A four-day horse riding holiday in Mollina, Malaga, offers the opportunity to explore the Andalusian countryside on horseback while staying at the restored Cortijo Uribe. Hacienda Horses provides guided rides designed around the abilities of its guests, with a focus on enjoyable and relaxing riding experiences. The programme is suitable for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders.
The horses are mostly Andalucian, and the maximum rider weight is currently stated as 100 kilograms. The holiday includes approximately two to four hours of riding each day, with lessons and activities arranged with the trainer. Depending on ability and arrangements, activities can include dressage, jumping, hacking and trail riding.
The Setting In Andalusia
Cortijo Uribe is located beside the village of Mollina in Malaga province, in the heart of the Andalusian countryside. The surrounding area includes extensive olive groves, vineyards and pine forests, providing the setting for the guided countryside rides.
The location also provides access to several important destinations. Antequera is approximately 15 minutes away, while Malaga Airport is around 40 minutes away. Cordoba, Granada and Seville are each approximately 60 minutes from the accommodation.
Accommodation At Cortijo Uribe
Guests stay in either an en-suite room or an en-suite apartment within Cortijo Uribe, a sixteenth-century farmhouse that has been restored to provide spacious areas for accommodation and relaxation. The property contains bedrooms and apartments with en-suite bathrooms, together with a lounge and kitchen facilities.
Three apartments have full kitchens for larger groups or families, while other apartments have kitchenettes. Two apartments are also available for less-abled and disabled guests. Guests can use the pool area, games room and quiet reading room, while free Wi-Fi, satellite television, bedding, towels, slippers, hairdryers and a toiletries starter pack are provided.
The property has a beautiful pool with views across the surrounding countryside. The pool is covered during winter, although the water is not heated from November to March. There is also an open courtyard, an indoor garden, a patio and an authentic salon and former chapel with traditional open fireplaces.
Guests can spend time in the sun on the patio or find a shaded area to relax. Pets may be brought to the property with prior permission, although additional cleaning charges may apply.
The Riding Holiday Programme
On arrival, guests are shown to their air-conditioned rooms before receiving a guided tour of Cortijo Uribe. The tour includes the pool, shop, chapel, dining room and stables, with timetables and notice boards providing information for guests.
An assessment with the trainer takes place after arrival. During this assessment, the trainer discusses each rider's aims for the holiday, whether that involves improving riding skills, enjoying countryside hacking or trying dressage. The trainer assesses the rider's ability and allocates a suitable horse for the following outing.
The normal riding schedule consists of a one to three-hour morning hack, depending on ability, followed by a one-hour lesson in the afternoon. The programme is flexible because longer hacks may not be suitable for beginner riders.
Riding For Different Ability Levels
Hacienda Horses divides riders into ability groups for both hacking and lessons. This allows riders who are comfortable spending more time in the saddle to take longer rides, while those who prefer shorter periods of riding can follow a programme suited to their needs.
Beginners are taught in the arena, where the lessons are designed to develop their skills and confidence. Novice riders can work with a trainer on the long, straight tracks through the olive groves, practising rising trot, canter transitions, leg yields and other riding skills.
Experienced riders can progress through Dressage & Advanced Tuition weeks or, when dates permit, participate in local competitions. More advanced lessons may also include movements such as Paso Español, piaffe and passage when suitable horses are available. There is also an opportunity to work horses at liberty.
Countryside Hacks And The Bar Ride
The daily hacks take riders through countryside containing pine trees, olive groves and vineyards. The rides also include viewpoints where riders can stop for photographs and enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings.
On longer stays, there may be an opportunity to take part in a special Bar Hack, depending on the weather and rider ability. This involves approximately two hours of riding to a traditional Spanish hotel bar, where guests can have a traditional Spanish breakfast and fresh coffee, followed by another two-hour ride back and a three-course lunch with wine. The remainder of the day can then be spent relaxing or exploring the surrounding area.
Special weekly rides also include a local bar trip, normally on Tuesday, and a picnic ride, normally on Friday, although these activities depend on weather conditions.
Food And Dining
The riding holiday is offered on a half-board basis, with breakfast and dinner provided. Dinner includes two glasses of wine or two soft drinks, while included drinks also comprise coffee, tea, soda and alcoholic beverages.
Breakfast is prepared in a basket selected by guests the previous evening. Typical choices include fruit, cereals, bread, cheeses and Spanish meats, together with juice, coffee and tea.
Freshly prepared lunches can be served on the patio and are generally light meals such as goats' cheese salad or asparagus frittata. Lunch costs eight euros per person. Guests can also visit authentic bars and restaurants in the nearby village of Mollina, while local speciality wines and cocktails can be experienced at an additional cost.
The standard dietary provision is described as regular and typically includes meat and fish. Guests with special dietary requirements are advised to communicate these to the organiser when making a reservation.
Facilities And Additional Activities
The accommodation provides access to a range of facilities, including the outdoor swimming pool, games room, reading room, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioned rooms, dining areas, a lounge, kitchen facilities, patio and fireplaces. Hairdryers, toiletries and tour assistance are also available.
Optional activities include visits to cultural tourist attractions, carriage driving, cycling, additional private riding lessons, gym exercise, local events, speciality wine and cocktail tasting, massage and beauty treatments, mountain biking, rafting, reading, swimming and Spanish courses. Trips can also be made to Antequera, Seville, Cordoba, Granada and an equestrian horse show. Skiing at the Sierra Nevada is another listed option.
Getting To Hacienda Horses
The recommended airport is Malaga Airport, also known as AGP, approximately 54 kilometres from the destination. An airport transfer is available for an additional charge. The stated transfer price is 95 euros each way per car for up to seven people between 08:00 and 19:00, with an additional 35-euro charge after 19:00. Airport collections are not available after 21:30, and guests are not permitted to enter Cortijo Uribe after 22:00.
Guests travelling by train can travel from the airport to Malaga María Zambrano station and then continue to Antequera Santa Ana station. The slow train is approximately nine euros and is only four minutes slower than the fast train, which costs approximately 27 euros. Hacienda Horses can meet guests in the main hall at Antequera Santa Ana, with the transfer from the station costing 40 euros each way.
Guests arriving by car can drive from Malaga Airport towards Antequera before continuing on the A92 towards Sevilla and taking exit 142 for Mollina and Alameda. The route then continues through the Mollina area and along local roads and tracks towards Cortijo Uribe. The property is identified by a large white building on the hill, with a tree larger than the house on the right.
Booking And Cancellation Information
A reservation requires a deposit of 14 per cent of the total price. The deposit is non-refundable if the booking is cancelled, while the remaining balance is payable 30 days before arrival.
The listed holiday includes three nights of accommodation, daily riding, breakfast and evening meals with wine, access to the pool and Wi-Fi, satellite television, air conditioning and heating, hairdryers, toiletries and other stated facilities. Airfare and airport transfers are not included.
Recent Guest Experiences
Recent reviews describe the experience positively. In August 2026, Rosie S. from Great Britain travelled with her two daughters, aged 23 and 8, and said that all three were beginners. She reported that the riding team accommodated the youngest rider, who needed to be led during hacks, while the coaching helped her and her eldest daughter improve their riding and confidence. She also praised the food, service, cleanliness, accommodation and horses, although she noted that her eight-year-old found the lunch menu choices difficult.
In July 2026, Craig A. from Great Britain described Cortijo Uribe as a comfortable property that had been lovingly restored over many years. He noted the large selection of horses, the staff and the airport transfers, and particularly enjoyed the Friday Spanish lunch at a local restaurant. While he did not ride himself, he said that he was able to enjoy his time relaxing beside the pool.
Another July 2026 review from Miranda R. highlighted the beautiful setting, horses suited to different riding abilities, food and hospitality. She particularly recommended the Friday Bar Hack for experienced riders and described the pool as a useful place to relax between rides.
This horse riding holiday in Spain combines guided riding through the Andalusian countryside with accommodation at the restored Cortijo Uribe in Mollina, Malaga. With mostly Andalucian horses, riding for beginner through advanced levels, tailored lessons, countryside hacks, optional specialist activities, meals and three nights' accommodation, the programme provides a structured riding break with flexibility around individual ability.
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