Riding holidays in the New Forest/UK if you can ride

[Shannith]

Does anyone have any recommendations for riding holidays in the New Forest for experienced riders? All the places I've found so far are more the 2 hour hack and look at the scenery types?

Ideally I'd like somewhere where DD and I can stay for 3-4 days and do fast day rides.

We've done some great holidays like this on Exmoor and Wales where there is lots of long canters and gallops on "proper" horses. Definitely not trekking. I really fancy the New Forest this summer but I'm drawing a blank.

I share a horse and she's been riding since she was 5 (11 now) and has also shared a pony/does pony club and we are both confident and competent in all paces.

Any ideas? If not the New Forest then any great UK riding holiday recommendations.

I can highly recommend the place I found on Exmoor - entirely by chance.

I have been riding in the new forest a few times at www.brockenhurstridingstables.co.uk/ and always been on a fast hack with other experienced riders. I know that's not exactly what you asked but I live in New Forest and not sure of any other stables that offer a different service.

The one thing about the stables is that if you can ride then they will not send you out with beginners strolling around. I think you need to phone them first and explain. Once they took me out on my own and I cantered and galloped on a good fit horse.

In the summer you do see a lot of beginners wearing wellies and trainers turning up but they split you up fairly rapidly and I have always had a good hack - they might be able to do an extended ride for you if you phone and enquire first. Just a thought..

There seems to be a handful of stables (Bagnum, Burley Villa are another two) but so far the best I found was Brockenhurst.

I did see a ride going out the other day from Bagnum and there was about 9 riders all in single file following each other which put me off booking there in future.

Thank you - that's the stables that keeps coming up.

I'll give them a ring and see what they say. Ideally I'd love to find somewhere to stay and ride over 4-5 days.

If anyone has any recommendations for great UK riding holidays where the rides are fast and challenging that would be great. DD is predictably a speed demon and I've somehow managed to get over my middle aged fear of going faster than a collected canter so want to make the most of it while our confidence levels are matched! And she still wants to go on holidays with her mum.

I’d recommend the Glen Tanar estate. They don’t do “riding holidays” as such but you can stay on site and there is an excellent equestrian centre on site. Some really nice horses and some incredible riding

Can't help on the New Forest specifically I'm afraid but I really recommend this travel agency, Unicorn Trails, they are really helpful if you give them a call and explain your needs and they have a variety of fast/challenging rides as well as some more suitable for all levels...

www.unicorntrails.com/europe/uk/

Thanks both. I've booked a couple of things via Unicorn Trails and they were good for one, OK for the other. I'll have a look at Glen Tarna.

We totally lucked out on the place I randomly found on Exmoor - now I want to find the same thing somewhere else. So personal recommendations are brilliant.

Hi, I can't help re the New forest but have a look at Trans Wails trails. I keep seeing their posts on fb and think they look/sound fab!