Horse riding holiday

[swava19]

Hi everyone. I've been riding for 4 months now, Im 19 years old and Im thinking of going on horse riding holiday next summer.
I was asking my friends whether they would like to go but most of them just dont understand my new hobby:(. They prefer driving lessons:rolleyes:. I just guess I will have to go on my own then. Does anyone know where is the best place to go????? And does it matter how experienced you are?????:confused::confused::confused::confused:

[acw295]

Here,
http://www.free-rein.co.uk/homepage.htm

it is brilliant - I've been 3 times and they can cater for people going alone and non-riders :)

[Welsh_Girl]

Do go you'll have a brilliant time! I was 15 when I went on my first riding holiday to Wellington Riding in Hampshire and I had a great time. I was on my own and arrived late and was dropped off in a dormitory with about 8 other girls. We where chatting untill the sun came up the next morning!:D

As long as you are honest about your ability to the people there they will make sure you are in a suitable group and get the right horse to ride.

Have fun!!

[swava19]

Thanx guys:) i used to worry that i needed my own horse to go on this kind of holidays:o

[vieshot]

Wheal Buller in Cornwall is fantastic! Its got to be the highlight of my horsey life! I used to go on holiday there every year until i got my own horses. I cant rate it enough! Its fantastic!

http://www.cornish-riding-holidays.co.uk

They sort you into groups dependant on experience. I went first when i had been riding a year up until i had been riding 4years and was always allocated a group that suited me. We must have done about 4hours riding on average a day- more on some days. Beach rides, mock hunts, xc courses, hacking, lessons in indoor and outdoor, show jumping, gymkhana, side saddle, bareback, swimming with the horses. You name it they do it! The good thing is even if you are very novice you can still do all these things! They have a minimus xc course for beginners and they take the mock hunt slowly for the less experienced riders. It is BLOODY BRILLIANT! Id go there now if i could but unfortunately i cant afford holidays and horses of my own! Another good thing is they encourage you to take a BHS horse care certificate while your there and also have a show day where you do tack and turnout and some show jumping to get rosettes. God im going OTT now lol

[Stassy]

Hi, are you looking at staying in this country or going abroad?

I've been on 2 riding holidays over the las few years both were winter ones which I didn't plan but it was great cantering through the snow with gorgeous scenery all around. I also went alone both times.

The first one was in Austria riding Haflingers, that was with the Saddle Company and the second one was in Lapland riding Icelandics. This was more of an activity holiday and included husky sledging, snow mobiling, reindeer sledging and snow shoe walking. And that was through Unicorn Trials.

You didn't have to be an experienced rider for either.

[Anna-Marie :)]

how long are you thinking of going on holiday for?


i can highly recommend murthwaite green trekking centre (http://www.murthwaitegreen.co.uk/default.aspx) and i know a lot of other people can on here aswell. I havent done a riding holiday there myself but i was there at the weekend for a 2 hour beach hack and it was the best hack i've ever been on :)
they do different length riding holidays aswell so you might want to have a look at which ones suit your budget and things. just up the road from there is cumbrian heavy horses (http://www.cumbrianheavyhorses.com/) where i also rode at the weekend. i know they do 6 day rides across the fells.

[elaine@dow-evan]

You dont say how old you are?

I'm "mature" ahem and I went to Murthwaite Green with a friend in May. We stayed at Boots & Boards and the whole thing was great, in fact I'm going again in September for a few days and OH is paying (its our wedding anniversary and I'm spending it with a horse!)
If you like your own company and can chat to people in the pub you'd love it.

[zoe-lvs-horses]

Center parcs do great kinds of treks and things for all levels!
I have been on them loads and i REALLY love them! :)
Zoe.x

[Cupcake]

I don't have any recommendation where to go, but don't be put off by your friends not wanting to go.

I went on a 2 hour horse ride with non-horsey friends 2 years ago and all they did was whine about their broken nails and sore muscles. Plus we couldn't go faster than a walk because they didn't know how, it was pure hell.

It'll give you a chance to meet horsey people and go at a faster pace than someone who has never ridden before.

[swava19]

[QUOTE=Stassy;1808318]Hi, are you looking at staying in this country or going abroad?QUOTE]
Hi. I think that depends because going abroad is going to be more epxenisve i guess, although riding on a beach in Spain sounds really intresting. How much did it cost you and for how long did u go?? xxxxxxxxx

[swava19]

i guess i hav to learn how to quote :o

[swava19]

how long are you thinking of going on holiday for?


i can highly recommend murthwaite green trekking centre (http://www.murthwaitegreen.co.uk/default.aspx) and i know a lot of other people can on here aswell. I havent done a riding holiday there myself but i was there at the weekend for a 2 hour beach hack and it was the best hack i've ever been on :)
they do different length riding holidays aswell so you might want to have a look at which ones suit your budget and things. just up the road from there is cumbrian heavy horses (http://www.cumbrianheavyhorses.com/) where i also rode at the weekend. i know they do 6 day rides across the fells.
Hi i was thinking that a week would b good. Ive heard of 2-3 days holiday but I think that it is way too short. Dont know never been before. Thanx for those websites I will have look. Got other 5 already to look at:D:D:Dxxxxxxxxxxx

[swava19]

You dont say how old you are?

I'm "mature" ahem and I went to Murthwaite Green with a friend in May. We stayed at Boots & Boards and the whole thing was great, in fact I'm going again in September for a few days and OH is paying (its our wedding anniversary and I'm spending it with a horse!)
If you like your own company and can chat to people in the pub you'd love it.
*** do u mean I dont say how old I am ?? I said Im 19 years old. xx

[swava19]

I don't have any recommendation where to go, but don't be put off by your friends not wanting to go.

I went on a 2 hour horse ride with non-horsey friends 2 years ago and all they did was whine about their broken nails and sore muscles. Plus we couldn't go faster than a walk because they didn't know how, it was pure hell.

It'll give you a chance to meet horsey people and go at a faster pace than someone who has never ridden before.

Hello. I know, people like that really annoy me. I dont understand when they say "I hate horses". You can not hate them, you can maybe be afraid of them coz they can kick, bite, or u can fell off and break yor neck. If they prefer their cars that's their business. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Star_Piper]

I'd probably try and decide roughly what area of the country/or what country I want to have my holiday in and whether I want to mainly have lessons/hack or have a mixture, and take it from there!

Horsey magazines have loads of adverts at the back of them for riding centres, and they'll all either have websites or small brochures they can send out about their place. some places do tailor made to suit what you want, and others will just give you a standard holiday. I wouldn't assume going abroad is definitely going to be more expensive - if you go off-peak, and get cheap flights, it'll probably be not far off the same.

Lack of experience shouldn't be a problem, as long as you let the centre know your level before booking in case they only cater for the experienced rider (there are a few like that). I went on my first riding holiday a year and a half after starting riding - did wonders for my confidence. I've had fantastic holidays on Rothesay, at Ayr and at Glen Tanar. Have also been riding at a centre near Durham (think it was called Ivesley) which had fab hacking. And my cousin used to go every year to a centre in Somerset, which had fabulous hacking as well.

Go for it! And you'll meet lots of new people who share your interest at the same time :)