Anyone used Free Rein Holidays in Wales?

Yes, and they are AMAZING but it depends on how novicey your OH is - I went as part of an experienced group and we had a blast but as you are not escorted you probably need a bit more experience to do their trails.

If you are willing to branch out from Wales I recommend Murthwaite Green in Cumbria, I took my totally non-riding sister there for a weekend and she was cantering on the beach by the end of the weekend - they give lessons first then go to the beach, and while they have horses that are fun for people with expereince (try and get Ted, he's a speed demon!) they also have safe lovely cobs that really babysit the less experienced rider.

If you go there, try and get into the Boots and Board b&b, the breakfast there is legendary
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http://www.murthwaitegreen.co.uk/default.aspx
 
Thank you for the tip Spudlet, definitely happy to look at places beside Wales
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OH rode as a child for a year or so but gave it up to spend more time on martial arts (the fool
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) so I think the sketchy basics would come back after a while but lessons before heading out sounds a good idea! I'm happy to plod along at whatever pace is comfortable to him, he's a star really and was the one who suggested a horsey break
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Link is great!!
 
When we went to Murthwaite, they got my sister walking trotting and cantering in the morning in the school while I got to do some jumping on their most gorgeous cob (think real quality, beautiful feather, mane and tail - I was in lurrrve) then in the afternoon they split the ride into two groups on the beach, one waits while the other trots off ahead then the waiting group canters to catch up. The horses know their jobs so well they just stop when they catch up, then the other group has a go. And I got to ride Father Ted who is the speediest little horse I think I've ever sat on
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Free Rein is great, very slick operation. They have years of experience and do it well. The horses are all cobby types, so don't expect gleaming thoroughbreds, and they tend to be around the 15.00 although they have larger ones for larger men.

I went on a 2 day, 1 night stay and it was boiling hot. The riding was great. Party varied widely in experience, so we didn't do lots of cantering, but horses were keen to canter in usual places. One rider had hardly ridden before, he was taking horse mad daughter, but he got on fine. We took turns to chat to each other and followed the leader, who had an extremely nice horse that we all coveted. It was a new one they were trying out.

Accommodation OK in a pub room, but was not expecting luxury.
Meals good. If you don't get on with your horse they will bring you another one. Your luggage is taken to your accommodation. Only question is the weather. Some of those hills are steep, which was great in the sunshine but I wondered what it would be like in horizontal rain. We had lambs, primroses, birds singing, long tracks over the mountains. They made us get off and walk a few times like down steep hills and I think this def. helped to prevent being too stiff.

Tip - synthetic saddles, so next time I will take a seat saver I am used to using. Have well padded underwear, some ladies wore cycling pants. Good idea!
 
That would be great as I'd really like OH to get something very positive out of it since he has been kind enough to suggest a horsey break
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Sounds like you had an awesome time
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Thank you Orangehorse - the scenery sounds beautiful - would definitely need to be prepped for worst case scenario weather then
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Orangehorse - seat-savers are about right, my bottom felt like one big bruise
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It was worth it though! We had variable weather, not much rain but it was a bit clammy at times - didn't spoil it but we had all out wet weather gear
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Yes, we loved it. The days were rather long for unfit riders, the horses were sensible cobs - not plods - and the pub accommodation was fine. Getting off for the steeper hills certainly helped. We didn't go in a group - just the two of us using their horses, maps, routes and accommodation - it worked really well as we could choose the pace.
 
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