunch after which you will be chauffeured back to Laumière via the scenic country lanes arriving about mid afternoon giving you time to take it easy before the evening. This is just one of the planned new rides, details of which will be posted on the site in the new year so do please take a look now and then.

We have thought long and hard about adding extra evening meals but most of our guests do seem to enjoy exploring the local restaurants so we have decided to leave these as they are but in addition we will be offering a light serve yourself buffet type meal for those of you who have maybe spent the afternoon in the garden and are not feeling terribly energetic.

We have several new horses which you can see on the site and our newest addition this year is Top Tottie – ‘Tots’ who with mum Lucy and dad a very handsome Lipizzaner is absolutely stunning but a real handful. We are also very exited about the prospect of 2 new additions next April/May. Lucy is in foal to a very handsome Arab and Mimi the Merens to a stunning Anglo-Arab so there should be 2 fantastic new additions running around for next season. Our only problem here is that foals born next year have to have names starting with ‘U’ – any suggestions?

Our last piece of news for now is that next year we will have 2 gites available. These are just at the end of the rear drive therefore about the same distance from the stables as the house. These will be available on a self-catering or meals in the house basis and as full riding, non-riding or book an occasional ride whilst you are here. Again, details of these will be on the site early next year.