What makes a pub horse friendly?

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hairycob

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We had an impromptu pub ride today. The newish landlord was very welcoming - even serving beer in a large dog bowl for the neds, but wasn't set up with tying up places etc. After we left he was asking OH what would be good ideas to encourage riders to visit. It's a very horsey area but we are short of suitable pubs so I am going to pop round, have a drink & a chat - it's hard, but I'm prepared to make the sacrifice for the greater good!

So.... input please

My thoughts:
Safe places to tie up
Buckets of water

Any other ideas?
 
We have a couple of pubs we can take the horses, I took Nell not long ago saddled up in hand to get her used to 'our lifestyle' going on pub rides :D

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Most of my pub visits were with a driving horse. Wonderful landlady provided a fenced off little turnout area, children could feed her crisps etc. without getting under the horse's feet. All harness could be removed, cart and harness stored away from inquisitive children...and several hours of light refreshment ensued. Those were the days...I bet there aren't too many landladies that accommodating anymore?:D

Oh and the dear horsey could take us all home safely, providing someone was sober enough to get her back in harness and hitched up!:D
 
Our local pub used to provide head-collars and lead ropes. They also had a horsey menu displayed with things like 'carrots 2p each' ' apple slices 3p' 'polos 1p'. In reality they never actually charged you for them though!
Sadly the pub closed - as so many have.
A mounting block would certainly be a priority for me.
 
Used to do this years ago, before pubs became the place for a family day out and all you could buy to eat was a cheese sandwich and a packet of crisps.

Couldn't cope with kiddies wanting to stroke the horses, be too scared of someone being stomped on accidentally and suing me.:eek:

Apart from that, yes, a mounting block would be a must for those of us of advancing years. And water for the neds. Not keen on titbits though.
 
I love a good pub ride! Never fancy getting back on again though after lunch and a large glass of vino! :-)
Mounting block a big bonus, especially as it always seems such hard work clambering back on after indulging!
 
We're lucky enough to have a horse friendly pub on the way back from (or on the way too!) the park. The facilities they give are;

tie rings with headcollars, leadropes and bailing twine
water trough
full haynets & hayracks, makes for happy horses and longer staying customers :)
benches to scramble rather ineligantly back on from

oh and the girls that have stopped by on their own have also reported excellent table / saddle service:p

I'd have to say pretty much perfect, only gripe is the cost of drinks & food is high although it's location dictates that sadly so at least it's not just a tax on the riders.:D
 
We stopped at a local pub last weekend and the horses loved being made a fuss of. Landlord seemed keen to please but offerings of cucumber did not please mr cob. He wanted to go in the front door as if he knew what hed find inside but was very pleased to get the remains of my orange juice in a tray. I suspect he'll be trying to make a beeline for it next time out. They were having a kiddies party in the back garden so lots of little ones came put to say hello.
Tie up area and mounting block away from cars and where wayward kids don't go running about too near the horses would be nice.
 
A pub horse is clearly one which serves drinks and clears tables! Doh!:D
And a pub friendly horse is one who is a regular, has his own seat in the snug, and never causes trouble by getting rowdy or lairy!;)
 
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We go to one that doesn't have tie rings anymore. However they have some rough grass next to the tables so easy enough to let them graze next to it, & a convenient wall for mounting. There's a water trough too. Another we go to has a bench on a very wide unkempt verge which the horses love. Mine actually has a habit of stopping outside a few local pubs without being asked!
 
We have a local pub which has a sign saying "Cars bike and horses all parked at owners risk" haha they are welcome but not provided for in anyway :(

The Costwold Farm Park fun ride has a pub on route which serves hot chocolates with straws in so easier to drink on horseback- they are served to you whilst mounted!
 
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