Would you go on a riding holiday?

[HollyWoozle]

I changed this post but can't change the title (sorry )! My question now is:

Would you go on a riding holiday?

If so, I have a few questions in the name of research/interest (not after recommendations):

Where would you go?

Where would you look?

What would you be looking for?

Many thanks. Martini and kinder chocolate all round!

 

[HollyWoozle]

TFC very kindly changed the topic title so now it is all correct.

 

[JoJo_]

Where would you go? I love going to Ireland for riding holidays.

Where would you look? I always look for recommendations and googling.

What would you be looking for? I prefer riding holidays to improve my riding rather than just trekking. I've been to Ireland on a xc training holiday which was great fun

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks JoJo_ I spent a day doing XC in Ireland and LOVED it!

 

[SullyPony]

I have been to the lakes on one, a mix of fell rides accross beautiful countryside and showjumping training. Was fab would definitely go again!

Looked in the back of hh and in horse mags, and googling really, but i found the one i went on buy being the region and making enquiries locally.

 

[ncarter]

I did a horseback safari in S. Africa and Botswana last year - it was amazing! Mixed my passions if riding and wildlife.
I have also done a riding holiday in Durham which was good but a little frustrating as we used their horses rather than take our own.
I would like to take Ozzy away for a couple of days - there is a place called field farm in lincolnshire which has been recommended.

 

[bitlessbill]

Yes definitely! I've been to Litttle Lodge Farm twice in Thetford forest. Self catering accomodation, lovely hacking, xc course and menage, a very diy holiday. This year I am searching for something with more organised activities, like an adult riding camp, but having no luck with anything near enough. I tend to search through Google and ask on here. Also I prefer self catering accomodation but preferably not camping in a tent! I set a limit of 100 miles max which rules out most of the good ones I've found so if anyone knows of anything?

 

[nikkimariet]

Would you go on a riding holiday?
Yes!

Where would you go?
Somewhere with plenty of trails, don't want to beach ride - I'm scared of water!! Friend of mine went on a Kenya horseback safari...

Where would you look?
Africa!! Or Wales/Lake District and Ireland.

What would you be looking for?
Somewhere that supplied horses, wouldn't want to take my own at risk of injury if it were in UK. If I were seriously looking at Africa/Game trails, I would choose somewhere that took you on game hunts/bush trails. Wouldn't want to to go, ride a horse through the day and have to return to a fancy hotel; I'd like to rough it for a couple of weeks!!

 

[Kat]

Yes, my sister and I went on one to andalucia for her 21st because she wanted to gallop down a beach, we had a fab time, she got to gallop down the beach and we also rode down Europe's biggest sand dunes and saw a performance by the royal school of Equestrian art.

We went with in the saddle, not cheap but the service was brilliant and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them. They even reassured my non-horse mum that we would be ok!

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for the replies so far, very interesting! Bitlessbill, I'm in Herts too. Not heard of much around here though I'm afraid but I'll keep my eyes peeled!

 

[bitlessbill]

Oh and to add that I have to take my horse, couldn't bear having fun without him, it just wouldn't be the same on something else!

 

[JoJo_]

Ooo to add: If I had the money I would love to go on a working ranch holiday in USA or Canada

 

[HollyWoozle]

I think everyone wants to try being a cowboy/cowgirl at some point.

 

[PrettyPiaffe]

Where would you go? Spain mainly. Possibly Germany/Netherlands

Where would you look? Unicorn trails/google search.

What would you be looking for? A holiday with dressage training! And one were i didn't have to do much apart from ride. I went on a riding holiday last year to Andalucia and everything was fab apart from the fact we had to give the tack a quick clean after riding, take the horses to the field and wash the horses down after riding. If i wanted to do all that stuff i would have stayed at home and faffed with my own horses or gone on a 'working' holiday!

 

[HollyWoozle]

What would you be looking for? A holiday with dressage training! And one were i didn't have to do much apart from ride. I went on a riding holiday last year to Andalucia and everything was fab apart from the fact we had to give the tack a quick clean after riding, take the horses to the field and wash the horses down after riding. If i wanted to do all that stuff i would have stayed at home and faffed with my own horses or gone on a 'working' holiday!

Hello, thanks for the reply. It's very interesting that you say that as a lot of people seem to be completely the opposite, though many who go on riding holidays don't have their own horses so like to get involved in the care side of things too as they can't do so at home. I can see the appeal from both sides, hehe.

 

[somethingorother]

Yes, and i've been on 3 and they were all brilliant

I would go almost anywhere. Have been to Ireland, Cornwall and Durham so far. Would like o go further afield but budget dictates otherwise. Have looked at spain, italy, chille, hungary, france. Let's face it, almost anywhere on earth looks better from the back of a horse

I do like that we have had a mix of dressage, jumping, XC and exciting long hacks where we have been though. Sleive Aughty near Loughrea in Ireland was fantastic and beautiful with lovely horses.

 

[moosea]

Where would you go?
Uk, Went to Wales

Where would you look?
Mags, internet, recommendations

What would you be looking for?

Fun, relaxed riding. Good food, good, clean accommodation.

I must agree like to be able to dismount and hand over the reins if I choose to!

 

[rambling]

Yes, and i've been on 3 and they were all brilliant

I would go almost anywhere. Have been to Ireland, Cornwall and Durham so far. Would like o go further afield but budget dictates otherwise. Have looked at spain, italy, chille, hungary, france. Let's face it, almost anywhere on earth looks better from the back of a horse

I do like that we have had a mix of dressage, jumping, XC and exciting long hacks where we have been though. Sleive Aughty near Loughrea in Ireland was fantastic and beautiful with lovely horses.

Glad you liked it I've been there for Trec competition and also just for hacking. Slieve Aughty is very special. Esthers lunches are so wholesome and healthy.

I often take my horse away for a few days hacking , just arrange it myself using B+B s and asking local riding centres for stabling or staying with friends.

Have been to Montana to two different Dude Ranches also to Patagonia to two different places just found Ranches/Estancias on the internet that offered riding with the accomodation.

We really go to see the area OH doesn't really ride but is fine on quiet horses and will WTC , he doesn't want lessons and his back is dodgy so he needs to be where he can take a day off if necessary

 

[gnubee]

Would you go on a riding holiday? Yes, have been to one ranch in Colorado. It was awesome.

Where would you go? Pretty much anywhere. I loved the dude ranch ethos, but I would also like to go on a training one or somewhere to beach ride at some point.

Where would you look? google.

What would you be looking for? Nice accomodation (NO BUGS!), vegetarian catering, well kept horses, riding min of 4 hrs per day, plenty of stuff to do in between rides, small groups for riding and willingness to tailor to what you want to do. The chance to try something different there in addition to just trails is also good.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for all your input so far, very much appreciated! Certainly seems that riding elsewhere in the UK or visiting ranches are the most popular options so far.

 

[VoR]

No wouldn't go on a riding holiday, think it does me and the lad good to have a break from each other/work/being in the saddle!

 

[Samantha008]

yes yes yes!! Would never take my own horse though, id always go somewhere i could borrow one! Im really conscious of ground /stones etc with my boys legs!!

Id go to Ireland if i had choice. Ive been to wales twice, and thats pretty good. Apart from the weather :/ Easily affordable though. As is the Peak District!


Ive always wanted to go to America on a ranch holiday

On a holiday i want to go and do stuff that i cant do at home, and i like speed rather than perection so i want beach galloping, open fields and racing friends

Wouldnt go on a learning holiday as i can do that on my horse at home

 

[lagartijamick]

Would you go on a riding holiday?
Used to go a lot but we now have our own horse so not so easy or necessary but we still pan to get away for a break riding other horses.


Where would you go?
Probably Wales or France as we have done these places before many times and know where to go, who to go with etc. Otherwise possibly exmoor.
Also want to go back to africa for another horse safari when money permits.

Where would you look?
internet.

What would you be looking for?
Good horses and a bit of freedom. Beech rides in France are great, but also enjoy the riding and decent pubs in Wales.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I have done a couple of times, but always took the horses too. They love a holiday. We went to Wales and also to France, both brilliant, but the ferry was a pain, as we were stuck at the port for hours waiting for the weather to settle before they would allow horses to travel.
Wouldn't go on a riding holiday without them, although I am tempted by the thought of a riding holiday with a course of tutition at the Lipica Stud.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Are you doing some type of market research by any chance?

 

[Dizzyblonde99]

I've been on a couple of really good junior riding holidays in hampshire, wellington riding I had so much fun, and learn't tons on a cheeky mare that wasn't normaly used in the school but they have lots of nice school horses

 

[HollyWoozle]

Are you doing some type of market research by any chance?

Hi Kitsune, I work for my mother's agency selling horse riding holidays but I don't post much about that as I don't want to advertise.

I'm just asking out of interest as I like to know what sort of places people are interested in - people have such wildly different tastes in a lot of things and I was just curious to know what sort of holidays HHO members would go on. I really find it fascinating how some people always want their own horse, some never want their own horse on holiday, some people like to stay in the UK, some never want to stay in the UK. That sort of thing!

People often think I'm mad when I say I'd love to try a Wales riding holiday over a lot of countries but it seems several on here have ridden in Wales or would like to try. Then again, I've ridden in Bosnia and loved it!

Thanks a lot for all the responses.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

Wales is amazing to ride. We went to the Black mountains when my horses were quite young and green. They absolutely loved it and grew up during our stay. Would definitely go again.I like to take my own horses on holiday because we come back having gained so much from the experience.

 

[MrsHutt]

Yes, I would! I'd love to, and have investigated in the past. I was going to go a couple of years ago (with my son) on the Fall Colours ride at Leatherwood Mountains, North Carolina - but I got my first loaner instead! It is a 3 day ride, you stay in a log cabin with horsey and non-horsey entertainment etc. It sounds so good, I may well go one day. It is the place from 'Best of America by Horseback', if you've seen it??

Otherwise I would google to find a holiday somewhere in the UK - somewhere with lovely scenery - Scotland, Wales etc.

I would also prefer recommendation if I could get it. A friend of mine went on a holiday last year and it nearly put her off for life! She was a happy hacker with her own supremely gentle mare and they put her on a 17hh demon! Galloping over the moors! Scared her half to death! lol!

 

[JenHunt]

I have and I would again take a riding holiday.... we went to Can Jou in the Catalan Pyrenees. It was fabulous - we did 100km in 5 days, riding dwon from the mountains, through arable land, got to gallop along the beach on the bay of roses at dawn, then made our way back up to the mountains. We stayed in some lovely traditional guest houses, and one slightly iffy 1960's concrete hotel (but that was the night before the dawn ride so it didn't really matter!).

The horses were fab and incredibly fit and were well cared for, respectful of us and each other. They had turnout most nights, but a couple they had electric fenced stable sized pens due to space constraints. The guy that owned the outfit told us that they would do a week's ride then have a week off followed by a week of short rides (day trips from the farm) then their next week's ride. They were mostly andalucian or andalucian crosses, well shod and each rider carried spare shoes, hoof pick and brush for their horse with them, but out of 10 of us and the guide, there was only 1 lost shoe all week and it was the guide's horse and he got the farrier guy to meet us and it was reshod in the middle of a field in 15 minutes!

We carried our lunches some days, some days we were met by the farrier/groom/luggage transporter who did a cooked lunch for us. Our luggage was moved for us each day. The food was awesome all week, real traditional catalan food, complete with bottles of wine or beer for lunch!

It was brilliant - now I really really want to do horseback safari... really really really really..... a lot!