riding abroad?

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Crazy_cat_lady

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I've recently booked a holiday to Italy for later this year and one of the things available to do includes a 3 hour hack including riding along the beach which is something I've always wanted to do. However :

-is there any way to tell the establishment is safe? Is there things like the bhs approved places etc?

-it says safety equipment is provided but the picture was of people without hats and as someone who would never ride without a hat/ in a non approved hat I'm a bit reluctant to trust this! But then of course that means taking my boots/ hat/ jodhpurs / body protector which is a large amount of suitcase space. Those who've done it what do you generally do re equipment?
 
I just go with the flow and don't take anything, if you
are concerned just pack your hat and a pair of jodhpur boots. If you pack smartly you can roll up an astonishing amount of clothes and stuff it inside hat and boots anyway. I wouldn't expect a trail centre to provide anything but the basics and Italian standards may be different to UK ones regarding hats, I have never encountered anywhere that provides BPs. Enjoy your holiday.
 
Enfys said:
I just go with the flow and don't take anything, if you
are concerned just pack your hat and a pair of jodhpur boots. If you pack smartly you can roll up an astonishing amount of clothes and stuff it inside hat and boots anyway. I wouldn't expect a trail centre to provide anything but the basics and Italian standards may be different to UK ones regarding hats, I have never encountered anywhere that provides BPs. Enjoy your holiday.
Click to expand...

This ^^ basically. Being BHS approved doesn't guarantee safety.
 
Me and my girlfriend planning a trip to the Amalfi coast in Italy and one of the days we will be riding in the mountains. I'm planning to bring my riding helmet, short chaps, breeches, jodhpur boots and body protector. I want the trip to be comfortable even if the climate is a litte bit warm for all this gear but the last thing I want on a vaccation is a serious injury.
 
I'd say if you want to be safe take your own gear - especially seeing as a lot of holiday insurance doesn't cover you for injuries that you get doing 'activities' unless you pay extra.
 
Always take your own hat. And in hand baggage not hold baggage. You should see what baggage handlers can do to stuff! Your BP would be OK in the suitcase if you want to bring it - but a BP on the beach is going to be a bit of a liability. You'll get far too warm and it isn't going to help if you and ned go swimming (Unless its an air-jacket!?) Personally I'd pack short boots too as I have a bit of a thing about riding in suitable boots - but if the stirrups don't fit decent boots won't help much! But I would never trust an organization to supply a hat. By definition it is not going to be fitted to you specifically and you can have no assurance as to its condition, if it has been dropped or fallen in etc.
 
I never ride abroad without spending hours on trip advisor first reading about the place - aside from safety you want to know the horses are going to be well looked after and that it's the sort of place you want to give your business to! You will usually find that if you sift through, there are reviews from knowledgeable horsey people who can tell you what sort of place it is. This is the best recommendation for safety and welfare IMO.

Ignore the ones from beginners that say things like 'the horses were dangerous and crazy, my one put his head down to eat and wouldn't move!' and suchlike ;-)!!
 
I worked at various riding places in Italy and in order to have insurance they will have to be registered, most common are:

FISE
ENGEA
FITETREC ANTE

Some places are also registered with the BHS.

I strongly suggest taking your own hat and suitable shoes.

Check your own tack before getting on, look at how the horses are kept and ideally see them without saddle. Be aware that horses are likely to be 'skinnier' than you are used to seeing in the uk, think endurance horse types rather than chunky cobs - this is not because they aren't fed, it's normal, the horses are working in 30 degrees plus!

As above do check reviews on trip advisor.

If you want to say where the place is I might be able to tell you something about it, although Italy is a big place and I certainly don't know all of the riding centres :)
 
Excellent advice I hadn't thought of reading trip advisor etc :) If we do go (am going with non horsey oh and he's agreed to booking the hack if his riding lesson in the summer goes well!) I may well take my own kit I'd definitely take hat and BP, I have ridden mine in trainers and if I've been working just wear my work trousers but if it's a 3 hour hack I'd probably want jodhpurs lol. Having ridden in shorts last summer never again unless it's bareback the pinching 😣
 
I went on a riding holiday to Italy last year, the chap in charge of the horses was an ex Italian Cavalry and the horses were kept wonderfully well, they were fit and capable and well schooled.

Def take you own hat in hand luggage, and you need some leg protection as we had to push our way through some quite thick bushy growth. I noted that the 3 Germans, who were exprienced riders took their own saddle pads, for sitting on, but we were doing 5-6 hours a day.

If you are only doing one day and a shorter time, then the terrain should be a lot more forgiving. Have fun!
 
I always try to ride if possible, wherever we go on holiday.
I always check out the condition of the horses first - if the horse looked poor or had sores etc I wouldn't ride.
Thing is health and safety regulations are very different abroad. Hats are not common.
Probably silly to admit but I've never worn a hat abroad (but always do at home, on a horse a ride all the time - no logic I know). I asked for a hat once in Mauritius, a skull cap, that literally moved in my hands it was so broken. I didn't wear it.
I even took my hat in hand luggage all the way to USA for ranch holiday but never wore it - opted for a cowboy hat instead. Very foolish I know.
Have ridden in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, USA, Porto Santo to name a few. Had some amazing experiences. Also really interesting to find out how folks in other countries keep their horses.
Hope you have fun.
 
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