Horse-riding and pony-trekking
Galloping through the waves or riding bold and free through the trees—what could be better than horse-riding on holiday? If you've ever fancied learning to ride, one possibility might be to do it on a specialized riding holiday. Do such things exist and, if so, where can you try them? Here's our quick look at horse-riding vacations.
Where can I go?
You can take a horse-riding holiday almost anywhere in the UK. A number of hotels and farms have stables attached and can offer you a complete package deal of riding and accommodation for a fixed price. Opting for a ready-made riding holiday like this is the simplest plan. It's a good way to make lots of new friends, but it may not leave you too much time on your holiday to do anything but ride. Maybe that's what you want?
An alternative is simply to find a really scenic place you've always wanted to visit, and where you know there is a reputable stable or riding school, and arrange your accommodation and riding separately. Try to book yourself in for a course of riding lessons or a series of rides well in advance because, if you're planning to go riding in the holiday season, you may find it gets very busy. This second option gives you more freedom to do other things during your vacation.
How safe is it?
If you're arranging a holiday for your children, safety will most likely be uppermost in your mind. Horses and ponies are great for children to ride, but they can seem large and scary! It's important than kids learn how to treat the animals with respect. For example, learning to move quietly and avoid sudden movements, remembering not to stand directly behind the animal. Every good riding school will teach children and adults how to get along with their animals. They even have ladders and steps to help you "climb onboard". All riding schools have a wide range of horses and ponies available and will take pains to find animals that match the size of the riders. If you're worried about your kids, why not go to the riding lessons with them? They could ride a pony; you could take out a horse. There's no better way to supervise their activities than to ride along with them.
How do I learn more about riding?
All riding schools can cater for all levels of
rider, from complete beginner to advanced level. Even if you've never
been on a horse or pony before, you can expect to be up in the saddle
and riding around on your very first session! The school will also
have all the equipment you need. Actually, you need nothing more than
a proper riding hat to protect you in case you should fall and a good
school will be able to provide them in every shape and size.
What do you need to wear? Make sure you're wearing sensible shoes with a heel (walking boots are fine) so you can get a good grip in the stirrups. Long tracksuit bottoms make ideal riding trousers, but jeans are fine too; avoid shorts. If the weather's bad, make sure you take a decent, short waterproof coat—you can't ride a horse and hold an umbrella at the same time!
Like any new activity, there's no real substitute
for getting out there and trying it. But it sometimes helps to read
around your subject before you go so you have at least a basic idea
of what to expect.
The British Horse Society has a good educational website,
including leaflets that explain what you need to know when you're just
starting to ride.
About.com's Horses website offers a good collection of background information, including basic horse and pony care, what to expect from your first lesson, and much more.
Here are a few basic introductory books:
There's another good selection of books at the British Horse
Society Shop.
What does it cost?
One-off riding lessons will cost you in the region of 30-50 pounds (approx 60-100 US dollars) per hour, but you should get a discount for a series of lessons. Package holidays with lessons and accommodation bundled together should work out cheaper still.
What should I buy before I go?
Nothing! Everything you need will be available at the riding school. Don't buy any equipment unless you're sure this is an activity you want to continue with in the longer term.
Some helpful links
- British Horse Society:
Includes a list of approved horse-riding centres
- British Equestrian Federation: Horse-sports governing body for the UK.
A handy tip
If you're looking for accommodation, it really helps to spell it correctly. Lots of people come to this page looking for things like acomodation and accomodation.
At least no-one searches for accomadashun!
