Adult riding camps – have you ever thought about attending one?

Perhaps you went to Pony Club camp when you were younger or maybe you fancy a UK horse riding holiday with some added dressage training. Or is going to camp on your horsey bucket list?

Whether you’re thinking of some horsey time away to help smash training goals or simply a break with like-minded people, adult riding camps offer many possibilities.

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• What are adult riding camps?
• Who are adult riding camps for?
• Do I need to have my own horse?
• What to expect
• Packing checklist

What are adult riding camps?

Adult riding camps are residential trips with your horse and last anywhere from a couple of days to a week or more.

They usually take place at an equestrian centre that has facilities beyond simply an arena and jumps on offer. These facilities might include a horse simulator, cross-country course or gallops. Alternatively, the centre might have great things on offer locally, like beach riding or a forest with extensive off-road hacking.

Depending on where the camp is and how much it costs, accommodation might be provided or there might be a field for camping. Meals are usually included in the price.

Who are adult riding camps for?

Simply put, they are for everyone. However, it’s definitely worth finding the right one for you with a bit of research.

For example, you can find camps geared towards:

• confidence and mindset
• general training
• discipline-specific training
• new skills, such as groundwork or liberty
• Western equestrian sports

Do I need to have my own horse?

In short, no! Adult riding camps based at riding schools frequently have horses available for those who don’t have one.

Depending on where you’d like to go and your experience level, there are options available for anyone from a beginner to someone ready to take on high-level dressage movements with a schoolmaster.

If you do have a horse, however, there is plenty of choice when it comes to adult riding camps.

What to expect at an adult riding camp

Jessica Jackson and her 19-year-old Irish sports pony, Bonnie, are riding camp veterans.

“I typically attend one or two a year all over the country,” she tells H&H. “For some I went with friends; others I braved alone.”

Jessica says camps are a great way to bond with your horse, meet like-minded people and challenge yourself.

“You become completely consumed by horses while gaining invaluable knowledge from experienced coaches in a supportive environment.”

In addition, camps offer Jessica a way to switch off.

“My favourite thing about them is the mental escape they gives me, with uninterrupted time to focus on myself, my riding and to strengthen my partnership with Bonnie.”

Jessica also tells us how riding camps have evolved over the years.

“They’re no longer just about time in the saddle, but improving from a more holistic standpoint. Nowadays, many camps often incorporate activities such as Pilates, mindfulness talks, wellbeing sessions, team-building games, sports massages and even mechanical horse sessions.”

Some camps also have talks and demos from equine professionals, such as nutritionists who might bring a weigh bridge to weigh your horse, for example.

Jessica’s advice for would-be adult riding camp attendees is to do your research before booking. “Start by looking at the venue’s location and facilities. Do they suit your requirements, goals and expectations?

“Check out the camp itinerary and ensure it is appropriate. Are you looking to improve a particular discipline? Enjoy a relaxing getaway? Or set a challenge in a new environment?”

Jessica also suggests looking into the coaches. “Their experience, teaching style and areas of expertise should align with what you want to achieve.”

Finally, Jessica suggests making sure the facilities are suitable for you and your horse.

“Do they provide turnout? Stabling options? Check out what accommodation and amenities are available for riders too. Some camps offer an all-inclusive package, while others will require you to bring your own bedding, for example, more like DIY.”

Preparing for your first camp

“At your first riding camp, expect to challenge yourself, learn a lot and have plenty of fun!” says Jessica. “From experience, they all offer a supportive, friendly and relaxed environment where riders and horses are encouraged to develop and progress at their own pace.”

Jessica adds that camps can be physically demanding with multiple sessions each day. “Make sure you and your horse are fit enough to make the most of the experience.”

Jessica also states the importance of going with an open mind. “Be willing to step out of your comfort zone, embrace the opportunity to learn, make new friends and try new things. Book the camp – you won’t regret it!”

Horse camp checklist

Wondering what you might need for a camp? Here is what you should consider:

For your horse

• passport
• tack – saddle, bridle, martingale or breastplate (if you need one) and his girth
• a saddle pad, plus spares so you always have a dry clean one
• protective boots, such as brushing boots or overreach boots
• hi-vis for hacking
• headcollar and leadrope
• any rugs currently in use
• a fly mask (if using)
• enough forage (unless supplied), feed and supplements for the duration
• bedding (if stabling and not supplied)
• water carrier (like this one, for the journey and to put in your wheelbarrow to save lugging buckets)
• feed and wash-down buckets
• haynets
• any licks or treats you use daily
• grooming kit
• first-aid kits, including relevant medication, creams and ointments
• everything on your normal travel kit checklist

For you

• riding hat
• riding boots
• body protector
• air jacket (if you have one)
• riding tights and/or breeches
• riding tops, with extras so you always have clean, dry one
• long riding socks
• lightweight waterproof jacket
• warm layers or a riding robe
• enough pairs of underwear
• toiletries
• a torch
• towels
• your phone charger
• a power bank
• personal first aid/medication

If you’re camping, you’ll also need:

• tent
• sleeping bag
• sleeping mat
• pillow
• camping light
• portable camping fan (if it is likely to be hot)
• plastic crockery and cutlery
• sit mat or picnic blanket
• camping table and chair
• camping stove, kettle and cooking implements (depending on your camp setup)

• For unlimited access to advice on how best to care for your horse, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

Do you ever get tired of hacking the same old routes? Do you long for some novel, scenic horse riding locations? If this sounds like you, then you might enjoy taking your riding on tour. Venturing to a different part of the UK to explore new paths can be the ultimate breath of fresh air – not only will you benefit from a change of scene, but it’s also a great experience for your horse. Alternatively, if you plan to hit the trails on a hired horse, you can enjoy a hacking partner who knows his job, and the terrain, inside out.

Whether you’re looking to take a day trip, a trekking expedition or want to bring your horse on holiday, we’ve made decent headway on the research for you. From Scotland to the south of England – and everywhere in between – here’s our list of top scenic locations in the UK – and how you can enjoy them on horseback.

Scenic horse riding locations: the best places to hack in the UK

Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Welcome to the UK’s largest national park – it’s twice the size of the Lake District! The Cairngorms is a mountain range and lies roughly 35 miles west of Aberdeen. The park boasts the ultimate Scottish landscape experience, with lochs, moorland and mountains with plenty of rare wildlife, such as pine martens and Scottish wildcats, and castles to see. It’s also home to the bi-annual endurance race, the Cairngorm 100.

Scottish access laws state that horses have equal rights to pedestrians when it comes to exploring the countryside, meaning that riders have the right to roam most land in Scotland. This BHS document provides a great explainer on how the Scottish Outdoor Access Code applies to equestrians.

Take yourself: There are plenty of options when it comes to trekking in the Cairngorms. Highlands Unbridled near Aboyne offers day rides, short breaks and longer riding holidays that include accommodation on the trail. Their longest package covers 250 miles over 17 days! You can even book a working holiday with the option to include accommodation at a cut price. Highland Horse Fun in Kingussie offers trekking and hacking from an hour’s duration up to a full day.

Looking for somewhere else to stay close by? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: Thanks to the Scottish Right to Roam, there are no permits required to ride in the Cairngorms. Some holiday accommodation offers grazing and stabling for your horse as well as a bed for you – Nethy Stables Luxury Glamping in the north Cairngorms has its own “horse b‘n’b”. To the south, Equine Unlimited can accommodate your horse in stabling or corrals and you in a glamping hut – they also offer guided and self-guided riding.

Pennine Bridleway, Derbyshire to Cumbria

The Pennine Bridleway is the country’s newest national trial. It was opened in stages, the final leg in June 2012. Spanning a total of 205 miles, it’s perhaps one of the most far-ranging scenic horse riding locations. The route begins Derbyshire, up through the Peak District and the Yorkshire Dales and ends in Ravenstonedale, Cumbria. Following ancient packhorse routes, you’ll take in rugged hilly landscapes, dry stone walls, moorland and hill grazing livestock.

Specifically designed with riders in mind, the route is open to walkers and cyclists, too. According to National Trails, the route is best completed between April and October when the weather is most favourable.

Take yourself: As the route covers so much of the country, there’s a lot of choice when it comes to finding a riding centre. In the Yorkshire Dales, you’ll find Kilnsey Trekking and Riding Centre near Skipton and Northfield Farm at the southernmost point near Matlock in Derbyshire. As well as day trekking, they offer riding breaks too.

Looking for somewhere else to stay near by? View local options in the Yorkshire Dales or Peak District at booking.com

Take your horse: National Trails provides an interactive map and information about self-guided routes you can take, which are anything from a few miles to forty and above. For a good day route, the 10-mile Settle loop in the Yorkshire Dales has parking in the pay-and-display Greenfoot Car Park.

If you were thinking of a longer break, there are plenty of places to bring your horse on holiday, including Hoe Grange in Derbyshire and Wharfdale Riding Holidays near Skipton.

Ashdown Forest, East Sussex

The famous woodland that inspired Winnie-the-Pooh, Ashdown Forest is the largest public open space in South East England. Riders can access over 75 miles of tracks and trails and enjoy the sights and sounds of the heathland and woodland. You’ll see creatures great and small, from the Silver-studded Blue butterfly and nightjars to ancient cattle, sheep and pony breeds who graze freely.

From forest tracks to lush green paths, there is a great deal of variety to explore.

Take yourself: Local equestrian centres that run trekking and hacking include East View and Ashdown Riding – you’ll experience little to no roadwork as these centres have direct access to the forest.

Looking for somewhere else to stay near Ashdown Forest? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: You’ll need a permit to ride your horse on Ashdown. These vary in term from a specified day to and annual permit. Any horse ridden in Ashdown must display a valid badge and the cost of the permit includes a parking charge exemption in any of the five designated horsebox-permissive car parks.

Studland Bay, Dorset

If you want beach riding at its finest, the sandy shore of Studland Bay is the place for you. A National Trust site, Studland Bay has a four-mile stretch of beach that’s perfect for a gallop. The beach slopes gently into the sea, ideal for paddling. The heathland behind the beach is a wildlife haven, home to all six native reptile species. There are spectacular views out over Old Harry Rocks and to the Isle of Wight, making this coastal paradise one of the top scenic horse riding locations in the country.

If you’re feeling adventurous, there are watersports such as kayaking and cold water swimming on offer, too.

Take yourself: Studland Trekking Centre is set up for group and private beach, headland and forest rides, so you’ll be able to take in the coastal landscape from a variety of perspectives. If you stay at Burnbake Lodge, you can get a discount on your ride.

Looking for somewhere else to stay near Studland Bay? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: Studland Trekking Centre also operates a “horse b‘n’b”, but you’ll need to arrange your own accommodation and obtain riding permits direct from the National Trust. Be aware that riding on the beach is only permitted between 1 October and 30 April with a valid permit.

Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons), Wales

This Welsh national park is home to over 600 miles of bridleways and tracks to explore. Welsh ponies and cobs run wild across the rugged and breathtaking landscape – you’ll feast your eyes on lush valleys, mountain ridges and quaint Welsh villages, as well as the odd castle.

The going can be tough and the weather changeable, so self-guided riders must pack for all weathers and take a map and compass – reception can be patchy!

Take yourself: The season at Grange Trekking in Abergavenny begins in early April. This centre offers day trekking and holiday packages with accommodation and meals to suit every need. Tregoyd Mountain Riders is based in north of Bannau Brycheiniog not far from Hay on Wye and has direct access to the Black Mountains. They offer from one hour to a full day in the saddle. Cantref caters for multi-day riding holidays.

For self-guided and guided tours, Freerein Riding Holidays offers a variety of packages that include a horse, accommodation and food.

Looking for somewhere else to stay in the Brecon Beacons? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: You can bring your horse on holiday to Aber Glamping in Crai – they have an all-weather arena and a cross-country course on site, too. Brecons Wild Camping near Brecon also operates a “horse b‘n’b” with stabling and grazing. If you want one of the most convenient scenic horse riding locations with views of Bannau Brycheiniog, the Epynt Way features 65km of horse-friendly trails and specially designed public corrals to secure your horse while dismounted. Follow this link for what3words references to parking locations.

Dartmoor National Park, Devon

The ancient landscape of Dartmoor the stuff of myth and legend. An off-road wonderland for riders, you’ll see granite tors, sloping hills, wild streams and open moorland. The park is teeming with life, from extraordinarily rare birds such as the cuckoo to the iconic native Dartmoor pony, many of whom can be seen grazing the land.

For riders, Dartmoor is divided into three areas:

• the South-East Quarter, which is home to the gentlest slopes and is ideal for beginner or nervous riders
• the South-West Quarter, featuring higher moorland and a central blanket bog, so ensure you stick to the edge
• the Northern Half, which is home to the park’s most wild and rugged terrain. Only experienced riders should complete self-guided rides here – make sure you check the MoD’s live firing times as the area is also used for training

Take yourself: Cholwell Riding Stables offers rides of up to two hours while Dartmoor Riding Holidays near Okehampton offers day rides and holiday packages – including cattle drive and Western experiences. For an upmarket trip, book a holiday with Liberty Trails and enjoy superb riding with luxury accommodation, spa sessions and even a ‘ride with Mary King’ experience.

Looking for somewhere else to stay in Dartmoor? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: Consult this fabulous online resource for everything you need to know about self-guided rides on Dartmoor, from what to bring and where to park, to maps and the best routes to ride. Headland Warren Farm at Postbridge provides self-catering accommodation and stabling for your horse, as does Langworthy Farm near Newton Abbot.

The Surrey Hills National Landscape, Surrey

The bridleways and extensive commons of Surrey are fantastic places to ride. Whether you’re after the wide, sandy tracks of Thursley and Hankley Commons or the panoramic views of Holmbury Hill, there are routes for every occasion. The sandy tracks make parts of Surrey especially good for winter riding.

The extensive network of horse-friendly rights of way are interspersed by quaint villages with amazing pubs. There’s plenty of horse-friendly parking, so it couldn’t be simpler to box up and go.

Take yourself: Enjoy a picnic ride at Wildwoods Riding, Walton-on-the-Hill, or private and group hacking at White Lane Farm.

Looking for somewhere else to stay in the Surrey Hills? View local options at booking.com

Take your horse: The Surrey Hills National Landscape website has everything you could wish to know about routes throughout the area, including parking information. Check out this self-catering cottage with stabling if you want to extend your stay.

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout major shows such as London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

What to wear on a trekking holiday: tips from a traveller

The ins and outs of ‘hacking out’

Heaven on horseback – Ride & Recharge at Nihi resort on the tropical island of Sumba

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

How do you describe the indescribable?

It’s almost as if you’re drunk; drunk on sun and sand and space and speed. Flying on fierce heat and the dry desert wind, in an immense emptiness where nothing matters but this place and these horses and these people.

The Namibia Wild Horses Ride is not for the faint-hearted – “Africa is not for sissies,” says lead guide and company boss Andrew Gillies – you have to be happy to accelerate, spread out across endless plains with 14 other riders and 19 other horses, ride for five hours over dunes without a promise of shade, cover some 280km in seven days.

But if you are, the reward is an experience like no other. This isn’t hacking round a desert block, it’s riding with a purpose and a destination, from one camp to the next. This is one of the promises on which the Namibia Horse Safari Company’s 30-year reputation is built; with the experience of the desert, the beauty of the surroundings, the speed, the space and the horses.

Most of us will be familiar with riding at pace in groups, but this is that multiplied by a thousand; without fences or hedges or breakwaters, with space for “proper riding”, and the chance to let it all go with no worry about how to stop.

“It’s like a riding school – but as far as the horizon,” Andrew says. “The desert makes these patterns, like a swimming pool, that stretch as far as you can see, and you can spread out and go like the clappers. It’s bedlam; loose horses, people whooping it up. It’s fantastic. I love being out in the true wilderness, on a horse and sharing it with people.”

Days on the ride follow a similar pattern; you’re woken as the stars’ brilliance starts to fade and the sky lightens round the edges – once by jackals calling to each other as they ringed the campsite – then it’s essentially eat, sleep, ride, repeat, for seven days on the trot.

The total distance covered is about 280km (174 miles), in five to six hours of riding every day, but as there is a lack of detailed maps of the area, this isn’t a definitive figure. And although the desert may give an impression of being flat and featureless, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Every day, every ride, the terrain and the surroundings are different. You find yourself dwarfed by silent, towering island mountains, picking your way up rocky slopes to the breathtaking summit of God’s Window, from which the staggering vastness of this 90 million-year-old landscape is spread out at your feet, galloping across the most perfect going towards mountains that never seem to get any closer. From plains populated by dry trees and tussocky grass to bare sand, in a symphony of red and gold under the biggest sky you’ve ever seen.

One feature of the Wild Horses Ride is crossing the Namib dune sea. This is a 27km stretch of unrelenting sand – five hours’ riding – on terrain that, until the Namibia Horse Safari Company’s first approach in recent years, had not been crossed by man or beast since the 1920s. Although throughout the ride you’re in the remotest of isolation from the real world, this is the place where “if something happens, no one’s coming to save you”. This is wilderness at its most epic.

The ride was truly an experience I had never come close to; it’s tough and you might doubt yourself and your ability, such as when you find yourself on top of a dune that seems to stretch down at your feet like a sandy Hickstead Derby bank. But these horses are pros; the feeling almost of surfing down the dunes is an incredible one, which they seem to enjoy as much as their riders, and the feeling of freedom and otherness is liberating. You can understand why about 40% of clients are repeat riders; there is something addictive that means you find yourself planning another trip before you’ve finished the first.

Another beauty of the rides is that you are cut off from civilisation. There’s no signal in the desert and no wi-fi – although Andrew carries a satellite phone in case of emergencies – so from the moment you leave the Namibian capital Windhoek, you’re on your own.

This rare state of being for most of us means you live in the moment like at no other time; it feels as if all you have ever done or want to do is ride through the desert with these people, and horses, whom you have never met before but who for this week are your whole world.

You might expect to find like-minded people on such a trip but it was a privilege to be part of this group, who had come from across the world, from Newfoundland to New Zealand, and who ranged in age from 28 to 65. As Australian stunt rider Caleb put it: “If you can’t find someone to talk to in this group, you’re the problem.”

You might be talking to someone, see the signal for speed, then come back to walk either with an “as I was saying”, to your previous companion, or talking to someone else entirely.

From daybreak to last thing at night, you were guaranteed to hear someone laughing, and everyone lent and gave what others needed; from blister plasters for raw legs to moisturiser for desert-dry skin, to “butt butter” for – well, you get the idea. Thanks, Charles.

On arrival in Namibia, visitors have to complete an immigration form, which asks for your address while staying in the country. “Camping in the desert,” seemed the only answer, which says everything and nothing about your destination.

Each of the eight wild campsites had its own distinct beauty but each was also the same in some ways. The cavalcade would ride in at the golden hour, when the searing sun had eased slightly and the rocks and sand were glowing. Once the horses were seen to, and after a genius bucket shower, sundowners would be poured and everyone would sit round the campfire, talking, dancing, laughing – and eating. Immeasurable credit to chef Willem, whose mobile kitchen is taken by truck to each campsite and who conjures up three Michelin star-worthy cooked meals every day.

It might feel slightly surreal to be presented with schnitzel and sauerkraut, pancakes and Nutella, oryx sausages or steak with all the trimmings in the middle of nowhere but it’s not a feeling to dwell on; I have to follow a special diet and have never been looked after so well, or eaten so much, in my life. It would be rude not to try the local drinks too; the bar may or may not have been drunk dry by the end of our last night.

Then sleep, in the desert darkness. You can have a tent if you want one but why would you, when you can luxuriate in the most comfortable bedroll you’ve ever felt, falling asleep under the fierce beauty of the stars; the Southern Cross, and the Milky Way as you’ve never seen it in the smaller, dimmer skies of home.

This ride is tough indulgence at its finest but by taking part, you’re also helping give back. African Horse Safaris, with which it is booked, has a foundation via which a donation is made for every rider to African conservation charities, such as the Namibia Wild Horses Foundation.

This charity was set up to support the free horses of the Namib Desert, through whose territory you travel and whose origins are a mystery; they may be descendants of World War I soldiers’ mounts, or those brought to the country by diamond miners.

They have survived in their tough environment but they need the charity’s help. And thanks to the donations, African Horse Safaris founder Isabel Juby galloped through the desert to the charity carrying a cheque for £1,800 last spring.

“When I started African Horse Safaris as a one-woman band from Zimbabwe eight years ago, I never dreamed I’d reach a point where we could create a thriving foundation that gives back to so many important causes,” Isabel says.

“It was an honour to ride my darling Aroka, a sassy, brave, eye-wateringly fast chestnut mare I have been lucky enough to ride three times across Namibia, and deliver our first donation cheque to the Namibia Wild Horses Foundation in person.”

The Namibia Horse Safari Company has 107 horses in total, from home-bred youngsters – with some top sport horse breeding among them – to retirees, who live in thousands of acres of bush, checked daily when they come for water. Some are rescues; the beautiful Jameson, whom I rode, and Whiskey were found pulling a cart together four years ago. They were emaciated and badly wounded, but have taken to their new life like ducks to water. It’s humbling to think how badly humans once treated them but how well they treat their riders now; I could not have asked for a better equine partner on this ride.

Each group of 20 will work for seven to eight days on the safari, then have six weeks off in their herds. Their fitness and welfare are superb; those who are not being ridden on any day are led by the guides, or run loose alongside their ridden herdmates. Then if one needs a more restful day, he can swap to run free.

For the three months of the off season, they return to the bush. They start an intensive fittening programme at the beginning of each year, which means they’re as happy and ready for the final day’s riding as for the first.

This gave me a profound new respect for what horses are capable of; my warmbloods are not at this level of fitness, but have I been too cautious thinking a second jumping class is too much; 11 more fences doing what they love best? I think I may have been.

This was a life-changing experience, for which I will always be grateful, and my fellow riders I think would agree.

Michelle’s last such safari changed everything: “I’ve achieved more in my riding in seven days than in 20 years,” she said. “I’ve never been so fast in my life and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Others spoke of the strength of the bond with the horses – “I can feel her talking to me,” said Jenna – and the power of that relationship in such an inhospitable environment.

Jane had suffered serious injuries in a fall a year before, and lost her horse, so had postponed her Namibian ride to 2024. She was back in the saddle but her confidence was at rock bottom; by the end of the first day, she asked for a faster horse and was at the front.

“I came here nervous and full of anticipation,” she said. “But it’s enabled me to realise I can ride. The horses are phenomenal and it’s liberating; complete freedom.”

If you’re looking for the trip of a lifetime, this is it.

A huge thank you to the horses, most of all. And to African Horse Safaris and the Namibia Horse Safari Company; to Andrew, Larissa, Amelie, Laura, Collen, Nelson, Deon, Willem, Lisbet and Casimir. To my fellow riders; Isabel, Jane, Michelle, Caleb, Charles, Angus, Yvonne, Jenna, Kathrin and Fabienne.

You were amazing. We did it.

How to book

The Namibia Wild Horses Ride, and other Namibian safaris, can be booked via African Horse Safaris

10 nights all-inclusive in 2025 is £6,200pp, excluding flights

Exclusive 5% discount off any Namibian ride with code AfricanHorseSafarisH&HNamibia24

Email: isabel@africanhorsesafaris.com

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

You may also be interested in:

What to wear on a horseback safari: tips from a traveller

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

“Without doubt, this is the greatest evening of my life,” I thought to myself as I galloped along 7km of deserted, unspoilt beach deep in a southern corner of Indonesia. A burning golden sunset cast the most beautiful light I’d ever seen, with only the sound of the Indian Ocean and the hoof beats of my native Sumbanese pony to accompany it.

This place is special, and it belongs to the natives of the island of Sumba and Nihi, a sanctuary that prides itself on privacy and personal restoration – it was voted best hotel in the world in 2016 and 2017 and remains firmly in the top 10 of many lists today.

During my six-night stay at this resort, which is owned by Christopher Burch, with top-notch hotelier James McBride at the helm, I made the conscious effort to soak up every second of this unique experience, which is so much more than your normal riding holiday.

The point of my visit is to sample a newly launched equine wellness package, Ride & Recharge.

“Whether you seek thrilling rides, a tranquil wellness retreat or moments of quiet observation of the herd atop the hill, each experience is handcrafted with care for an unforgettable journey,” says Professor Andreas Liefooghe, founder of these programmes.

From join-up to riding through the jungle before washing off with horses in the sea, I am not aware of any other place like it in the world that offers such a comprehensive range of activities to help residents reconnect with themselves.

I won’t lie, upon my arrival I really wanted a large (alcoholic) drink, but I was aware that this trip was centred around wellness so didn’t dare ask for one. Thankfully, the wonderful Evelien Akerboom, Dutch native and Nihi’s equestrian consultant and someone I instantly clicked with both on a “horsey” and personality level, recognised the look on my face and said, “Wellness doesn’t have to mean you starve yourself, get up at 4am and only drink green smoothies – it’s whatever makes you feel well.” I duly ordered a glorious, ice-cold pale rosé.

Evelien was at the centre of my trip and without doubt, she made it what it was. Her equestrian knowledge knows no bounds – she worked in competition yards on the Continent and in riding schools in Bali prior to her moving to Nihi in January 2022. She is kind and gentle with a lovely personable manner.

But what also makes her so great is that she is an out-and-out horsewoman and instantly I respected her. She is very much captain of the equine ship at Nihi. She is responsible for the staff around her at the Sandalwood stables, where around 25 horses reside, and a number of stable staff – all male native Sumbanese – plus the hotel’s equine breeding programme and hotel guests who wish to make use of the equine elements on offer.

Nearly all the equine residents are native to Sumba. The original breed of the local Sumba pony comes from Mongolian and Arab bloodlines, brought to Sumba for trading in exchange for sandalwood and spices hundreds of years ago.

Recognising my passion for horses, Evelien took on board the fact that I wanted to ride and spend as much time with her wonderful Sumbanese ponies as I could, while also experiencing some of the other wellness packages on offer. Rigorous checks are carried out prior to anyone being allowed to get on a horse, with a strict weight limit (75kg for all rides and 85kg for beach riding and swimming with horses), and nobody is permitted off the lead-rein unless they can clearly demonstrate they are safe to do so.

Ultimately, the welfare of these marvellous ponies is at the forefront of what Nihi offers and no riding takes place in the middle of the day as climate is tropical on Sumba and therefore very humid– it’s either a 7am sunrise ride or a 5pm evening version, each as breathtaking as the other. The rainy season tends to occur between December and March, with temperatures ranging between low-20s°C at night and high-30s°C during the day.

Before I knew it, and just three hours after arriving at the hotel, I was on board Sadie, a marvellous 14.1hh liver chestnut mare who knew the island and its terrain better than anyone. All riding is bitless and with very basic but horse-friendly tack. The hotel provides helmets and boots and I rode mostly in leggings – apart from when swimming in the ocean with the ponies.

Accompanied by Evelien, I set out on Nihiwatu Beach – a place of pilgrimage for die-hard surfers – at sunset. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe

riding at Nihi. I’ve ridden on beaches in various places before, but the vast swathes of sand, ocean, mountains and peace this place has, means it very much sits in its own lane in terms of equestrian holiday experiences.

Every waking hour of every day I was there, I made a conscious effort to live in the moment – as clichéd as that may sound. I rode twice a day, every day while I was there – I didn’t want to let this glorious opportunity pass me by.

The riding options available aren’t just “galloping along a beach”. I also hacked up through the mountains that rise up through the resort and through villages made up of huts, with chickens, goats, dogs and their litters of puppies, ponies and buffalo freely roaming the dirt tracks that intertwined them.

We were even afforded, on a couple of occasions, a front-row seat watching local farmers take their herd of buffalo, with their calves at foot, into the ocean to wash and cool down.

The spa safari was another highlight, in which you hack 90 minutes to the most jaw-dropping setting with a spa neatly enclaved on the cliff side. This trail ride meant I was privy to the rich tapestry of rural Sumba – with its paddy fields and sometimes jungle-like landscape – then an incredible three-hour spa experience overlooking the ocean, listening to the waves crashing below as I indulged in a range of next-level treatments. It’s no wonder the surfing here is deemed to be some of the best in the world.

It’s yet another reason why visitors crave the Nihi experience, with its private shores and white-glove surfing experience – no paddling out here, designated jet skis help you with that.

Swimming with the horses in the gin-clear ocean was an experience I will never forget. As is watching them gallop loose down from the hillside upon which they graze, along the beach and into the wash for a paddle and a roll, before taking themselves back to their stables each evening – a sight that had everybody mesmerised.

But there was more to the equine wellness aspect than just sitting atop a horse. You could also unwind with them while unmounted, grounding yourself, reevaluating your life and building upon that. It might sound airy-fairy, but I assure you it had me fully converted.

I went on this trip completely wrapped up in life’s unwanted stress and returned ready to crack on with a clear mind – and perhaps, what’s even more telling of the power of this trip, is that my mind has remained this way ever since.

The journey to Nihi is a mammoth one, but when in search of total privacy – and, if you so wish, total disconnect from the world and all its humdrum and noise – it is a trip worth taking. So remote is this island, which is larger than Bali but with a much smaller population, that you feel as if you’re worlds away from anywhere.

Nihi is in the same time zone as Perth, Western Australia, and door-to-door from London Heathrow, with an eight-hour overnight stay in Bali, I made it there in 24 hours after three flights. But my goodness, was it worth it.

The level of service I was provided with throughout my trip was like nothing I have ever experienced. This began upon my arrival at Lede Kalumbang Airport, Sumba, where I was greeted directly off the plane by a Nihi employee.

The 90-minute private transfer from the north-western side of the island to the southern side was an eye-opener and one that was very contrasting to Nihi. Sumba is a place that, bar Nihi and a couple of other hotels, is completely untouched by Western influences.

It is like stepping back in time. The residents are mostly tribal, with each clan speaking a different dialect and a large percentage of the island lacking running water and electricity. Many of the native people live in traditional huts with high-peaked roofs, and are deeply religious, practising Marapu, an animist religion centred around ancestral worship, animal sacrifice during funerals, burials in megalithic tombs and ceremonial rites performed by shamans called ratos.

I keenly asked my driver an annoying number of questions as we weaved through small towns and villages, heavy with poverty, culture and tradition. Ponies in the back of open-backed vans had 10 or so children to keep them company en route to wherever they were heading.

Arriving at Nihi was a glorious but other-worldly experience, as the hotel has all the mod cons – poles apart from the sights I’d witnessed on the way to this corner of holiday heaven.

Nihi prides itself on employing local Sumbanese residents. And The Sumba Foundation, a brainchild of the hotel, raises funds via its residents to put back into the community – some villages have benefited from the addition of electricity and running water.

I was fortunate enough to experience two different villas – of which there are 27 – all completely private and with uninterrupted views of the ocean. First, the Puncak four-bedroom estate, which sits near the top of the hill on which the hotel is built. The second was the mind-blowing Mamole Treehouse. Both have their own private infinity pools, four-poster bedrooms, living-room areas, “wild” bathrooms with outdoor showers and enormous bathtubs.

Plus, there were butlers – known here as Guest Kaptens – for each villa, on hand whether it be for organising one of the tuk-tuks to transport you to the stables or restaurants, or for room service or an impromptu beach picnic.

While we’re on the subject, the food was out of this world – and it’s included within the price of each stay, as are all soft drinks.

There are three restaurants, including a beach club at the hotel, but if you’d rather remain totally private, full menus are also available via room service. There are plenty of options, whether you’d like to sample local Indonesian cuisine, or keep things closer to home with a more Western menu, with a comprehensive drinks menu to boot.

Nihi is so much more than a holiday. It’s a fully immersive experience that you can tailor to suit your needs. The people who work there really care and are proud of everything they provide. It’s truly a place like no other, and honestly I mean it when I said I had the time of my life.

What’s included

Nihi has high seasons from 1 April to 14 October and from 16 December to 14 January, with a minimum of a five-night stay. Low season is from 15 October to 15 December and from 15 January to 31 March, with a minimum of a three-night stay.

Rates are inclusive of the following:

● Three daily meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and all non-alcoholic drinks

● High-speed Wi-Fi

● In-villa mini bar (one full complimentary restock per day)

● Complimentary tour of projects by The Sumba Foundation

● Stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling around Nihiwatu Beach

● Participation in group yoga and meditation classes

● Complimentary happy hour at the Boathouse Bar, daily from 5.30–6.30pm, with free-flowing domestic beers and house wine

● Prices range between $1,395 (£1,093) to $10,995 (£8,616) per night per villa for single or double occupancy in the low season

● The Ride & Recharge package starts at approximately £400 per person, in addition to accommodation charges

● Experience Travel Group offers this trip from £12,995 per person, including return flights with Qatar Airways from London Heathrow to Bali via Doha (there are no direct flights from the UK), a seven-night spa safari by horseback package at Nihi, transfers and two nights’ accommodation at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bali

● For more information, visit experiencetravelgroup.com

• To stay up to date with all the breaking news throughout Horse of the Year Show, London International and more, subscribe to the Horse & Hound website

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Whether you’re heading off on a trek across Wales or Iceland, Azerbaijan or Mongolia, the two most important things when considering what to wear on a horse riding holiday are safety and comfort. You’re signing up for spending long hours in the saddle – and there’s nothing worse than feeling unprepared or uncomfortable while you’re ticking the dream riding holiday off your horsey bucket list.

Your chosen holiday destination and its climate will determine exactly what you pack, but the most of the staple items will be the same. We’ve covered a range of climates in this list to help you consider what you might need wherever you’re heading. Between the team at Horse & Hound, we’ve been on a wide range of riding holidays so we’ve tried to cover all bases. If you’re planning a specific type of riding holiday, check out our tips for what to wear on horseback safari or what to wear on a ranch holiday.

What to wear on a horse riding holiday

• Riding hat
• Riding boots
• Tops
• Legwear
• Gloves
• Socks
• Other handy accessories

Riding hat

The most important thing you’ll need to pack for your riding holiday is a correctly fitted riding hat. To ensure that you’re covered by your insurance you’ll need one that’s up to standard. Some holiday providers will be able to lend you a hat, but if you’re heading abroad they might not be up to standard or correctly fitting, so it’s always best to take your own.

If you’re heading somewhere hot or will be in the saddle for long periods of time, you’ll benefit from a lightweight and ventilated helmet. The Uvex Exxential II (which you can view here) would be a popular choice for this type of riding. NB: we recommend all riding hats are fitted by a professional hat fitter.

If you don’t already have a hat carrier, I’d recommend treating yourself to one of the best riding hat bags to ensure its safe travel.

Boots

Comfortable footwear is really important, but especially if you’ll be spending some time walking with your horse, which is common on some types of trekking holidays. We’d suggest leaving your favourite long leather riding boots at home, and instead opting for something more robust that offers plenty of support.

Short boots and half chaps are a good option as they’re not only easy to pack, but give you the option of taking the chaps off, too. Many distance riders prefer boots that are more similar in style to trainers or walking boots – and these are great if you end up walking sections of the trek. The Ariat Terrain boots (which you can view here) tick all these boxes and are waterproof, too.

Lightweight half chaps, such as the Just Chaps Cool chaps, are popular with horsey holiday makers as they’re lightweight and breathable, which makes them great for warmer climates. And they fit over the chunkier boot types, too.

Tops

Layers are key to comfort on a riding holiday, especially if the weather is changeable.

If you’re expecting the weather to be warm, you’re best with a selection of lightweight and technical riding T-shirts or long-sleeved base layers for added protection from the sun. Technical shirts are a great option, too.

In countries with changeable weather, it’s best to layer up with a mid-layer or lightweight waterproof jacket. When selecting a fleece-type mid-layer, consider a zip-up option if you’re likely to want to remove or add layers often as these are easier to put on/take off than something that needs to go over your head.

A waterproof jacket that packs away into itself is ideal as you’ll be carrying everything you need. In colder weather you’ll be thankful for a warmer base layer, such as the LeMieux Alice (available on Amazon).

Legwear

The best riding tights and leggings are a popular choice for holiday riding as they’re lightweight and really comfortable – most have an easy-to-access pocket on the leg, too. For a week’s holiday I would suggest you only need two or three pairs.

If you’re heading to somewhere like Iceland, it would be worth packing a pair of the best waterproof riding trousers – these will protect you from the wind and rain. It would also be worth looking into the best winter riding tights if you’re heading to a cooler destination – they have all the same benefits as leggings, but with extra warmth.

Gloves

Where you’re going and the time of year will determine what type of gloves are best to pack. For a hot destination, you’ll want something light (check out our guide to the best summer riding gloves), but other locations will see you better with something more standard in weight for spring and autumn or even the best winter riding gloves if you’re heading somewhere cold.

Even if you don’t usually ride in gloves, investing in a pair will definitely be worth it as you’ll be in the saddle for much longer than usual – and the reins may not be what you’re used to either. The last thing you want on your trip is cold, sweaty or sore hands.

Socks

While you can get away with packing just a couple of pairs of riding tights, you will want at least one pair of clean socks for each day you’re riding. If your itinerary suggests you’ll be doing early and later rides with a longer break in between, take extra pairs. Don’t be tempted to take an everyday pair of socks because you’ll end up with wet and sweaty feet – you’ll appreciate breathable and wicking riding socks more than you realise.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a must if you’re going somewhere sunny, but it’s best to opt for a pair that are safe ride in and won’t shatter and cause you injury in a fall. Glasses designed for sport will also fit nicely under your helmet.

Bandana

A bandana or Buff will help protect you from the sun (or keep you warm if it’s chilly), but you can also pull it up over your mouth and nose if it’s particularly dry and dusty.

Riding hat camera

You can, of course, take a phone or digital camera with you to document your trip. But if you’d rather not be fiddling about or would like to record at speed, it would be worth checking out one of the best riding hat cameras. The Cambox V4 Pro is super-lightweight, discreet so won’t stand out in your photos.

Bum bags and saddle bags

They might look pretty retro, but you can’t deny how handy a bumbag will be on a riding holiday. You’ll have easy access to your phone or camera, a power pack and (weather dependent) some sun cream. I also highly recommend packing a lip balm with SPF (like this one on Amazon) and insect/mosquito repellent (like this one).

Some holiday providers will have saddle bags for you to use, but if they don’t and you’d like to always have water to hand or you’ve got other items to carry, then saddle bags are just what you need. There are a variety of styles and sizes to cater for different needs and how much stuff you’re carrying. When I’ve been on trips previously, I’ve always been envious of riders who have come prepared with saddle bags – and they’ve always been the most comfortable and hydrated.

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Heading on a horse riding ranch experience holiday? Lucky you – it will feature high up on many a horsey bucket list! I was lucky enough to spend a week in Wyoming on a ranch experience for Horse & Hound last year – and as soon as I found out I was going on a ranch holiday, one my first questions was what to wear.

Here’s essentials you’ll need to pack for the riding parts of your ranch holiday. I’ve included some specific suggestions of items I was grateful I took with me, plus some things I wish I’d had before I went.

What to wear on a horse riding ranch holiday

You could, of course, go in your everyday riding gear that you wear at home, but for ultimate comfort and the real cowboy experience, here are some things you’ll want to consider packing for the riding parts. Think, too, about what time of year and where in the States you’re travelling – there is a lot of variety here.

• Hat
• Boots
• Legwear
• Shirts
• Layers
• Other handy accessories

Hat

The most important thing you’ll need to wear on a horseback safari is a correctly fitted riding hat. To ensure that you’re covered by your insurance you’ll need one that’s up to standard – and most ranches recommend you wear one.

However, having a cowboy hat is part of the experience and if you decide you want to wear one for riding, find one with a stampede string so that it doesn’t fly off the moment you pick up the pace. While a real cowboy might be able to spin around and swoop the hat from the floor without getting off, chances are you’ll need to dismount to retrieve a lost hat.

You might also want a cowboy hat for visiting the rodeo or relaxing on the ranch. Check out these Stetson cowboy hats (available on Amazon), which are the most famous brand when it comes to cowboy headwear.

Boots

You don’t have to wear cowboy boots – your favourite pair of riding boots will be absolutely fine – but if you‘re looking to blend in with real western riders then a pair of cowboy boots is a must. Ariat have a very wide range of western boots (which you can view here) that are available in half sizes and are designed for comfort and performance rather than just look.

Legwear

Real cowboys wear jeans – in fact, I didn’t see a cowboy in anything other than jeans, boots, shirt and hat in the whole time I was there. If you’d like to ride in jeans, Wranglers are a good choice as they’re designed with cowboys in mind and they don’t have the double-sewn inside leg seam, which makes them more comfortable in the saddle.

If you’d prefer to wear breeches, I would suggest considering a pair of the best denim breeches – this was my compromise between wannabe cowgirl and home comforts.

Shirts

All cowboys wear shirts and I found myself to be cooler in a shirt (with the sun kept off my skin) than in a T-shirt. Even when we were riding out in 33°C, I never really felt uncomfortable so I would definitely recommend getting your hands on a couple.

Layers

The weather can be really changeable in some areas, so a rain jacket is worth packing – and one that packs away neatly or can be tied to your saddle is ideal. If you’re heading out on early rides or in cooler parts of the year, a warmer layer is also worth taking. The western saddles have lots of ties so that you can secure any layers you shed to your saddle.

Gloves

I found that holding the reins in one hand meant that the pressure was in a slightly different place that my hands were used to, so I did get a small blister on the first day that I didn’t wear my gloves. The time of year you’re going will have an effect of what type of gloves you take – in the summer you’ll want something light (check out our guide to the best summer riding gloves), but you’ll be better with something more standard in weight for spring and autumn.

Cap

There will likely be breaks for lunch and other refreshments and if you’ve been wearing a proper riding hat you’ll want to give your head a moment to breathe. If you’re like me, you’ll want to hide your hat hair, so a cap that can attach to your saddle is the perfect solution.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a must, but it’s best to opt for a pair that are safe ride in and won’t shatter and cause you injury in a fall. Glasses designed for sport will also fit nicely under your helmet or cowboy hat.

Bandana

A bandana or Buff will help protect you from the sun (or keep you warm if it’s chilly), but you can also pull it up over your mouth and nose if it’s particularly dry and dusty.

Riding hat camera

You can, of course, take a phone or digital camera with you to document your trip – and you’ll only need one hand on the reins, so this is very doable. But if you’d rather not be fiddling about and would like to record at speed, it would be worth checking out one of the best riding hat cameras. The Cambox V4 Pro is super-lightweight, discreet so won’t stand out in your photos, and it will attach to a cowboy hat, too.

Bum bag

They might look pretty retro, but you can’t deny how handy a bumbag will be on a riding holiday. You’ll have easy access to your phone or camera, a power pack, some sun cream and I highly recommend packing a lip balm with SPF (like this one on Amazon).

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If hacking through the Welsh hills or donning a cowboy hat for a ranch holiday isn't go to cut it

Top tips for a ranching holiday

H&H's deputy news editor Charlotte White gives her top tips for a ranching holiday after spending four days on the

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Heading on a horseback safari holiday? Lucky you – it’s definitely high up on many horsey bucket lists! I took a gap year following university and, as part of that, did a three-month safari placement in South Africa. Once you’ve decided you’re going on a horseback safari trip, I know one of your first questions will be what to wear.

Here’s a list of the essentials you’ll need to pack for the riding parts of the holiday. I’ve included some specific suggestions of items I was grateful I took with me, plus some things I wish I’d thought of or known about before I went.

What to wear on a horseback safari holiday

• Riding hat
• Riding boots
• Tops
• Legwear
• Gloves
• Socks
• Other handy accessories

Riding hat

The most important thing you’ll need to wear on a horseback safari is a correctly fitted riding hat. To ensure that you’re covered by your insurance you’ll need one that’s up to standard.

If you’re looking to get a new one especially for your trip, consider a helmet that is lightweight and well ventilated as you’ll be in the saddle for long periods of time in the heat. A wide peak may also offer additional protection from the sun. The Uvex Exxential II (which you can view here) would be a popular choice for this type of riding.

Footwear

You’ll want something really comfy as it’s likely you’ll be spending a long time in the saddle. Even though your best long riding boots probably fit like a glove, it would be best to leave these at home and invest in an alternative for your trip so that they’re not damaged when you’re riding through the bush.

Short boots and chaps are a good option. Many riders who ride long distances prefer riding boots that are more similar in style to trainers or walking boots – and the bonus of these is they’ll double up for any walking activities you might go on too. The Ariat Terrain boots (which you can view here) tick all these boxes and are waterproof, too. If you’d prefer a more sporty style that you can wear with half chaps, I’d look at the Ariat Ascent short boots and matching half chaps.

Tops

While the weather is usually good throughout the day, it’s likely you’ll have early starts and it can be quite chilly before the sun comes up. A technical long-sleeved shirt is perfect for offering a bit of warmth in the morning and keeping the sun off your skin later in the day – with technical materials you won’t get too hot even with sleeves and the Ariat VentTek shirt (which you can view here) is a great example.

If you’d like a short-sleeved option, a short-sleeved base layer or polo shirt will be good as long as they’re of the technical type in order to help keep you cool. Where possible opt for bush colours (think beige or khaki) to blend in, or lighter colours, which don’t absorb heat and are less likely to attract flies.

I’d also suggest taking a warmer zip-up top, particularly if your trip is in the cooler winter months between May and August. A zip-up layer is easier to take off in the saddle – and you can do so without removing your hat.

Legwear

A pair of the best riding tights or leggings would make the perfect choice for horseback safari. They’re lightweight and comfortable, so are ideal for spending hours in the saddle in the sunshine.

Gloves

If you prefer to ride in gloves then you’ll benefit from a pair of the best summer riding gloves for your trip. You could opt for a pair that has wicking properties or mesh sections – and you can even find gloves that allow you to tan the back of your hands to avoid tan lines. You’ll definitely want a pair with touchscreen compatible fingers if you’re planning to take photos on your phone.

Socks

It’s going to be hot, so you’ll appreciate breathable and wicking riding socks more than you realise. Don’t be tempted to take an everyday pair of socks because you’ll end up with wet and sweaty feet.

Cap

There will likely be breaks for breakfast, lunch and other refreshments and you’ll want to give your head a moment to breathe. If you’re like me, you’ll want to hide your hat hair, so a cap that can attach to your saddle is the perfect solution. More importantly, a cap will also keep the sun off your head, which will help prevent heat stroke.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are a must, but it’s best to opt for a pair that are safe ride in and won’t shatter and cause you injury in a fall. Glasses designed for riding will also fit nicely under your helmet.

Bandana

A bandana or Buff will help protect you from the sun, but you can also pull it up over your mouth and nose if it’s particularly dry and dusty.

Riding hat camera

You can, of course, take a phone or digital camera with you to document your trip, but if you’d like to keep both hands on the reins, it would be worth checking out one of the best riding hat cameras. The Cambox V4 Pro is super-lightweight, and discreet so won’t stand out in your photos, while the Techalogic DC2-Pro has a really long battery life.

Bum bag

They might look like they’ve stepped out of the nineties, but you can’t deny how handy a bumbag will be on this sort of trip. You’ll have easy access to your phone or camera, some sun cream and I highly recommend packing a lip balm with SPF (like this one on Amazon).

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

You might dream of a safari on horseback, or perhaps you have already been lucky enough to experience one. But what about the remarkable horses you ride once at your destination? How do the experts go about sourcing and training a horse for safari so they are able to cope with what’s required in their everyday lives?

Isabel Juby of African Horse Safaris, who provides horseback safaris in Africa, recently had a chat with Barney Bestelink from Okavango Horse Safaris to discuss the most effective ways to train horses to cope with the terrain and being surrounded by Africa’s Big Five.

How to train a young horse for safari holidays

Where do you source most of your safari horses?

Most of our operators either breed their own safari horses or collaborate closely with breeders in South Africa and Kenya. They maintain strong connections with farriers and equestrians who often suggest horses with backgrounds in racing, eventing, or polo.

What breed works best for riding in Africa?

When it comes to safari horses, the emphasis is on temperament, stamina and willingness, rather than breed. The herds predominantly feature thoroughbred, Namibian Warmblood, Arab, Friesian, boerperd, and appaloosas, along with unique crossbreeds.

How can you tell if a young horse will make a good safari horse?

When youngsters show a willingness to learn, follow the cues of the herd and bond well with the team, it’s easy to see their potential. Usually, the ones that are brave, inquisitive and a bit mischievous make the best safari horses.

What age do they start their training?

From a young age, foals are brushed and handled by the dedicated stable team. Gentle groundwork and long lining starts at around two-and-a-half years old. Backing and schooling with a dedicated rider begins at around three years old to build confidence and trust.

They go out on their first few safaris in a small group with calm and experienced horses. The horses learn from the rest of the herd, and when they realise the other horses are grazing contently with giraffe and elephants nearby, they follow suit. They are ridden by experienced guides, staff or volunteers for at least a year before graduating to carrying guests.

What sort of training is required to desensitise a horse to all they encounter on safari?

Desensitising safari horses requires less training than you would imagine, and is mostly done by the herd. Living in the wild, you’ll frequently find the horses peacefully grazing alongside zebra, wildebeest, and antelope. They also regularly see elephants and buffalo, who are common visitors to the camps.

Growing up in the bush, the horses develop remarkable sure-footedness. Brushing up against trees, stepping over rocks and having birds fly up underfoot become part of their daily lives. From the beginning, they’re accustomed to hearing loud noises like a helicopter buzzing overhead or a whip being cracked.

How do you match horses to riders?

Matching guests to horses requires a blend of science, art and a touch of luck. There is a wide range of horses suitable for everyone, from the competitive rider to those preferring a steady hack, and every effort is made to match the horse and rider.

The team meticulously reviews guests’ booking forms considering weight, height, riding experience and preferences. Sometimes it means reading between the lines, but they generally get it right.

A mounting list is drawn up with between two and five horses allocated per rider, with the final match made after they have met the guest. Gentle orientation rides allow guests to acclimatise to the new tack, riding style and terrain. Regular check-ins allow the guides to make adjustments and ensure guests have the best riding experience possible.

What do you do if a horse is nervous out on a ride?

Anxious horses are carefully paired with a relaxed and gentle rider. It’s important to be patient, encouraging them to be brave and rewarding them when they’ve stood their ground. Taking cues from more experienced companions, the horses are allowed to bond, exchange breaths, and graze together. They soon settle down, mirroring the nonchalant grazing of their experienced counterparts.

How do you handle riding in large groups?

Upon arrival, guests receive a thorough safety briefing. Guides cover expectations and safari etiquette, emphasising staying behind the lead guide, following hand signals, and keeping quiet during wildlife encounters. Groups are intentionally small, with a maximum of eight-12 riders, a lead guide and a backup rider.

Is it easy to spot a lead horse from an early age?

Yes and no – sometimes horses surprise you. The guides develop a strong relationship with their horses and it takes time to build up that level of trust. Lead horses need to be courageous, patient, independent and reliable. You might have quirky Thoroughbred who seems to be terrified of the bush become incredibly brave when paired with the right rider. Sometimes, the perfect horse doesn’t quite have the confidence to be out on the trail, but turns into the ideal breeding mare for the next generation of safari horses.

You might also be interested in:

7 unique horse-themed holidays to book for your next trip

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you have been put off travelling abroad by the endless images of airport chaos and passport delays, yet still have a yearning for adventure and a passion for horses, it might be time to leave the madding crowd behind you and discover the best places to ride in Wales.

Affectionately nicknamed the “Land of Song” due to its historic singing tradition, Wales doesn’t get nearly as much airtime as Cornwall, yet it has much to brag about. It has five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe, a rocky coastline that makes it a favourite haunt of a huge variety of seabirds, a mountainous landscape carved out in the Ice Age, and – a boon for those trying to escape the masses – four times as many sheep as people. There are many secret gems in this country screaming out to be discovered; to do this from the back of a horse ticks every box.

Best places to ride in Wales

Brandy House Farm, Knighton, Powys

Located off the beaten track, overlooking the River Teme which creates the border between England and Wales, Brandy House Farm offers a variety of accommodation options, from traditional holiday cottages, a vintage caravan, camping pods or staying in your lorry with electric hook-up.

The fitness levels of both horse and rider will surge here as the farm leads out on to 6,000 acres of moorland which take you over the Welsh Hills hidden between Snowdonia to the north and the Brecon Beacons to the south, with flat-topped grassy paths and moorland thrown into the mix.

“The location is brilliant if you want to take a break ‘off grid’,” says one guest. “There is virtually no signal available anywhere nearby, which added to our enjoyment as we had a proper break from our devices.”

If your map-reading skills are rusty, a guided service can be organised. The local area has an array of gardens to visit, museums and galleries, a red kite feeding station, a small-breeds farm park and owl centre, cycling and walking routes.

Breakfasts, packed lunches, and home-cooked evening meals can be ordered as takeaways. Your horse can have a stable in the large American-style barn, individual turnout, or a mixture of both.

brandyhousefarm.co.uk

Ogmore Farm Trekking Centre, Ogmore-by-Sea, Vale of Glamorgan

For those wanting to hire horses and kit, gallop down miles of “stunning” wide-open sandy beach, a trip to Ogmore Farm could be the answer.

The trek starts by taking you back in time as you pass through the grounds of the historic Ogmore Castle, crossing the River Ewenny and its famous stepping stones, before dropping into the sand dunes of Merthyr Mawr Warren and heading on to Newton Beach. The beach and dunes teem with birds; keep your eyes peeled for a kingfisher or exotic white egret.

All standards of riding are catered for: you can potter sedately along the beach, or step it up a gear and practise your jockey position racing along the sand. You might find yourself headhunted if you are a speed freak as racehorse trainer Christian Williams trains his thoroughbreds on this beach.

“How many other places can you just get on a horse and canter up a beach?” says Christian of the riding centre. “People drive three or four hours just to canter on this beach.”

On the return home the trek ascends the beach path to the ridge of the dunes, which are regarded as some of the highest in Europe. The panoramic views of Somerset and Devon will take your breath away.

Daily treks leave the farm, up to two hours long. As accommodation is not available on site, the nearby Golden Mile Country Inn is the ideal place to rest up in between treks in one of their four guest rooms. Depending on the time of year, sit by a roaring fire, or outside enjoying the views while working your way through their extensive wine list.

Trekking: rideonthebeach.co.uk; accommodation: thegoldenmile.co.uk

Crosswell Riding Stables, Crymych, Pembrokeshire

While many riding schools are facing an uncertain future, Crosswell Stables has never been busier. This could be down to its diverse services, or the fact that the approachable owner Carolyn, is determined that her lessons, treks and pony days are affordable for everyone and will bend over backwards to make sure people’s expectations are met – especially if you telephone her (01239 891262), as computers aren’t her favourite pastime.

It is situated in the Preseli Hills, in the heart of Pembrokshire’s National Park with miles of the Tycanol woodland, the Gwaun Valley, Newport Beach and mountainsides to explore.

You can take your own horse or hire from the stables. There is a three-bedroom bungalow and a mobile home on site to rent. One very popular option is the “pub rides”, for which you must be of a certain standard to take part.

“Complete amateurs and alcohol are a health and safety nightmare!” says Carolyn. “This is a great place to take the family, especially if you don’t ride a great deal as the trek can be designed around your fitness and ability, as can the horse.”

crosswellridingtrekking.co.uk

Coach House Glamping, Anglesey

Separated from the mainland by the Menai Bridge, off the north-west coast of Wales near the beautiful Snowdonia mountain range, the Isle of Anglesey was known as “the breadbasket of Wales” in the Middle Ages due to its abundance of fertile land that filled the breadbaskets of the inhabitants of North Wales. This is why you will find the remains of many windmills on the island.

Nowadays visitors flock to visit its many spectacular beaches, rolling green hills and dramatic coastal scenery. It is also the proud owner of the longest village name in the UK, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Coach House Glamping has seen such a surge in bookings with guests bringing their horses that they are in the process of expanding that side of their business. They have 10 stables and six acres of land split into paddocks as well as a shower room and solarium – your horse may refuse to load up after his luxurious spa stay here!

The humans have a choice of quirky accommodation from a shepherd’s hut, gypsy caravan, a cottage and the delightfully named Owl House. All sleep four or five and get rave reviews.

They are located two miles from Newborough Forest and Llanddwyn Beach; both offer spectacular riding, but you do need to buy a permit from Natural Resources Wales which cost £4, which can be done online, and they provide maps to help you plan your daily adventures.

The local pub, Y Groeslon, comes highly recommended as does Dylan’s in Menai Bridge which overlooks the straits – in summer it is not uncommon for the dolphins to put on a display.

Owner Joanna says, “Every morning we wake up and feel grateful that we live in a place that we don’t need a vacation from.”

07980 259333; airbnb.co.uk/rooms/50062550

Tŷ Cerrig Glamping, Rhoslefain, Gwynedd

Many people like the idea of camping but are put off by the lack of luxury, Tŷ Cerrig’s well-equipped glamping unit or glamping tent should quash these fears. Both have their own kitchens and shower rooms, proper sheets and towels, and come with a breakfast box full of local goodies.

The site is tucked away in the hills, Bird Rock to the left and the Cader Idris Mountain beyond, and near the Dysynni Valley. The riding straight from the farm is top notch, being on the coastal path as well as the bridle path; you can hack directly to Tonfanau Beach or take a long ride for miles through the mountains with sea views.

It is also easy to box up to the famous Aberdyfi Beach where there are six miles of sand to gallop along. Another short box trip will take you to the start of the ancient “pony path” leading up Cader Idris, the second highest mountain in Wales.

My experienced informant Sophia, who has stayed here, says it is her 14-year-old daughter’s “favourite place to visit, because of the unspoilt views and different terrain. She never got bored as you think you have seen it all, yet there was something different to discover around every corner we turned.”

Out of the saddle, take a trip to the beautiful Italian Riviera-inspired Portmeirion, and for the foodie to Salt Marsh Kitchen in Tywyn, widely considered to be the best restaurant in the area, which prides itself on serving locally produced food.

07590 039093; facebook.com/tycerrigglamping

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Unparalleled access rights, dramatic mountain vistas and white-sand beaches offer the best places to ride in Scotland. Here’s a pick of the hotspots to visit on horseback, from those in the know.

“I’ve travelled the world and been to some beautiful places, but never have I had my breath taken away like in Glenfeshie in the heart of the Cairngorms,” says Claire Scott. And she should know. Claire’s a long-distance rider who has been navigating the Highlands for more than a decade. And while Scotland’s unpredictable weather means its gems are often shrouded in the ubiquitous mists, its hills, lochs, beaches and glens make for spectacular riding country.

Moreover, Scotland’s access rights make the countryside a haven for equestrian explorers. Claire cites the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 as liberating.

“With horses we enjoy the right to responsible access – the same as walkers and cyclists – meaning we can ride almost anywhere,” says Claire, currently in the middle of a 1,000-mile trek through the Highlands. “Numerous hill trails are suitable for equines, you just have to be careful regarding the infamous Scottish bog. You may still come across cattle grids and locked gates, but thankfully these are few and far between. There are no bridleways, so we can use any trail marked on a map, providing we do so responsibly. It’s possible to form a two- to three-week trek without going on many roads at all.”

With just 70 people per km² compared to 483 in the south-east, there’s a whole lot of unspoilt countryside to enjoy: “Sometimes I don’t meet another person for days,” says Claire.

Here’s how to visit some of the jewels in Scotland’s 78,000km² on horseback – just be equipped for what the Scots simply call “a bit of weather”, challenging terrain and patchy phone signal.

Best places to ride in Scotland

The lochs

Famous for whisky and monsters, the two iconic lochs, Ness and Lomond, are situated against the stunning backdrop of the Highlands. Candy Cameron runs Loch Ness Riding, near Inverness, which besides formal instruction offers hacks up to three hours as well as bespoke riding holiday packages on well-schooled, advanced horses – or you can bring your own.

“The range of scenery is very diverse – moorland, farmland, forestry tracks and small paths winding around trees,” says Candy. “Keep your eyes open for vestiges of history of this area – hut circles from the bronze age, forts from the iron age, remains of crofting communities long gone, castles, lochs and fabulous views. And did I mention the 22-mile long Loch Ness – the largest body of freshwater in the UK? We have miles of riding – I know just about all the tracks of south Loch Ness and am active in local access work.”

Find places to stay near Loch Ness at booking.com

Suzanne McCall runs Loch Lomond Pony Trekking near Balloch, which provides two-hour treks “high up on to the moors overlooking Loch Lomond”.

“The emphasis is on enjoying the splendour of one of the most impressive and iconic views in Scotland while on horseback,” Suzanne says. “You’ll experience unforgettable views of the landscape, whatever the season.”

Find places to stay near Loch Lomond at booking.com

The coast

Azure seas and white beaches aren’t automatically associated with Scotland, but Claire’s experience of her local area is just that.

“The Moray coast has endless forestry tracks, beautiful sandy beaches and on a sunny day the sea is as turquoise as you’d find anywhere abroad,” she says. “It’s magical to have the salty sea on one side and sweet-smelling pines baking in the sun on the other. You can choose the shade of the forest or have a blast along the sandy shores.

“It’s possible to ride the coastal trail from Cullen to Findhorn or link this up to the Speyside Way at Spey Bay – right into the Cairngorms. If you are lucky, you’ll be able to watch dolphins from the back of your horse like I did last year.”

The west coast is typically dramatic, remote, and challenging, though Claire recommends the more straightforward “route from Ullapool to Bonar Bridge, which gives a coast-to-coast route across Scotland in only a few days”.

Emma France moved from Cambridgeshire to Scotland’s west coast and cherishes her rides up her local hill Ben Bowie with her veteran mare.

“On a sunny day you can see the stunning scenery of the Clyde Estuary, the Arrochar Alps and Loch Lomond itself. But my favourite is a winter morning, when the frost is soft and evaporating off the forest, creating a layer of fog that makes it appear like you are sitting above the clouds,” she says.

Find places to stay in Cairngorms National Park at booking.com

The islands

Scotland has more than 900 offshore islands, some giving rise to their eponymous ponies – Shetland and Eriskay. If you’re after remote riding, this is as far-flung as Britain can offer. Due to an island’s natural boundaries, long-distance exploration is limited, but the beaches are wild and wonderful.

Tràigh Mhòr Pony Trekking offers beach rides for all abilities on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.

“Tràigh Mhòr is Gaelic for big beach, which is exactly what the two miles of golden white sands, cradled by 300ft cliffs, pristine crystal-clear waters and the machair flowers in full bloom have to offer,” says manager Leigh Minion. “It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, whether you are a beginner wishing to ride along the beach for the first time or an experienced professional looking for a busman’s holiday.”

Find places to stay in the Outer Hebrides at booking.com

From Lewis, Scotland’s largest island, some 200 miles south lies Tiree, a 12-mile long isle in the Inner Hebrides. Tiree is known to have the most sunshine hours of anywhere in the UK and benefits from the warming air of the Gulf Stream. With its white sandy beaches, it boasts a coastline that wouldn’t look out of place in the Caribbean.

Tiree Equestrian offers options from lead-rein to one-hour treks, sunset and picnic rides for all levels along Balinoe beach.

“Cantering along white sandy beaches, and splashing through crystal-clear water under the watchful gaze of the resident seals and porpoises are the highlights,” says the centre’s Rosie Garrigan. “We are truly lucky to be able to ride on Tiree and love sharing its magic with others.”

Find places to stay in Lewis at booking.com

The Highlands and Lowlands

Thanks to the access rights, virtually all of the Scottish countryside holds an appeal for riders. While much of the land is wild and challenging, the central Scottish lowlands offer gentle rolling hills and picturesque scenery.

Anna Black runs two-time “luxury holiday provider of the year” Lindores, an 85-acre equestrian facility for training and DIY holidays with accommodation for both horse and human. There are 150 cross-country jumps, grass and all-weather arenas, as well as off-road hacking.

“We have top eventers training here all the way down to adults wanting to get back in the saddle or five-year-olds on fluffy ponies,” says Anna. “Some people come with their family and animals, and enjoy the hot tub or restaurant-style lunch overlooking the River Tay.”

The raw, remote Highlands are at the opposite end of the scale. The last word should belong to Claire Scott, who cites the Cairngorms – Britain’s largest national park – as her favourite place to ride.

“There are endless trails that link through beautiful glens and it’s possible to ride your horse to the top of a Munro or two [mountains over 3,000ft in height],” she says, detailing the moment that took her breath away in Glenfeshie. “As we rounded the corner at the end of the glen, it happened – I struggled to breathe for a moment or two. The sheer cliffs rising up on either side, the sparkles of the river beside me, the young silver birch waving their leaves like bunting along either side of the trail supported by the mature Scots’ pines behind.

“It was this combined with the feeling of being so remote but content with my two equine companions that made it a totally breathtaking experience.”

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you can’t imagine the thought of not having horses in your life while you’re away on holiday, then perhaps one of these unique horse-themed holidays with an equestrian twist will be the ideal base for your next adventure.

Not everyone has the capacity to, or wants to, take their horse on holiday with them, but you can still get your horsey fix by staying at a luxurious hotel with hacking or lesson packages, or enjoy a unique trip where you can stay in tailored accommodation with a built-in stable and a four-legged companion.

Whether you decide to stay in the UK for your horse-themed stay, or venture a little further afield, one of these quirky set-ups is sure to be perfect for the equestrian looking to take a break from reality.

Stable Stays at Greenbank Farm Holidays LLP

Location: Cartmel, Cumbria | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

At this horse-themed holiday, equestrian lovers of any age can spend time in the company of magnificent Friesian horses and Shetland ponies by sharing a self-catering stable for the night. Accommodation on this horse-themed holiday includes a double and single bunk bed, a mini kitchen with appliances and an en-suite wet room with shower and portable eco-toilet. Your horse companion will have their own haynet and feed and a see-through divider so you can wake up next to each other in the morning.

More info: greenbankfarmholidays.co.uk

Rawah Ranch

Location: Glendevey, Colorado | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

Channel your inner cowgirl/cowboy at this self-styled ‘dude’ ranch and fly-fishing lodge which offers a true taste of the Wild West. Stay in one of the historic Colorado-style cabins in the rugged Laramie River Valley set beneath the mountains and Colorado skies. Rawah Ranch combines luxury with authenticity, thanks to the handpicked wooden furnishings that hark back to the region’s indigenous and wild frontier past. You can ride, too, with over 22 trails across acres of wilderness. You can also develop new skills, such as lassoing and wrangling, and more experienced riders can venture off property on one of the treks.

More info: rawahranch.com

Sleepover with Miniature Horse Basil

Location: Thurgarton, Nottinghamshire | Airbnb rating: 5/5 |

Basil’s place is situated on the grounds of a 17th Century manor, surrounded by a picturesque 60 acre estate. The apartment is directly attached to Basil’s stable, where there is a doorway in between the two spaces. The rural set-up has a host of other animals for you to interact with, too, including Hebridean sheep and their lambs, chickens, Highland cattle and other horses. Guests have access to an open outdoor log fire with BBQ grill and an outdoor tiki hut/seating area.

More info: airbnb.co.uk

Gleneagles Hotel

Location: Auchterarder, Perthshire | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

Described as the “glorious playground”, the luxurious Gleneagles Hotel is set in a charming rural country estate. The five-star hotel has 205 bedrooms and 28 luxury suites. There are several opportunities to get involved in country pursuits and you can also satisfy your horsey fix at the 50-acre Gleneagles Equestrian School. The extensive programme of riding lessons in cross country, dressage and show jumping are suitable for beginners right through to more advanced riders. You can also hack across the stunning countryside in and around Gleneagles. The ‘own a pony’ day offers those who have always wanted their own horse the chance to ride, groom and care for one.

View now at booking.com

Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa

Location: Chippenham, Wiltshire | Trip Advisor rating: 4½/5 |

A magnificent country house hotel located just six miles from the historic city of Bath where you can combine a relaxing stay with riding lessons and hacking in the estate or on longer rides through the Cotswold countryside. Unique to Lucknam Park is equine therapy, which incorporates working with horses to improve both mental and physical health as guests are taught to control the horses through their body language. The Cotswold Explorer, The Saddle and Spa and the Picnic Ride For Two are other popular packages on offer depending on what you want to gain from your horse-themed stay.

View now at booking.com

Selman Marrakech

Location: Amizmiz, Marrakesh | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

A luxury hotel in Morocco which is home to an Arabian thoroughbred stud farm. Selman Marrakech along with the School of Equestrian Arts of Marrakech proposes dressage activities, liberty experiences, as well as equestrian shows held within the hotel gardens. During a stay, the hotel allows free access to the stables and school. There are 50 rooms, five suites and five private villas which allow you to embrace the Moroccan culture in an Arab-Moorish atmosphere

View now at booking.com

Wanderlusts Gypsy Caravans

Location: Edenhall, Cumbria | Trip Advisor rating: 5/5 |

Travel by horse-drawn gypsy caravan around the Lake District by day, and sleep in it by night. Explore the local countryside at a leisurely pace, before setting up a base at one of the secluded camps where you can cook over an open fire, paddle in the streams and immerse yourself in the great outdoors.

More info: wanderlusts.co.uk

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Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade your subscription to access our online service that brings you breaking news and reports as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Taking your horse on holiday with you is a bucket list dream for many riders, but you can make it a reality in 2022 with our selection of staycation spots that allow you to enjoy and embrace all the UK has to offer, without leaving your horse at home

From endless trail riding in the Yorkshire Dales, galloping along a sandy beach in Norfolk or exploring the rugged wilderness of Bodmin Moor, there are so many options for holidays with your horse in the UK.

With plenty of flexible self-catering cottages and B&Bs that welcome four-legged guests, this could be just the escape that you — and your horse — have spent the past couple of years dreaming about…

Live your own Poldark adventure

Take a trip through Poldark country, with a riding holiday to Cornwall’s wild and beautiful Bodmin Moor. Miles of open moorland, woodland paths and rocky tors await and you can enjoy all of this from your own saddle with Hallagenna Riding, which hosted film horses for a recent series of Poldark. Choose from a variety of livery options for your horse on the BHS-approved yard and book into one of the two smart self-catering cottages and you’re all set to explore. To get the most out of your trip, a riding escort can be provided to help you discover Bodmin Moor’s hidden beauty.

Cost: from £357 per week; livery from £20 per horse per day

Where: Bodmin moor, Cornwall

Rustic luxury a stone’s throw from the beach

Take a break from the stresses of everyday life by taking a holiday with your horse at the stunning converted barn at Home Farm Stables  – think exposed wooden beams, spiral staircases and bright, spacious rooms. Your horse will be equally well catered for with large stables in an idyllic yard, as well as a lockable tack room, area with jumps and post-and-rail fenced paddocks. Once you’ve dragged yourselves away from your lovely base, you’ll be able to enjoy endless riding within the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, including on the stunning Holme beach, which is virtually on the doorstep and stretches for five miles.

Cost: From £120 per night; £40 per night for stabling and grazing

Where: Holme-next-the-Sea, Norfolk

A blissful break – complete with hot tub

How many of us dream of waking up in the morning to see our horses grazing just outside the window? You can make this a reality at Hoe Grange in the delightful Peak District, where riders are welcomed to the eco-friendly cabins and cosy glamping pods, and their horses to the traditional stone barn and paddocks. Hay and straw is provided along with secure storage, mucking out equipment and ample parking. Take advantage of the extensive off-road riding including the High Peak Trail, and return to relax in peaceful surroundings — and maybe a dip in the hot tub.

Cost: From £135 per night per glamping pod (sleeps two); From £417 for three nights in the cabins (sleeps 4-6), plus £18 per night per horse

Where: Brassington, Derbyshire

Escape to the wilds of North Wales

Get away from it all with a holiday with your horse at the beautifully appointed two-bedroom Plas Tirion Farm Cottage, nestled in the North Wales countryside near the Dee Estuary and Snowdonia National Park, and boasting sea views. There is spacious stabling on site for your horse, with a manege and grazing available on request, and super riding on the doorstep including the cross country riding tracks at Mostyn Farm Ride. Indulge in an alfresco dinner in the courtyard on your return, or snuggle up in front of the log burner.

Cost: From £314 for seven nights; from £40 per horse per week

Where: Mostyn, Flintshire

A spa day with brilliant riding

Combine high adrenaline with ultimate relaxation at Bank Farm Equestrian, where a variety of themed riding days are on offer, with luxury glamping-style accommodation available as well. Choose pure relaxation with guided meditation rides through the Wyre forest on a “Wellness” day, or you can opt for a high adrenalin cross-country ride including ditches and banks on a hunt simulation day – or one of the options in between. All riding experiences include lunch and an afternoon in the spa lodge and hot tub. Horses are available to borrow, but if you take your own you can be sure they will be given the pamper experience too, with comfy beds in the new stable block and as much hay as they can eat.

Cost: From £125pp for a day’s riding experience

Where: Arley, Worcestershire

Peaceful seclusion in the heart of the New Forest

For those looking to get back to nature, Burley Rails Cottage in the heart of the New Forest could be just the ticket. Wilf’s Cabin is a cosy, self-contained log cabin that sleeps four, and features a timbered verandah — perfect for enjoying a glass of wine after a busy day of riding. Two airy, modern stables with rubber matting and Aubiose bedding await your horses, as well as turnout and plenty of parking. Simply open the stable yard gate and you’re straight on the Forest — no roadwork required whatsoever.

Cost: From £120 per night for two people; £15 per horse

Where: Burley, Hampshire

A home-from-home, perfect for a group getaway

Gather your horsey friends for a staycation or bring the family and check into Mazzard Farm in the rolling Devon hills. There is a range of gorgeous self-catering cottages with oak flooring and welcoming log burners, and two of the cottages can be interconnected to sleep up to 10. Your horses will be equally well looked after, with a lush, shady orchard split into spacious individual paddocks and large loose boxes, with various livery options available on request – perfect if you fancy a break from mucking out! There is super riding on offer too, with the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the doorstep and the beach close by.

Cost: POA

Where: Ottery St Mary, Devon

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Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

It’s no secret that 2021 was the year of the staycation, so why not make 2022 the year you combine your passion for travel and exploring with your love of horses by taking a UK horse riding holiday, either alone, with the family or with your horsey friends.

Here are some great UK horse riding holidays that make use of the Great British Countryside.

Luxury UK Horse Riding Holidays

Luxury Riding and Spa Break

Location: Cheshire

A two-night stay at a four-star hotel with extensive gardens and indoor swimming pool located close to the historic city of Chester. After meeting all the horses, you will be riding along paths and tracks through stunning Cheshire landscape, passing through Delamere Forest, before taking a private lesson with one of the experienced instructors. After you’ve enjoyed a ride you can unwind with a specialist spa treatment or two in the on-site therapy centre. Both beginners and experienced riders are welcome, and your holiday experience will be tailored to your ability.

Price: from £525

Find out more: equestrian-escapes.com

UK Horse Riding Holidays For Singles

Unicorn Trails: Cattle drive on Dartmoor

Location: Devon

If you’re the only intermediate rider of your friend group and fancy getting away, you can take part in the UK’s only real cattle drive over and across the spectacular Dartmoor landscape. A farmer will guide you on a quarter horse to move his 400 Scottish Highland cattle to a new grazing area, something which needs to be done each month. During the drive, riders work as a team with most flanking at the sides of the herd with just a couple at the rear and one or two at the head. Each rider will have a position and a job to do, depending on their ability. As well as the move for grazing purposes the cattle need to be separated, brought down for breeding/vet visits. Accommodation is provided in a comfortable inn or hotel in a traditional Dartmoor village.

Price: from £849

Find out more: unicorntrails.com

UK Horse Riding Holidays For Beginners

Hallagenna Riding: Equine holidays on Bodmin Moor

Location: Cornwall

The beginners riding package offered by Hallagenna Riding offers a fantastic introduction to horses and riding for newbies. The week-long vacation is led by an experienced instructor who ensures that by the end of the trip you will be able to “comfortably trot and – depending on progress – canter independently.” Other key lessons include general care, tacking up, road safety and horse management. At the end of the week we can tie in all your learning with a 4-hour pub trail across the moor to the pub in St Breward.

Prices: from £915 for six days of riding and seven nights self-catering accommodation. A three-night learn to ride short break costs £150.

Find out more: hallagenna.co.uk

UK Family Horse Riding Holidays

Lake District Horse Riding Holidays LTD

Location: Cumbria

Lake District Horse Riding Holidays offers horse riding breaks all year round for families, adults and children from the age of three, no matter what your riding experience is. Enjoy trekking and hacking in and around Witherslack Hall Estate and also benefit from riding lessons and management/horse care sessions. As well as the equestrian pursuits — including horseback archery sessions — you can enjoy other activities such as lake fishing, cycling and walking. The accommodation is on site at the 17th Century farmhouse bed and breakfast. Dogs welcome!

Prices: POA

Find out more: witherslackridingschool.co.uk

UK Horse Riding Holidays On The Beach

Island Riding Centre

Location: Isle of Wright

As well as being a popular tourist destination, the Isle of Wright is also perfect for riding holidays too thanks to its dreamy beaches and trail rides. The five-day horse riding holiday held during the week includes group riding sessions, beach and trail rides, lessons and more. You will stay in self-catering cottages, or you can upgrade to the luxury cottage ‘The Orchard’.

Prices: from £525

Find out more: islandriding.com

Horse Riding Holidays For Teenagers

Springhill Farm Riding Stables

Location: Shropshire

An unaccompanied riding holiday exclusively for teenagers aged between 12 and 19, both new and experienced, which has been running for 17 years. After an assessment lesson, riders will be matched with the ideal horse to enjoy a week of jumping, hacking, trail riding, wild camping and an activities day. The holiday concludes with a competition day, where you can compete in fun gymkhana games and show off your new skills in equitation and turnout classes. By the end of the holiday, you will have explored some of most undiscovered countryside in Wales. Evening entertainment is also included everyday. Accommodation is in the bunkhouse or cottages.

Prices: £790 for 6 nights and £700 for 5 nights

Find out more: springhill.farm

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Whether planning a holiday or moving lock, stock and barrel, discover the best of Scotland with its Caribbean-style beaches, terrific training terrain and popular native breeds, says Becky Murray

THERE’S something majestic about Scotland, a land like no other. Home to native breeds including the much-loved Clydesdale and the Eriskay pony, Scotland is famed for its scenery and visitors are welcomed with open arms to a unique sense of camaraderie.

But a proud Scot can be a force to be reckoned with and when it comes to equestrianism, they rightly have much to be proud of with top studs, medal-winning riders, and training grounds producing past and future success stories. The long, harsh winters and often lengthy travel to competitions certainly teach riders about grit and determination, but combined with breathtaking views and islands that offer Caribbean-like beaches, there are worse places in the world to be an equestrian.

A dressage rider who knows a lot about this determination is 19-year-old Rachel Evans, who lives in Shapinsay, a small island off Orkney. Despite there being no British Dressage competitions in Orkney, she qualified for the 2020 Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships at Hartpury (which were later cancelled owing to Covid) with her Connemara gelding Kingswells Midnight Blue. Rachel has her eye on further qualifications and is training towards advanced medium level.

“I don’t have an arena so I have to school on the beach,” explains Rachel, who travels to mainland Scotland throughout the year for training and competition. “I have to ride when others might choose not to, you have to make the most of it. There’s usually one unaffiliated competition in Orkney a month, but because I’m not on the mainland of Orkney it’s still a 25-minute boat journey to get there… and the boat doesn’t run if the weather is too bad!

“When the weather is nice, there is no better place to be. The roads are quiet so the hacking is really good, and you know that if there was a problem anyone would help you.”

IT’S not just riders made of the tough stuff. Born to cope with harsh island life of course is the robust Shetland pony, which has long inhabited the Shetland Isles and can be traced back to the Bronze Age. While this native breed might be small, it packs a punch with personality and ability, and has become a popular children’s pony across the world, starting the careers of the likes of eventer Zara Tindall and jockey Sam Twiston-Davies.

Elaine Tait of the Merkisayre Shetland Pony Stud, formed by her parents Barbara and George in 1994, says while the ponies thrive on the island, they are also very versatile to live elsewhere and turn their hooves to a variety of careers. One of the stud’s most recent success stories is Merkisayre See Duble, who competed in the Shetland Pony Grand National final at Olympia, the London International Horse Show, in 2018 with his jockey Poppy Dadson.

“It’s very nice when you get a phone call to say a pony you’ve bred has won a championship or qualified somewhere,” says Elaine, who herself competed at Olympia on her Shetland pony Robins Brae Firva in 1987 and 1988. “It’s good to hear they’re successful because that means you’ve done a good job.”

Another much-loved native Scottish breed is the Highland pony, known for their kind temperament and strength. The Queen’s Highland pony stud at Balmoral Castle breeds working ponies for carrying stags off the hills of the estate – as well as producing successful ponies for the show ring. The stud has a herd of 40, including stallions Balmoral Squire and Balmoral Major.

“What we think about first and foremost, especially for a working breed, is the brain; if they don’t have the temperament with a trainable brain, there’s no point even starting,” explains Sylvia Ormiston, Balmoral Stud manager. “Her Majesty The Queen is very involved in our breeding programme – I will come up with a suggestion and take it to The Queen and she’ll either agree or disagree whether she wants to go ahead.”

IT isn’t just native breeds flying the Scottish flag; sport horse studs including Balcormo Stud, MFS Studfarm, Turnbull Ashton Stud and Caledonia Dressage Horses are among those with lots to shout about as their horses enjoy worldwide success.

The Low-Mitchells’ Balcormo Stud was home to the late breeding stallion Secundus, one of the first warmbloods to arrive in Scotland, imported by the late Dugald Low-Mitchell. He promptly put Scottish breeding on the map with countless offspring competing internationally. The stud continues to breed successful horses from stallions Corraghoe Storm and Jumped Up Z.

Sandra Low-Mitchell says she’s proud to be Scottish and describes the landscape as a “playground” for educating young horses.

“It’s a great starting ground in terms of the variation in the climate, ground and terrain, but I think when you get to a certain level you have to take a chance and move on and get out into the world,” she explains. “Scott Brash has been a fantastic inspiration for riders – he’s shown it can be done. He always had serious talent, but he also has fantastic drive.”

COMPETITORS in Scotland have a choice of venues offering British Showjumping and British Dressage including the Cabin Equestrian Centre, Aberdeenshire; Howe Equestrian,

Fife; the Scottish National Equestrian Centre, West Lothian; and Morris Equestrian Centre and Muirmill Equestrian Centre, East Ayrshire.

The British Eventing offering in Scotland has reduced in recent years as organisers have retired or moved away from affiliated events with competitor favourites Aswanley, Floors Castle and Eglinton some of the events to drop off the calendar.

Burgie, Hopetoun, and Kirriemuir are among those that continue to welcome riders during the limited Scottish season.

And while competitors aspiring to the higher levels often spend many hours on the road heading south, the Royal Highland Show and Blair Castle International Horse Trials pull in the cream of the crop up north, as top showing riders, showjumpers and eventers descend annually.

“The Royal Highland is a big draw for us, everyone wants to ride there – it has a great atmosphere and you don’t get a nicer place than Blair Castle,” says Sandra.

New Zealand Olympic rider Caroline Powell, who was based in Scotland for almost 20 years, has fond memories of Blair Castle.

“Blair was amazing – they had some excellent events,” she recalls. “It certainly isn’t a place to go with horses that don’t know how to get up and down hills!

“I miss Scotland and the camaraderie, it had a close-knit community and was good fun. Kelso was a lovely place to keep horses – they lived out the whole time.

“Scotland had the most amazing riding and open space, whereas down south it can get a bit claustrophobic.”

Olympic team gold medallist Scott Brash, who was born and raised in Peebles, may spend much of his time flying the British flag on the international showjumping circuit, but he speaks proudly of his home country and returns to Peebles as much as he can.

“The hillwork I could do in Scotland was really beneficial to my horses’ training programme, which they don’t get on the Continent. If you go to a yard in Belgium or Germany, it’s really hard to get traditional terrain to train horses and develop the muscles in the correct way, so that’s a real benefit of living in Scotland,” he says.

“Scotland has a strong place in my heart, I’ll always regard it as home. I still put my young horses there to be brought up in that environment – there’s no better place.”

EVENTING legend and Olympic medallist Ian Stark says it was never an issue keeping his horses fit during his eventing career and credits the Scottish hunting scene as an important part of his preparation. Ian recalls his first Badminton winner – in 1986 with Sir Wattie – whom both he and his wife Jenny hunted.

“We were last to go at Badminton in bottomless conditions and Sir Wattie just thought this was normal,” he says.

“We went sailing round inside the time and won the competition. They learn a huge amount hunting; it teaches them a lot about looking after themselves, and I still take my young horses hunting.”

And there is plenty of hunting country to enjoy in Scotland, with hunts including the Lauderale, Berwickshire and the Duke of Buccleuch, the latter of which Ian was a former field master and joint-master.

One thing that’s clear is that those who are based in Scotland speak highly of it, and those who move on will always remember it as home.

RIDING HOLIDAYS

SCOTLAND offers a paradise for those seeking riding holidays from beaches to mountains and everything in between. Check out these yards.

● Highland Horse Fun in Inverness-shire offers tailor-made experiences on Highland ponies, including five-day trail rides or munro bagging (climbing peaks) by horseback.

highlandhorsefun.com

● Loch Lomond Pony Trekking offers a riding experience with spectacular surroundings in and around Loch Lomond and the National Park.

lomond-ponytreks.co.uk

● The Shetland Pony Experience in Burra, Shetland Islands, offers a beach experience suitable for families, with plenty of photograph opportunities. theshetlandponyexperience.com

● Traigh Mmoh Pony Trekking on the Isle of Lewis offers two miles of beach riding with ample opportunities to enjoy a good gallop. tolsta41.com

● Loch Ness Riding offers holiday packages for experienced riders, and your own horse is welcome too.

lochnessriding.co.uk

This report can also be read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale date 24 June 2021

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Hooftrek founder Graham “Will” Williams offers guided and solo hiking with Welsh mountain pack ponies

We have 16 ponies and three generations of foals that we have bought from the farmers here in Powys who own the feral herds on the hills. The farmers know which ponies belong to which of them. The ponies are all 12hh and will never be ridden; even the 20- to 25-year-olds have had nothing done to them until they come to us and we socialise them.

The best way is to bring the foals in with the grown-ups that know what to do, and they learn from them. Once they see other ponies having headcollars put on and their feet being picked up, they relax. They’re very biddable.

It’s a slow process, from resting a halter over them and brushing them with a pole to get them used to being touched. They’re part of a herd, and they learn their place in it and who’s in charge. There is always a pony in charge of the group to whom they all defer.

Their numbers are declining: there are currently fewer than 500 breeding mares across Wales. They’re not worth anything if you’re not breeding from them. If they have a purpose, people will continue to breed – if they can sell them. We want to find a purpose for these ponies. It’s already been done in Europe; it’s big business in France, Italy, Portugal and Morocco, where donkeys that were farm animals are now an important part of the leisure industry as pack animals.

Hiking guests start by spending time with the ponies; feeding, grooming, and packing kit for overnights or panniers for the day. If they’re confident horse people, they go on their own with our detailed maps, route descriptions and campsite information. Guided or unguided, everyone looks after their own pony.

You can’t go far leading pack ponies. You travel slowly: 2mph, if that. The local routes are for two to four days and we’re planning a 10-day route to the coast.

I’ve been here for 30 years; I founded Freerein in 1989 which remains the only riding centre to offer unescorted trail rides for adults to hire a horse and self-guide. We book their stays in farms and inns.

They take our maps on their rides: we have drawn up details of 800 miles of trails, from the Wye Valley across the Radnor Hill and Cambrian Mountains.

We practise natural horsemanship, which is really just being gentle with the ponies.

Some riding schools like horses not to think; they’d rather have them obedient, but they should all look out for their riders.

I don’t want them super-trained, they need to work out which way around a puddle, they should know what’s going on and be there in the morning ready to start work. I don’t like to see them boot-camped, I like to see them keen to do what they do.

We are well kitted out for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions, school groups and individuals. A woman who was ill with ME stayed here for 18 months. The ponies knew when she was ill and couldn’t cope. She got so much out of them, and is better now. Jacko, the herd leader, would stand for hours resting on her when she was upset. But once she was better, he wouldn’t let her catch him. She took it quite personally!

I feel very much like I need ponies around. We did part ways for a year when I bought some Canadian canoes to hire out for kayaking trips and carrying camping equipment. But you can’t stroke them or groom them, they can’t do much (though you don’t have to find grazing!) and I missed ponies.

When I was guiding I had a 14hh pony – ideal for hopping on and off – he was very good at everything he had to do. I was fond of him. But there was something about him; you could tell he’d have liked to have lived on the hill.

Also published in H&H 4 March 2021

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If you’re heading off on a horse riding holiday in warmer climes (perhaps in the currently blistering British weather) this summer, Briony Reed shares 11 things you need to keep in mind before you go…

It’s 37°, the sun is shining, you have your hard hat and long boots on, you’re about to head out for a fabulous, challenging hour of dressage instruction. What could possibly go wrong? Here are some handy hints…

1. Sunscreen. And shedloads of it. Ok so only your arms and face will be exposed, but you’ll feel the burn through Factor 50 soon enough in serious sun. Slap it on.

2. The right colour and fit of top. Light-coloured polo shirts are your friend. Air will circulate in them, they’ll reflect the sun, and they won’t show the sweat. A win all round.

3. Soak your hair with water as cold as you can bear just before you put your hat on (and no, don’t dry it first).

4. Time of day. If you’re vulnerable to sunstroke, ask to ride early, or indoors in the afternoon, on the hottest days. And don’t be British and stoical about it and tell yourself you’ll be fine when you know you might not be. You’ll only spent the evening feeling that wine might not be a good move. Fail.

5. Lightweight jods. Never realised how much difference these can make…

6. A lightweight, vented hat. Self-explanatory, this one. And no, no hat is not a good idea. A hot head is better than broken head.

7. A water wallah. Find a kind person who is prepared to hang about with a bottle of water for you for those explanatory breaks in a lesson. When all the water you’ve ever consumed in your life (or so it feels) has made a rapid exit via your pores, you’ll really appreciate it.

8. A forward going horse. It helps.

9. Hangovers. Avoid. Like the plague. I know; you’re on holiday. But it won’t look or feel pretty if you don’t. If you’re already dehydrated before you start, your cells will shrivel, your brain will boil and your limbs will turn to jelly. Trust us.

10. Talcum powder. We won’t go into too many details with this one, but suffice to say that hot sweaty skin, clothing seams and movement are not happy bedfellows. Make like your granny and cover yourself in the stuff before getting dressed to ride. It’s silky smooth and lovely!

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11. Multiple items of all the above clothing. Once you’ve worn an outfit for one ride in serious heat, you won’t want to wear it again. Or, indeed, share living space with it.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

We might be in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, with no definite timescale on when things might start returning to normal, but this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be allowed to dream about a future holiday — and for us, preferably one on horseback.

For most equine adventurists, deciding they want to embark on a horseback safari across the vast and wildlife-filled landscapes of Africa is the easy part. There is no question that cantering alongside a herd of wild zebra, creeping up to an elephant bull drinking from a watering hole or gazing out across jaw-dropping scenery should be high on every rider’s bucket list. However, the biggest question that arises is: which horse safari and destination is the right one for me?

In the process of turning the dream into reality, it is not uncommon to find yourself with a hundred browser tabs open as you attempt to navigate the large expanse of the internet to find the perfect horse riding holiday. A horseback safari is a big trip and so it is easy to feel overwhelmed or pressured by the task of getting the decision exactly right. If you are finding more questions than answers on your journey, some of the best advice is to talk to someone that lives, breathes and rides Africa.

H&H speaks to Isabel Juby, marketing and sales manager and horse safari consultant at African Horse Safaris, who shared some of her top tips for choosing the right horse safari for you…

1. What is your riding experience?

“Being honest about your riding experience is one of the most important factors when determining which ride is right for you. We offer a guide to riding levels and then speak on the phone to chat through riding experience, but this may vary company-to-company, so take the time to get it right. It’s about ensuring you will get the most out of your safari by joining a suitable ride, with other riders of the same level. Whether you have been riding since you could walk, or are new to the sport, there are many brilliant options for all levels, and even some perfect family horse riding holidays.

“In order to venture out into the lands of big game such as lion, elephant, and buffaloes, you will need to react effectively to any situation out in the bush, even galloping out of trouble if required, so need to be a fit and balanced rider who feels they fall into the intermediate plus or advanced category of experience.

“Worried you might not be up to this? It is important to choose a ride which will not ‘over-horse’ you. This is for your own safety and enjoyment — and for that of your group too. If you haven’t got as many hours in the saddle under your belt, we often recommend our more flexible safaris which can vary the length and speed of the rides. They also offer an abundance of other activities, such as game drives and nature walks, if you fancied a break from four-legged transport.”

2. What are your expectations for your dream horse safari?

“Do you dream of endless canters across open savannah, with herds of zebra and wildebeest stretching as far as the eye can see? Have you always imagined yourself high in the saddle tracking elephant herds through the flood waters of the Okavango Delta or galloping across vast and breath-taking desert landscapes? Are you looking to strip back to basics like the explorers-of-old and sleep out under the stars? Or would you prefer a luxurious bush-escape, where you can enjoy a relaxing dip in the plunge pool after your morning ride? Knowing how you imagine your bucket-list horse safari makes it easier to turn that dream into a reality.

“Trail-based rides require a good level of experience as there is less room for flexibility when you need to get from A to B. There are some long days in the saddle, but the sense of excitement and achievement when pulling into a new camp is extremely rewarding.”

3. When are you wanting to travel?

“Africa is a kaleidoscope of different terrains and unique landscapes, many of them best discovered from the saddle. Africa’s wildlife is never static, and their movements are often dictated by rainfall. This this can lead to some destinations being more seasonal than others. For example, the world-famous wildebeest migration in Kenya’s Masai Mara is between July and October. This is the time to travel if you long to canter through vast wildebeest-filled plains. Likewise, if you have always dreamed of throwing up water as you splash your way through the Okavango Delta, you will need to travel when the yearly floods have arrived down from Angola. If you have your heart set on a particular experience, it is worthwhile bringing this into discussion when planning your trip.

“The long and short of it is that there is no bad time for safari. Different seasons offer different experiences. It is important to determine what is important to you. Some riders really struggle in hotter weather and will prefer the cooler winter months, whereas others are sun-worshipers and are not bothered by heat. Budget can also come into play as certain rides offer high and low season rates. It is important to find a balance between your preferred type of weather, your budget and your chances for the best wildlife viewing.

“The winter months are often considered brilliant for wildlife sightings as the bush is dry, the grass short and the wildlife must stick closer to the available water sources. Competition is therefore fierce, and you can get incredible predator sightings. If you love the heat of summer, you will be rewarded with stunning cloud-filled sunsets, lush green landscapes, and many newborn animals. You will have to be prepared for some rain, but this usually comes in the form of an exciting and dramatic thunderstorm which quickly passes. Spring and Autumn are personal favourites — the transformational months, with vivid changes as mother nature moulds the landscapes.”

4. Who are you travelling with on your horse safari?

“Whether you are a solo explorer or looking for a family holiday, there is a horse safari for everyone. Most trail-based rides have set group departure dates making them perfect for solo-travellers, couples, or groups of friends. As a solo-traveller, you meet a group of like-minded adventurers, all with a shared interest of horse riding. Over 50% of our bookings are single travellers, so these trips are designed to accommodate.”

5. What is your budget?

“There is no denying that riding in Africa is not a low budget holiday and can often be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As a result, choosing the right horseback safari for you is imperative. We suggest that while researching the right horse riding experience, you also have a look into the costs of international flights from your home to Africa. This will help give you a rough idea of what the costs would be on top of your safari and help to set your budget. All our rides are all-inclusive, so from the moment you touchdown in the airport, you will spend very little.

“Again, expectations have a big role to play in deciding which ride is best for you. If you are seeking to immerse yourself in pure wilderness above all else, then the experiential horse safaris can be more affordable. If you want a taste of luxury accommodation but have budget restraints, we can look at you travelling in the low or shoulder seasons. If you want to splurge and have more time, then it is worth considering extending your safari, such as spending some extra time exploring different destinations in Africa, such as Victoria Falls or Cape Town.

“Your best bet is to chat to someone in the know and who has travelled to these destinations. They will have a good idea of the costs associated. As a rule, East Africa tends to be in a higher price bracket than Southern Africa. This is largely due to the costs of park fees and conservation levies. These costs can be high — but remember, you are paying for the exclusivity of being the only ones out there and are directly aiding the preservation of these wilderness areas and the wildlife that inhabit them.”

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“Chat to a reputable company as they will have already hand-picked the best horse safaris in Africa. These rides will have been selected for their exciting and varied riding, excellent guiding, top quality accommodation and most importantly, wonderfully cared for horses. By chatting to someone who has experienced all the different options, you are able to gain unbiased advice and first-hand comparisons and experiences. Remember, that whatever your budget, there is never a compromise on the quality of the horses, guiding or the adventure.

“I will warn you now — riding in Africa is extremely addictive, so your first trip will very likely not be your last!”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

With miles of moorland to explore, Martha Terry delights in the best a Dartmoor holiday has to offer

Vegas picks her way through a tumbling river. The little skewbald mare is up to her belly in fast-flowing water, but surges forward to scramble, catlike, up the bank. Next we’re cantering through the heather, the hessian hues of Dartmoor’s hills stretching ahead. It feels like we can gallop forever, on and on over the 368 square miles of moorland, but Vegas pulls up at the top of a climb as I survey the breathtaking 360° view.

Up to my left is Royal Hill, far off in the distance is Crockern Tor, while all around there’s barely a speck of civilisation to be seen, just the odd farm dwelling among miles and miles of yellow gorse, mires, purple heather and the occasional herd of Dartmoor hill ponies. This is truly a place you can empty your head of life’s clutter.

Vegas — and her stablemate Diamond, a flea-bitten grey — are Wydemeet B&B’s specialist Dartmoor horses, in skill set rather than pedigree, honed through years of negotiating the tricky terrain. The riding aspect of Wydemeet, “Door to Moor”, is a new venture for its ebullient hostess Mary Hadow, who’s been running the B&B side since 2013.

Both Bs of Wydemeet B&B are luxurious, with large, comfortable en suite bedrooms and a cordon bleu breakfast, but its charm lies in its humans and animals. Besides the sure-footed equine pair, there’s the adorably bouncy dog Twiglet, a “whoodle” — work that one out — and Mary herself, a charismatic raconteur and delightful hostess who does her utmost to ensure her guests, “my friends”, as she calls them, are having the time of their lives.

After a fabulous breakfast of poached egg on spinach, avocado, smoked salmon and Irish bread, we saddle up and head directly on to the moor, crossing the River Swincombe. The scenery is always magnificent, from the babbling brooks and green meadows near the house to the more barren expanses and dark peat bogs deeper into the moor, under a vast skyscape of rolling clouds and patches of wintry sun lighting up the moor’s hillocks and hummocks. Beside us capers our very own hound of the Baskervilles, Twiglet, as we venture on through Conan Doyle’s wilderness.

After an hour and a half’s ride, we reach the Plume of Feathers Inn, in Princetown, where we tie Vegas and Diamond outside. Mary had earlier brought down haynets and rugs to cover the horses’ quarters, while we enjoy steak and mushroom baguettes by the log-burner.

We amble home via another moorland route, and I leave Vegas to figure out her own way over the tussocky turf. Vegas is a sublime ride over the moor. She’s spritely without ever pulling, and so canny and agile, she never once stumbled. If you’ve never ridden on Dartmoor before, the temptation is to guide your horse on to what looks like the best path, but I quickly learnt that Vegas was far nimbler without my “assistance”.

A hybrid experience

While most riding holiday guests head out for a second day’s ride on the moor, I was given a hybrid experience, sampling both the trekking and hunting side, which entailed a joint meet of the Dartmoor with the South Devon up the road at the Forest Inn on day two.

Wydemeet is conveniently situated near to four hunts: Dartmoor, Spooner’s and West Dartmoor, South Devon, and Mid Devon. For those in need of a serious hunting fix, Mary provides an option to take in all four, mounted on hirelings.

The meet was a small but friendly affair, with copious supplies of port, sausages and fruit cake. As a visitor from the south-east and used to hunting in just a jacket, I’m ashamed to admit I was completely unprepared for Dartmoor’s weather. Earlier in the morning, Mary had taken one look at my scanty attire and doled out thermals, a thicker coat and a full-length mac. Mary’s 25 years of living on the moor have provided valuable intel.

Though spit-spot rain gave way to bright sunshine as hounds set off, menacing clouds conglomerating along the moor’s horizon alerted us to a bitter spell of wind, hail and snow. Meanwhile, Dartmoor’s natural amphitheatres provided an exhilarating view of hounds working.

When the blizzard blew in, the rest of the field seemed oblivious, cantering up and down the steep, slippery hills as if it were mere drizzle. I learnt the meaning of trusting your horse; the snow was driving into our faces like arrows, and I coiled my head into my neck, shielded my eyes from the icy assault with one hand, and followed the others blindly up hill and down dale with the other numb hand clinging to the saintly Diamond’s neck strap.

“My face is stinging!” I gasped to a more local rider, as we sheltered by a stone wall, our horses’ tails bearing the full force of the storm.

“Oh, it will pass; it’s only weather,” he replied kindly. And it did. I need to toughen up.

Back at Wydemeet, after buttered crumpets by the fire, I couldn’t quash Mary’s enthusiasm for a glass of bubbles in the hot tub. It seemed bonkers; to head back outside into a raw January night on the moor, but it was magical. In summer you can listen to birdsong and the river bubbling below, and watch bats circling in the treetops. In winter, with the contrast of the wind whipping through the bare branches and the hot Jacuzzi, the experience was equally memorable. And I could wallow in the joy of a day spent in the rugged elements of Dartmoor, knowing I’d had a proper adventure.

Riding holiday: Three nights’ B&B with two days’ riding, two pub lunches and two three-course dinners, plus tea, cake and sparkling wine: £799pp based on two people sharing; £150 supplement for single person.

Hunting holiday: Two nights and a day’s hunting (including one dinner): £799pp (£150 supplement). Five nights and four days’ hunting (including valet clothes service, three dinners): £2,500pp (£500 supplement).

Ref Horse & Hound; 13 February 2020

Orange dunes, blue skies and forward-going Barb stallions make for an unforgettable trip exploring the Sahara from the best seat in the house...

As we descend a stone-strewn path down an outcrop of sharp black rocks, the horses start jig-jogging. The little dappled grey stallion I am riding, Ossmane, begins to bounce, his pricked ears flicking in anticipation.

In front of us is a vast, ancient, dried-up lake bed, bleached bone-white by the desert sun. We are new to the route we are taking through the Moroccan part of the Sahara, but the horses are not. Abdel, our tour guide, says we can spread out but that we are not to overtake him. I shorten my reins and link a couple of fingers through the martingale.

We trot for a few strides, then break into canter. Ossmane shoots forward with the explosive power of a sprinter. Within seconds we are going flat out, and I realise I am going faster than I ever have before on a horse, and I include galloping up Warren Hill in Newmarket on a fit Flat horse in that.There is only one horse ahead and it isn’t Abdel’s. Laurent, a French diplomat, is about three lengths in front on a rangy roan. Ossmane’s little ears are flat back; he is really racing. He is a Barb stallion, and his breed’s genes provided some of the foundations for racehorses the world over.

It is thrilling and slightly terrifying, this flat-out charge with blinding sun beating down.

After a while, I become aware of shouting behind us, and use all my strength to slow Ossmane down. He complies; we drop back to a trot, and Abdel catches up with us. He doesn’t look pleased and I slink towards the back of the pack of 10 riders, leaving Laurent to receive the telling-off.

Laurent’s diplomatic skills are proven: he listens for half a minute, and then changes the subject.

We weren’t really out of control, just a little drunk on the sheer speed of these sure-footed, sharp little horses in this breathtakingly dramatic and vast landscape. I don’t blame Abdel in the slightest — having responsibility for 10 strangers, all riding Barb stallions, for six days in the Sahara is a daunting task, and one he does with great efficiency, charm and (usually) a sense of humour.

But I’d risk the dressing-down again for an unforgettable adrenalin rush like that.

‘My North African sojourn’

I should confess I’ve always been slightly sniffy about riding holidays. “If I want to spend six hours a day on a horse, I’ll go hunting.” “I go on holiday to get away from horses…” and so on.

So, like a spoilt brat, when H&H suggested I went to Morocco, I agreed, but not with the vast levels of enthusiasm you might understandably expect. At least it would be sunny, I supposed.

I had little idea of what to expect from my North African sojourn, but did wonder how I would get on spending a week away with a bunch of strangers riding nose to tail on some tired old nag.

Stupid girl. Given the amount of hunting I have done, I should know that the best way to see countryside, be it the Cotswolds or the Sahara, is on the back of a horse. Somehow you don’t feel as though you are intruding on the landscape; it feels right to be there. You have time to observe, to drink in the detail of your surroundings, almost entirely unaltered by man, yet you can pass through it fairly quickly when needed.

‘An eclectic group’

We flew into Ouarzazate, south of Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains, and spent most of the first day driving south through the starkly beautiful Anti-Atlas mountain range and along the Draa valley. Eventually we turned off down a dusty road, finally arriving at Mcissi (apparently — it looked as though we were in the middle of nowhere) where our horses were snoozing in the hot sun, waiting for us.

We were an eclectic group, ranging in age from Maria, 30, an Austrian surgeon in a Swiss hospital, to Michael, a Devon farmer in his late 70s.

Half of the group were French; four of us were from the UK; one Austro-Swiss; and Saadiah, a management consultant from Wyoming, managed to represent two continents by having been born in Australia.

We were each assigned a horse, and I knew quickly that I had struck lucky with Ossmane. He was around 14.2hh, well-muscled, fit as a flea and quite feisty. But he didn’t put a foot wrong all week. He liked being at the front — so did I — and strode along happily; I didn’t once have to use my legs to ask him to go forward, only to guide him through difficult terrain. He would have made a brilliant hunter somewhere like Exmoor or Northumberland; he was fast and clever.

The tack was European and in good nick, and we were soon tacking up and untacking efficiently, folding the thick blankets that served as saddlepads correctly and knotting the ropes they wore round their necks so they could be tethered at lunchtime and overnight.

Abdel — who is educated to degree level, speaks several languages and used to train racehorses — and Mohammed look after these horses immaculately, and they were in excellent condition.

100 miles over six days

In all, we rode around 100 miles over six days, to Tafraout, Foum Mharech, to Ouzina, Jdaid and Merzouga, where we stayed at the base of Erg Chebbi, the highest and most spectacular sand dunes in Morocco.

Each day was different; we rode for between five and seven hours most days through landscape that changed constantly. Sometimes we were negotiating pale orange sand dunes reminiscent of Lawrence of Arabia (I know, wrong desert). At other times we were on rocky moonscapes that resembled Dartmoor but with sand; we ascended and descended shale paths up and down basalt-covered crags, rode along pancake-flat plateaus and wound our way through arid valleys dotted with desiccated desert plants.

The food for our lunch — and all the water, food and hay for the horses, along with our luggage — was crammed into an old truck. At lunchtime each day, delicious tagines and chopped salads were produced from scratch and we ate in the shadow of acacia or tamarisk trees, and the horses watered, fed and rested. There was even a pile of mattresses tied on to the roof of the truck so we could have a quick kip after lunch if desired.

As for the bunch of random strangers — I soon realised I spend far too much of my life with people who ride horses for a living. How often do I meet people who have “real” jobs in the real world? Not very often, I tell you.

We discovered that Michael had spent 25 years working on agricultural projects in Africa and India. Marie-Laure is a doctor in a psychiatric hospital near Lille; Laurent is the second-in-command at the French embassy in Tunisia.

Gérard used to run the tourism side of ski resorts and is clearly at bit of an old raver; one night Abdel and Mohammed and one of the men working in the riad in which we were staying started playing Berber drums, and Gérard danced like he was at an acid house party.

Maria, my funny and sweet room-mate, revealed her next trip was diving in Antarctica. I felt terribly insular — my next trip will almost certainly be to report an equestrian event in a field.

The two British women, Hermione and Jo, were very amusing: “No gates,” pointed out Hermione as we discussed the advantages of riding in Morocco as opposed to the Midlands.

No gates, no dog-walkers, no cars. Plenty of camels, though, with their sardonic faces and great leathery feet making unmistakable prints in the sand. Not much other wildlife… Abdel said there were desert foxes, but, unsurprisingly, they weren’t trotting about in the day time, and he pointed out the signs of several species of wild gerbils.

Most of the sparse vegetation is scrub and thorns, although there were a few succulents and a strange, poisonous kind of inedible melon that Jo named “death melons”. One day we rode along a valley bottom and Abdel pointed out some bright green, broad-leaved little plants that he said was rocket — nothing like the stuff you find in supermarkets here.

We stayed in riads (nomad-run guesthouses formed round a central courtyard) every night until reaching Erg Chebbi. There the smart, touristy hotel was quite a shock after our lovely riads. They were comfortable with good beds, bathrooms and utterly delicious, simple food, and we had been pretty much the only guests, which definitely helped the bonding of the group.

Tricky terrain

Rarely did we ride in a pony-trekking line; we naturally divided into three or four abreast. Those at the back chatted more; those at the front were content to absorb our extraordinary surroundings.

Some of the terrain was tricky and had to be negotiated at a walk, but walking is only boring when you have to kick a horse along. When they are off the leg and forward-going, as our Barb stallions were, it is a pleasure. The hairiest bits were the long, fast canters up gritty, stony tracks — you needed your sunglasses to act as windshields as little bits of rock pebble-dashed your face.

Abdel insisted we walked beside our horses for the first half-mile and the last half-mile each morning and evening to warm up or cool down their muscles. The first time we did this my jodhpur boots rubbed my heels raw, and from then on I wore an unusual combination of turquoise trainers and brown leather gaiters, which was actually the perfect get-up.

I borrowed plasters and Compeed from everyone in the group, and gave Maria my little pot of Sudocrem in return, for her sore bottom.

Talking of Maria, her only fault was a propensity for exercise and fitness. While most of us flopped about, drinking the refreshing, sweetened herbal tea presented to us at the end of the day, she went for a run or did her training regime of squats and star jumps.

The value of this was clear on the last night in the desert, when she, Laurent and I climbed a vast sand dune near the hotel. She skipped up in bare feet and a sarong; I nearly killed myself puffing up, in my breeches and trainers.

Then she waltzed back down like a Swiss chamois, long-legged Laurent galloped down like an Arc winner and I stumbled through the sand like a short-striding cob needing a wind operation. More star jumps, less pasta, I fear.

The saturated blue of the sky

Perhaps what I shall remember the longest are the colours; the saturated blue of the sky, the orange of the dunes, the red and black of the rocky mountains, the off-white of the dry lake beds. The midnight blue of the desert night and the quick flash of a shooting star.

One night a couple of us climbed a small sand dune to watch the sunset. Turning 360° as the dusky night enveloped us, we could see a few weak lights from a distant village. Nothing else. I fell in love with the emptiness, the vast scope of sand and rock, the sense of space.

I long to be there now, with Ossmane’s furry ears pricked in front of me.

Ref Horse & Hound; 16 January 2020

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A woman who “smashed her pelvis to pieces” in a riding accident abroad has spoken of the importance of having insurance on holiday.

Helen Ward from Nottingham was on a trekking holiday at a ranch in Spain when she fell from the horse she was riding on 24 December 2003.

She told H&H: “I lost my seat and smashed to the ground hitting a boulder on impact – I was screaming in agony.

“I was driven to a nearby medical centre but I was told they couldn’t do anything and I was taken to the hospital which was an hour’s drive away.”

Helen was scanned and X-rayed but said that owing to the language barrier the staff were unable to communicate what injuries she had suffered.

“I couldn’t speak Spanish and I was alone. I was scared stiff as I didn’t know what injury I had,” she said.

Helen contacted her insurance company, which flew a nurse from the UK to Spain to help her and a flight was arranged for Helen to return to the UK on 29 December. On landing she was transferred by ambulance to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where it was confirmed she had suffered serious pelvic injuries.

“My pelvis was smashed to pieces.The consultant advised me it was the worst pelvic injury he had dealt with in 30 years,” said Helen.

“I was told I could lie for eight weeks while my pelvis knitted back together and I wouldn’t be able to ride again – or he had a free slot for surgery on 3 January and they would rebuild me using titanium bolts and screws.”

Helen was discharged from hospital on 16 April 2004 and following a rehabilliation programme she was able to walk unaided in October that year. She returned to the saddle in 2007, taking lessons at a riding school, and in April 2019 bought her first horse – part-bred Welsh section D, Apache Storm.

“I always knew I wanted to ride again. I stopped working full-time in 2017 and decided I have time now for my own horse. My journey has been very had but I’ve proven you can do anything if you put your mind to it,” said Helen.

“Apache can be very quirky but we’re getting to know each other and he is fantastic to ride. I hope to do some dressage and low-level jumping on him.”

Article continued below…

Try something new — take your horse on holiday

If you’re looking for something new to try with your horse this year, then we’re here to help. Sara Walker

6 riding holidays that will blow your mind (we’ve started saving already…)

If you yearn to explore the world on horseback, then check out these fabulous equestrian holidays

Subscribe to Horse & Hound magazine today – and enjoy unlimited website access all year round

Helen, who has booked a riding holiday in Ireland in August, has urged others to be aware of the importance of having insurance.

“Before I went to Spain I spent a lot of time researching insurance online. You really have to read policies front to back and make sure they cover everything. I paid £12.50 for my policy and my injuries in Spain cost the insurance company £14,500 – and that was in 2003. If I hadn’t had insurance my mum would have had to find the money,” she said.

“You have to make sure you get the right policy – if you don’t you could be stranded and get yourself in a serious mess.You must make sure you are insured for all riding, medical bills and repatriation costs. Even if you’re going on a riding holiday in England you should have insurance.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’re looking for something new to try with your horse this year, then we’re here to help. Sara Walker talks us through taking your horse on holiday...

If you’ve ever struggled to find holiday cover for your horse while you’re away, have you thought about taking him with you? Taking your own horse on holiday has become increasingly popular, with equine B&Bs and holiday camps available across the UK.

Holidays can be roughly divided into two types:

Equestrian escapes

With a group of friends, you can take your horses and stay in a venue with access to the type of countryside you wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to explore. For example, if your dream has always been to ride on the beach, over open moorland or across the Welsh mountains, then taking your own horse to an equine B&B is a fantastic way to make that a reality.

If you’re looking for an equine B&B, a good place to start is with the BHS Horses Welcome scheme. Started in Scotland in 2006, this has now expanded to cover the whole of the UK and lists premises that have been inspected by the BHS. There are also a lot of fantastic venues that don’t belong to the scheme, though, so word of mouth recommendation is always useful.

To find your perfect holiday, think about exactly what your requirements are. If you want to go for lots of long rides in an area you don’t know, can the venue provide a guide or will you be responsible for your own map reading? If your aim is specifically to ride on the beach, is there easy hacking access from the B&B or will you need to box? Do you need a stable, 24-hour turnout or separate paddocks for each horse? If your horse isn’t a particularly keen traveller, it might be better to choose a venue that’s not too far away. The clearer you are about your requirements, the better your chance of finding a perfect match.

When packing for your holiday, team up with a friend so you can share the number of spare items you have to take between you. If you’re planning longer rides than usual, a saddlebag is useful to hold drinks and lunch. Check if the venue will provide forage and bedding, or if you’ll need to supply your own. Most venues will require you to have your own public liability insurance such as BHS Gold Membership, and may also ask to see your horse’s passport and vaccination certificate.

Cheshire-based leisure rider Debbie Robinson says: “I’ve been taking my horse on holiday for about eight years now, to destinations such as Wales and Lambourn. I do it for a variety of reasons, but mostly for the social aspect of being with friends and riding in new places with more off-road tracks available. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone, as these days there are holidays available for all tastes and budgets.”

Riding camps

The other option is to take your horse away for a few days to a camp. These are an ideal choice if you want to bond with a new horse, train for a competition, try new challenges, meet like-minded people or get a new perspective from a different trainer.

Jane Walker started off running Horsecamp, the pony camp experience for adults, over 25 years ago and now runs her Active Rider camps for a wide variety of riders.

“I’ve run many types of camp over the years, including jumping, dressage and confidence clinics,” she says. “The more general camps attract two types of rider — those who are coming for a lot of social activity with a bit of training thrown in, and those who are coming more for the training. I also run specific camps aimed at novice riders, to give them the confidence to move forward. I love running those camps — I’m always very proud of what the attendees can achieve which is often far more than they thought they could!”

The vast majority of her business now comes from word of mouth and camps sell out quickly.

“One of our riders has come to over 30 of our camps and many others have at least 20 visits under their belts, so people are obviously keen!” she laughs.

Find out about camps and clinics via social media, your BHS regional events page or via advertisements in tack shops.

If you’ve never been away with your horse before, then why not take the plunge in 2019? With so much choice available, you’re sure to find an option that suits you and your horse.

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you yearn to explore the world on horseback, then check out these fabulous horse riding holidays. They’re for intermediate to experienced riders only and don’t come cheap — but talk about the holiday of a lifetime! Are you ready for an adventure?

Game on

Argentina is world-famous for polo; all the living 10-goal players in the world are Argentinian (apart from David Stirling, who was born in Uruguay — although he plays for Argentina, too). So, if you want to learn this glorious game, or improve your polo skills, there’s really only one place to go, isn’t there? Available through In The Saddle, Los Potreros offers seven night Learn to Play Polo holidays, or Polo Weeks for the more experienced player. Accommodation is in the beautifully restored estancia house. There are seven individually and traditionally decorated bedrooms each with a private bathroom and wood burning stove. There is a swimming pool (usually open mid-October to mid-April) to dip into at the end of a hot day in summer. Between riding sessions you are welcome to relax on the veranda and enjoy afternoon tea or a gin and tonic. Food and wine is a key part of the Los Potreros experience; meals are taken as a group and are very sociable affairs. The estancia is set amidst rolling, grass-covered hills through which wild boar and deer roam, and you can hack out and enjoy the stunning scenery, or herd cattle with the gauchos, when not polishing your polo skills. Or take a dip in the pool, try some of the local wine, or hang out in a hammock with a book — the choice is yours.

Costs: From £2,636

Visit: In The Saddle

Cool rider

From snow-capped mountains and blue glaciers to thermal pools and fiery volcanos, Iceland has some of the most spectacular scenery on the planet — and there’s no better way to see this stunning land of ice and fire than from horseback. Icelandic horses are thought to descend from horses brought to this region by the Vikings. They have a legendary fourth gait, the tolt, which is like a running walk and helps these hardy little horses cover great distances — which of course makes them perfect hacking ponies. Not for the faint-hearted, Unicorn Trails offers a fabulous glacier trail through the heart of Iceland, taking in extinct volcanoes and wild glacial rivers — all accompanied by a herd of loose horses that run with the group. You’ll be expected to change your mount at least once a day, and the whole group stays in wooden cabins in the hills — so if you’re addicted to your creature comforts, this may not be the ride for you. If on the other hand you’re addicted to adventure, it definitely is…

Cost: From £1,915

Visit: Unicorn Trails

A Khan-do attitude

It’s said that “A Mongol without a horse is like a bird without wings.” Legendary warrior Genghis Khan conquered the world with his mounted army — and centuries on, horses are still central to Mongolian culture. Indeed, their population of three million horses outnumbers their human population. Mongolia itself is breathtaking, and a nine-day pony trek through the Orkhan Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site, takes you up rocky mountains, across vast expanses of open steppe and into the Gobi desert. You’ll visit the ancient ruins of Genghis Khan’s capital Kharkorin, bathe in hot springs, and mingle with the nomads who freely graze their herds of yaks and horses. The tour starts and ends in the city of Ulan Bator, and there are plenty of opportunities to explore before you head off into the wilderness with your team of guides. Accommodation is mainly camping; some of the camps are permanent, and more like “glamping” in yurts, however, you’ll be staying in a good old portable tent for some of your stay. All the food is catered by the guides. If you’ve ever considered doing the Mongol Derby, this would be a good starting point. Just be warned that if you try the national alcoholic drink, airag — it’s fermented mare’s milk.

Cost: From €1,490 (approx. £1,270), not including flights

Visit: Mongolia Trips

Life’s a beach

Featuring 330km of unspoiled coast, deep river swims to navigate, thrilling beach canters and 12 days of spectacularly rugged and breathtaking wilderness; welcome to The Wild Coast Horse Expedition. Be thrown back to a time when long journeys were made on the back of a horse and take on this epic adventure – a ride like no other which traverses the iconic and remote landscapes of southern Africa. Be simultaneously challenged and enchanted by your surroundings and tackle one of the longest, toughest and most exhilarating rides on the planet. This awe inspiring ride is not for the faint hearted; riders will need to be fit, brave and willing to push themselves to the limit. The biggest step out of most people’s comfort zone is crossing the many rivers which chop up this stunning coastline. However, under the expert guide of Barry Armitage and Joe Dawson, who have thousands of kilometres of expedition under their belts, this challenge will become one of the highlights of the Wild Coast adventure. This ride isn’t about big five viewing, its about the ride; if you are a very experienced rider, fit and adventurous and want an unforgettable experience, riding fast paced, challenging, stretches of South Africa’s stunning coastline then this is the ride for you.

Cost: From £3,550

Visit: African Horse Safaris

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Desert delight

If you love Arab horses, then you’ll understand the thrill of riding them in their native environment. Jordan boasts some truly extraordinary desert scenery, as well as the rose-red ancient city of Petra, which is thought to date back to the fourth century BC and was home to a civilisation known as the Nabateans. Carved into the face of the valley wall, Petra is known as one of New Seven Wonders Of The World. Ride World Wide offers eight or nine day rides from Petra to the Wadi Rum — the Valley of the Moon, as it’s known in Arabic. Home to Bedoin tribes, who’ve been climbing these spectacular sandstone cliffs for centuries, this is where the classic film Lawrence of Arabia was filmed, as well as Rogue One: A Star Wars Story — and it’s a wonderful place for long canters. The horses are mainly pure Arabs, originated from Jordan or Syria, averaging about 15hh to 15.2hh. You’ll stay in three-star hotels at Petra and Amman (with an option to upgrade to five-star if it’s opulence you’re after), but the rest of the trip is spent camping under the stars in simple tents. Don’t worry though – your backup team includes a cook.

Cost: From $2,210 (approx. £1,675)

Visit: Ride Worldwide

The Lost Valley

A ride into the remote hills of the Serrania De Ronda, following the wild river Genal upstream. This ride takes trails made a thousand years ago by the Moorish settlers driven by the Spanish from civilisation and forbidden to live ‘Within one league of the coast’. Here you will find silent, lush valleys, abundant sweet chestnut forests and forgotten, unspoilt villages where a welcome for visiting horses and their riders is assured.

Cost: From €1,400 (approx. £1,213)

Visit: Rideandalucia

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

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Thinking about your next adventure? H&H’s Lucy Elder takes a look at why riding above the clouds in Ecuador is the most magnificent way to see and learn about this beautiful country

1. This is a real adventure across a landscape so huge it is almost impossible to take it all in. One day, I watch a storm in its entirety move across the landscape behind us. Rainbows are no longer something that arch above you, they are below you, behind you — a small part of the vast sky. We ride above the clouds, along paths that cling to the edge of volcanoes (don’t look down…), past herds of wild horses, galloping across plains at 4,000m… the country is magnificent and what better way to see and learn about it than from the back of a horse?

2. It’s completely physically exhausting — any desk-bound rider will know just how glorious it is to feel bone-tired after riding, compared to mentally tired from staring at a screen all day. Ecuador is high, you land in Quito at 2,850m (altitude sickness can start from around 2,000m) so can feel the lack of oxygen as soon as you step off the plane. The route then climbs a further 1,370m over the next 12 days. While it is well-planned to gradually acclimatise riders, spending five to 10 hours a day in the saddle with thin air is hard work, but so worth it.

3. The horses — clever, bold, strong and with exceptional temperaments, the horses know and love their job. They are all bred by Gabriel Espinosa, our guide who owns and runs the Hacienda La Alegria riding base in the “avenue of the volcanoes”. He uses a mix of Arab, Argentine polo pony, Criollo, warmblood, Andalusian and thoroughbred, to get a perfect balance of sure-footedness, sanity, endurance, height and blood for trekking. The whole base has a happy, relaxed atmosphere, which is reflected in the horses. We ride in a small herd, with several running loose alongside us, meaning the horses are able to enjoy a break from being ridden along the way.

4. The guides — these are true horsemen and they miss nothing. Gabriel’s passion for his horses and his country are infectious. He matches me with a fierce, fiery and grumpy chestnut called Muñeco, who becomes my main ride for the week. The little horse has the strength of 10 tigers and an enormous ego. It’s a standing joke that I love grumpy animals and we get along famously. Watching one of our guides, Guido, vault bareback onto one of the loose horses with just a rope halter for steering and gallop down the mountain after a splinter-group of troublemakers — neatly rounding them up — is hands-down one of the most exceptional displays of horsemanship I’ve ever seen

5. The escape — yes the WiFi is going to be patchy in places, no there won’t be electricity at others. But does it matter? Not a bit. There’s a satellite phone in case of emergencies and there’s generally mobile signal if you absolutely have to check-in with home, but it’s so liberating to be cut-off, if only for a little while. We stay a night in Tambopaxi Lodge, which looks out to Cotopaxi’s snow-capped summit and is a popular acclimatisation base for climbers. The maps of the emergency escape routes are a visible reminder that this really is an active volcano (last eruption was in August 2015).

6. The accommodation — magnificent views, soft sheets and a mix of cosy hostels and more luxurious guest houses (plus one night in a shack). Ride well, rest harder. There are also hot tubs dotted along the way, as well as sunrise yoga one morning to stretch-out those aching muscles. Refuel with soup, steak and red wine.

Top tips…

✔ Invest in padded pants — don’t skimp on these to save on baggage. Think Bridget Jones meets Laura Kenny

✗ Don’t forget the Dioralyte — high altitude and physical exhaustion are demanding; these sachets are a cheap and effective way to help rehydrate

✔ Brush up on your Spanish — Gabriel’s English is perfect, but many of the horsemen speak only Spanish. Your horse will also speak Spanish

✗ Don’t follow loose horses — follow your guide instead

✔ Get fit before you go, particularly if you don’t ride frequently

✗ Don’t look down…

✔ Be prepared to go with the flow

Prices for the Cotopaxi to Quilotoa volcano trail start from €2,870 (£2,576). For information on this trip and more Ecuador rides, visit equus-journeys.com or call 01905 388977.

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound (3 January) — out now — for the full feature on the ride.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

You’ve worked hard for years at school, you’ve finally completed your A-Levels and you’ve decided to reward yourself with a gap year before starting university. But what to do? If you love horses, here’s just a few ways you could give your gap year an equestrian theme. Pack your bags, grab your passport, let’s go…

1. South African coast working rider

This trip gives you the opportunity to work and ride with horses all day for four weeks or more on the South African coast for a riding holiday company. Riders should have a good foundation in flat work schooling and be able to ride and work a horse in the correct outline. You get to participate in and be part of the general care of the horses (but with no mucking out as all horses live out!), round pen and ground work, exercise and schooling of horses and the chance to assist on rides and trails in Kei Mouth and Morgan Bay. A normal day is from 8am to 5 pm with an hour for lunch. You spend time caring, working, schooling and exercising horses at the beach paddocks in Kei Mouth.

Visit: www.wildcoasthorsebackadventures.com/

2. Learn how to work on a ranch in Australia

This five-day course in Australia will teach you all the skills you need to live and work on a ranch, from tractor and quad bike driving, to cattle mustering, fencing and horse riding, all making sure you stand out to prospective employers. At the end of your time on the ranch you’ll even be given assistance getting a farm job.

Visit: www.bunac.org

3. Learn about horseracing in Zimbabwe

This course in Zimbabwe aims to develop your horseracing skills to the fullest. Not only will you learn about horse racing, you will also learn what it is like to manage and maintain a racing stable. Days will be varied as you work on a number of aspects that will contribute to your goal of becoming a competent jockey with knowledge of proper animal care. You will undertake chores such as feeding, grooming and exercising the racehorses as well as maintaining the racing yard and assisting at races. Two-, three- and four-week courses are available.

Visit: www.frontier.ac.uk

Article continues below…

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4. Teaching riding in the USA

Why not share your equestrian knowledge with children at an American summer camp? You could be teaching skills and giving lessons for several hours a day, usually in hour-long periods, generally in addition to caring for the horses. Riding programmes vary greatly from camp to camp and may consist of simply teaching, some horse care and ring work, or of more advanced lessons plus trail rides. Having equestrian qualifications will really strengthen your application. These include the Pony Club B or C test and BHS qualifications, or the UKCC equivalent, ranging from the groom’s certificate in horse knowledge and care to BHS assistant instructor level one.

Visit: www.bunac.org

5. Become a cowboy/girl in Canada

Live and work on a farm in the spectacular Canadian countryside. Help out around a family farm in exchange for room and board, and enjoy an authentic experience no horseback. Farms are located all across Canada, including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, French-speaking Quebec or Atlantic Canada and trips run between two and four weeks.

Visit: www.gap360.com

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

There’s a reason the Household Cavalry choose Holkham beach to take their horses for a summer break each year — riders can paddle, splash and gallop undisturbed for miles along the Norfolk coast. And that certainly beats a London stable and sand arena.

So if you’re tempted to organise your own horse riding holiday to the area so you can enjoy the wide-open spaces riding on the beach, the Horse & Hound team are here to help.

Plan your trip, box-up, grab a neck strap and get ready to get wet…

• There is dedicated parking for horseboxes, but it is limited and in summer months gets filled up very quickly. It is less busy in winter, but the area can become waterlogged.
• It is vital to check tide times before planning a visit — horses can only access the beach at low tide. A link to weather and tides can be found at www.holkham.co.uk
• The beach is privately owned and the gates to the car park are locked outside core summer and winter hours.
• You must access the beach from the end of Lady Anne’s Drive by following the white arrows on the marker posts. This route takes you directly to the beach and safely through the dunes and developing saltmarsh that are very easily damaged. Always return by the same route.
• Once on the beach, horses may be ridden anywhere on the sand but below the high tide mark. You must not ride beyond the beach huts at Wells as it can be very busy — especially in the summer.
• Riding is not permitted on the sand dunes, shingle ridges, saltmarsh or within the pines.
• There is no public phone and mobile phone coverage can be patchy, so make a plan of what you will do in the case of an accident before setting off.

Stay safe on the beach with your horse

Where to stay with your horse

Whitehall Farm

Whitehall Farm is a 560-acre working farm within the Holkham Estate, just 2.5 miles south of the North Norfolk coastline, close to the village of Burnham Thorpe.

Price: £88 for a double room per night. Glamping, camping and own vehicle accommodation also available. £14 per night per horse for grazing. £18 per night per horse for a stable with grazing.

Visit: www.whitehallfarm-accommodation.com

Courtyard Farm

Courtyard Farm offers basic self-catering accommodation in a converted farm building. They provide you with bunk beds, cooking rings, toilets, showers, kettle and a fridge, a table and chairs. But you will need to bring sleeping bags, towels and utensils. Something to consider when you’re filling a car with horsey gear too.

Price: £15 per night per person for accommodation in the bunkhouse barn. Camping and own vehicle accommodation also available. £10 per horse per night in paddocks or stables.

Visit: www.courtyardfarm.co.uk

Home Farm Stables

Home Farm Stables is a B&B located n beautifully converted barns, with all rooms having en-suite bathrooms.

Price: £49 per night per person for accommodation. £24 per night for a stable with a shavings bed and grazing and grazing only is £15 per night.

Visit: www.homefarmstables.com

For more information visit www.holkham.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

As a former jockey, Brough Scott has plenty of experience riding Thoroughbreds, but before a riding holiday to Andalusia in May, Brough had never before ridden a mule — a cross between a donkey and a horse. The author, journalist and racing broadcaster reveals to H&H he was, in fact, pleasantly surprised by the experience.

“Now I have met Amigo, I am ashamed to have previously sneered at the thought of riding a mule,” says Brough. “I have to eat all those derogatory words I said about mules in the past. Amigo was a four-year-old, almost 15.3hh mule. He was only broken in February but he was incredibly athletic and nimble, as well as being markedly more intelligent and independently-minded than a horse.”

Brough described Amigo — the result of an Andalucian mare being covered by a male donkey — as “extraordinary” during a five-hour trek in the mountainous High Sierra courtesy of horse riding holidays provider Ride Andalucia.

“He was not only handsome but highly intelligent, he was sure about where he was going and what he was doing. We were walking along narrow mountain paths, over boulders and through streams, yet he was so sure-footed and nimble on his feet, bearing in mind they do not have shoes on either,” adds Brough. “They are very different to riding horses, the trot was very smooth, not at all bouncy.

“I rode Amigo with a loose rein and I was amazed by the self-confidence he had while going along the narrow paths — he was very calm and intelligent about where he was going.”

Amigo was broken in by Dan VanWyk, a former history teacher and war veteran according to Brough, who was raised on the ranch and now runs Ride Andalucia.

“Amigo was also surprisingly athletic and his leap was more like that of a dog than any horse. Similar to donkeys, mules are not flight animals like horses and if they sense fear they hide instead of running away, which is why Amigo was so calm and canny on those steep mountain paths.

“Mules also have amazing endurance, and can carry much more weight on their backs than horses. They have very independent minds and you can’t boss them around too much, plus I very much enjoyed Amigo’s huge ears swinging back and forth.

“Amigo was most certainly the making of my trip — it was a brilliant experience.”

For all the latest equestrian news and reports, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine — on sale every Thursday.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Taking your horse on holiday could soon be even easier thanks to a Scottish scheme.

The initiative, called Ride Scotland’s Horse Country, brings together a network of accommodation for horse and rider along 300 miles of off-road hacking in the Scottish Borders.

Riders will soon be able to search for maps, hacking routes and places to stay on one website, which is due to be launched in the near future.

The idea is to help boost tourism in the area by making it easier for riders to explore Scotland via horse riding holidays with their horses, while also helping match holidaymakers with B&Bs, hotels, campsites and yards.

Project co-ordinator Gowan Miller told H&H the countryside is “stunning”.

“There are 300 miles of off-road trails — you do not have to see another person some days,” she said.

“There’s a huge history of horses interwoven through the fabric of the place.”

The Southern Upland Partnership secured government LEADER funding for the project.

It also has backing from Scottish Enterprise, the British Horse Society (National and Borders), Scottish Borders Council, Forestry Commission Scotland, Future Hawick, Buccleuch Estates LTD and Energise Galashiels.

Ms Miller said the types of accommodation will range from campsites to high-end hotels, and the project also wants to hear from B&Bs and farmers with fields or stables who are looking to diversify.

“We have the perfect combination of spectacular countryside and a heritage of long-established trails carved out by drovers, used by the Reivers and some with roots going back to Roman times,” added Ms Miller.

“They provide a stunning natural resource and we want to enhance that appeal.

“The first phase involves identifying high-quality accommodation and stopover points for riders and their horses on a trail by trail basis.

“Our initial target is to get 15 establishments on board and to expand the trails network from there.

“We are currently talking to those with accommodation and equestrian facilities to establish trail stopovers and would like to hear from anyone interested in diversifying their existing business or those already established that might want to take part. The initial response has been very enthusiastic.”

She added the project is initially targeting riders who live within a two- to three-hour drive of the trails, with the long-term aim to attract equestrians from across the UK and abroad.

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A spokesperson for the LEADER initiative, which delivers support to community initiatives for rural development, said it is hoped the project will be a “huge success in boosting the Borders economy”.

“The Borders has been famous for hundreds of years for its horses and riders,” he added.

“This project gives visitors a chance to explore and experience the beauty of the Borders whilst staying in quality, suitable accommodation for both horses and riders.”

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/tweedtrails/ or email gowan@sup.org.uk

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

We suggest you start dropping heavy hints that you have your eye on Coworth Park in Berkshire for this Valentine’s Day, where riding doesn’t get much more luxurious...

1. Breakfast

What horsey person doesn’t love breakfast? But you’ll never look at your stack of Marmite toast again after experiencing this feast in a Michelin-starred restaurant, before ambling out to the stable yard. The only snag is having to choose between Bircher muesli with sour apple and honeycomb or smoked salmon on soda bread — though both come with assorted pastries, toast and juices.

2. New experiences in the saddle

It really depends on how horsey you are when it comes to what sort of riding you want to do. You can go for a sedate hack in the 240-acre estate — culminating in a glass of champagne (how often does that happen?) — have a lesson on one of Coworth’s quality schoolmasters, or try out polo, which is run by Guards Polo Club.

3. You want to bring your horse

Well, he’ll be pampered just as much as you. Coworth’s “ultimate horse check-in” entails a full turndown service, “guests’ amenities” — homegrown carrots and horse treats made by our chef — personalised name plate on the stable, bubble shower with lavender wash post exercise, massage, hoof manicure…. Need I go on?

4. Wild flowers

A large area around the hotel and stable yard is planted with acres of wild flowers. The blooms greet you the moment you enter the grounds to give you the sense that you’re deep in the countryside — even if you’re only 30 miles from London. Besides, you can’t help feeling you’re on a photoshoot cantering through it.

Continued below…

The ultimate adrenaline rush: 7 tips for a hardcore riding holiday

5. Tastes to suit

If Michelin dinners aren’t your thing (or budget), there’s the more informal option of eating at the Barn within the grounds, rather than in the hotel itself. The menus there are also overseen by Adam Smith, the 30-year-old Michelin chef. It’s a long way from pub grub — think crab, venison and salted caramel pudding — but you can wear your jeans, laugh raucously and no one will notice.

6. Top-class horses

Horsey people will come here more to be spoiled than to ride, but if you do want to jump on a horse, you’ll find some real quality. There’s a pony who’s jumped at Pony of the Year, top-class working hunters and side-saddle horses, and a former prix st georges dressage campaigner.

Most of them aren’t young, as they have to be safe enough to bolt at the sight of 200 acres of polo fields with a varying standard of rider, but they have class.

Find out more

Rooms: from £318 per night

Horse hotel: £55 per night

Riding: one-hour hack around the estate, Monday to Friday £65; weekends £90; Champagne Celebration Ride £80/£100

Visit: dorchestercollection.com

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (25 January 2018) with our horse riding holidays special, where one writer heads on an adrenline-fuelled trip to Spain, and another tries her hand at Western riding

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Whether you’re looking for a Western horse riding holidays in the UK with your significant other (what guy would pass up the chance to be a cowboy for a weekend?) or fancy getting a group of like-minded friends together for a break with a twist, we suggest you check out Loose Reins in Dorset.

The accommodation

Set in a tranquil wooded coomb looking across the River Stour to Hambledon Hill, Loose Reins epitomises the pioneer lifestyle without skipping on comfort. There are a choice of cosy cabins or luxurious canvas lodges, depending on the size of your party, which are all decked out with everything you could need from comfortable king size beds and open fire pits for cooking under the stars, to the all-important essentials like instant hot showers and flushing loos.

The riding

On the equestrian side, the centre offers a range of Western horse riding holiday in the UK suitable for beginners up to experienced riders with a focus on enjoying long trail rides in the country, learning horsemanship basics in the round-pen and perfecting Western riding techniques in the outdoor school. If you’re looking to go galloping around the beautiful Dorset countryside, then this probably isn’t the holiday for you. But if you’d like the chance to slow down and enjoy taking life at a more sedate pace, with great home cooked food and the chance to make new friends, then I’d definitely recommend a visit.

Continued below…

The ultimate adrenaline rush: 7 tips for a hardcore riding holiday

Prices

Rooms: Cabin sleeping up to two adults and two children: two nights from £255; four nights from £525; seven nights from £745. Lodge sleeping up to six adults: four nights from £585; seven nights from £950.

Riding: Western riding lesson: group £42; private lesson £54. Two-hour trail ride: £75 Western taster experience (round pen horsemanship plus riding session) £85. Loose Reins experience (Western taster experience in the morning, lunch, two-hour trail ride in the afternoon) £165.

Find out more at loosereins.co.uk

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (25 January 2018) with our horse riding holidays special, where one writer heads on an adrenline-fuelled trip to Spain, and another relaxes at a luxurious horsey hotel near to London

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

In the market for horse riding holidays, but the idea of a gentle trek doesn’t appeal? If an adrenaline rush is what you’re after, try a fast-paced trail ride such as the Catalonia Extreme Trail.

After surviving four days of intense riding at speed, over variable terrain including endless deserted beaches, wooded paths and rolling farmland — plus a whirl round a race track — Polly Bryan shares her top tips for embarking on a hardcore riding holiday…

1. Make sure you’re fit enough – if you ride every day at home, it can be easy to assume that you’ll cope easily with a riding holiday. But being in the saddle for up to seven hours a day, with long periods spent at speed, might come as a shock to the system to the average rider. Put the effort in ahead of your trip to increase your cardio fitness and core strength and, if you don’t ride frequently, consider upping the hours you spend in the saddle in the weeks leading up to your holiday. But no matter how fit you may be, don’t forget to pack muscle rub!

2. Be honest about your riding ability and requirements during the introductions on your trip, to make sure you’re matched with a suitable horse. Also, be honest with yourself about the sort of horse you would like to be paired with — it’s all very well enjoying high-spirited horses at home, but after several hours in the saddle you will definitely prefer something more chilled out.

3. Try to learn a little of the language of the country you are visiting – even if only to be able to thank your hosts, or order a post-ride beer! A little bit of effort goes a long way.

4. Be prepared to get stuck in with jobs such as grooming, tacking up and feeding the horses if required.

5. Remain open-minded, and aware of the fact that horse management and riding do vary across countries. As long as the horses and riders remain safe, happy and comfortable, respect the instructions and opinions of your host and guides, even if some things are not done in quite the same way as you would expect at home.

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6. Choose your riding clothes appropriately. Make sure your riding boots are comfortable and sturdy enough to walk in, should you be required to dismount and lead your horse at any point (such as when a fallen tree blocks your path). Choose comfortable jodphurs or breeches with a pocket for easy access to a phone, and opt for breathable, long sleeved base layers to keep you at a comfortable temperature throughout the day, and to protect your from scratches while riding through woodland or down narrow tracks.

7. Take a good, robust camera, preferably one that you can attach securely to a belt or similar to allow easy access when faced with a spectacular view. Action cameras, such as GoPro, are a good choice as they are designed to be used on the move.

The four-night Catalonia Extreme Trail ride runs from March to November in 2018. It costs from £735 when booked with Unicorn Trails (excluding flights and transfers). Visit unicorntrails.com

Don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine for our horse riding holidays special — including the ultimate horsey haven near London, and find out where you can go Western riding without leaving the UK

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you’re planning on making the trip to North Carolina for this autumn’s World Equestrian Games (11-23 September), here are five ways to make the most of your trip

The flight time from London Heathrow to Charlotte Douglas International Airport, North Carolina, is a hefty 
9hr 25min, so we recommend looking beyond the confines of the Games to make the most of your trip to the States.

1. Hit the road

Marvel at the Blue Ridge Mountains by taking a road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway, which travels 252 miles along the ridge of the mountains. Stop along the way to go hiking or cycling, and don’t miss crossing the Linn Cove Viaduct — an engineering wonder seemingly suspended in mid-air along the southern face of Grandfather Mountain.

2. Pull a pint

There are more than 230 breweries and brewpubs in North Carolina — the largest number of craft breweries in the American South. And what better way to calm your nerves after the adrenalin of the Games than by paying one a visit? A 40-minute drive from Tryon is the Sierra Nevada Brewery (sierranevada.com), where you can take a behind-the-scenes tour following the hops-to-brews process — crucially with a generous tasting at the end.

3. Foodie heaven in Asheville (pictured, above)

Refuel in picturesque Asheville, perched in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Not only does it boast more breweries per capita than anywhere else in the States, but it is fast garnering a reputation as a haven for foodies, going well beyond its southern cooking roots. Head downtown for a vibrant mix of food, from organic, hormone-free beef to mountain-trout caviar and sweet potato salad.

4. Get your adrenalin fix

Just 20 minutes from Tryon in the tiny town of Saluda is The Gorge (thegorgezipline.com) — which claims to be the steepest and fastest zip line canopy tour in the States. Get a different take on the surrounding countryside as you reach speeds of 40mph and descend a total of 1,100 vertical feet through the forest.

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5. Don your breeches (or jeans…)

Haven’t had your sufficient fill of equestrianism? Get ready to lengthen your stirrups and sit back in a Western saddle to explore the North Carolinian mountains from horseback. Located on a secluded ranch minutes north of Asheville is Sandy Bottom Trail Rides (sandybottomtrailrides.net), where you can head off through the high country, scenic mountain meadows and wooded areas of Madison County. It caters for all abilities, so your non-horsey family members needn’t be left behind for the trip.

For our full World Equestrian Games preview, where we take a behind-the-scenes tour of Tryon Equestrian Center, don’t miss this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (18 January 2018)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Eight guests mounted on hunters joined Mary King as they crossed Dartmoor on a luxury two-day riding holiday — and quizzed the eventer along the way on how she uses the terrain to keep her eventers fit

“I can’t believe I’m following Mary King,” said Catherine Watts as she cantered on open moorland behind the straight back and long legs of the legendary event rider.

Mary was the ‘celebrity guest’ on a new 30-mile two-day horse riding holiday organised by Liberty Trails across Dartmoor with accommodation in the luxury Bovey Castle hotel.

“We must have covered about 18 miles on the first day, including river crossings, rocky tors, forestry plantations and heathery moors with skylarks singing above,” said Mary.

With her were eight paying guests, most mounted on local hunters well-tuned to navigating Dartmoor’s rocky terrain. As she lives nearby, Catherine, who is a local equine physio, brought her own horse Bee, a 16hh Dutch warmblood who is still very green. “She learnt a huge amount,” said Catherine.

Riders quizzed Mary about producing horses and how to get them fit along the way.

How does Mary use the Devon countryside to keep her eventers fit?

A true Devonian, Mary King is adept at using the county’s hills to keep her eventers, both young and old in peak condition.

“We keep the young horses in a steep field about 400ft from bottom to top. It helps make them strong,” Mary says. “If a young horse grows up in a flat paddock it won’t develop as well.”

Admitting she’d “be totally lost” living in a flat county, the family’s event horses are walked out every other day up the steepest lanes.

Mary believes the fitness regime has helped many of her top horses stay sound for so long.

“Maybe it’s because we have these hills and are constantly walking up and down them. They have less chance of injury when competing as they are stronger and harder than horses trained on flat ground,” she said.

The bridleways round her east Devon home can be a bit rutty for her eventers, but there are plenty of hilly farmer’s fields to do the canter work.

On Dartmoor, Mary was mounted on a young horse born on the moor so used to the going. The riders were shown the way by guides who had hunted on the moor and knew how to avoid bogs and open gates safely.

“Once our horses are competing they need to be looked after and not going over rough terrain,” she said, “but the moor is a good education for younger horses.”

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Mary and Emily King open 300-year-old forge

The eventers will cut a ribbon to mark

Riders also grew in confidence as they rode past newborn foals relaxing in glorious sunshine. By the end of the week two fit young 50-something riders who didn’t have their own horses were thinking about coming back to go hunting.

But if they don’t want to brave the winter weather, Mary has said, depending on her eventing schedule, she will come again next year.

“It’s been really special to ride over the moor I live close to but don’t get to see enough of,” she admitted.

The new Liberty Trails luxury adventure with Mary King cost from £2,300 to include three nights full-board at the five star Bovey Castle hotel, horse hire, guiding, ground support, lunches en route and pick ups from Exeter if required. For more details visit: liberty-trails.com

For all the latest news and reports, don’t miss the latest copy of Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Forget swimming with dolphins, swimming with horses is the experience of a lifetime. What could be a more incredible experience than floating above your horse as he powers through the waters beneath you? If you’ve every wondered if horses can swim, they are natural, strong swimmers, and most of them love being in the water.

If you’d like to swim on a horse, there are amazing places in the UK and abroad where you can do just that – but the number one piece of advice is not to just jump right in.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency gave us the following advice:

“The Coastguard would like to encourage everyone to enjoy our British coastline safely. So make sure that you check weather and tides before you set out, wear appropriate clothing and footwear and be responsible about alcohol consumption. We would recommend taking a mobile phone with you. A torch, map and compass may also be useful items if you are unfamiliar with the area. It is always good practice to let someone know where you are, what you are doing and when you expect to return. Update them if your plans change.

“When swimming, stay within your depth. If you get caught in a strong current or rip current try to stay as calm as you can, raise your hand and shout for help. If you can’t get help, try and swim parallel to the beach until you’re out of trouble then swim to the shore. If you can stand up, wade instead of swimming.

“Do not attempt to try and rescue your horse if it gets into difficulty and is being swept out to sea. More often than not, the horse is likely to rescue itself but sadly in some cases, owners get into further difficulty and may not return to shore.

“As always, if you get into difficulty or you see anyone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”

Finally, a few more obvious points to bear in mind:

• Know where you’re swimming. Check local coastguard information and don’t swim anywhere with rip tides, strong currents, underwater rocks, and so on.
• Be aware that your tack may restrict your horse — you definitely don’t want to use anything that may hold his head, like a martingale, and you could get tangled in the reins.
• If you do use any tack, you’ll need to thoroughly clean and condition it afterwards.
• Your horse may try and roll when he goes into the water and again when he comes out, with you on top! Be prepared for this (it’s another reason not to use a saddle!)
• Be aware that ponds and lakes may have unpleasant creatures in them such as leeches, which can be harmful to your horse — and you.
• Never go alone. Take a friend on horseback and have them stand in the shallows while you swim. That way, if your horse panics, he’ll be more likely to head for his friend than out to sea.
• Don’t even think about swimming on a horse that’s never done this before and isn’t used to beaches/dogs/water. You need a horse that’s completely bombproof!

Other than that, enjoy! Here are seven of the best places to book horse riding holidays if you’d like to try swimming on horseback…

Vivanculos, Mozambique

Mozambique Horse Safaris offers its lucky guests the opportunity to explore the Vivanculos coast on horseback. This part of this South African nation is renowned for stunning white sand beaches, gently waving palm trees, the archipelago of islands that lie in its waters, and incredible sunsets. With a range of trail rides available, the final day includes a dip in the sea with your trusty steed (tide permitting.) Guardian journalist Kate Kellaway said of the experience: “As I rode into the sea, half a tonne of horse and me started moving like a dolphin. It was wonderful. I laughed at the absurd joy of it — this was the ride/swim of a lifetime.” Can we have a go now please?

Visit: www.mozambiquehorsesafaris.com

Holkham Beach, Norfolk

Every year, the horses of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment are brought to Holkham Beach in Norfolk for their holidays, where they get to have a gallop and a swim. The long, golden sandy beach forms part of a huge nature reserve, and dogs and horses are welcome – although be aware that you may get strong currents, and the odd naturist or two popping up among the dunes (although that may scare you more than your horse!).

Visit: www.holkham.co.uk

Sweetgrass Creek, Montana, USA

A tributary of the famous Yellowstone River, Sweetgrass Creek is a crazy river that’s jumping with brown trout — and from July through the September, once the high water drops from the spring run-off, the conditions are perfect for swimming horses in it. Sweet Grass Ranch is a family-owned cattle ranch in this stunning national park that offers a range of riding holidays for wannabe cowboys and pleasure riders alike, including the opportunity to swim in the creek. Yee-hah!

Visit: www.sweetgrassranch.com

Loch Lomond, Scotland

The banks of Loch Lomond — Britain’s largest stretch of inland water — are home to Shoshoni the swimming horse, who can regularly be seen paddling alongside her owner Susan Gell’s boat as she takes the trip from their island home on Inchtavannach to the mainland. Check her out on YouTube here. There are plenty of trekking centres along the banks of Loch Lomond, but if you want to swim, you’ll need to take your own horse. It’s fabulous riding country, but as ever, do make the proper safety checks before taking your horse into the water. And remember, it’ll be bracing, to say the least!

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Keratokambos, Crete

Crete’s combination of fascinating archaeological sites, sunshine and stunning beaches make it the perfect holiday destination. It’s also horse riding paradise, with Odysseia Stables not only offering riders the opportunity to explore the island’s craggy mountains, quaint villages and cool olive groves on horseback, but also to swim with the horses in the sparkling waters of the Libyan sea.

Visit: www.horseriding.gr or check out this YouTube clip

Bali, Indonesia

If you’re looking for a tropical paradise, then look no further than Bali, the Indonesian island famous for its green forested volcanic mountains, iconic rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs. To make it even more perfect, many local tour operators and trekking centres offer guests the opportunity to swim in the island’s warm blue waters on horseback – try Bali Star Adventures or Bali Happy Tour. Heaven.

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Spring may have sprung at last and bridleways no longer resemble a mud bath, but that doesn’t stop us from dreaming about one of these horseback safaris, where horse riding holidays take on a whole new meaning…

Botswana and South Africa

The details: Horizon Horseback Holidays’ “African Explorer Safari” is designed to give experienced riders an adrenaline rush. Riding in two countries over eight days, it combines four nights at Horizon Horseback’s Camp Davidson, Waterberg, with three nights at Limpopo Valley Horse Safari camp in Botswana’s Tuli Block. Promising “the freedom and exhilaration of riding in one of the world’s last remaining areas of natural wilderness”, you can expect to see elephant and lion — and when you’re in need of a breather you can kick back on the deck outside your private tent under a shady tree.

The damage: from £1,793 per person for seven nights

Find out more: www.ridinginafrica.com

Mozambique

The details:  Explore the Mozambican coast line on horseback, riding up and down the sand dunes, cantering along the beach and then cooling off after a hot day in the saddle with a swim in the crystal clear sea — with your horse. On Zara’s Planet’s Retzlaff Safari & Benguerra Lodge trip you can spot eagles, herons, harriers, rollers, pelicans and kingfishers on an inland ride exploring the fresh water lakes; you’ll hope to see flamingo on the Benguerra Island ride and when you head along the deserted sand beaches to the Red Dunes on North Beach you can take in the panoramic views of the white sandbars and turquoise seas.

The damage: from £3,100 per person for seven nights

Find out more: www.zarasplanet.com

Tanzania

The details: On a clear day wake up to see the four powerful mountains of Mt Meru, Mt Namanga, Mt Longido and Mt Kilimanjaro towering up all around you, on the Kilimanjaro Elephant Safari, run by Kaskazi Horse Safaris. Six of your seven nights are spent in a luxurious mobile camp (white cotton linen, towels and a solar light), with two days spent going in search of elephants. Get ready for some long gallops as you cross the varied terrain, ranging from thick scrublands to the desert flats near the lake. And as the sun sets, you can gather around the bonfire to share the day’s stories.

The damage: from £4,691 per person for seven nights

Find out more: www.inthesaddle.com

For all the latest equestrian sport reports, news and analysis, don’t miss the latest issue of Horse & Hound magazine, out each Thursday

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

After a year of working hard and in need of some sun, He and I decided to take time off and go away, in search of sun, sea and… stables?! We ended up picking a polo holiday, as it’s something I now enjoyed doing too (keeping true to my word, I had invested in some lessons, and He thought that a week of playing every day would bring my game on). Plus, He had always been envious of friends and family who had played abroad, and so He wanted to go now he finally had the chance to.

We chose a beautiful club on the continent, where we could play in the sun and relax with the horses afterwards in a beautiful setting, away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Club chukkas happened three times per week and it would be a wonderful chance to play with the locals. I was so excited — it was my first ever horsey holiday, something I had dreamt of as a girl.

However, as the day to set off came, it was evident things weren’t going to go as planned. Our flight was a painfully early one, and He had been unusually quiet in the car there. He had been working incredibly intense, long days on the run up to the holiday, and I think it had finally taken its toll. He said he felt a bit “tired and under the weather”, and offered to watch the bags while I looked around the duty-free shops, trying to distract myself from my apprehensions about flying.

Once we boarded the flight, He soon become restless, clammy and uncomfortable. I got more alarmed as He hastily grabbed the paper bags from the seats of our entire row, but at this point He was still claiming to be “fine”…

…before proceeding to throw-up on taxi, take-off AND landing, among other times on our short flight, and we became rather unpopular with the other passengers on the row. My previous fears of flying had been swiftly forgotten as I was too busy frantically whispering to him could He “throw up more quietly”, and “please make sure that He doesn’t cause a fuss”. (Looking back this maybe wasn’t the most sympathetic approach but I think He was feeling too green to complain).

The weather when we landed was delightfully hot and the host was there to meet us at the airport. We chatted in the front of the car while He lay, still very green, across the back seats (to be fair to Him, he wasn’t making a fuss or moaning and groaning at all). Our poor host had to stop on the long track to the farm while He vomited yet again. He then crashed out at our accommodation (a gorgeous log cabin in the trees, looking out on the plush green pitch), and I went to explore and meet all the ponies.

Later, our hosts invited us to play in the club chukkas, so I went to check on Him. The call of polo was too strong, and He decided that yes, he would quite like to join in with chukkas, and was soon tacking up and heading to the field.

Still trying to master the art of polo (that is, travelling at speed, swinging a long mallet in the right direction, actually making contact with ball AND ensuring said ball travels along a vaguely helpful trajectory, without doing injury to yourself, any players or most importantly, any ponies) meant that I was too busy to notice His relative absence from the game. Usually, He would have been up front scoring goals and hassling the opposition.

Instead, He had turned from green to a worryingly washed-out grey, and the instructor sent Him off after the first chukka as he didn’t want to risk Him being a health hazard (to himself or the other players).

I carried on playing for the afternoon, and helped strip down the horses as well as skipping out and feeding them. It was lovely doing evening stables in the heat and a perfect finish to a wonderful day. As I popped into the cabin to check on him and make a start on supper, I found him passed out cold. I had an inkling then that He wouldn’t be up to help me get the ponies out at 6am!

Continued below…

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I’m pleased to say that after some R&R and and pure country air He soon recovered and was able to make the most of our time away. And, I knew He was ready to help with the mucking out again when he mercilessly tackled me in front of the goal during chukkas a few days later, denying me my first goal of the holiday!

One surprising benefit was that He felt so guilty about “sacking off” for those first couple of days that my doing one evening stables in the gorgeous balmy heat somehow turned into numerous nights of Him offering to muck out solo back in England, often in the freezing rain — a bit of a win-win for me!

HH

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Extendable stirrups, water bottles and padded breeches — H&H’s Aimi Clark spent four days riding in glorious Hungarian countryside, but with a little foresight she could have been better prepared. Here are her top six things to consider before jetting off on horse riding holidays…

1. Be able to mount from the floor

If your everyday riding involves using a mounting block, you need to get practising from the floor. My ride dismounted at every water stop to give the horses a short break, and sometimes there aren’t any handy banks around to help remount. By the fourth day, my aching body tricked my brain into thinking that my horse Akarot, a 16.2hh Hungarian Warmblood, was a giant. One savvy member of my group took an extendable stirrup with them – genius.

2. Take a water bottle

Riding becomes surprisingly hard work when you’re thirsty, so a reusable bottle you can attach to the saddle is a must. Water stops were frequent, but being able to take regular small sips keeps thirst at bay and makes temperatures in the high twenties easier to cope with.

3. Wear padded breeches

Trust me, saddle sores are not fun. Take a few pairs of breeches and make sure your boots or gaiters are tried and tested for long periods in the saddle.

4. Take your own hat

Hats aren’t always given as standard in other countries, and your own is more comfortable anyway. So make room for yours in your luggage — it also offers some protection from the sun.

5. Protect yourself

While on the topic, don’t forget to pack sun cream — and a lightweight rain coat means you’re prepared for any weather. Until the day I arrived, Hungary was wet but warm, becoming very hot for the duration of my holiday. You don’t want to be that nuisance rider asking to borrow sun cream and sunburnt faces aren’t a good look. Light, long-sleeved tops are worth packing too, as arms scratched by branches aren’t pretty either.

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6. Be prepared to fall in love

Four days riding Akarot led to a tearful farewell but what an adventure we had to reflect on. These horses become your best friend, so take plenty of pictures to look back at.

Don’t miss our horse riding holidays special in the current issue of Horse & Hound magazine (16 February 2017) to read all about riding in Hungary as well as the top sights for horse lovers in Kentucky

Aimi travelled to Hungary with www.ridingtours.hu

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

When H&H's racing editor Hannah Lemieux set off around Kentucky in search of the best equestrian attractions, it was the American jargon and terminology that left her a little confused...

1. Backside

No, this doesn’t refer to a person’s rear, it is actually the phrase used to describe behind-the-scenes at a racecourse — usually where all the resident racehorses are stabled — and tracks will offer ‘backside tours’ to visitors.

2. Off-track racehorse

The phrase they use to describe a thoroughbred who has finished his racing career — in other words, an ex-racehorse.

3. Hot walkers

Racehorse trainers employ people specifically to walk-off the horses after exercise and racing, to allow the racehorses to cool down. Those hired are usually paid per horse they walk-off.

4. Work out

Not a reference to a sweaty session in the gym, this is the term used for ‘riding out’ racehorses as we would say. Although, depending on what horse you’re riding out, it could be a work out in itself I guess…

5. A colony of jockeys

The phrase commonly used in the American racing industry to describe a group of jockeys — which makes them sound more like some kind of tribe…

6. Horse

If a racehorse is no longer a colt (over the age of four) and is still entire but it is yet to begin his breeding duties as a stallion, he is simply referred to as a ‘horse’.

7. Trailer

Long, awkward-looking things that are used to transport horses and are pulled by big American trucks. You would be pushed to find a horsebox (as we know it) in America. You certainly wouldn’t catch me attempting to drive this beast of a vehicle.

8. Tailgating

Many racegoers will enjoy a ‘tailgate’ party during big race meetings in the USA. It is a popular social occasion and takes place in racecourse carparks around the open tailgate of a vehicle. People bring food and drink to share among friends.

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9. Prep race

The name given to qualifying runs for the big races, for example the Kentucky Derby.

10. Wagering

A term used instead of ‘gambling’ — at the races they have wagering windows where racegoers can place their bets.

11. Grits

Popular in this area of the USA, grits is a main-course side dish made from corn. It is boiled to create a texture similar to mashed potato.

12. Bluegrass region

The northern area of Kentucky that was nicknamed so because of the blue-flowered Poa grass that grows there.

Don’t miss our horse riding holidays special in tomorrow’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (16 February 2017), where our racing editor Hannah Lemieux travels around Kentucky to suss out the best equestrian attractions

Hannah travelled with ‘America As You Like It’, which has a seven night holiday to Kentucky from £1,535 per person, including return flights from Heathrow to Louisville with United, seven days fully inclusive car hire, two nights at the 21c Museum Hotel, two nights at the Gratz Park Inn in Lexington and three nights at the Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg. Visit: www.americaasyoulikeit.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Forget large military 4x4 vehicles or helicopters — Struan Chisholm and Calum Nicoll recount their experience of crossing south-eastern Kyrgyzstan by horse (and the challenges they encountered along the way...)

Kyrgyzstan. Tucked between Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and China, few could place it on map. But those who have had the privilege of travelling there know it is a stunning country, with lush green plains and jagged, snow-capped peaks.

We were a team of six: Calum, Struan, Sandy, Mark, Sam and Neil. Most of us had been adventuring together since our school days in Inverness. This trip was planned to combine mountaineering (which we knew) and riding (which only one of us had experienced prior to the expedition).

Where better than Kyrgyzstan for combining horses and mountains?

It’s said that the Kyrgyz are born on horseback. It is a land of nomads and yurts. Glaciers, icy rivers, thunder storms, climbing, loose rock, ice axes, stirrups — and dried meals.

Most expeditions to the Kyrgyz mountains use large military 4×4 vehicles or helicopters, so by taking horses, we were pioneering a new approach. The only information we could find about our target mountain range stated “the range is barely explored… There are about 50 unclimbed peaks over 4,000m”. It was about 90km of riding from the nearest road. Perfect.

So, in July and August 2016, we rode across south-eastern Kyrgyzstan on horseback, exploring the little-known Djenghi-Djer mountain range and climbing first ascents of the snowy peaks, reaching as high as 4,436m.

Here is what we learnt…

1. Horses are the mode of transport for mountaineering expeditions

Logistically, the horses were hugely beneficial. The advantages over motor or foot transport were numerous. Riding allowed us to access the mountains quickly and with great flexibility, averaging between 5km/hr and 8km/hr, with no breaks, covering terrain which could not be covered on foot (for example crossing rivers in spate) or by vehicle (for example right up to the foot of the moraine). Rather than draining energy and time on long approaches, we conserved both for ascents. We were able to strike and saddle the entire base camp within two hours, to relocate it or retreat in case of emergency. This speed would not have been possible had we used an expedition vehicle or helicopter, which would usually have to be arranged in advance.

2. Horses aren’t good ice climbers

Mountaineers traversing ice and snow use crampons (blades) on their boots, to avoid slipping. Horse shoes didn’t give the horses enough purchase to make progress over glaciers. Although very sure-footed, they were largely confined to below the scree level and had to be led over moraines.

3. Kyrgyz horses : the energy premium

One of us had a horse which exceeded all the others in its capacity to cause trouble. This horse (‘Red Bull’) left the others trailing in the dust on a gallop, and brimmed with energy to the extent that it was hard to stop it once it broke into a canter. On the last day of riding, this horse made one last break for freedom — galloping straight at the heavily armed military checkpoint. The horsemen told us to be careful with this horse, as it was worth 10 times as much as the others.

4. Never, ever ride in mountaineering boots

One of our horses sat down on the plain, rolled over on its rider before he could get off, and then bolted, dragging the rider along for several metres and kicking him repeatedly. The rider, Neil, was wearing mountaineering boots and was unable to slip his foot swiftly out of the stirrup. We learnt by experience the importance of wearing riding boots or footwear with a heel and smooth sole, rather than mountaineering boots, while riding.

5. Watch out for stray hooves

As all regular horse riders know, you should be complacent around horses. One evening after dismounting, a horse decided to try and take a bite out of another – the other one reacted and sent one of us flying with its rear hoof!

6. Watch out for biting insects

One morning as the sun rose after several days of rain, we were swarmed by flies, cleggs and other biting beasties. We learned the hard way to prevent biting insects from landing on the horses (after being bucked off…)

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7. Beware of wolves

While not a threat to groups of people, the Kyrgyz wolves certainly spooked our horses when they paced close to us as we rode one day. More often, you’ll just hear them howling in the distance.

8. Horses sweat heavily at altitude

Remember that if you’re breathless at altitude, your horse will be breathless, too. Sweat was pouring off the horses even when ascending at a slow pace in the thin air above 3,500m. Allow more time for the horses to have water and grass rests.

9. Kyrgyz riding involves multi-tasking

We watched in awe as a local Kyrgyz farmer perched on his horse reached down into a stream, whilst hanging on with his legs wrapped round the saddle, and snatched a fish with his bare hands. We weren’t able to reproduce this feat…

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Toblerone, a donkey wearing a sombrero and a bottle of questionable spirits — all things you may consider classic holiday trinkets. But two ladies have brought home some much larger “souvenirs” to remember their Spanish horse riding holiday — a pair of Andalusian horses.

Friends of 30 years Sara Llewellyn and Sue Whitehouse, who kept their horses together for many years, had long-discussed going on a trail riding holiday.

“We always said we wanted to ride a trail and stay in different places along the way, but we never got round to it — life got in the way,” Sara told H&H.

Last year, Sue moved back closer to Sara again and they decided to “just do it” and booked a riding holiday through the Pyrenees through Venture Co for this summer.

“We didn’t go out there with the idea of buying a horse at all — I wasn’t looking for anything!” said Sara.

“After the first day we fell in love with our horses and as the week progressed we bonded with them even more.”

The horses were not for sale, but part-way through the week the pair made enquiries.

“I think [our guide] kept an eye on us to see how bonded with the horses we were,” she said.

“I texted my husband and said ‘I have fallen in love with a Spaniard’.

“Eventually I let slip that it had four legs and I think he was a bit relieved.”

During the holiday they rode across varied terrain and even swam with the horses.

“The horses were fabulous and they looked after them really well,” she said.

“Every time we stopped the horses were cared for first.

“We just had the most fantastic time — we went through the Pyrenees and were in the saddle for around eight hours a day. Sudocrem and Deep Heat were our best friends!”

On returning to the UK, the pair kept in touch with the guides and the horses’ previous owners.

Sara then made contact with one of her friends, who runs an international horse transport company, and arranged for the pair — Lucero and Llampec —to be brought to Britain.

Article continues below…

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“We came home and told everybody that we were buying the horses and they all told us we were bonkers,” said Sara.

“The whole thing seemed to run really smoothly — I was completely amazed.”

They were given all the details of the route, the lorry, the driver and his qualifications and the horses arrived safe and well at their new Somerset home in September.

Sara said they are being carefully managed and are settling to the way of life in the UK.

The pair have started hacking them out and are hoping to enjoy some riding club activities with them.

“They are beginning to show their real characters now,” Sara added.

So is Sara glad she decided to bring her four-legged Spaniard home from her holiday?

“Absolutely!”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A pony trekking company in the Scottish Highlands that has been dogged by controversy has lost its licence for long-distance trail riding.

Highlands Unbridled, which operates out of the Northwilds centre near Tain, is the only company in the area to carry out the long-distance treks, which attract clients from as far afield as Canada and the US.

The company’s owner Jan O’Neill was told by the Highland Council’s licensing committee on Wednesday (7 December) that she could no longer undertake the the long-distance rides following concerns about bio-security, staff training and a lack of adequate back-up support.

She was however granted a provisional licence for three months to carry out local hacking and lessons from the centre.

The Press and Journal reported that Mrs O’Neill was “relieved” to have had the provisional licence approved.

“I think we need to be very grateful we have got the licence and it will give us the chance to sit back, regroup, get things sorted out properly in Tain and then see where it leads from there,” she said. “I’m quite hopeful about getting back to the long distance riding eventually.”

The committee based its decision on a report from vet Charlotte Fraser following an inspection in November. The report noted that a number of the horses were mildly lame when trotted up, while several required the attention of a farrier.

She added that on a previous inspection in September, several of the animals had evidence of saddle sores — a situation that had been exacerbated by a lack of ‘spare’ horses.

“The Highlands Unbridled business model requires a highly unusual level of activity and presents exceptional challenges to the operator,” the report said. “My conclusion… is that I cannot be assured of the standard of management.”

The committee also heard 16 objections to the granting of a licence from members of the public and other local riding organisations.

Ruaridh Ormiston — a successful Highland pony breeder whose family established the area’s first trekking stables in 1952 — was among those who voiced his concerns.

“I think the reason we’ve got involved in objecting is because of the damage it’s doing to tourism and Highland riding,” he said. “Myself and other people aren’t complaining because it’s competition — we’re only objecting because we didn’t want our industry damaged by her reputation.

“It’s not just the commercial concerns – we are also concerned about the horses’ welfare.”

H&H was unable to contact anyone from Highlands Unbridled for comment.

Highlands Unbridled suffered a strangles outbreak in August this year, which led to local equestrian businesses shutting their doors and caused them to question the company’s bio-security measures.

In 2015, the business had to move from Brora, 20 miles away, and reapply for a licence after their landlord’s Sutherland Estates said they were planning to sell.

While at the premises, the trekking company had been embroiled in a lengthy planning feud over access to the nearby A9 road with Highland Council.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

H&H tries out The William Cecil in Stamford — a quirky, luxury hotel a stone's throw from Burghley Horse Trials

As a person who gets more excited about Burghley Horse Trials than about Christmas, I jumped at the chance to try out the closest hotel you could possibly get to the big event.

Having grown up just down the road from the fabulous four-star it has always been a highlight of the year.

Even going back to school after the summer holidays never seemed too bad as, if you were quick enough, it was very possible to get from classroom to grandstand in time for the final few dressage tests at the end of the day.

The William Cecil (formerly the Lady Anne) backs on to Burghley Park and dates back to the 17th century.

Prosecco on the shuttle bus

The actual entrance to the horse trials itself is a little further round, but never fear as the hotel has its own shuttle service to take you to and from the gate. I was also assured that they always carry prosecco and hot chocolate on board for guests — essential after a hard day’s shopping and spectating.

Each of the hotel’s 27 bedrooms has its own name (I stayed in the ‘9th Earl’) and embody its selling point of “quirky luxury”.

In the spirit of giving an accurate review, I rode two horses and walked the dog on the day of my stay — which I felt was a similar level of outdoor exercise to fighting through the crowded shops and walking the cross-country course — in order to fully test out how suitable the bath was for soaking aching limbs and how comfortable the bed was for weary legs.

Both very much passed the test. The bath was beautifully deep, with lovely White Company toiletries and the huge four-poster bed was extremely comfortable.

Dogs are welcome

Another added bonus about The William Cecil is dogs are very welcome (extra charges do apply).

After a busy day making friends and gobbling up dropped burgers at Burghley, your canine pal can relax in his own dog bed in your room.

There is also a dog room service menu, which includes everything from a bowl of Baker’s Complete (beef or lamb) to a 7oz sirloin steak with gravy and Baker’s sprinkles.

And owners will certainly not go hungry either.

The restaurant (which was recently awarded its second AA rosette) boasts a huge menu.

I tried the smoked salmon to start and the burger — both of which were delicious. The sumptuous breakfast buffet and cooked menu would have been perfect fuel for a long day at the event.

I thought it was particularly nice to see some locally-sourced ingredients on the menu too — Lincolnshire beef; Cropwell Bishop’s blue (cheese); Lincolnshire Poacher (cheese); and batter for the fish and chips made with Rutland Bitter.

The whole place was full of thoughtful touches and nice places to sit. The cosy bar had pictures of Olympian Lord Burghley (David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter) on the walls, the garden looked a perfect place to sit with a G&T and there was even a book about Burghley House in the bedroom.

The staff were friendly and helpful and confirmed that they will make a “pack up” if you did want to take a picnic with you. Oh and wi-fi was free and very fast.

All in all, a lovely, fun place to stay for one of the highlights of the eventing calendar.

A double room cost from around £95. There is a minimum stay of four nights from 31 August or 1 September.

Visit www.hillbrookehotels.co.uk/the-william-cecil

Other places to stay for Burghley Horse Trials (1-4 September):

The George of Stamford, 01780 750750, www.georgehotelofstamford.com

Pop-up tented village, eventfulstays.com

Meadowview Guest House, 01780 762133, www.bedandbreakfast-stamford.co.uk

The Crown, 01780 763136, www.kneadpubs.co.uk/our-pubs/the-crown-hotel

Rutland Terrace B&B, 07454 171269, www.rutlandterracebandb.co.uk

For more information visit: www.southwestlincs.com/stamford-tourist-information

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you're planning on going on a riding safari — don't do anything before taking note of Rose Gamble's ultimate riding safari check list

I’m not sure the feeling of galloping through long, amber grass on horseback — giraffes lolloping alongside, an endless expanse of African sky overhead — can be matched. There are safaris; and there is this.

Okavango Horse has been going since 1986, when founders Barney and PJ Bestelink began guiding groups of friends on horseback through Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Thirty years later, the horse riding holidays company is well and truly established with two camps and a third, fly-camp, running in the high season.

Barney’s herd of horses is 60 strong. The relaxed air of adventure still lingers. Days are spent riding through wild acres of lush, water-wilderness, shallow reed-beds and sparkling floodplains. All that separates you from the wildlife is a few metres of dusty air.

Here are 29 things you should squeeze into your duffel bag as you prepare for a holiday unlike any other:

1. Pack light; air transfers into the bush tend to be in small air craft with a weight restriction of 20kg per person. A soft, holdall bag which can be crammed into the corners of a tiny Cessna is ideal.

2. You’ll need at least two pairs of jodhpurs along with t-shirts or shirts in khaki or neutral colours. Avoid white; it stands out in the bush and catches the animals’ eyes. It’s best not to catch a buffalo’s eye…

3. I took my short boots and chaps. When the flood waters are up you’ll get wet feet. Go for leather rather than suede chaps to avoid getting waterlogged.

4. Take as many pairs of socks as you can stuff into your bag. Wet feet are par the course of splashing about in flood waters.

5. Suntan lotion: a high factor in a small bottle which you can squeeze into your saddle bag works well.

6. Insect repellent, anti-malarials, anti-histamine. I use travelpharm.com to purchase the anti-malarial Malarone under its trade name at a fraction of the cost. Consult your doctor before you travel.

7. The wet season runs between November and April, though rain, in reality, is seldom. Or at least in comparison to our British weather, it’s seldom. Pack a parka just in case.

8. Muscle rub. You’ll spend six hours a day or more in the saddle. This could be useful.

9. Swim suit. A lot of camps have a swimming pool. Okavango Horses’ Kujwana camp has a small pool overlooking a gold-green plain where the horses graze in the afternoon. A float post-ride is highly recommended.

10. Reading material. If anything was going to send me over the 20kg limit it was this lot. Take a book (one is fine) for siesta hour.

11. Flip flops, espadrilles; something to rest those otherwise-riding- boot-clad feet in.

12. When you’re not riding you’ll head out on a bush walk or, if the water’s up, float amongst the lily-pads in a traditional wooden canoe. Take a pair of trainers or light walking boots.

13. And a knowledgeable guide.

14. Take a torch. Heading back to my tent one starlit evening, a very large grey flank appeared in the beam of my torch. Realising it belonged to an elephant, I returned rapidly to the campfire to wait for it to pass.

15. The day begins at 5.45am. Make yourself a coffee, hop back into bed (temporarily), and watch the pink African dawn creep in bleary tendrils across the sky.

16. Pack your phone and your toothpaste into a monkey-proof box while you’re out riding. Primates have a penchant for swiping nick-knacks out of tents.

17. Fuel your hours in the saddle with freshly baked bread and hard boiled eggs.

18. You’ll receive a riding form when you book your safari. Fill it in; you’ll be matched to a different horse each day, depending on ability and experience. Okavango Horse’s co-founder, Barney, had a magical ability to produce perfect pairings.

19. Fall in love with your horse. The lovely homebred Mabowa, which means mushroom in local dialect, was my favourite.

20. Keep your eyes peeled; you’ll see incredible spectacles.

21. Brush up on your birds. You’ll soon be spotting long-toed lapwings; black-bellied plovers and identifying pale chanting goshawks at 50 paces.

22. Wildlife is unpredictable. Practise looking unconcerned while being charged by an irritated elephant.

23. It’s the lead guide’s responsibility to divert any angry beasts in the opposite direction to guests. A brave guide is a good idea.

24. An armed rider could be useful considering the above. I’m told the trusty shotgun has never actually been used, however.

25. Siesta in the heat of the day. It’s a hard life.

27. Sundowners. Raising a toast to the disappearing sun forms a vital part of the day. Did I mention it’s a hard life? Drinking your G&T on horseback is optional.

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27. When arranging transport for an alfresco supper, consider arriving — and leaving — on horseback. Classy.

28. There are safaris, and there is this. Nothing can quiet prepare you for it.

29. I’d say take your camera, but don’t; just take it all in.

Rose Gamble was a guest of Okavango Horse Safari. Visit okavangohorse.com

Horse & Hound recommends that a hard hat is worn at all times when mounted

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

The fabled horses of Sable Island have a long and somewhat unknown and controversial story, says Lisa Young. Here's all you need to know about them — from how they ended up there, to how they survive today

1. Sable Island is a tiny sand bar, an ecologically sensitive island measuring 42 kilometres long and 1.5 kilometres wide and located 250 kilometres south east of Nova Scotia, Canada.

2. Over the centuries, 350 shipwrecks were recorded off Sable Island until modern navigation was invented. The island gained the name of the Graveyard of the North Atlantic, with many mariners buried among the islands sand dunes.

3. The first known visit was by Portuguese explorers in 1520–21. Crews from American, French and British ships came to the island, intentionally or accidentally. Some came to profit from the shipwrecks. There were attempts to colonise or farm the land, and the French even attempted to house convicts on the island.

4. Along with other animals, the horses were introduced to the island in 1737 by a Boston preacher called Andrew Le Mercier, to provide food for shipwrecked and stranded mariners.

5. In 1760, a Boston merchant called Thomas Hancock introduced 60 more horses to the island. Hancock’s horses are believed to have been confiscated from expelled Acadians; they were French settlers who lived in Acadia, what is known today as Canada’s Maritime Provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

6. It is believed that the horses wandering the island today are most likely descendants of horses that were seized by the British from the Acadians during their expulsion from Nova Scotia in the late 1750s and 1760s.

7. Hancock planned to develop a livestock business on the remote sand bar with horses, sheep, cows, goats and pigs. The idea was to let the animals take care of themselves, reproduce, and increase in numbers before being sold off at market. However, the idea was abandoned and only the horses survived long term under the tough weather conditions.

8. In 1801 a lifesaving station was built to help save mariners from the perils of the sea. The horses were put to work and used to pull lifeboats to and from the water, and they were ridden along the island’s shore looking for ships in distress. A lighthouse was built, and later a weather station introduced.

9. Today, just a handful of researchers and Parks Canada staff live a few months at a time on the island. Not many people get to the island due to its inaccessibility and geographical remoteness. The complex and dynamic currents, heavy fog and constant wave action batter the island from all directions daily. These elements keep visitors to a minimum.

10. The island is accessible by boat or by private plane that is small enough to land on a thin stretch of beach. You cannot sleep on the island and approximately 50 to 250 visitors a year make it across the tricky waters to see the wild horses.

11. Parks Canada is now the appointed custodian of the horses and fully protected by law.

12. Nothing originated on the island. The only terrestrial mammals living here are 550 feral horses — this figure fluctuates each year.

13. The horses have never received modern veterinary care, antibiotics or other medicine.

14. Back in the 1950s biologists reported that the horses were destroying the islands sensitive ecology. Plans were made by the Canadian government to remove them to the mainland where they would be used as pit ponies in mines, or destined for slaughterhouses. The news hit the papers and Canadian school children wrote protest letters to their Prime Minister and eventually swayed the government to save the horses, even changing the Canadian Shipping Act. “No person shall, without having first obtained written permission, molest, interfere with, feed or otherwise have anything to do with the ponies on Sable Island.”

15. People often refer to the wild horses as ponies due to their small size (approximately 14 hands high), which is due to the lack of nutrients. However, they have a horse phenotype and an ancestry of horses only.

16. Rain seeps through the sand until it meets salt water. Fresh water floats on top of salt water and the horses know where to dig in the sand until small pools of water fill the hole. There are fresh water pools on the island too and this is a lifesaving source for the horses.

17. The horses’ manes are so long and wild looking they touch the ground, while their tails drag along the ground and their hooves grow long and sometimes turn up.

18. They have very thick and shaggy coats and are well adapted to the conditions of Sable Island.

19. The horses adapted to their conditions and eat coarse Marram grass and its been reported they have been seen eating seaweed.

20. The horses grow fat in the summer months, but in the winter they become lean.

21. Because there is a lot of sand in the grass and in their diet generally, it wears down their teeth over the years and some older horses starve because they can’t feed properly. The average age of the Sable Island horses is between 5 to 10 years of age, short for a horse.

22. Some argue that leaving the horses on the island is cruel and they digest sand from the grass, and that the horses were brought to the island’s inhospitable environment where they have such short odds, and they should be removed to the mainland. They have adapted to the islands conditions, and are a recognised breed and considered wild horses.

23. Around 40 to 50 small herds roam the island. The herd consists of a stallion, a few mares and young, and possibly young colts, but they are kicked out of the herd when it is time to mate.

24. Some people acknowledge the horses don’t belong on the island, yet admire the fact they survived so long without human help.

25. They have survived for 250 years against all odds and without human interference.

26. The horses share the island with the worlds largest grey seal colony and various rare birds, and they can often be seen curiously interacting with the seals.

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27. You can visit the island with Adventure Canada, spending four days anchored off the island and sleeping and eating on the ship, with daily visits by zodiac to see the horses and explore the island’s history.

28. To protect the horses, Parks Canada require visitors to keep 50 metres away from them, but if a horse comes up to you, you are advised to slowly move away — but not before taking a photo of the spectacular animal.

29. Questions will always be raised about the welfare of the horses, but for now they roam the sand bar in the Atlantic, where, on a good weather day you’d think you were in the Caribbean.

Getting to Sable Island

Lisa Young travelled with Adventure Canada by ship to Sable Island. To book visit www.adventurecanada.com.

To find out more about exploring Canada visit www.explore-canada.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Self-confessed 'casual city rider' Ploy Radford heads to Wheal Buller Riding School in Cornwall for an intensive riding course — and learns a thing or two along the way...

If I’d been holding a small terrier and wearing red shoes I would have said: “Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” As it was I was in riding boots trying to prevent Colin the horse from taking further chunks out of my arm and what I did say was unprintable. The sentiment still stood though.

Oz in this instance was Wheal Buller Riding School, set in the Mineral Tramways World Heritage Site in Cornwall, and it was the first day of an intensive horse riding holiday course.

A fit of madness, much like the tornado that displaced Dorothy, had driven me to leave casual, arena-based riding in London for the Cornish countryside and three five-hour days of flatwork, jumping, hacking, lunge work, side-saddle and Western riding, in a bid to improve my riding.

I was right when I stood there surveying the rolling green hills dotted with crumbling mining towers while fending off Colin. This was a different riding world to London and I learned a lot on the way about surviving intensive courses if not some equitation…

1. Unless you have a bum like Kim Kardashian, you are going to hurt. A lot

My bum is never going to break the internet like Kim’s. In fact, my seat bones felt like they were broken. And that was just by the middle of the first day.

2. Therefore, you need to ensure you have a comfortable, restive environment for your poor broken body

This means not driving a sporty Mazda or any other very low car. You may look cool with the roof down and your shades on, whizzing down country lanes with your best friend. Not so cool, when once parked, you both literally have to crawl out of the car.

It is also advisable to book accommodation with a bathtub. In fact, if you can, book somewhere with spa facilities.

3. Be aware that there could be smug children, who aren’t apparently in as much pain, nonchalantly reeling off their achievements at the start of class

Don’t worry, horses don’t like smug children either and you will experience a pleasant Schadenfreude when you witness them sailing through the air on multiple occasions.

4. Don’t let an adorably naughty demeanour fool you into taking a horse out for lunch

Or rather, picking them for a day-long hack. Because before you know it, once you’ve stopped for lunch, they’ll have stolen your food and started nibbling you for dessert. And to add insult to injury, they will still have you twisted around their hoof so much you will bite chunks out of an apple and spit them out onto your hand for them to eat. So pack a knife (for the apple, not the horse).

5. Pack plenty of spare clothes

In light of the aforementioned poor table manners as well as the intensive activity, it really will help to have lots of spare clothes. Eau de slobber with added chunks of mushed up grass smeared across clothing combined with your own sweat will cause even horses to shy away from you.

6. Side-saddle is not for the faint-hearted

I doff my riding hat (although once safely off a side saddle) to the ladies of centuries past. Walking proved problematic enough, however, trot caused all manners of shrieks as I clung on for dear life. Trying to shimmy your arse against gravity is no mean feat (although maybe a good toning technique?).

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7. It’s not all about being on the horse

Dotting solid ground-based activities throughout your intensive schedule will provide a very useful respite. Grooming and tacking up for instance, or learning to lunge. Doing these will not only help you feel like a more competent horseman/woman — well when the horse doesn’t fart at you to signal how unimpressed he is that you’ve dropped all the tack — but your body will thank you.

Ploy was riding at Wheal Buller Riding School, Buller Hill, Redruth, Cornwall. The per day cost of an adult riding holiday if you live out is £90, which includes five hours of riding. Visit www.cornishridingholidays.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Can’t afford a luxurious safari holiday in Tanzania or a swanky ranch trip to Texas? Never mind, there are some great home-grown horse riding holidays right on your doorstep — and even better, you can take your own horse…

The New Forest

Burley Rails Cottage

Nestled under the lee of a hill, surrounded by cool, shady woods and purple moorlands, Burley is a haven for nature lovers and horse riders alike. One of the few New Forest villages that still follows the traditional practice of commoning — allowing livestock to graze on the open forest — and with a colourful history including smugglers, witches and dragons, there’s a timeless quality to this sleepy little village. Built in 1811 as a woodman’s cottage, Burley Rails Cottage is the perfect base from which to explore the whole forest on horseback. Guests have a choice of a double or single room, with the use of a small lounge and kitchen with washing machine. There are two modern stables with individual yards, tackroom and turnout paddocks available for your four legged friends. You can ride straight out into 144 square miles of forest, with no need to go near a road. What more could you want?

Cost for you: £40 per night

Cost for your horse: £15 per night

Website: www.burleyrailscottage.co.uk

The Lake District

Holmeshead Farm

If you want to get your horse fit with some hill-work, the Lake District is the place to visit. It’s also stunning all year round, from the pink heathers of autumn to the snow-capped peaks in winter. Near the popular town of Ambleside, which offers a great choice of shops, cafes and restaurants as well as the watersports facilities of Lake Windermere, Holmeshead Farm is a traditional sheep farm, with a postcard-perfect farmhouse that dates back to the 17th Century. The farm offers easy access to miles of bridleways, with beautiful riding through green valleys and forests up to 3,000 feet above sea-level. After a hard day’s riding, relax in the garden and enjoy the views over tranquil peaks and lakes. Stabling and grazing is available so your horse can relax too.

Cost for you: £90 per room per night

Cost for your horse: £12 per night

Website: www.holmesheadfarm.co.uk

The Cotswolds

Foxhill B&B

The Cotswolds is the largest area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales, with 790 square miles of unspoilt countryside just waiting to be explored — on horseback, of course. Tucked away in the picturesque village of Naunton, seven miles from Stow-on-the Wold, Foxhill was originally a coaching inn, dating back to 1730. These days, it retains its horsey heritage, offering accommodation to horses, with two stables and turnout available, as well as a choice of charming rooms with en-suite bathrooms for guests. There is direct access to the rooms from the garden (so no problem if you want to check on your horse in the middle of the night), and a delicious breakfast is taken in the conservatory, with views out over the paddock so you can watch your horse enjoying his breakfast too. Dogs are also welcome.

Cost for you: From £45 per night

Cost for your horse: £15 for one night, £12 if staying for more than one

Website: www.foxhill.me.uk

The Brecon Beacons

Cwmfillo Rhulen

In the heart of the rolling Radnorshire hills, with its mystical Arthurian connections, trickling brooks and ancient earthworks, Cwmfillo Rhulen is a true horse-lovers haven. Not only can you set straight out from the farm and ride for miles along bridleways and across hills and moors, but it’s conveniently situated for the Royal Welsh Showground, which hosts a load of horsey events including the Royal Welsh Show and the Welsh Cob Sales. Guests start their day with a cooked breakfast including organic eggs from the farm’s rare breed hens, and the horses are equally spoilt — facilities include well-appointed stables, under-cover grooming area, a tack room, 24x44m all weather arena, jumps, turnout and ample parking. The hosts can also help you plan a three-day ride, with pub stops for lunch or a packed lunch provided. You can be as chilled or as adventurous as you choose.

Cost for you: From £33 per night

Cost for your horse: £15 for the stable, £18 to include turnout.

Website: www.cwymfillo.co.uk

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Exmoor National Park

Hollamore Farm

Ever dreamt of riding your horse along three miles of golden, sandy beach, the waves lapping gently round his hooves? Or galloping across ancient moors with their herds of native ponies and wild red deer? With the unique National Park of Exmoor on its doorstep, and the horse-friendly beach of Westward Ho! a short distance away, Hollamore Farm, near Barnstaple, can offer you just that. The equine facilities are fab, with maps provided for those wanting to hack out, an all-weather arena, heated tack room, communal barn and ample parking. From a human perspective (that counts too!), the 18th Century Devon farmhouse is delightfully relaxing place to stay, offering beautifully-decorated rooms, a roaring log fire and great food. With its mini zoo of alpacas, ponies, rabbits and goats, it’s also a fantastic venue for kids — in fact, what’s not to love for people of any age?

Cost for you: £45 per person per night

Cost for your horse: £10 per night/£60 per week

Website: www.northdevonlivery.co.uk

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If you're looking to boost your riding with some expert tuition and succumb to full-on luxury in one fell swoop, Lucknam Park in Wiltshire could be the answer...

The equestrian facilities

Lucknam Park is home to 35 horses, as well as a 60x20m arena and an extensive cross-country course, under the management of Dawn Cameron. All abilities are catered for with livery, breaking-in and schooling services offered as well, plus clinics with Richard Waygood and Stephen Hadley.

If all you’re really after is a chance to get out in the fresh air and enjoy the scenery from a horse, this is the place. The hotel is nestled amid 500 acres of stunning Wiltshire parkland — perfect for long summer jaunts, or brisk winter hacks.

The bedrooms

Kick back in one of Lucknam Park’s beautiful, well appointed rooms, each of which is individually styled with traditional touches mingled with modern comforts. Choose from cosy Classic rooms, spacious Garden or Park rooms, or indulge in a sumptuous suite. From £290 per night.

The bathrooms

After an intensive lesson or a long ride, what could be better than sinking into a huge bathtub with a glass of champagne, or whatever post-riding refreshment takes your fancy? The bathrooms here are seriously luxurious, with a marble finish and steaming rainfall showers, plus fluffy bathrobes and slippers to ease yourself into afterwards.

The food

Slow roasted pork belly, Brecon lamb two ways, Scottish scallops — the food on offer at Lucknam Park has our tummies rumbling. Refuel in the elegant, Michelin-starred Park restaurant, or head to the Brasserie for a more relaxed experience.

If you haven’t succumbed to a food coma after dinner, enjoying coffee and chocolates by the fire in the library might just do the trick. There are also board games for those with energy left.

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The spa

Lucknam Park’s newly-refurbished, extensive spa complex is just the ticket when it comes to soothing your aching muscles, and happily, it is just a stroll away across the pretty courtyard. Choose from a huge list of treatments, or simply relax in the 20m pool and assortment of themed thermal cabins.

It would be a shame to have to choose between lounging outside or enjoying the spa on a warm summer’s day. Lucky, the spa opens out into the gardens, with an indoor and outdoor hydrotherapy pool, salt water plunge pool and sun terrace. Never has riding been this relaxing.

Don’t miss our horse riding holidays special in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (18 February 2016), where H&H’s Briony Reed heads to Portugal to brush up on her dressage in the sun

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

If hacking through the Welsh hills or donning a cowboy hat for a ranch holiday isn’t go to cut it for you, take a look at these unusual destinations for horse riding holidays.

1. Jamaica

There’s a whole lot more to Jamaica (pictured above) than jerk chicken, Usain Bolt and reggae music — and swimming with horses is just one of them. At the Half Moon Equestrian Centre in Montego Bay on the north side of the island, a short ride will take you down to a quiet bay, where you can ditch your breeches in favour of a bikini and ride bareback into the sea. Not your average equestrian experience…

Price: from £1,535 per person including flights for seven nights at the Half Moon Resort

Visit: www.caribtours.co.uk, www.horsebackridingjamaica.com and halfmoon.rockresorts.com

2. Peru

Follow in the footsteps of Spanish conquerors in Machu Picchu, riding high in the mountains of Peru, exploring the Sacred Valley and following the Inca Trail through The Andes.

Price: from £2,260 per person for 10 days

Visit: www.equestrian-escapes.com

3. Romania

Take a step back in time and head to Romania, where a horse and cart is still a common mode of transport. Riding in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in Transylvania you’ll pass through beautiful scenery, passing majestic castles and medieval towns, spotting wildlife along the way.

Price: from £631 for seven nights

Visit: www.inthesaddle.com

4. Colombia

Get a true Latin American experience riding from hacienda to hacienda in central Colombia through the mountain landscapes of the Cordillera Oriental, crossing the desert of La Candelaria and pulling through Cundinamara to the tropical province of Santander.

Price: from £1,345 for seven nights

Visit: www.farandride.com

5. Finland

A horse and husky safari in the wilds of Levi will take you along snowy roads, through wild forests, past lakes and over the hills and fells. You’ll ride hardy Finnish horses through the crisp snow and drive your own team of Husky dogs on an overnight safari.

Price: from £1,545 for seven nights

Visit: www.unicorntrails.com

6. Namibia

Put yourself to the test with a 10 night desert ride in central Namibia — not one for the faint hearted. During the trip you’ll take in the Khomas Hochland mountains, the Kuiseb Canyon, the Tinkas, Tumas and Welwitschia plains, Moon Valley, the seasonal Swakop River and the coastal dunes of the Atlantic Ocean.

Price: email info@ranchrider.com for details

Visit: www.ranchrider.com

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7. India

Looking to wrap culture and riding up in one exotic trip? Head to Rajasthan, visiting Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur along the way, staying in a colourful mix of hotels, castles, camps and fortresses. Your mount for the trip will be a Marwari, a mix of the indigenous Indian horse and Arabs found only in the North of India, with their curly ears to protect them from the sand.

Price: from £1,540 for 13 nights

Visit: www.zarasplanet.com

Don’t miss the travel special in this week’s issue of Horse & Hound magazine (18 February 2015), where H&H‘s Briony Reed gives her dressage a boost in Monte Velho, Portugal and we take an equestrian break at Lucknam Park in Wiltshire

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Distract yourself from mud-encrusted turnout rugs, frozen water buckets and schools too frosty to ride on with these epic, summery, luxury horse riding holidays…

Game for anything

If you don’t think ‘camping’ and ‘luxury’ are two words that can ever go together, then you clearly haven’t been on this eight-night Masai Mara safari (pictured above). You’ll never have seen tents like them before, with luxury Egyptian cotton sheets, hot water bottles, beautiful tables with mirrors and sinks, handmade soaps, and tea and coffee delivered to your bedside table every morning. Plus, there’s a fully stocked bar, amuse bouche before dinner and three-course meals all freshly prepared. That’s before we’ve even started on the riding — your wonderful and knowledgeable guide Gordie will lead you across open plains, past big game including zebras and elephants, on sure-footed steeds. Riding quality, well-schooled horses with beautifully fitted English leather tack (they even have custom made numnahs to ensure their comfort), you’ll be in equestrian heaven.

Cost: From £6,120 per person

Visit: www.farandride.com

Ride on, cowboy!

Set on what was once a billionaire’s playground, at Montana’s Ranch At Rock Creek, exclusivity ‘reins’ at this five star ranch. A cross between a country manor and wilderness retreat, the 6,600 acre property near Phillipsburg is a major draw for celebrities, with past guests including Lee Ann Rimes, Gwyneth Paltrow and Gwen Stefani. The undulating alpine meadows, sage brush hillsides and slow weaving trails are just begging to be enjoyed on horseback, and you can work on your western skills in the arena with lessons in barrel racing, pole bending and roping. Afterwards, the Granite Spa will banish any saddle sores. Sleep in the Deluxe Trapper Tent, half wood cabin and half ‘safari style’ canvas — and after feasting on gourmet western fare in the Granite Lodge, you can cosy up around the wood burning stove and listen to the relaxing sounds of the rippling stream.

Cost: From £4,605 per person


Visit: www.ranchrider.com

Continued below…

Fancy a change? Try 7 unexpected riding holiday destinations

If hacking through the Welsh hills or donning a cowboy hat for a ranch holiday isn't go to cut it

Migrate south

Travel to the Singeta Grumi Reserve, Tanzania in June or September and you’ll join an exclusive club of travellers lucky enough to witness the epic migration of two million wildebeest, as well as big cat sightings, elephants, giraffes and monkeys. You can choose a lodge-based safari or intimate tented accommodation — all holidays are tailor-made exclusively for small groups of two or more, and either way, you can be assured of old-fashioned opulence. The riding is relaxed with the opportunity for some fast canters. Seriously – what’s not to love?

Cost: From £5,009 per person

Visit: www.inthesaddle.com

Stick it

If you’ve ever read Jilly Cooper’s Polo (and if you haven’t, you really should) then you’ll have dreamed of playing polo in an Argentine estancia yourself. So why not make that dream a reality? Los Potreros was voted one of the top 100 hotels in the world in Sunday Times Travel Magazine in 2010, so a luxury and stylish stay is assured — with great local wine, of course. Spend two to three hours learning how to stick and ball, with a mini-tournament at the end of the week, and your afternoons relaxing, swimming or sightseeing. Now all we need is our very own Angel…

Cost: From £2,295 per person

Visit: www.unicorntrails.com

Ooh-la-laaaaah!

Ride, spa and wine — could there be any words that go together better than those? (Just adding ‘cake’ at the end would make it truly perfect!) Not only that, but you’ll be staying in a castle, in Tuscany — this holiday really does have it all. With four days of riding, you can choose between lessons and hacking round beautiful trails once used by Italian outlaws — whatever suits you. Afterwards, relax in the pool or just soak in the sun and stunning scenery. Breakfast and dinner are included, as is a trip to the local natural spa and winery — and there’s even the option of a two hour Italian cookery lesson. Fabulous!

Cost: From £850 per person

Visit: www.equestrianescapes.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Fancy a horsey mini-break this autumn? Whether you want to escape the wind and cold for sunnier climes, or enjoy breathtaking UK hacks through falling red leaves, there are plenty of horse riding holidays that will take your fancy…

Hacking heaven

If the British countryside in autumn leaves you tingly, or you don’t have the time or inclination to venture abroad, Equestrian Escapes is running a special offer on their Wiltshire package. Ride through stunning red beech avenues, past ancient Saxon burial mounds, and watch the deer grazing in the park as you hack through Cranbourne Chase, the former home of Guy Richie and Madonna. It’s also the former hunting estate of King John (yes, he of Robin Hood fame), and with an excellent local pub that allows you to tie up outside, offers the perfect relaxing horsey break. You can stay in a beautiful estate cottage or a cosy log cabin, and the package for two nights full board accommodation plus seven hours of riding is just £295pp. There is a single room supplement of £15 per night for solo travellers.

www.equestrian-escapes.com

Go Western

Fancy trying out some cowboy/girl skills — but don’t want to fly all the way to the USA? How about Hungary instead? Kiskunsagi Ranch specialises in breeding and training Appaloosas and Quarter Horses, so you can learn or hone Western skills on a real Western horse, with the help of expert staff. With 60 acres of their own, and situated within a beautiful national park, there’s plenty of great hacking and lovely long canters available. If it rains, you’re sorted because they have an enormous indoor arena — not to mention an indoor jacuzzi, several different types of sauna, a cosy indoor bar and a masseuse on site, for some off-horse pick-me-ups. Available through Far & Ride, it costs £299 per person for the Western weekend from 1November to the end of the year, which includes three nights of twin/double room accommodation (no single supplement for single travellers willing to share), all meals, bottled water and approximately 10 hours riding. Flights are not included, but there are lots of cheap flights to Budapest.

www.farandride.com

Continued below…

Fancy a change? Try 7 unexpected riding holiday destinations

If hacking through the Welsh hills or donning a cowboy hat for a ranch holiday isn't go to cut it

A Portuguese horse fair

Home to some of Portugal’s most famous stud farms, Golega is known as the ‘Capital of Horses,’ and for 10 days in November, the town hosts the world famous Golega Horse Fair. Spend your days watching top competition in all disciplines, or wander round the town filled with horses and riders in traditional Portugese riding dress. It’s said that everyone in Portugal with a horse brings it here for the festival. In The Saddle is offering a special overnight stay on 9-10 November. The package includes transfers from Alcainça to Golegã, one night’s stay in a hotel with breakfast (double room), transfers to and from the Horse Fair, a visit to meet a Lusitano breeder, and guide assistance. It costs £284 based on two people sharing.

www.inthesaddle.com

Dressage divas ahoy

If you’d like to sharpen up your dressage skills while enjoying a relaxing break in some spectacular countryside, In The Saddle also offers a two night/three day break to Monte Velho Stud Farm in the Alentejo, Portugal. Run by Diogo Lima Mayer, an award-winning breeder of Lusitanos, many of which have gone on to perform outstandingly in dressage in Portugal and the rest of Europe, this holiday offers the opportunity to observe the breeding and training programme of competition horses, and to experience some top level dressage training. An understanding of lateral movements as well as basic walk, trot, canter will help you get the most from your tuition. Or you can simply enjoy trail rides through beautiful, tranquil countryside, and relax by watching the instructors training the competition horses. The climate is pretty good too and you should catch a few rays. From £360 per person for full board.

www.inthesaddle.com

Go for a gallop

Squeeze in a long, gorgeous gallop down the beach by taking a trip to Catalonia, Spain, courtesy of Unicorn Trails. Their ‘Catalan Two Beach’ holiday offers five nights, four days and three days of riding — taking in, as the name pretty much gives away, two beaches. You need to be a competent rider, as you’ll be spending four to six hours in the saddle each day, riding across varied terrain, from the snow-capped Pyrenees to glassy lagoons to ancient hilltop villages, returning to the guesthouse each evening for dinner and a well-deserved sleep. It’s low season now, and prices start at £439 per person, for accommodation, riding, meals — and wine. Flights and transfers from Barcelona/Girona are not included.

www.unicorntrails.com

Hunting in Ireland

Ireland is famous — or perhaps infamous — for the fearlessness of its riders out hunting, and Zara’s Planet offers you the chance to experience its legendary hunting country for yourself. Head over to County Galway for two meets in one weekend, with the Roscommon and the Ormond. You’ll find dry stone walls, ditches and hedges to jump. On the first day, you will be matched to the right horse (all Irish hunters from reputable yards) and you can also try your hand at whipping-in. There are lots of opportunities for socialising, too. Needless to say, this four night break is not for the faint-hearted; you’ll need a secure seat and it’s recommended for intermediate to advanced riders only. Prices from £495 per person including B&B and hirelings.

www.zarasplanet.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

What’s that you say? You love active horse riding holidays, but you don’t just want to ride? Gasp! No problem, we’ve sourced a bunch of fabulous holidays for you with fantastic health and fitness options on the side – and you still get your riding fix. The question is, which one to book first…

1. Yoga in North America

Imagine doing your sun salutation overlooking Wyoming’s stunning Platte River Valley and Sierra Madre mountains, then saddling up on a sure-footed quarter horse, and heading off into the upper reaches of the Cowboy State’s back country…Bliss, eh? At the 30,000 acre Brush Creek Ranch & Spa, you can choose from various styles of yoga, the certified instructors having taught at some of the world’s best luxury yoga resorts. If you want to take your health to the next level, book a one-to-one fitness session with a personal trainer. Six nights with Ranch Rider cost from £3,294pp (two sharing) including accommodation, meals, most ranch activities (riding, geo-caching, mountain biking and zip-lining), premium drinks and beverages (including alcohol), taxes and gratuities. Seasonal departures 24 May– 5 Oct. Call Ranch Rider (01509 618 811 or visit ranchrider.com to book.

2. Golf in Tuscany

If you ride and your partner plays golf – or you fancy doing a ride/golf holiday yourself – check out the Italian package offered by Far and Ride. Stay in the grounds of a beautiful 17th Century fairytale palace in leafy Tuscany, famous for its olive groves and enchanting mediaeval hilltop villages, which you can explore on horseback during the day, before returning to the castle for amazing food. The golfing package includes six rounds of golf on the nearby course, suitable for both beginners and experienced golfers. They also have an array of great mountain bikes, including electric ones, and the castle’s owner, Count Antonio, can also guide people as he is a keen cyclist. You can fish and snorkel in nearby Lake Bolsena, Europe’s largest volcanic lake, actually home to the carp fishing world championships.

Prices for the rider/golfer break start at £698 for a week’s half board, including six half days trail riding or two-three hour private lessons, and six golfing days for one. Check out www.farandride.com

Continuned below…

Fancy a change? Try 7 unexpected riding holiday destinations

If hacking through the Welsh hills or donning a cowboy hat for a ranch holiday isn't go to cut it

3. Spa break in Cheshire

For real R&R (riding and relaxation), take a trip to Cheshire. Organised through Equestrian Escapes, you’ll stay at a four-star spa hotel set amongst the rolling Cheshire hills – great hacking country. You can choose between a lesson and a hack during each of your three days, then unwind in the pool, gym or sauna, or treat yourself to one of the luxurious treatments including facials, massage and hot stone therapy. All levels of ability are catered for, and experienced riders have the option of a farm ride with jumps.

Prices start at £300 for two nights B&B including three rides and one treatment; for non-horsey types who just want to chill in the spa, it’s £175 for two nights B&B. Visit www.equestrian-escapes.com for more info.

4. Surfing in Portugal

Portugal is a great year-round destination with some of the best beaches in the world – perfect for surfing and, of course, galloping across on a horse! The Oitavos is an ultra-modern luxury Portugese getaway on the Lisbon coast offering everything from three-day horse-riding breaks (which include a lesson, a beach ride, and two spa treatments) to surfing packages where you can learn to surf in the Atlantic Ocean, or brush up existing skills, with professional surfer Ruben Gonzales. With a great Turkish spa and loads of complementary fitness classes on offer to guests, this place is a health nut’s dream.

Run by Health & Fitness Travel, with prices starting at £910pp, visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com

5. Zip-lining in Morocco

For a North African adventure, explore Morocco on horseback, riding out each day from a stunning eco-hotel perched high in the Atlas Mountains. You’ll see people, villages and a way of life that’s remained unchanged for centuries – like stepping back in time. Back at the hotel, you can relax by the pool – or try one of the many activities on offer including archery, mountain biking, and their fantastic high rope and zip-lining facility. Warning: it’s not for the faint-hearted. (But then again, if you’re on this trip, then you’re probably not lacking in courage.) The riding is for all abilities, but would probably suit more confident riders.

Run by In The Saddle, prices start at £441 for 4 nights, with 4 hours riding per day. Check out www.inthesaddle.com

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now