Northern Ireland Horse Community

[ponymad36]

I am looking to move over to NI in the future and was unsure where the main horse communities were, as I would be moving with my partner and would be looking to meet new horsey people!

I’d love to live in area where there is a really friendly community, with good hacking and fairly local to a variety of competitions etc.

From Google it appears the County Down area seems to be the biggest group of yards/ competitions but I’m really unsure so if anyone could shed some light on the best place(s) that would be brilliant (and especially if there are any specific towns). Thank you!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Here are a couple of FB NI specific groups - there are more if you have a search on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1521192298121060

https://www.facebook.com/groups/561143670627597

 

[Mari]

I’m from Co Down. Good hacking? ha ha ha. Good luck. Unless things have changed .

 

[ponynutz]

I’m from Co Down. Good hacking? ha ha ha. Good luck. Unless things have changed .

Castlewellan in Down has some great hacking in the forest. My grandparents are there so we pop over the water every now and then and my dad was brought up riding around there. I've ridden there myself and it was amazing - similar to somewhere I'd box up to take mine to in England.

 

[Mari]

Castlewellan in Down has some great hacking in the forest. My grandparents are there so we pop over the water every now and then and my dad was brought up riding around there. I've ridden there myself and it was amazing - similar to somewhere I'd box up to take mine to in England.

There’s a petition about that as they’re trying to close it to horse riders.

 

[ponynutz]

There’s a petition about that as they’re trying to close it to horse riders.

Really?! Would be such a shame if they were successful.

 

[SnowandSunshine]

I lived in NI for a couple of years. While we were sorting out our stables I had mine at a livery yard near Castlewellan forest and the hacking was lovely.
However when I moved them home the hacking wasn't great. Unfortunately there are no bridleways so although you're surrounded by fields & countryside there is no access. We'd moved from inside the M25 and I was used to amazing hacking so was really surprised how bad it was in comparison.
We rode on country roads which were mainly quiet but then you get tractors & trailers or big delivery lorries come along.
I found the horsey community a bit different, more practical and 'get on with it'. Treated horses less like pets than in England. Though I'm sure it varies with what type of yard you're at.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Hi ponymad36, would you have a rough idea of where you are looking to move to?
We are just outside Lisburn and find it to be very handy for travelling to comp venues etc. We have fairly decent on-road hacking from our yard, too.
There are a few forests that allow rider access, and the Ulster Rural Riders’ Association seem to organise rides fairly regularly.

 

[smolmaus]

I'm also in Co. Down and there is plenty about in terms of venues and comps. Hacking routes are going to be extremely yard-specific tho and yeah, no bridleways.

I think you can bring horses to Drumkeeragh forest which is slightly closer to Lisburn/ Belfast than Castlewellan or Tollymore. Castle Ward also an option. I dont know many places outside of Co.Down tbh but up round the North Coast is generally quieter and more rural so may have options for better hacking straight off the yard. I visited a yard up in Carnlough that had amazing off-road hacking routes up into the hills, yard itself wasn't great but the location was class.

 

[Rowreach]

I'm in the west and 20 odd years ago there were plenty of forests open for hacking. Not now though, we have one very good one that belongs to the National Trust who don't exactly encourage horses, and charge you a permit and NT membership or a day rate each time you ride. And one other short one that is under private ownership and will probably end up as a paid permit ride. I occasionally go to the beach in Donegal which is lovely, but again they've made it much more restricted than it used to be.

No bridleways and I foresee most of our off road riding disappearing altogether.

For horsey community and competition things you are better off in Co Down or Co Antrim. For hacking, you will probably need transport and be prepared to travel to it, unless you are very lucky. NI Riding Clubs are quite active up that end of the country. Oh, and be prepared for lots of ragwort, because the memo about ragwort hasn't quite reached here yet.

 

[ponymad36]

Here are a couple of FB NI specific groups - there are more if you have a search on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1521192298121060

https://www.facebook.com/groups/561143670627597

That’s really helpful thank you so much!

 

[ponymad36]

I lived in NI for a couple of years. While we were sorting out our stables I had mine at a livery yard near Castlewellan forest and the hacking was lovely.
However when I moved them home the hacking wasn't great. Unfortunately there are no bridleways so although you're surrounded by fields & countryside there is no access. We'd moved from inside the M25 and I was used to amazing hacking so was really surprised how bad it was in comparison.
We rode on country roads which were mainly quiet but then you get tractors & trailers or big delivery lorries come along.
I found the horsey community a bit different, more practical and 'get on with it'. Treated horses less like pets than in England. Though I'm sure it varies with what type of yard you're at.

It’s such a shame there’s no bridleways- it seems as though there are more beaches to ride on though is that true? Are there places you can buy permits to ride on or is there literally nothing?

Thank you for the info it’s been really helpful!

 

[ponymad36]

Hi ponymad36, would you have a rough idea of where you are looking to move to?
We are just outside Lisburn and find it to be very handy for travelling to comp venues etc. We have fairly decent on-road hacking from our yard, too.
There are a few forests that allow rider access, and the Ulster Rural Riders’ Association seem to organise rides fairly regularly.

Hiya! We have been looking at the Hillsborough area/Ballynahinch type way. I will have a look at that association thank you!

 

[smolmaus]

I happened to be having a Google myself and found this list of off road hacking locations from BHS. (Link is to a pdf)

 

[ponymad36]

T

I'm also in Co. Down and there is plenty about in terms of venues and comps. Hacking routes are going to be extremely yard-specific tho and yeah, no bridleways.

I think you can bring horses to Drumkeeragh forest which is slightly closer to Lisburn/ Belfast than Castlewellan or Tollymore. Castle Ward also an option. I dont know many places outside of Co.Down tbh but up round the North Coast is generally quieter and more rural so may have options for better hacking straight off the yard. I visited a yard up in Carnlough that had amazing off-road hacking routes up into the hills, yard itself wasn't great but the location was class.

Thank you so much that’s really helpful!

 

[ponymad36]

Thank y

I'm in the west and 20 odd years ago there were plenty of forests open for hacking. Not now though, we have one very good one that belongs to the National Trust who don't exactly encourage horses, and charge you a permit and NT membership or a day rate each time you ride. And one other short one that is under private ownership and will probably end up as a paid permit ride. I occasionally go to the beach in Donegal which is lovely, but again they've made it much more restricted than it used to be.

No bridleways and I foresee most of our off road riding disappearing altogether.

For horsey community and competition things you are better off in Co Down or Co Antrim. For hacking, you will probably need transport and be prepared to travel to it, unless you are very lucky. NI Riding Clubs are quite active up that end of the country. Oh, and be prepared for lots of ragwort, because the memo about ragwort hasn't quite reached here yet.

Thank you for your response, luckily I have transport so that wouldn’t be too much of an issue just would’ve been nice to have something on the doorstep but I think I’ve just been spoilt in England! Do you have any names of the Riding clubs I could have a look at please? Thank you

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Hiya! We have been looking at the Hillsborough area/Ballynahinch type way. I will have a look at that association thank you!

Great location and there are some very nice yards round that way too ?

 

[PurBee]

I'm in the west and 20 odd years ago there were plenty of forests open for hacking. Not now though, we have one very good one that belongs to the National Trust who don't exactly encourage horses, and charge you a permit and NT membership or a day rate each time you ride. And one other short one that is under private ownership and will probably end up as a paid permit ride. I occasionally go to the beach in Donegal which is lovely, but again they've made it much more restricted than it used to be.

No bridleways and I foresee most of our off road riding disappearing altogether.

For horsey community and competition things you are better off in Co Down or Co Antrim. For hacking, you will probably need transport and be prepared to travel to it, unless you are very lucky. NI Riding Clubs are quite active up that end of the country. Oh, and be prepared for lots of ragwort, because the memo about ragwort hasn't quite reached here yet.

About the ragwort issue, im mid-west and see it in abundance mostly lining side of roads, rather than in farm fields. Its ironic as ragwort is legally deemed a noxious plant and us, as private land owners are legally bound to kill it, to prevent spread, and can be fined if we dont remove it.
So why does the government owned roadsides have ragwort displays up and down the country? It doesnt help the adjoining farmers fields be ragwort-free if the lawmakers themselves dont comply with their own laws. ?

 

[ponymad36]

Great location and there are some very nice yards round that way too ?

Oh brilliant! Are you able to recommend any specific yards to look into? Thank you ?

 

[Rowreach]

I happened to be having a Google myself and found this list of off road hacking locations from BHS. (Link is to a pdf)

I contacted the BHS about this a few weeks ago, when yet again they published the link to it, because for my county the information they have is totally and completely wrong! In fact it's about 15 years out of date. Don't know about the other counties, but likely it's the same.

 

[Season’s Bleatings]

Oh brilliant! Are you able to recommend any specific yards to look into? Thank you ?

I’ve not been a livery at any of these but all in nice locations & decent facilities -
Hazeldene and Hagans Croft (both are Ballynahinch area)
Mill Yard (Anahilt, between Hillsborough and Ballynahinch)
Loughowan (Hillsborough, full livery only)
Sandy Lane Stables (Lisburn)

If any others come to mind, I’ll let you know!

 

[ponymad36]

I’ve not been a livery at any of these but all in nice locations & decent facilities -
Hazeldene and Hagans Croft (both are Ballynahinch area)
Mill Yard (Anahilt, between Hillsborough and Ballynahinch)
Loughowan (Hillsborough, full livery only)
Sandy Lane Stables (Lisburn)

If any others come to mind, I’ll let you know!

Amazing thank you so much I’ll have a look into all of those! Really appreciate your reply ?