Has anyone here ever been on a riding holiday?

[cfh2287]

I've about to book myself onto my first ever riding holiday and wanted to see if anyone has been on one and can share any advice/tips??. I've been riding over 30 years but only in the UK so I'm very excited!

Oo how exciting, where are you going? I've had a few riding holidays, best one was a trip to South Africa. Cantering along with giraffe and zebra was brilliant.

Not sure about advice other than take your own hat etc. A bumbag for bits and pieces. Hay fever tablets even if you don't suffer (learned that the hard way). A jacket that's easy to take off while in the saddle.

Ooohh that sounds brilliant, what were the horses like?. I'm doing the Blue Coast Trail in Turkey so not quite that far afield but cannot wait to escape the UK in winter. Just praying there's no more travel restrictions.

I've recently come in to a bit of money and been seriously considering this! I'd be going alone, not sure whether I'm brave enough!

Oh how lovely! I did two in Wiltshire, the centre has unfortunately closed down now. They swapped horses every day so they didn't get our riding quirks more than one day at a time. A pony club mum pal of mine did a self-organised ride in France last month and I've invited myself on the next one

I'm going on my own!! I think it will be fine as everyone will have horses in common

@LaPufalina I don't blame you I think France must be a lovely location to ride in. I think on the trail I am doing you have the same horse for the whole week with the option to swap if you are not getting on!

I take lessons at a riding school that organises riding holidays! They look amazing but are totally out of my budget for now

I make do with weekly lessons and the odd hack down to the beach for a canter.

I was lucky enoughto win a riding holiday in Namibia. It was amazing. I've also riding on holiday in several countries on ordinary holidays.

No, would feel a bit sorry for the ponies/horses. I always wanted to holiday with my own pony as a child though.

I’ve done pantenal in Brazil and Arizona, with In The Saddle. Both great. Take your own hat in hand luggage and make sure riding fit if all day in saddle.

Ibiza 2003.

Surprised I didn't come back with the clap.

Yes - a beginners one in Northumberland. It was fun but exhausting

I’ve been on several and enjoyed them all . Exmoor, Cumbria, coast to coast in Scotland, ranching in Wyoming, Iceland. A weekend with Transwales and our biggest adventure when DH and I went on Holiday in Assam riding retired race horses in Assam - we were treated like royalty there ! You always meet lovely likeminded people and have a good time. It fits in with my lifestyle better than owning my own horse. ( though I have owned two highlands and a section D Welsh cob in the past ) In The Saddle organised our Assam trip and we’re wonderful. Not sure what we will do next but I’d like to go back to Iceland at some point. I’m not brave enough for an African Safari ride but very much wish I was.

I did one with In The Saddle, it was great, really well organised, the horses were well cared for and suitable, the guide was knowledgeable and sensible but still fun. We were well fed and well looked after.

At the time they were the main player and had a good relationship with WHW so I felt confident that horse welfare would be acceptable as that was a worry for me.

I would love to do the Wadi Rum and Petra ride but the weight limit is a bit tough I would need to diet but it would do me good, it would be challenging for DH especially as it is fully dressed including hat and boots etc.

Why? A good reputable centre can have better standards of care than local customs and actually improve things for horses.

The horses typically have great lives. Usually live together in a herd when not working and seem to enjoy their work, which is very varied and not like a riding school. The Trans Wales horses are bred on the farm and moth remain there all their lives.

Wow some of these trips sound amazing! Will definitely look up TransWales and would love to ride in Africa too. How did you end up winning a riding holiday in Namibia @countrygirl99 ?!! what a dream prize. A friend has already done the ride I am going on in Turkey and said the horses were really well cared for so I don't have any welfare worries. In fact, she said they had a nicer lifestyle than many horses in the UK, living in a large herd with a huge amount of space to roam and only ridden by experienced riders so v different from standard UK riding schools.

@cfh2287 it was a competition in a magazine. Goodness knows how my tie breaker won! Prize was for 2 so I took my instructor. Gorgeous horses and they were very well looked after.

I did one in the chilcoltin mountains (British Columbia) - it was a proper trail with camping in the mountains.

despite it being for experienced riders only - there was a marked difference between those comfy on the field, happy with reins in one hand chatting away - and those crying with eyes closed and clutching the pommel as we traversed steep shale paths. 😂

I went to Tuscany with In the Saddle years ago. It was fantastic. The horses were amazingly well cared for.

Yes quite a few. I always tack riding onto holidays as well if I can so have ridden in South Africa a few times (unbelievable, possibly my best ever ride, galloping through vineyards on a friesian!)

Me and DD have done a few in the UK in the last few years, Norfolk for the beach riding, Brecon Beacons and most recently Exmoor - so good I've been back 3 times - just go back last week.

The Exmoor one I can't recommend highly enough. You can stay on the yard and it's the most relaxed , lovely place. The horses are so chilled and the people are so kind and welcoming.

If you ride (happy to canter and gallop) they do half day fast rides and full day rides. They totally match their horses to the people. If you like a solid cob, you get one, if you want to ride thoroughbreds that go like the wind you can.

I've never met such a bunch of chilled horses that can go from on the buckle to wheeeeeeeee and back with lovely manners.

I took a "proper" rider (used to event) with me last week - I share a horse at home but am no competitor and we had such fun - went off in front and the horses flew! Proper small child grins and whoops (we are in our 40s) and felt totally safe because they have breaks.

I also took a non rider and we had a lovely gentle hack with her through magical woods and up on the moor.

Pine Lodge Exmoor - it's my happy place!

I've been on a few over the years, mainly in France and Spain, great experiences all round, lovely quality horses, met nice people and usually ate and drank well too! Not super cheap but great quality/quantity of riding compared to what you'd get for the same price at my local schools/hacking places for sure. My next adventures may be to Eastern Europe (love the idea of Transylvania and it looks cheaper than western Europe too), although I have a long-cherished dream of doing a horseback safari as well! Can highly recommend Unicorn Trails as a travel agency and their website is great for browsing/dreaming.

Few tips, use a reputable agency to book at least the first time (if you find somewhere you love it may be possible to book directly at a discount but I like the reassurance of having the insurance and customer service etc of an agency). Think through whether you want a 'based' trip where you stay in one place or a 'point to point' where you ride from one overnight stop to another (your gear/luggage and feed/water for the horses usually follows in a car or van although I have seen some trails where you carry everything with you in saddle bags or use pack horses). A based holiday usually comes with more flexibility to have some lessons or other activities as well as hacks and/or decide each day how much riding you are up for, which can be a good option for your first try, even if you think you are 'riding fit' you'd be surprised how much several 4-6 hour days on the trot can take it out of you so rest days are good! It's also really important particularly on the point to point rides that you choose a ride/trip that matches your ability levels and wishes for the holiday correctly, most agents offer holidays to suit everyone from beginners to advanced riders, but no-one wants to be the only one trying to remember how to do rising trot or frantically holding on while the rest of the group tears off over the horizon but equally it is frustrating if you are hoping for long canters and gallops etc to be forced back to a gentle amble to fit a more novice-y group, so read the descriptions of the rides carefully, answer any questions about your experience/abilities honestly and call the agent or centre for advice before booking if needed. Again based holidays are usually more flexible here as groups can be split where needed plus more options to switch to a faster/slower horse as needed. Based holidays are also usually nicer for any non riding partner/companion if you'll be bringing one along, in my experience the bases are often quite nice places in their own right (if not usually 5* hotels, more like nice farmhouses or country houses with outbuildings converted to guest houses, but quite often there's a pool, hot tub or a nice garden and a bar!) so that's nice for the evenings and daytimes for anyone not riding. Whereas on point to points it's usually BnBs, homestays or even camping for the really adventurous! Make sure to either book a ride which provides UK standard hats and body protectors (if you wear one) or take your own (ensure you have enough luggage space!) and also never forget to take good waterproofs, I turned up at my first Catalonian riding holiday with only a light jacket expecting sunny skies and 20 degrees every day, it was thunder storms and heavy rain all week, had to borrow the (6ft, I'm barely 5"2!) instructor's spare jacket and chaps, I looked pretty ridiculous all week! Bite cream, blister plasters, sun cream and comfy pants all highly recommended too...

I once did a riding holiday in Canada, in the Gaspesie peninsula in Quebec. There were only two of us, me and a guy from France - with the guide, this was an good number for riding, less so for socialising.

More recently I have done some riding weekends away - one with Free Rein and one at Bilsdale Riding Centre in Yorkshire. I wouldn't worry too much about going on your own, as there are bound to be other solo travellers and people normally get on well. Free Rein also have a sister company calledd Saddle Travel through which you can book trail rides in various countries.

Superb breakdown from @maxelly

I've used Unicorn Trails and Equestrian Escapes and the are both extremely helpful at sorting out holidays to match the type of riding you want to do.

As @maxelly says, always be honest about your level of experience and if in doubt, underplay. If you like the idea of galloping in open spaces but are more likely to be hanging on for dear life and not enjoying it - say so. Because they always have to match the pace to the least experienced/confident rider and that can be frustrating for people who were expecting to have a good hooley about.

I ride 3/4 times a week and the longest non stop holiday riding I've done is 5 days of 6/7 hour riding a day and by day 4 I needed ibuprofen to get on and by day 5 I was feeling it

I did a hilarious riding holiday years ago when I was much fitter where the day's pace was dictated entirely by what time the guy leading us needed to get back to his girlfriend/how much wine we'd consumed at lunch.

It was mostly sedate in the morning and breakneck in the afternoon!

I normally do ones where you stay - because DD is normally with me and sigh can't live without WiFi. Also Shen doesn't ride as much as me I don't want to to over face her by her having to ride to get to the next place. She'd probably love it and it would be me flaking!

Accommodation can be a bit basic - but you can upgrade.

I've got my eye on a Irish one where you "loan" horses for the week and ride point to point ok your own. That'll be me an my very horsey friend though. DD would be last seen galloping across an Irish beach will me trailing in her wake.

And Andalusia - to trail ride and do some dressage on Andalusians. Swoon.

Not done one in years. Can recommend Cae Iago in Wales, and Odysseia Stables in Crete www.horseriding.gr/