Is there such a group of people?

[Green Bean]

Setting the scene:
I have the horse, I have the small horsebox.
I would like to go away on the odd weekend for hacking, staying in the box, not in a horsey B&B
My horse is not brave so needs company that is not afraid of its own shadow
I currently have no great interest in going beyond a sedate trot (terrifying incident) whilst out - this may change if my confidence improves
Can't go on a road unless it is for a short bit as horse is terrified on anything bigger than a car
The Question:
Are there like minded people out there?
Is there a FB group other than the ones that talk about accomodation and hot tubs?
It feels a bit like needing a site like Tinder, but matching like minded equestrians rather than dating

It feels a bit odd now that I have written it down, and I will probably regret it (like booking shows at night then regretting it in the morning )

 

[Patterdale]

Why not a camp? Lots of them are very understanding of nerves and will put you in a group where you don’t need to canter.

 

[Gloi]

What part of the country are you?

 

[tda]

There is a group in north Yorkshire that do just that,guided sedate rides, you just book in and join jn

 

[Green Bean]

Why not a camp? Lots of them are very understanding of nerves and will put you in a group where you don’t need to canter.

I should have added to my list saying I can't go out in a group, otherwise my horse thinks it is a hunt and goes ballistic (terrifying incident)

What part of the country are you?

Mid Bucks

 

[Rowreach]

Do you have a hacking buddies type group on Facebook in your area? Or a riding club where you could meet like minded people?

 

[Widgeon]

There is a group in north Yorkshire that do just that,guided sedate rides, you just book in and join jn

I would take issue with the claim that they are all "sedate"

But they are guided, and they are very good. They grade them according to terrain and speed and the slow gentle ones are amazingly popular.

Their website has a lot of accommodation suggestions, I'm not sure there's much camping but take a look. I know some of the B&B owners will take you out for day rides (for a fee obviously).

Ride & Stay Yorkshire

Stay in a B&B, cottage or glamping in Yorkshire, with your horse in a nearby field, and ride through fabulous fields, moors and beaches.

www.rideyorkshire.org

Another one, that probably isn't on there yet, is https://cliffstudretreat.co.uk/freespirit-glamping - the glamping business is on the stud site, and the stud offer horse B&B.

 

[Orangehorse]

Is there a bridlepath club in your area? We do very sedate group rides, maximum of 6 for young/novice/nervous horses (if there is cantering it is advertised beforehand).

Staying away and camping - there might be information in something like bed and breakfast for horses, but bear in mind that these hosts are trying to make money from B & B and might not want to provide free parking! They might do for a bit of a charge for the horse, of course.

I think you could try to make steps to get your horse better in traffic, as even the quietest of rides will probably involve some roads, unless you are crossing the middle of Wales.

Sometimes there are people who advertise such services (there is such a person living next to the M42 who takes in traffic shy horses and helps them overcome their fears). Or is there a local field on a farm, preferably next to a really busy road (good fences obviously) where he will see tractors and trailers every day.

Of course, I realise and sympathise if your horse is nervous because of an incident, because they might never get over that completely.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Yes, I'm in a group that does just that and it's very friendly and low pressure (you can come with your horse and do nothing, you could join a ride, try an obstacle course or just not bring a horse) but it's for 'heavy horses'. That's not to say there isn't the odd light horse that comes along. (There are a few)

 

[Gloi]

I should have added to my list saying I can't go out in a group, otherwise my horse thinks it is a hunt and goes ballistic (terrifying incident)

Mid Bucks

Wrong end of the country . I have a pretty bombproof pony, used to being a chaperone, and am game for riding out.

 

[tda]

I would take issue with the claim that they are all "sedate"

But they are guided, and they are very good. They grade them according to terrain and speed and the slow gentle ones are amazingly popular.

Their website has a lot of accommodation suggestions, I'm not sure there's much camping but take a look. I know some of the B&B owners will take you out for day rides (for a fee obviously).

Ride & Stay Yorkshire

Stay in a B&B, cottage or glamping in Yorkshire, with your horse in a nearby field, and ride through fabulous fields, moors and beaches.

www.rideyorkshire.org

Another one, that probably isn't on there yet, is https://cliffstudretreat.co.uk/freespirit-glamping - the glamping business is on the stud site, and the stud offer horse B&B.

Yes I did think I should have said they have a range of rides for differing abilities

 

[Ellestan]

Why don't you have a look at endurance GB and a local branch of the club?

Lots of fabulous planned rides are ran, often you are matched and set off in pairs or small groups. Most of the endurance rides also have smaller 'pleasure' rides, so no need for it to be done competitively at all.

They usually say what the rides entail, how many gates, if they're manned, amount of road work etc. As I say they would match you too so you could ride with similar minded or whatever you need.

 

[Rowreach]

I would take issue with the claim that they are all "sedate"

But they are guided, and they are very good. They grade them according to terrain and speed and the slow gentle ones are amazingly popular.

Their website has a lot of accommodation suggestions, I'm not sure there's much camping but take a look. I know some of the B&B owners will take you out for day rides (for a fee obviously).

Ride & Stay Yorkshire

Stay in a B&B, cottage or glamping in Yorkshire, with your horse in a nearby field, and ride through fabulous fields, moors and beaches.

www.rideyorkshire.org

Another one, that probably isn't on there yet, is https://cliffstudretreat.co.uk/freespirit-glamping - the glamping business is on the stud site, and the stud offer horse B&B.

And the hacking clinics which are good for nervous horse/rider combinations

 

[poiuytrewq]

There's a place by me that does guided rides. Much of it is off road I believe. GL7 3N area if your interested in contact details

 

[Anna Clara]

I'm North Bucks/South Northants border and my aim for next summer is to go on some weekend away rides or longer day rides exploring new areas. Have only practiced very locally so far and so sedate that I walk and lead a lot of the time as pony is only four, five next year. He's very brave but inexperienced of course.

 

[SpotsandBays]

If you’re in bucks. You’ve likely heard of Cholsey Farm Riding? They offer guided rides - any pace you like! They also have paddocks and camping for people who want to stay over
Edited to add: the hacking is lovely!

 

[Julia0803]

I was just about to come and say cholsey!

They do guided rides too. I'm sure if you got in touch you might be able to work something out?

 

[Landcruiser]

You might look at Summer TREC, contact your local group and they can probably team you up with a mentor to ride as a pair. Mid Bucks you probably come under SE? TREC GB website has lots of info and events.

 

[SEL]

I can vouch for cholsey - took a youngster there and asked to stay in walk for an hours guided ride because he was being very ridiculous.

There were people staying in their horseboxes there in summer.

 

[webble]

Im of a similar mindset these days when it comes to riding, I don't know of any groups though sorry

 

[EstherYoung]

Why don't you have a look at endurance GB and a local branch of the club?

Lots of fabulous planned rides are ran, often you are matched and set off in pairs or small groups. Most of the endurance rides also have smaller 'pleasure' rides, so no need for it to be done competitively at all.

They usually say what the rides entail, how many gates, if they're manned, amount of road work etc. As I say they would match you too so you could ride with similar minded or whatever you need.

This, definitely. The wonderful thing about endurance is that you can take what you want from it. And it's full of people with just your mindset, particularly at local rides. Lots of multi day rides too - so if your aim is a laid back fun weekend hacking out with new friends and camping with a BBQ and a bottle of an evening, there is plenty of opportunity to do that.

 

[Julia0803]

I’ve helped out at a local EGB pleasure ride this year, Luffenhall. Not sure if that would be too far for you? It’s north Herts, near Stevenage.

It was super friendly and welcoming.

There were some people who seemed to be riding it as practice for EGB competitive rides, but others who seemed to be having a lovely time mooching along and enjoying the scenery in a very relaxed manner.

 

[TheOldTrout]

I'm North Bucks/South Northants border and my aim for next summer is to go on some weekend away rides or longer day rides exploring new areas. Have only practiced very locally so far and so sedate that I walk and lead a lot of the time as pony is only four, five next year. He's very brave but inexperienced of course.

You must be quite near me (I'm in Wolverton).

 

[silv]

I used to belong to a sort of group, it was just a bunch of us that used to go hacking and from there it grew, friends would invite similar minded folks along. We started a FB messenger chat group and if anyone wanted to go for a ride we would just pop it up on there. From there onwards we would organise day and overnight rides occasionally as well as just two hour ones.. As there were maybe 10 or 12 of us we would all have different contacts for landowners who would let us ride on their properties. It was great, I only stopped when I moved to a new area. Easy enough to start yourself. We used to refer to ourselves as "Bags on Nags" I hope to start a new one in the area I am now living, great way to make new friends and contacts.

 

[Sealine]

take a look at Chiltern distance riders. They are a friendly bunch and you can ask to pair up with someone. Rides are predominantly off road and in your area.

 

[Anna Clara]

You must be quite near me (I'm in Wolverton).

Yes pretty close, I'm always up for meeting up with friendly people for arena hires/exploring/very low key clinics. I have one horse that loves schoolingy type things and my 4 year old that loves hacking but hasn't yet met up with other horses. The four year old had a travelling blip recently so I do just want to practice taking him out on my own a couple of times with no pressure to actually get anwhere!