Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

The Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre was founded in 1973 and occupies a nineteenth-century palace and grounds designed by Charles Garnier, architect of the Paris Opera. 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.

What you actually see

• The choreographed show - dressage and carriage work set to Spanish music.
• The training sessions - open rehearsals on non-performance days.
• The Garnier buildings - a palace and grounds by the Paris Opera architect.
• 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.

Honest expectations

Show days are limited and tickets sell out, particularly in spring. Photography is prohibited during the performance. Some visitors object to the training methods used in classical dressage, and the school does not address that in its presentation.

Nearby

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