Horse holiday wobbles

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Waxwing

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Hello I haven't posted for a while and this is going to sound silly but here goes, Late last year a friend invited me to join her and a group of other friends on a riding holiday this year. I know the friend's riding ability and experience are similar to mine so I felt happy signing up. I haven't gone on a riding holiday before but I am reasonably fit and always go for day rides when we go away on holiday including both in the UK and abroad and have enjoyed a variety of experiences. However with the holiday approaching the next month or so I have felt increasingly worried about going, without any clear reason for this. I actually became slightly panicky when riding last week, on a horse I am usually fine on. I am concerned that I may have over holidayed myself and booked a riding holiday out of my comfort/ confidence zone. The experiences of some people on this site who have holidayed with same company suggest I may be correct. Since loosing our horse last year I was really looking forward to this holiday but at present I am most definitely not. ( I still love riding, which I do once or twice a week and I spend a couple of days a month helping out of friend with the care of their horses as I enjoy the mucking out, grooming and poo picking as much as the riding.) Not sure what do.
 
Ah! I have gone on three Free Rein riding holidays and found the company to be efficient, and a good operation overall who want their riders to have an enjoyable holiday. They will put you on a different horse if you find you are not suited to the first one (although I have never had to do this). This is based at Clyro near Hay on Wye just over the border

There is another company called Trans Wales on the other side of the river and a little bit further on and I have had a one day riding experience with them. They mostly use home bred Welsh cobs that know the mountains very well and are surefooted (and quite fast). I was trying them out to see about their Ride Across Wales holidays. The guide was excellent, she really looked after the riders, particularly one girl who was slightly overwhelmed, but thanks to the guide, was getting more and more confident. It was definitely faster than Free Rein, but this caters for their type of riders. Some go back year after year and there were some long, fast canters, but the horses know where they are supposed to go and stop and you just have to let them get on with it. The terrain on the mountains was a bit rough, lots of rocks scattered about. There was quite a lot of road work coming back off the mountains, and then we had to clean the tack - which isn't a requirement for Free Rein! We did have tea and cake afterwards. I decided it was a bit fast and furious for me, it would have been OK 20 years ago!

I did my Border to Coast 6 day ride with FreeRein.

So - I don't know if they helps or not. But these companies are keen that their customers have a good time and enjoy themselves. Maybe give them a telephone call to see if they can put your mind at rest.
 
Hmm .. I didn’t have the best experience with Free Rein but it was more to do with communication beforehand and absolutely no follow up afterwards even though I’d had a serious accident (it was a freak accident, no fault of the pony or guide). However the riding itself was fine - mostly walk and trot with some lovely canters on grass tracks. I rode for a couple of hours in the morning and then the same again in the afternoon and didn’t feel at all sore (the accident happened on the last day).
 
If it’s Free Rein then it will be me who posted about the very poor experience that I had with them two years ago. It was my second time with them, the first time was fine but the way they handled the second was dire.

I rejected the first horse because she had a sore back, the replacement was lovely but soon after starting the ride she got incredibly upset after being kicked entirely without provocation by another Free Rein horse who had carted her rider along the road to boot mine from behind. I tried to settle my mare down, but she was too far gone. I stuck it out for as long as I could trying to settle her, but eventually bailed 5 miles into the first morning before I got decked.

So much for fit and friendly horses, many of the horses seemed to hate each other, and tacking them up in a small shippon was pretty hairy with teeth flying.

Lost all my money. Never heard back from Free Rein. I heard from a riding pro that I am far from being alone in this.

I did point out that it was very dangerous having an aggressive kicker on their rides who would go out of their way to kick another of their horses under saddle. The first horse with the sore back also has very sore hind legs with big lumps under the feather - maybe untreated CPL? She hated having her hind feet picked out.
 
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Waxwing said:
Hi thank you for the responses, its the other company suggested in the second post.
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Can you let the company know in advance that you're a bit nervous. I did Freerein with a friend who was so nervous she was throwing up in the B&B that morning. BUT I knew her well & I'd told the company she would be over thinking the ride and scaring herself & they matched her with this awesome pony. I swear it would have pootled round the 3 day route with a baby on board & no map.

I don't know the other company but I've generally found if you brief operators in advance they'll try and pull out something suitable.
 
Orangehorse said:
Ah! I have gone on three Free Rein riding holidays and found the company to be efficient, and a good operation overall who want their riders to have an enjoyable holiday. They will put you on a different horse if you find you are not suited to the first one (although I have never had to do this). This is based at Clyro near Hay on Wye just over the border

There is another company called Trans Wales on the other side of the river and a little bit further on and I have had a one day riding experience with them. They mostly use home bred Welsh cobs that know the mountains very well and are surefooted (and quite fast). I was trying them out to see about their Ride Across Wales holidays. The guide was excellent, she really looked after the riders, particularly one girl who was slightly overwhelmed, but thanks to the guide, was getting more and more confident. It was definitely faster than Free Rein, but this caters for their type of riders. Some go back year after year and there were some long, fast canters, but the horses know where they are supposed to go and stop and you just have to let them get on with it. The terrain on the mountains was a bit rough, lots of rocks scattered about. There was quite a lot of road work coming back off the mountains, and then we had to clean the tack - which isn't a requirement for Free Rein! We did have tea and cake afterwards. I decided it was a bit fast and furious for me, it would have been OK 20 years ago!

I did my Border to Coast 6 day ride with FreeRein.

So - I don't know if they helps or not. But these companies are keen that their customers have a good time and enjoy themselves. Maybe give them a telephone call to see if they can put your mind at rest.
Click to expand...
Interesting re the different paces of the two, a friend of mine was looking into the Trans Wales one

I think letting them know in advance is a good idea, I'm guessing they want you to have an enjoyable experience at the end of the day so should be able to make adjustments if needed
 
Hi its a four day break with two nights at their base and two nights elsewhere; it been organised specifically for the group I am going with and doesn't fit exactly into any of the advertised rides on their website. I am assuming one day riding around the locality of the farm and then three days/ two nights out on a trail.
 
You’ll love it I’m sure. I’ve friends who go year after year. I’ve found sometimes the speedier rides are safer because the horses do have to be fit and know their job. Report back afterwards please :-).
Also agree if at any time you don’t feel safe or get on with the horse speak up. They’re used to it. They want you to enjoy it and come back!
 
Waxwing said:
Hi its a four day break with two nights at their base and two nights elsewhere; it been organised specifically for the group I am going with and doesn't fit exactly into any of the advertised rides on their website. I am assuming one day riding around the locality of the farm and then three days/ two nights out on a trail.
Click to expand...
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the rides I’ve been on. I’ve done the Hay triangle and the Beacons rides. My sister and BiL are doing thd Trans-wales ride for the third time this year. The accommodation at the farm is lovely and the other accommodation has been very good. Just be honest about what you want from the horse you ride. There are some lovely quiet ones and some feisty ones for people that want a more challenging ride. All the horses are sure-footed and fantastic to ride.

You’ll have a wonderful time I’m sure.
 
Sussexbythesea said:
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the rides I’ve been on. I’ve done the Hay triangle and the Beacons rides. My sister and BiL are doing thd Trans-wales ride for the third time this year. The accommodation at the farm is lovely and the other accommodation has been very good. Just be honest about what you want from the horse
Click to expand...

You’ll love it I’m sure. I’ve friends who go year after year. I’ve found sometimes the speedier rides are safer because the horses do have to be fit and know their job. Report back afterwards please :-).
Also agree if at any time you don’t feel safe or get on with the horse speak up. They’re used to it. They want you to enjoy it and come back!

Thank you both; its great to hear from people who have done the rides and be reassured that the have some quieter horses (that will be me!). I am not expecting a plod but not wanting fiesty, especially in a Welsh sense.

I currently ride a Welsh Section D sometimes; they aren't particularly sharp to ride but are challenging on the ground and definitely have opinions!
 
I've not been but my family are mostly from that area so have heard a lot about them in the past. I've never heard anything bad. I think you'll have a wonderful time. It's a lovely area to ride.
 
I did the Trans Wales Hay triangle with a horsey friend about 6 years ago. She didn't like the look of the horse selected for her to ride so we had a quiet chat with the ride leader who was absolutely happy to swap her onto another horse before we even started riding. (Nothing wrong with the first horse in theory, just my friend had a "feeling" that they wouldn't get on with each other). The riding was lovely, all canters were safe and under control and on beautiful turf. The scenery was amazing. I definitely want to go back and visit Hay on Wye too. Nerves ahead of doing something new and out of your comfort zone is understandable but they will look after you well and you'll enjoy it.
 
Thank you all again for the reassurances; it is great to hear from people who have actually done it, or know people who have. I messaged the people I am going with, admitting a few nerves. I only know one of them but several of the others came back and said they haven't ridden for some months, so I am not going away with a group who compete and ride several times a week. I am now starting to look forward to it!
 
I went years ago with trans Wales with a uni group. We had some real novices mixed in with some very experienced riders. They were great at finding horses to keep everyone happy and fabulous scenery.
 
Ive ridden with them.

They put me on a pony much too quiet for me who got regularly left behind on the gallops 🙄

Very sweet pony, but not what I had made clear that I wanted.

I can't recall her name, however here is a picture.

Perhaps ask to ride this one if you're concerned about your ability and want something quiet and safe.

You will be fine there though, honestly. It isn't difficult riding. All the horses know when to go and when to stop. You will be grand.
 

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