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.

What is your favourite area in Mallorca? How about for horse riding?

I am from Pollença and, like everyone here, I absolutely love my town. But not just my town. The old towns of Mallorca are beautiful and interesting. They have their own character and stories. There are always lovely bars to get a drink and maybe some tapas or a meal. This is the real Mallorca for me.

Any restaurant on the island you can recommend for a special occasion? And for some tapas?

I’m not a person that likes things that are too fancy. Me, my friends and family like a restaurant called Nacional in Port d'Alcúdia for a get-together. It’s good food and relaxed. Tapas are available in lots of areas, but Palma has the best places for a big selection.

A great bar for a drink? And for a coffee?

I’d suggest any of the bars in the small towns and villages across the island.

Where would you go for a bit of culture and atmosphere?

I would go to Palma. It’s quite a small city but full of art galleries, museums and historic buildings. The area around the cathedral and the Passeig des Born is really beautiful and historic. You can wander around there for ages, stopping for a coffee or a drink now and then.

If someone was coming here for the first time, what would you suggest they absolutely must do or see in Mallorca?

I would say, go to the beautiful towns of Pollença, Sóller or Valldemossa.

Finally, can you give us a tip to escape the crowds in the summer?

The beaches here in the north of the island at Port d'Alcúdia and Playa de Muro are beautiful but they get very crowded in the summer and that’s just not for me. I suggest going into the Serra de Tramuntana Mountains to escape the crowds, or into the centre of the island to explores some of the lesser known towns and villages like Sineu, Petra and Santa Margalida.

Exploring Mallorca on horseback is a truly unique experience. Hipica Formentor offer a great selection of excursions, from day trips including a stop for food and drink to longer rides discovering the hidden corners of the Tramuntana mountains, and even all-inclusive horse riding holidays.