Horse riding holidays in Ireland

By: Virginia Imberti Posted: 29/05/2020

This time, we take you to Ireland, known as the "Emerald Isle" n reference to its emerald green fields, where you can explore its impressive coastline on horseback.

The history of the island is firmly attached to the rocks of its dramatic cliffs and mountains, to the extensive forests, to the golden sands of its endless beaches overlooking the Atlantic and to its ancient villages.

Enjoy a great vacation combining age-old Irish castles and monastic ruins with lovely guided trail rides

The Irish horse

Ireland is the birthplace of the famous Connemara pony, which is native to the region of the same name.

Local horse breeds are world famous for their great adaptation to this rugged terrain. They include the Irish Hunter, Irish Cob and Connemara, without forgetting the Connemara ponies.

Ireland is one of the best places to experience the joys of unbounded countryside riding on its fantastic horses.

Equestrian tourism in Ireland

In Ireland, equestrian tourism is very developed.

Horse riding opportunities in Ireland are diverse and varied, and cater for all levels of rider – from beginners to seasoned equestrians. They can go riding without risk for themselves, nor for the horses they ride. These fabulous horses are specially bred and trained for this activity.

In the northerly end of the island, visit County Donegal, where you can enjoy a wonderful horse riding holiday together with Donegal Equestrian Centre.

Another option is to explore the famed Celtic trails and the unique Burren National Park on horseback. This is where the Irish meet again with their heritage and traditions. The tours organized by Irish Horse Riding are highly recommendable.

Finally, we recommend visiting County Tipperary. A few kilometres from historic monuments and world famous castles, you can find excellent riding trails. Explore them with the guidance of Crossogue House.

We will now introduce you to these three equestrian tourism suppliers so that you can start thinking about your next horse riding holidays in Ireland.

Donegal Equestrian Centre

Donegal Equestrian Centre is situated 1,6 km from the centre of Bundoran in the beautiful North West coast of Ireland. It is the perfect choice for all your horse riding in this part of the island.

As soon as you get here they will tell you “Except for the climate, which is unpredictable in Ireland, everything is scheduled and very well organized for a perfect horseback riding vacation”.

The centre offers instruction in riding, pony camps, beach & trail rides of different duration and suitable for all levels of rider.

They have a wide range of horses and ponies to suit all ages and abilities. Packages can be tailor-made to suit your requirements.

With Tullan Strand, part of the Wild Atlantic Way, on their doorstep and magnificent mountain views within a short distance. Donegal and its neighbouring counties of Sligo and Leitrim give the trail rider an insight into three of the most beautiful and untouched counties of what is known as the wild North West.

The riding programs they offer

They offer a wide selection of horseback trips for all levels of riding. Their horse riding holidays are designed to give you flexibility when customizing your own package.

So, whether it’s a relaxing break away from it all, a chance to improve your riding or jumping technique, a gallop on the beach, a multi-day ride in these beautiful trails or the Pony Camp experience of a life time, Donegal Equestrian Centre is an excellent choice for you. They guarantee an unforgettable experience in a fun and safe environment.

As an example of their services, we will now describe two of their riding packages briefly.

Learn to Ride Package

A three-day program to learn how to ride is ideal for beginners or riders who haven't ridden in years. You will meet your horse, before a gentle ride on the beach and in the following days you will repeat a routine of theory, practice in the arena and rides on quiet trails to practice your new and improved skills.

Accommodation for your two-night stay will be at a local B&B. Or, if you want to book your own accommodation, you can pick their riding only option.

Wild Atlantic Way horse riding

Ride along 3 different beaches that form part of The Wild Atlantic Way. This trail is suitable for intermediate and advanced riders. It is ridden at a medium pace and includes cantering or galloping. Therefore, the rider should be fit enough to spend 4 - 6 hours in the saddle.

Available from 1st February until 1st July, and from 28th August until 4th November.

Please note all accommodation is provided by local B & B's. Bundoran and the surrounding area has plenty of different accommodation types including hotels, hostels and glamping. They will advise you on the option that best suits your personal needs and tastes.

Riding lessons

They run a range of horse riding lessons for adults and children (min. age 4 years) suitable for the complete beginner to the more advanced rider looking to improve their skills. Lessons are available either privately or as part of a group.

Beginner lessons are held in the indoor arena. More experienced lessons take place in the large outdoor arena. After that, riders can go for trail rides to practice what they learned.

Go to their web site and learn more about their Equestrian Tourism options on the magnificent Irish routes and trails: https://donegalequestriancentre.com/

Irish Horse Riding

EThey are situated in the west of Ireland, the westernmost coast in Europe, and the part of Ireland that is less influenced by its neighbour, England.

You can go horseback riding on Celtic trails through historic Co. Galway, Co. Clare and the unique Burren National Park. Get a touch of the true Irish spirit on an Irish horse riding holiday.

In the rural west of Ireland, they are nestled in the rolling hills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains.There you can gaze through the purple-blue haze down to the majestic River Shannon.

Accommodation in a farmhouse

The tastefully restored 300 year-old farmhouse is the heart of the riding centre.

The ambiance of old times gone by is carefully maintained and yet all modern facilities for the riding guests are provided. Their guests can relax in individually decorated ensuite rooms.

In their comfortable dining room, their guests enjoy the hearty Irish breakfast and traditional farmhouse cooking. Sitting by the open turf fire, you will recapture the simplicity and peace of this idyllic setting.

Horse riding programs

They offer mobile or star type rides – you leave from the riding centre, where you are staying, and go horse riding around Sibin.

This is the perfect riding holiday for riders in the heart of the Irish nature. There are equestrian routes and trails suitable for all levels of riding experience.

Their An Sibin Riding Centre is in the rural West of Ireland, just a few kilometres from the little village of Mountshannon with its unique monastic settlement on Holy Island in the Lough Derg.

They are nestled in the rolling hills of the Slieve Aughty Mountains with kilometres and kilometres of riding tracks all around them. This is the perfect setting for a horseback adventure in the most traditional part of Ireland.

Heather covered bog land and extensive woods invite you to discover the beautiful nature on their horses. Over and over again, the rider can enjoy the fascinating views over the majestic river Shannon and the juicy green fields enclosed by kilometres of stonewalls that tell hundreds of stories.

There are lots of beautiful and ancient places to be discovered on horseback day after day: from the remnants of the poteen makers’ cottage to the stately manor houses with their fine walled gardens. The eary Killeens and the perfect example of an Oratory in Clonrush graveyard.

A typical Irish picnic by the gently lapping shores of the Lough Derg is an enjoyable break for rider and horse alike.

The experienced rider can go for daily guided rides, always discovering a new area on little tracks, forest lanes and quiet roads.

The more novice rider will be introduced to the skills of horsemanship in the centre’s arena, and can take part in the basic riding tuition in a relaxed atmosphere. Of course, every novice rider can practice the new skills on safe riding trails near Dolmen, enjoying his/hers new equine friend on hacks through the lovely countryside.

Galway - Clare - Burren Trail Ride Itinerary

For six days, you will be discovering Ireland’s beautiful nature and colourful history on horseback. Your horse will be carrying you from County Galway which is situated in the Midwest of Ireland, westwards through the rural areas of County Clare into the unique Burren region and on to the rough Atlantic coast overlooking the spectacular Cliffs of Moher.

Ireland horseback castle tour

Enjoy a combination of visiting the ancient Irish castles and monastic ruins with lovely guided trail rides through Irish bogs, fields and local farmland.

On this 4-day ride, you will visit the impressive Portumna Castle, which was the seat of the Earl of Clanricarde, and Pallas Castle – one of the best preserved tower houses and castle grounds of the 14th century.

Since these buildings are intact, you will feel that you are travelling back in time. You will also take a boat ride to Holy Island on the river Shannon to explore the ruins of one of Ireland’s most important monastic settlements, and you will ride the horses for lunch to Williamstad House – a beautiful landlord’s residence of the 18th century.

For further information about this beautiful part of Ireland and the rides they offer, please go to their web site: https://www.irishhorseriding.com/

Crossogue Equestrian Centre

Crossogue Equestrian Centre is located in the heart of County Tipperary, famed in Ireland for its unexplored equestrian trails, a few kilometres from world famous important monuments and historic castles.

A warm, relaxed and friendly atmosphere awaits all guests who stay with them at Crossogue house, where the Molloy family have been living and involved with horses for five generations.

They offer separate programs for their adult guests, families and unaccompanied teenage guests.

Horseback riding is a personal challenge and they take time to get to know each guest individually and understand what they want from their holiday, so they can help them achieve their goals.

They provide each guest with a suitable horse, excellent facilities and confidence in a safe and secure environment.

All their horse riding holidays in Ireland are fully inclusive packages, no hidden extras so you can relax and enjoy everything they have to offer at Crossogue.

Their offer is addressed to the horse lovers in a different age and those who want to be surrounded by beautiful nature in horse riding trails. Those who want to enjoy country life with good food and relaxed atmosphere. We will now describe their three equestrian offers.

Teen Camps

For over 25 years, young riders have been an intrinsic part of Crossogue during the summer holiday period.

Being exclusively for their younger visitors at this time, it has a unique atmosphere with many teenagers returning year after year. Their young guests enjoy the change of scenery and the variety of horse riding activities that they’ve come to expect at Crossogue.

As well as improving their riding skills, their younger guests also get to make new friends, enjoy safe independence away from home and of course, have fun! Each year, they accept young guests aged 11-18 and they will receive expert instruction that is carefully tailored to match their ability and experience.

They have excellent horses and ponies for all levels of rider and each guest has their own for the duration of their stay. This gives them the chance to nurture a bond and the confidence to develop their riding skills.

Adult and Family Holidays

At Crossogue House, they specialize in entertaining individuals and small groups/families, who love Equestrian Tourism, from the beginning of April to mid-June, and then from mid-August through to the end of November.

They can cater for all standards of rider due to their range of both excellent horses and facilities.

While they offer tuition in a number of disciplines, their specialty is riding in open countryside and they offer riders of all standards the opportunity to enjoy riding throughout Crossogue farm.

Here, you can find trails with gentle rides for those who want to relax and simply enjoy being on horseback and being part of the nature that surrounds them. For the more adventurous, there are gallops and a diverse range of cross country obstacles all over the farm with lots of challenges for both horse and rider.

With all their riders, they first spend time in the arena. In this way, they can get to know you and you can get to know your horse and develop confidence in the partnership before embarking on the challenges that await.

With their expert instructors and well trained horses in cross-country jumping, you will quickly develop the confidence to tackle their large selection of well-made obstacles for all standards of rider.

Crossogue Stud Farm & Racing

Crossogue is a working horse farm with several thoroughbred broodmares and many of their young stock on the farm. The limestone land of the region is famous for producing quality horses for all disciplines, but their passion has been to produce good steeplechasers over the years.

They sell some of their foals, while others they keep at Crossogue for racing. The horses they keep spend their lives in herds, on rotating pasture throughout the year. This is as one with nature and this allows them to realize their full potential, mentally and physically, before embarking on a career in racing.

Their mares also live outside all the time, just coming in to foal in the spring, before returning to the broodmare herd with their foal.

It is a wonderful part of staying at Crossogue, watching mares and foals grazing on the rolling pasture while on walks about the farm. Many guests have even witnessing a foal being born during their stay.

For further information, please contact them and see all their horse riding holiday offers in Ireland. Visit their web site: http://www.crossogue-equestrian.ie/

/ Photographs obtained from: https://donegalequestriancentre.com, http://irishhorseriding.com y www.crossogue-equestrian.ie /

Thinking about a horse riding holiday but don't know where to start?

Download our free eBook "How to plan your next horseback trip" which will help you organize your next horse riding holidays in a simple and clear way. We will give you all the necessary guidelines throughout the whole booking process, and tell you what you should take into account once your holidays have started.

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