“What a remarkable Greek horse holiday with fit, gorgeous, bombproof horses! We are both advanced riders, but would feel comfortable taking our inexperienced grandkids the next trip! Rita let us experience EVERYTHING the island had to offer on the back of a horse, as well as from a tourist standpoint as we had never been to Greece.

We rode on mountainous terrain heading to the highest point, Petra, covered with olive trees with Turkey in the background! She took us down ancient narrow cobblestone paths to the iconic Molyvos castle on one side and the harbor on the other.

Every day we stopped in a different village and ate amazing fresh local foods served by people who loved sharing their culture with us. Our ride on the beach ended with eating seaside, ouzo and anchovies (tradition!) local beer, fresh smoked fish, pork schnitzel. The tethered horses relaxed while we dined.

The accommodations, staff and buffet meals at the Bella Vista Hotel were perfect. Something for every taste from traditional Greek (the freshest tomatoes and cucumbers from the owner’s garden) to Mexican, Italian … and everything was delicious! The hotel provided nightly entertainment and immersed you in the Greek culture with traditional dancing and singing. Sagapo Erik! Lol.”

— Amy L.

“I'm not a new rider, and I usually don't try riding in other countries because of the possible language barrier and because I don't know how ethical the instructors or caretakers are to the horses, so I'm quite picky. However, I had the feeling to try Ippos and I spent 4 weeks on Lesvos, and I loved it so much that I had about 7 lessons with Rita and several more excursions.

Rita is the best! Her place is small but her love for her horses is REAL and she knows exactly what she is doing. They are in good hands, and she's a safe teacher. When I came back to California, my regular instructor (that I had since I was 7... and I'm 27 now) saw a noticeable difference in my riding. Rita was able to communicate things to me in a way that even my regular instructors couldn't and they were impressed.

I highly recommend! Lesvos is lovely, but one of the main reasons I want to come back is so that I can ride with Rita and her horses.”

— Nisha C.

“I had a wonderful time. The people are very friendly and super competent, the yard is lovely, the horses are excellent and the landscape is gorgeous. Rita has created a place and invites you to become part of it, a place where people love animals and belong on horseback. Moving through a gorgeous landscape on horseback is for me the best therapy and this trip has been a true retreat.

(Favourite memory?) I have many favourites like riding through the oak trees and the lava fields between the well-kept field boundaries, going to the cafe for pastry with Rita and Mirka after the ride, but the final highlight was watching Rita teach three girls in the ring. The joy on their faces was a real trip down memory lane for me and a strong reminder of why we love horses.”

— Kristina W.