Horsey holidays

[SO1]

Here is me on my riding holiday to Scotland enjoying the Highlands on a Highland.

The weather was amazing so we struck lucky.

I think the only downside of these sort of holidays is that people do lie about their ability. I tend to chose destinations where the scenery is beautiful so if we do end up spending most of the time in walk then I can enjoy the views.

We had one day this time with 3 Americans two of which had only had 4 lessons before they had come and had lied and said they were experienced riders. So we ended up with a group with a combination of very experienced riders who either had or had had their own horses mixed with complete beginners on a 6 hours ride designed for experienced riders. This makes it hard for the ride leader to manage. Thankfully the other 2 days everyone rode well enough for us to have some great canters and the Americans were there one for one day. Had they had booked for the whole three days it would have spoiled the holiday for everyone else as to be safe they had to be in walk and do an easy route.

They are starting to ask for videos of people riding now for the point to point rides to try and prevent very inexperienced riders signing up. So next time I will try one of them.

It happened on my trip to Romania and Wales so not just this lovely place in Scotland which appeals to Americans. Everyone rode well in Jordan but I expect the camping element in the desert may have put some people off.

It is not just riding experience but fitness for these long distances. I only ride twice a week since I lost Homey but I do other exercise including a lot of of walking and I think that really helped as I didn't have any stiff legs which I thought I might do due to the distance.

 

[SEL]

Here is me on my riding holiday to Scotland enjoying the Highlands on a Highland.

The weather was amazing so we struck lucky.

I think the only downside of these sort of holidays is that people do lie about their ability. I tend to chose destinations where the scenery is beautiful so if we do end up spending most of the time in walk then I can enjoy the views.

We had one day this time with 3 Americans two of which had only had 4 lessons before they had come and had lied and said they were experienced riders. So we ended up with a group with a combination of very experienced riders who either had or had had their own horses mixed with complete beginners on a 6 hours ride designed for experienced riders. This makes it hard for the ride leader to manage. Thankfully the other 2 days everyone rode well enough for us to have some great canters and the Americans were there one for one day. Had they had booked for the whole three days it would have spoiled the holiday for everyone else as to be safe they had to be in walk and do an easy route.

They are starting to ask for videos of people riding now for the point to point rides to try and prevent very inexperienced riders signing up. So next time I will try one of them.

It happened on my trip to Romania and Wales so not just this lovely place in Scotland which appeals to Americans. Everyone rode well in Jordan but I expect the camping element in the desert may have put some people off.

It is not just riding experience but fitness for these long distances. I only ride twice a week since I lost Homey but I do other exercise including a lot of of walking and I think that really helped as I didn't have any stiff legs which I thought I might do due to the distance.

Lovely - who did you go with? Its been years since I've had a decent long ride and I can't get the travel insurance for a lot of overseas ones with various health issues now. Scotland I can do - so long as it's out of midge season

When I worked in Australia I got used to Americans saying they were experienced and then realising their version of experienced was a week on a dude ranch. Thankfully stock saddles hold even wobbly riders in place

But Jordan was one of my worst. On paper I should have been the weakest rider (I'd lost my ride a few months before & we'd only been happy hacking). Full of people going on about their eventing and dressage experience getting allocated hot as **** Arab types - which none of them could ride on the buckle. We spent most of that ride in walk

 

[teapot]

Looks great @SO1!

Interesting what you say re inexperienced riders, that's exactly why another place in Scotland made public changes about not taking on novices, was a thread on here recently about it!


I found one in Canda I'd love to do, but I just don't know how I'd get back to a decent level of riding fit these days

 

[Orangehorse]

I have done the 6 day Border to Coast, and it was enjoyable, a long held ambition and I'm very pleased to have done it. Scenery was lovely and it felt like an achievement. The other riders were lovely and the guide was great too.

But it was quite tough going, I would have been better last year when I was riding more, as now my horse is retired I was only having the odd hack out at a riding school. Still, I have 60 years behind me! There was a lot of trotting on roads, to make the distance in the day and there were places where going off the hard surface (logging tracks, old byways, drover's roads, or restricted military areas) simply wasn't possible as it wasn't heather and moorland, but tussocky grass and impossible for the horses to go on. The holiday was quite expensive, but the accommodation and food were good overall.

There was one rider who hadn't done a lot of riding, but she was very sensible and was very fit with swimming and walking and had prepared for the ride and coped extremely well. I can imagine that anyone without previous experience would find it too much, and the guide confirmed that occasionally people just had to give up.

You do get to an age where travel insurance for going abroad becomes an issue, so I quite fancy the Scottish ride, but it will depend on how much riding I can keep doing.

If you are younger, I would say go for it. I have ridden in France, Italy and the USA and I would say that going abroad for a riding holiday has given me some great memories and I'm really glad I've done it.

 

[SO1]

This is the ride I did the summer short break I also did the autumn short break with different friends back in October.

Summer Short Breaks | Highlands Unbridled

www.highlandsunbridled.com

Lovely - who did you go with? Its been years since I've had a decent long ride and I can't get the travel insurance for a lot of overseas ones with various health issues now. Scotland I can do - so long as it's out of midge season

When I worked in Australia I got used to Americans saying they were experienced and then realising their version of experienced was a week on a dude ranch. Thankfully stock saddles hold even wobbly riders in place

But Jordan was one of my worst. On paper I should have been the weakest rider (I'd lost my ride a few months before & we'd only been happy hacking). Full of people going on about their eventing and dressage experience getting allocated hot as **** Arab types - which none of them could ride on the buckle. We spent most of that ride in walk