Horse Riding & Pony Trekking in Scotland

HORSE CARE HOLIDAYS

Get to grips with the day-to-day duties involved in looking after horses, from grooming and tacking up to riding out on hacks. Some great horse care holiday providers include the Crieff Hydro Riding Centre, Crieff and Gairloch Trekking Centre, Gairloch.

TRAIL RIDING

Explore Scotland's glens, countryside and wind-blown beaches on a long-distance riding holiday over several days. There are a variety of stables that offer this type of holiday including the Scottish Equestrian Hotel, Lanark, Highlands Unbridled, Tain, Wilder Ways Riding Adventures, Argyll and Newtonmore Riding Centre, Newtonmore.

BRING YOUR OWN HORSE

Take your horse on holiday to Scotland and explore a gorgeous new environment together. We guarantee both you and your horse will love it!

CAN I TREK OR HACK ANYWHERE?

Yes. Just make sure you stick to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Find out how the code applies to horse riders.

WHAT WILL I NEED TO WEAR TO TRY HORSE RIDING?

You don't need to invest in specialist clothing to have a go at riding.

Wear comfy trousers (including leggings and jogging bottoms) and sturdy shoes with a closed toe, a smooth sole and a small heel (N.B. trainers should never be used for riding as they can slip and get stuck in the stirrup).

The staff at your chosen stables will give you a hard hat to use during your lesson, trek or hack too.

On warm days it's best to wear a top that covers your shoulders (though on not so sunny days a few layers and a waterproof coat could be handy too - just in case!).

IS THERE A WEIGHT OR HEIGHT LIMIT?

Although normally there is no height limit, the horse/pony's wellbeing is of the utmost importance and your stables will have a weight limit for each of their horses/ponies. Your chosen stables will be able to advise further on this.

CAN CHILDREN TRY HORSE RIDING?

Of course! Some stables are happy to offer lessons to children from four years old upwards though others start at five or six. Individual stables and riding centres will have their own age restrictions so it's best to contact them directly.

CAN I JUST WATCH, AND NOT RIDE?

It's best to check with the stables you want to visit. If you're a parent and you want to watch your child during their lesson most riding centres will let you watch (and cheer your wee one on) from outside the paddock or school.

There are also lots of shows and horse events happening throughout the country where you can see top riders competing for prizes.