Show Jumping & Hunter Tuition – Flatwork and Jumping Improvement – 8 days / 7 nights – Adults – 2026
- Duration: 8 days – 7 nights – 6 days on horseback
- Level: Minimum Galop 3
- Possibility to bring your own horse: Yes
- Price: Half-board included, full-board available
- Additional activities: Sauna, Massage
One-week obstacle and hunter course for adults: flatwork and jumping improvement. As this course is offered by numerous European equestrian agencies, English can be practiced throughout the stay.
Show jumping-oriented dressage lessons in the morning, followed in the afternoon by work in the arena , forest , cross-country or beach to discover the magnificent surroundings of the equestrian center.
Our goal is to seekharmony between the rider and horse by prioritizing balance, thus enabling a light, flexible, honest and effective practice for both partners.
For experienced riders: this is much more than just a series of obstacles; it's about learning a valuable method for owners wishing to prepare their horse for competition. We emphasize understanding how to use your body in relation to the horse.
Pilates/yoga classes and massages available by reservation
Features
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights / 6 days riding, half-board. (Other course durations are possible, please contact us.)
Riding mornings and afternoons, 1.5 hours per session for private lessons or 2 hours per session for group lessons
Participant age: Adults aged 18 to 77. Teenagers over 16 are accepted outside of school holidays if accompanied.
Equestrian level required: All riding levels, from beginner (Galop 3) to competitive rider.
Amateur 3 and 4 levels. Training in groups based on skill level.
Group size: Individual lessons available and group lessons for 2 to 6 riders maximum
Supervision and safety: Instruction during the courses is primarily provided by Michel Girard Mille, the center's director, or by Alexia Roussel, a rider qualified for the French Eventing Championships, for all lessons in the arena, outdoors, or for show jumping on the beach when weather and tide conditions permit.
Fluent English spoken.
Program
Mornings: Dressage and show jumping (1.5 hours private lessons, 2 hours group lessons)
- Rider positioning in balance at all three gaits on the flat, approaching and landing from the obstacle. Reflection on equine mechanics to understand how and why to adopt a consistent use of aids, respecting and improving the horse's natural balance.
- Suppleness training – Shoulder and Hip Engage – changing the bend – exploring different horse positions at various gaits – understanding and importance of rebalancing depending on the obstacles approached…
- Managing the balance of the rider-horse pair during changes of direction, gait, speed and depending on different types of obstacles.
- Work on different protocols, first of all obstacles: straight jumps and oxers, combinations – importance of using different trajectories – work on landing on a specific lead – flying changes.
- The course consists of a series of 8 to 10 obstacles at the end of the training.
Afternoons: 1.5 hours of private lessons, 2 hours of group lessons
- Work in the quarry, in the forest and on the cross-country course, 2 beach outings for relaxation or work, planned during the week.
- Putting into practice the positioning and driving rules worked on in the arena, on controlling pace in varied terrain and on natural obstacles.
- Crossing natural obstacles and adapting to variations in terrain. Adjusting position according to the terrain.
Dates 2026
We welcome interns every week throughout the year (subject to availability). Internships lasting from 3 to 6 days can also be arranged throughout the year.
January 11-18, January
18-25, January
25 - February 1, February
1-8, February
15-22, February 22 -
March 1
, March 1-8, March
8-15, March 15-22,
March 22-29
, March 29 - April
5, April 5-12,
April 12-19
, April
19-26
, April 26 - May 3, May
10-17,
May 24-31,
June
7-14, June
14-21, June 21-28
July: every week
August: every week
August 30 – September 6 September
6 – September 13
September 13 – September 20
September 27 – October 4 October
11 – October 18 October
18 – October 25
November: every week
December: every week
Prices
| Low season (November to April) | Mid-season (May, June, September, October) | High season (July and August) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price based on a shared room with half-board included | €1149/person. | €1199/person. | €1345/person. |
| Additional night with half-board | €89/night | €94/night | €103/night |
| Full board supplement | €190/week. | €190/week. | €190/week. |
| Single room supplement | €130/week. | €200/week. | €240/week. |
| Double room supplement | None | €100/week. | €120/week. |
| Private lesson supplement | €200/week or €40/day | €200/week or €40/day | €200/week or €40/day |
Supplement of €150 for riders of a level above gallop 6 or wishing to work on heights equal to and greater than 1.10 m.
GROUP PROMOTION: 30% discount for the 6th rider in a group
PILATES – SAUNA – MASSAGE
Pilates and Massage are available all year round for an additional fee payable on site!
Pilates sessions available throughout the day: Individual 1-hour classes: €50 – Group 1-hour classes: €20
Therapeutic or Relaxation Massages "à la carte": 30 minutes €30 – 45 minutes €45 – 1 hour €60
Sauna sessions offered by the Equestrian Centre
The price includes
The price does not include
Payment method
BANK TRANSFER: Upon confirmation of your booking request, we will send you our IBAN so that you can pay the deposit and then the balance (for stays of 3 days and more) or the total amount (for stays of less than 2 days) by bank transfer.
For residents of non-EU countries unable to make the bank transfer, please contact us for PayPal payment options.
Reservation request
Accommodation
Charming 3-star cottage with swimming pool, sauna and massage room, located 150 meters from the equestrian center, 5 minutes by car from the beach, or 20 minutes by mountain bike via the cycle paths.
In case of unavailability at the Gite: Comfort Hotel** with breakfast only or half-board
Access
Equestrian gîte, 55 route de Baleste, 40200 MIMIZAN, France.
How to get there?
Meeting time: 8:30 AM
Equipment
Riding gear to bring
- Riding trousers and tops
- Helmet, riding crop, protective vest (mandatory for cross-country)
- Ankle boots and chaps (avoid boots)
- Gourd
Personal belongings to bring
- Typical clothing for a week: underwear, socks, t-shirts and polo shirts, a sweater or fleece (the evenings are cool!)
- For the pool: pool towel, swimsuit, sunglasses, sunscreen
- Notebook and pen for taking notes
- It is strongly recommended to bring homeopathic Arnica to consume without moderation during the week to reduce aches and pains at the beginning of the stay and ensure optimal benefit from the stay.
Equipment provided on site
- Bed linen and bath towel
Quality of our teaching
The Marina Equestrian Centre is proud of its qualifications for the Show Jumping Championships:
- 1 French champion
- 1 bronze medal at the French Club 1 championship, and 3 rankings at the French championship in Elite, Club 1 and Club 2 events.
- 3 champions of Aquitaine
- 10 champions from the Landes
Have a question? Send us a message
By phone: +33 5 58 09 34 25 or +33 6 81 27 15 01
Alexandra –
An unforgettable week-long course combining dressage lessons and trail rides. Sensational moments outdoors through the forest and on the beach. The excellent instructor, Michel, will guide you in the right direction, whatever your level or doubts. I highly recommend it!
A big thank you and congratulations to the small team who organize everything to ensure the week runs smoothly: Anette, Camille, Yoann, and Anthony.
Last but not least, thank you to Quick, always the same, Quioco, a fantastic trail horse, and Flocon, my little mentor who helped me ask myself the right questions about my jumping challenges! I can't wait to book my next course.
Pigneul Margaux –
A fantastic week at the Marina Between dressage lessons, show jumping, and rides between the beach and the forest, I'm coming home full of wonderful memories, new skills I can't wait to put into practice, and a few aches and pains... Michel is an instructor eager to share his knowledge; he was a great teacher and inspired me to push myself! I also want to thank Anette, who was a very warm and welcoming hostess, always smiling! And of course: Jarny and Lune, such endearing horses!! A huge thank you to you all. See you very soon…
Laura Voss –
A week-long clinic filled with emotion and learning!
It was an excellent time spent with two friends surrounded by nature and with truly amazing horses! The charming and comfortable little cottage had everything we needed to prepare our own meals.
Michel is full of knowledge, which he shares with great pleasure and patience.
This clinic allowed me to reflect on my riding and my horse's reactions, but also to better understand my own horse and adapt my requests accordingly so that we can be as harmonious a team as possible.
A real eye-opener! A daily practice of self-improvement to continue growing together.
Thank you Michel, thank you Annette for your welcome and your kindness.
Only one thing to say, see you next time!!
Garrivet Laura –
This week of internship was very enriching and emotionally charged.
Once you get past the initial disorientation, you learn a tremendous amount. As a rider, you always have to be willing to question yourself.
Michel is a wellspring of knowledge and helped me progress significantly in just a few days. He knows how to make his teaching accessible and is incredibly gentle. He also helped me regain my confidence over fences, which was no easy feat! He managed my fears without being pushy.
His horses are just as exceptional as he is!
Thanks to him, I found solutions for working with my mare at home, who had serious balance problems. I am very grateful to him because the mare's progress since my return has been exceptional.
Thank you Michel and your family for your welcome, your kindness and thank you for making this week a wonderful memory.
See you soon
Laura
Lucie –
I had an excellent week of training with Michel and his teams!
Michel is an excellent instructor. He quickly identified my difficulties with riding and worked diligently to help me correct them throughout the week. I was fortunate enough to be the only rider, so I benefited from private lessons, and I felt I progressed rapidly. I also greatly appreciated Michel's approach, which focused on understanding the horse's movement and how the rider's actions affect it. It's the first time I've felt I truly understand the horse's reactions to my actions.
I also really enjoyed the trail rides, which offer a different approach than most riding schools. The rider/horse partnership is central; you don't just follow the horse in front! Canter departures are done individually, allowing for a better understanding and control of your horse.
Finally, the guesthouse where I stayed was very comfortable and well-equipped. I had opted for the breakfast option, which was also very good.
Please note that this course requires a good level of physical fitness: you'll spend 2 to 3 hours in the saddle each half-day with very little downtime. You'll leave with a wealth of experience and wonderful memories, but also feeling tired and sore
In short, everything was perfect! A huge thank you to Michel for his kindness and invaluable advice, thank you to Anaïs for the beach outings, and thank you more generally to the whole team for the wonderful time we spent together! Finally, thank you to Jarny and Titan for putting up with me throughout the week
I will most definitely be back!
Lucie
Roberta –
Hello Michel,
Thank you for this unforgettable week of riding for Christopher.
He thoroughly enjoyed the week with you and your entire team at the riding center. He talked a lot about your superb instruction in the arena with his riding partner, Elise; the wonderful rides to the lake and beach with the other riders on the trail week; Lisa's fantastic meals; and many other things about your horses and your great team.
We truly appreciate it as it was an enriching experience for our son in a very friendly environment surrounded by other passionate riders. Thank you for all your efforts.
Lydie Lecourt –
A truly informative and beneficial internship. Plenty of practical work and a good dose of very useful theory on general equine mechanics.
I was fortunate enough to benefit from private lessons and to fully enjoy Michel's teaching, as well as Anne's advice and kindness.
Intensive riding sessions requiring perseverance and endurance. After some reflection, I can confirm the very positive impact of this course. Michel is demanding, a skilled teacher, and very patient. He manages a diverse and engaging group of horses, catering to everyone's enjoyment and skill level.
I believe I learned many valuable lessons and continue to apply Michel's precious advice in my regular weekly riding routine.
The alternating work in the arena and outdoors made this training course even richer and more effective, not to mention the session on the beach, which was a real treat. Having only been riding for two years, and being rather anxious by nature, I wanted to progress quickly, on a solid foundation and in a safe environment, so this course was an important step in my learning. It's not easy to start riding a little later in life…
I was looking to practice a lot to gain confidence. Goal achieved! I still have quite a few difficulties, or rather apprehensions, with jumps, but that will be my goal for 2021! And surely an opportunity to return to the Marina…
The cottage is well-equipped and very comfortable, in a quiet location, just a 2-minute walk from the equestrian facilities (or even faster by bike).
Anne and Michel have a great sense of hospitality and generosity, another highlight of this week-long course.
To top off this wonderful week, I was able to extend my stay a little longer. My partner was able to join me at the end of my trip to enjoy the last day of teaching with me, and then on Sunday morning, under the sun, we enjoyed a 4-hour walk, including 1 hour on the beach – a real treat!
Thank you for everything, Michel and Anne.
Christopher –
A lifetime experience not to be missed. I did the weeklong dressage and jumping course in July 2020. I am an experienced equestrian, yet Michel taught me things that I would never have thought of when riding a horse, he is an excellent instructor. Alongside another student of a similar standard to myself, we both finished the week with an accurate understanding of the horse's mechanics and their reasoning for action. Throughout the week we improved on the use of the horizontal and vertical axes of the horse's trajectory and how to manipulate them to our advantage. We also reinforced and developed our jump approaches. During the week Michel gave us some exterior work beyond the center, including several hacks. This included improving technique on different terrains with beautiful views of beach side forests, lakes and a sunset gallop along Mimizan beach.
The cottage is a lovely place to relax after a day on horseback. In the heat of summer, we used the pool to cool down and the open-air eating facilities allowed for a cool evening meal all together. The food was amazing, Lisa cooked us a varied, heathy array of meals, allowing for everyone's food requirements. This is also where we were able to catch up with the other group who were doing the week's course trekking the Atlantic coast. We all shared our different stories from the day and had many laughs as our multinational group began to get to know each other. I completed my week at La Marina for my Duke of Edinburgh Gold residential course. This fabulous opportunity has given me memories which I will treasure for a long time.
Lydia and Alain –
A great place to work on balance, coordination, and trajectories. The rides are truly dynamic outings. The accommodation is very pleasant.
Richard –
An amazing riding course that makes you never want to go back to traditional riding clubs. Excellent atmosphere and a team dedicated to the riders.
The horses are responsive and live in the pasture.
Only one thing on my mind at the end of the stay – to do it again!
Yves –
A must-do! Tailor-made training for all levels; you'll progress. A warm welcome from Michel and Anne. Thank you both, and thank you to Alexia for her patience and dedication. The horses are of very high quality, well-trained, and inspire complete confidence.
Morgane Ernoult –
A fantastic week with Michel, Anne, and Alexia, all about pushing our limits, making progress, and having fun.
The horses were top-notch, turned out in the paddock, well-behaved, hardworking, and suitable for all levels (and our progress throughout the week). The instruction was excellent in a small group of four; Michel truly adapted to our level throughout the week.
The intensive show jumping course was interspersed with superb, active rides in the forest and on the beach (where Anne took some amazing photos!).
Life at the family-run guesthouse was incredibly pleasant, with delicious meals to replenish our energy, a swimming pool to relax in, and comfortable rooms to soothe our aches and pains!
I'll be back for an intensive week in the arena or perhaps a week of trail riding very soon (hoping to see Fun again ;-).
Thanks again to Anne and Michel!
Vanessa Durand –
Fantastic stay with amazing instructors who pushed us to our limits and superb horses that made us dream. Thanks also to Anne who prepared delicious meals for us throughout my stay with a smile and genuine kindness.
Marion –
It was a pleasure to meet Michel, Anne, and their horses. Six incredibly enriching days on horseback, surrounded by magnificent scenery.
We wanted to stay longer to learn even more.
See you soon, Michel and Anne. My heart will forever be with the beautiful Thali….
Christine –
Even in the off-season, even with late November weather, this course is a delight (be warned: it's intense!!! Be in good shape to fully enjoy it!): it combines in-depth learning and understanding of equine mechanics, skill development tailored to each participant's level, a variety of horses to ride – all fantastic – teaching adapted to each individual and their goals… and a warm and generous welcome. A huge thank you to you, Anne and Michel!
Amandine –
At the end of January 2023, I had the opportunity to participate in the advanced training course. I was the only rider, so I had the privilege of private lessons every day, both mornings and afternoons. This course was intensive but very informative and incredibly enriching. Michel's teaching is very effective, puts you at ease, and restores your confidence. This course allowed me to learn new exercises, experience new sensations, and also better understand certain concepts presented in a different way.
I also had my share of firsts, such as leg-yielding (at the canter), flying changes, and even riding on the beach. A unique moment that I won't forget, despite the cold.
I'm thinking of the horses who were with me during the week: Tsar, Trimeur, Iggy Pop, and Thali. And also of all the other horses at the center.
Thank you again to Anne and Michel for their warm welcome, the time we shared, the lessons, the room, and the meals. Everything was perfect!
I recommend this internship and I will most certainly return!
Buisine –
We loved everything: the instruction and its quality (thank you Alexia), the outings to the beach and forest, the accommodation, the warm welcome from our hosts, the meals. In short, nothing to complain about. And we're Galop 7 riders, so we're qualified to judge.
David –
A fantastic advanced training course with top-notch instruction. Michel is attentive and guides us to reflect on equine behavior with a highly relevant approach, addressing both the horses' physical characteristics and the riders' technique. The horses are beautiful and of excellent quality, meticulously cared for and attentive to their owners. They are responsive and respectful of the riders, allowing us to push our limits and progress quickly if we follow Michel's expert advice. This course is physically demanding, as Michel doesn't keep track of the hours but focuses on the quality of our progress. Anne prepares delicious meals, and I highly recommend the full board option; it's a real treat, and the team takes excellent care of us. We have plenty of time to relax in this beautiful setting; the rooms are lovely and comfortable. As you can tell, I was thrilled with this training course. I made great progress, and the rides in the forest and the gallops along the beach to end this wonderful week have left me with fantastic memories. I will definitely come back with great pleasure. Thank you again for the warm welcome. David