STABLES AND FARM

Alianthos Stables was founded by Nikos Vardakis, who'd liked to combine his love for horses with his business, tourism.

The stable started in 2004 and gradually grew bigger to what is now known as "the place to ride" in Plakias and surroundings.

The stables are located in Damnoni, Plakias in an six-hectare area, just 30 Km (25 min driving time) away from the city of Rethimnon, Crete.

THE HOURSES AND THE DONKEYS

Our menagerie consists of more than 20 horses of various breeds like mini Shetlandponies, Jorgalidiko's, Merens and Shire-mix, and 10 donkeys.

In the stables there are 2 large olivegrove/meadows for the horses to graze and roam around in. Each horse has it's own roomy stable in case the weather conditions are not so favourable (only about 10% of the year if not less).

Furthermore there are 3 semisized paddocks, a small arena for lessons and training, lots of space for grooming and tacking up, and a little office/tackroom.

Alianthos Stables is managed according to north-european high quality standards. All the horses and donkeys are vaccinated and dewormed on a regular basis. Also the vet makes regular visits.

Every 6 weeks the farrier comes to shoe our horses. Since the horses live in a herd they only have frontshoes, as not to do each other severe damage when there are shifts in the hierarchy. This is not a problem for the work they do, due to the climate here they tend to have very strong, hard hooves.

The horses or donkeys we use for rides we selected on having the right temperament for the work they're doing. We try to divide their workload fairly so they all go out regularly but not so much that they become automatons that perform a boring routine.

They are easygoing, and used to everything they can encounter in these surroundings, so they don't spook easily. Most of them are about e-pony size, through experience we found that these adapt better to the terrain.

 

THE ANIMALS MINI-ZOO

Alianthos Stables also have a min-izoo with a great variety of wild and domestic animals, like turtles, ducks, chicken, rabbits, goats and sheep, deer, peacocks, donkeys and mini Shetlanders.

We also have a few kri-kri's, the Cretan wild goats.

For children we have a little program once a week, which consists of a ride on a pony and a donkey, and a visit to the mini-zoo.

 

 

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