Victoria Palou - Instructor & horse trainer at Hipica Formentor

Tell us a little bit about Hipica Formentor and where you're based. Why did you decide to start working for them?

Hipica Formentor is all about natural horse care and keeping and breeding horses who are relaxed and happy, therefore a pleasure to ride. The stables are in Sa Pobla and I am based in Pollença, about a 15-minute drive away. The mum of a little girl I was teaching introduced me to the owner Lorenzo when Hipica Formentor began giving lessons to children from the new International School, which is close by. A new teacher was needed to increase capacity and I’ve been giving lessons and training horses there ever since.

How long have you been in your current role and how long have you been with the company?

I’ve been involved with horses all my life and teaching for about eight years. I joined the team at Hipica Formentor six months ago.

What were you doing before? How did you start giving horse riding lessons and training horses?

I work during the tourist season with a car hire company but horses are my passion. I give more lessons in the winter but keep up during the summer with my equestrian activities at weekends. I have had horses since I was a child. I still have two of my own which I keep near to where I live. My boyfriend competes in dressage and, as well as having my own experience, I can now also learn from him.

What are the best bits about your job?

I really enjoy communicating both with the horses and people. It gives me great pleasure to see that people’s riding skills have improved with my help.

What makes Mallorca a special place to be for someone in the horse riding/training business?

Well, the scenery is so beautiful and the food is so good that it’s a wonderful place to go out riding for lunch or to make trail riding excursions. But the best thing about Mallorca is the people; well, the people and the horses, of course! Riding puts you in contact with the horse but also with riding guides who will chat about culture, food and history and explain about plants, trees and wild animals.

What do you do when you're not working?

I relax with my boyfriend and friends and, of course, I ride!

How many horses are there in Hipica Formentor? How do you train them? Do you have any favourites?

There are 32 horses of different ages, some of which are retired and just work occasionally with small children. I train the horses which are privately owned and are in livery. Training involves both working on the ground with a lunge rein and getting on and riding. It takes patience, determination and stamina.

I do have a couple of favourites. Prince is a young Menorcan horse who has been a big challenge to train. He has a very strong character and is very stubborn but, lately, we have really begun to communicate with each other and now he’s enjoying learning. When I first came to work here I noticed another horse I really like called Cosmo, he moves very elegantly. I later found out that he is the son of a horse I used to ride.

What is special about Hipica Formentor? What sets them apart from everyone else?

Without a doubt, it’s the relaxed atmosphere and the temperament of the horses that makes Hipica Formentor different and special. There are horses of different sizes and characters. When people come to ride, horses are selected to suit the rider so that beginners and experienced people can get mounted up with confidence and have fun.

Any horse riding tours in Mallorca that you prefer in particular from the range on offer at Hipica Formentor? Why?

The mountain trail rides that the stables offer are amazing. Lorenzo’s philosophy has always been around encouraging horses to do what comes naturally to them. He used to keep his horses in a mountainous location and they climbed all over the place, so he realised that the mountain terrain wasn’t a problem for them and the horses have grown up climbing rugged paths. People are often amazed at what they can do.