Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre was founded in 1973 by the horseman Alvaro Domecq Romero and occupies the Palacio Duque de Abrantes, the nineteenth-century Recreo de las Cadenas, whose design is often attributed to Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera; the covered arena was designed in 1980 by Jose Luis Picardo. Its work is classical dressage using the Pura Raza Espanola, the Andalusian horse, whose build suits the collected movements of the haute ecole. The performance, Como Bailan los Caballos Andaluces, is a choreographed sequence of dressage figures, long reins and carriage work set to Spanish music with riders in eighteenth-century dress, staged twice or three times a week. On other days visitors can watch training sessions, which some prefer, and tour the stables, harness collection and carriage museum. The school also trains riders and grooms professionally, and it is counted among the four great classical riding academies with those of Vienna, Lisbon and Saumur.

What to look for

• The choreographed show - dressage and carriage work set to Spanish music.
• The training sessions - open rehearsals on non-performance days.
• The palace - the nineteenth-century Recreo de las Cadenas and its grounds.
• The carriage museum - historic harness and carriages in the stable buildings.

When to go

Year-round; shows run on set days, usually Tuesday and Thursday with additional dates in high season, so checking the calendar before travelling is essential. The Jerez horse fair in May is the wider equestrian event.

Good to know

Show days are limited and tickets sell out, particularly in spring. Photography is prohibited during the performance.

Nearby

Jerez's sherry bodegas and the alcazar are in the town; Cadiz and Arcos lie south and east.

Key facts