Recommendations for a centre for a UK Riding Holidays for non horse owners....

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Sugarbug

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Hi :)

My friend and I are looking into a short break away on a riding holiday... Neither of us own our own horse so needs to be somewhere with horses to hire


  • We're both 5'7'' so need more than a pony
  • Location not an issue as willing to travel to anywhere in the UK
  • No plodding trekking ponies (if that makes sense!)

Many Thanks
 
Warwick International riding school, I went for a weekend and LOVED it! went on a 3 hour hack around the beautiful countryside and the facilities and teachers there are fabulous as well as all the other things you got to try, they had some really forward going lovely horses too.

STAY AWAY from Endon Riding school, went for a weeks riding holiday there a few years ago and it involved the instructors allowing underage drinking and the kids they had there (who where 16) going to a pub whilst the little kids went to some indoor waterpark. Lesson's where AWFUL they had about 15 people in the arena at one time and we where told to go around with our horses squashed up the horses in front bum's. Instructors the worst i have ever had (and believe me i have had some pretty bad ones) it was possibly the worst week of my life and ended up throwing up because of the food (which of course the staff paid 0 attention to)
 
Another one for Wellington Riding, especially if you want it educational.
If you want a horse, a map and freedom - look up Freerein...... I've been 6 times and can't recommend it enough.
 
I would also recommend freerein. Have been a couple of times and its great.
Plan on going there sometime this year as our own horse is coming back from injury and can't be ridden at the mo.
 
Free rein in Wales. Fabulous and ponies aren't plodders. Although some will plod if you are a beginner.

Had two great holidays there before I got my boy.
 
Depends on what you are after: lessons/hacking, or a long ride? Highlands Unbridled do a week-long coast-to-coast trek across the Scottish Highlands. You stay in B&Bs, and the horses definitely don't plod. Begins and ends with a beach gallop! :)
 
I used to go to a place called Newgale in west Wales. You can choose between a half day or full day ride. It's all escorted. In winter months (like right now), you can gallop on the beach!!! It's great. The horses are quite safe and it will suit immediate riders. The farm also do accommodation too. I haven't been for a while but I can dig up the address if you want.
 
FreeRein in Wales is riding across mid Wales over miles of wild countryside, and is a very well run company. The horses and ponies are cobby types - no sleek thoroughbreds here - but they are fit and keen. Depends on the weather I suppose, when I went it was a very hot April, but not so much fun in horizontal rain on top of a mountain! They don't do lessons, it is just riding out to stay overnight at a pub or farm house and then back again over a different route.
 
RiderLizzie said:
Local reputation of WIRS isn't quite so lovely :(
No personal experience, but know plenty who have been and would now avoid.

I went to Slate Hall in Northumberland a couple of times a few years back and really enjoyed it.
http://www.slatehallridingcentre.com/
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Have to agree with RiderLizzie about Warwick School of riding I know some of its Alumni and their opinions aren't flattering.

I have heard good things about Studland Stables on South Coast, I believe they do moorland and beach rides so could offer lots of variety...
 
Renvers said:
Have to agree with RiderLizzie about Warwick School of riding I know some of its Alumni and their opinions aren't flattering.

I have heard good things about Studland Stables on South Coast, I believe they do moorland and beach rides so could offer lots of variety...
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Really?! I had a great time when i went! (a few years ago)
 
My partner also rides, and we have had week-long holidays at these UK places...

http://www.pembrokeshireridingholidays.com/

......there you get the chance of a very speedy beech ride !! NOT for the faint-hearted. I ended up "pebbled-dashed" in sand !! Haven't been for a couple of years though...

http://www.horseridingholidaysgb.co.uk/

......... been here about 4 years in a row! You don't need your car after you arrive until you leave to go home. Loads, and I mean LOADS of scrummy home cooked meals.

(Yes, we did do two in a year!! Didn't go outside of the UK for years)
 
Gosh what a lovely response... Thank you everyone... Will write those all down to research on the net :)

I live only a few minutes from Warwickshire County so its too close for a holiday luckily by the sounds of it :confused:

Sugar x
 
Janet Martinez, yes. I'm not going to state what I have heard on a public forum as it simply isn't fair, since I haven't been there myself. But OP, err on the side of caution.
 
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