Caballos Casa Blas

Who they are

Caballos Casa Blas is the stable of an infanzón manor house in Sarvisé, in the Broto valley, renovated in 1837. Around the courtyard it keeps its stables, hay lofts and granaries, and it is surrounded by meadows. According to the house itself, Lucien Briet, the great popularizer of Ordesa, and Eduard Wallon, author of one of the first maps of the Pyrenees, passed through it. The family breeds Limousin cattle, linked to the Broto valley veal, and has been taking people out riding since 1991. The website does not give the names of the family members. Their horses are mostly crosses of Spanish horse with some English Arab and Percheron, which the house describes as good-natured and hardy. They work with natural horsemanship.

The stable is a member of the Aragonese Equestrian Federation and belongs to the Aragon association of adventure tourism companies. It says it holds all the tourism, livestock and council permits, as well as assistance and civil liability insurance. The guides, according to the website, are qualified and experienced. It does not publish its Aragon tourism registration number.

What they offer

The rides follow the old bridle paths of the Broto valley, among woods and meadows, and around the Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park; one of the landscapes they show is the Planduviar meadow. They are gentle outings, family-style, and no experience is needed. There are rides of one and two hours, half-day rides with lunch included, weekend or multi-day rides, and special outings for groups and camps.

The named crossing is Bujaruelo to Gavarnie, which crosses to the French side of the Pyrenees. On the long outings they can arrange meals, accommodation and a support vehicle, and you can also bring your own horse. They also do team penning, the game of separating cattle on horseback in teams, and offer horse livery.

Prices

The published prices, including VAT and the compulsory activity insurance, are per horse and rider:

• One hour: €20; under-12s, €15.
• Two hours: €40; under-12s, €30.

Weekend outings and crossings are quoted separately. The website gives no minimum age, although it does have a rate for under-12s. Nor does it say whether they lend helmets or how many riders go out per guide, so it is worth asking, especially with small children.

How to book

The stable is open all year. The house is at Calle La Iglesia 1, in Sarvisé. Out of season you have to book beforehand by phone, on 974 486 041 or 639 685 565, or by email. The website does not publish cancellation terms or say in which languages the guiding is done. Sarvisé is about 3 km from Broto and is a good base for combining a ride with a day in Ordesa.