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Horse
Riding in Ireland  The Irish love of horses is world renowned and nowhere is this more true than in the west of Ireland, home of the legendary Connemara Pony. If your interest is cross-country, trekking, hunting, showjumping or merely a wish to see the Irish horse, Ireland can offer you all this and more. From riding on the sandy beaches and galloping through the Atlantic waves as they come to shore, to the rugged terrain of Connemara or to the trails in Killarney, the Irish are on hand to bring to you the delights of the Irish horse, and it will be an unforgettable experience. Trail Riding Connemara Horse Riding Holidays in Connemara - Horseback Vacations in Ireland Riding is readily available from April to October. Riders are in the saddle for four to six hours per day. Lunch is eaten on the trail.  The country is renowned for its exceptional
atmosphere and strikingly rugged beauty, particularly around Connemara, with
its ancient stone-walled fields, golden beaches and breathtaking vistas.
Connemara, the very western tip of Ireland is a paradise for riders, who will
be inspired by the wild beauty and tranquillity that is to be found here. It is
a timeless and dramatic landscape of rugged, boggy mountains, rocky outcrops
adorned with shimmering silver lakes and fast flowing streams beneath the
mysterious and beautiful light of an enormous sky.  The
Connemara and Coast Trails bring riders right into the hidden heart
of this landscape. Your adventure through Connemara will be guided by Willie
Leahy, quintessential Irish horsemen. Willie is the largest breeder of
Connemara ponies in the world and is also the Field Master of the famous Galway
Blazers Hunt. For over 30 years the Leahy family have enjoyed introducing
visitors to this very special part of Ireland. Their friendly care ensures that
every rider goes home with special memories of a wonderful vacation.Includes: Six days or more of exciting and relaxing holidays, where, after you spending four to six hours a day on horseback, you are accommodated in luxurious hotels or guesthouses while the horses graze freely in a nearby field.Your luggage is brought by car from accommodation to accommodation, while the catering problems are taken care of by the Connemara Trail's dynamic team.  The Horses: Experienced or novice
riders alike can enjoy this holiday. Riders spend four to six hours a day on
well-mannered, surefooted Irish hunters and Connemara ponies. Your mount for
the week is selected with a caring and experienced eye to ensure that equine
and rider are well matched. Connemara Trail - April to October: Willie Leahy guides the trail ride through Connemara to the Atlantic Ocean. The Connemara Trail began over 33 years ago. It is the oldest trail ride in the world.The trail crosses the most wild and beautiful scenery that Ireland has to offer. Experienced or novice riders alike can enjoy this guided Trail Ride. Monday The riders meet at the Meyrick Hotel (formerly the Great Southern Hotel), Eyre Square, in the heart of Galway at 10am. Here you are introduced to your guide and the back up team who are on hand to move luggage, bring the picnic and help with the horses. There is a short drive, out of the city (approx 30 min) to the start point of the ride, at Oughterard. Here you will have your first sight of the horse or pony which is to become your companion for the week. The horses and ponies are assigned to the riders, according to the rider's ability, weight, height etc. After tacking up the ride departs and heads straight into the mountains for a long ride that will finish at Maam Cross, the site of the famous October horse fair. The trail takes the riders past the ruins of cottages abandoned since the famine, in the 1840's, which decimated the Irish population. As the trail winds its way through the spectacular scenery the view is magnificent, spanning the horizon is the vast expanse of Lough Corrib, the largest lake in southern Ireland. After lunch the ride continues through the mountains, traversing the bogs and rocks and wading through streams. Way below the trail is the 'Quiet Man Bridge', made famous by the John Wayne movie. The day ends with the first of many canters along the abandoned Galway to Clifden railway line. At the end of the day the horses are turned loose into a lakeside pasture while the riders travel to their accommodation.  Tuesday Having spent the night at the lakeside
pasture at Maam Cross the horses are refreshed and ready to begin the ride from
Maam Cross to Ballinafad. The first stage of the ride goes through Willie's
land at Maam Cross, where a path takes the riders alongside the beautiful Lough
Sindle and past the remains of a long forgotten lime kiln, hidden in a grove of
hazel trees. Some of the trees in the area are ancient, yet they remain tiny,
bent by the harsh Atlantic winds that batter this area during the winter. Lunch
is eaten on a small village green, while the horses graze. After lunch it is
back into the saddle for the final stage of the days ride, through silent
woodlands and through the beautiful Inagh Valley. On a clear day riders can see
right over the spectacular Connemara landscape to the coast at Rosmuc. The day
ends with another canter along the old Galway to Clifden railway line, before
the horses are turned out in a pasture at Ballinafad, before the riders return
to their accommodation. Wednesday. The horses are rounded up and saddled before the ride leaves Ballinafad. This morning the horses wade through a wide mountain stream before heading up into a short stretch of mountain above the ancient Ballinafad cemetery. The riders then go through the grounds of Ballinahinch Castle, enjoying a long canter through the woodland beforehand. The castle was once the home of an Indian Prince and also Richard Martin who founded the humane society for the protection of animals. There is a long canter along the old railway line. The grassy track is great fun for a long canter. The horses are set free on the edge of bogland close to Clifden while the riders eat lunch. Then it is back into the saddle for the afternoon ride which goes along a grassy track close to Clifden and then heads inland over the Roundstone Bog, site of the landing of the historic flight of Alcock and Brown, who piloted the first transatlantic biplane and the site of the Marconi wireless station. Then we follow the coast to the seaside pasture where the horses will spend the next few nights. The riders then head to their accommodation in Clifden where they will spend the next few nights. Thursday This is a full day spent on the fabulous Mannin Bay beach. There is mile after mile of sandy beach where riders can gallop and jump over the small stone walls and sandy banks. This is an unforgettable day. Riders are welcome to swim their mount in the clear water of the ocean. It is a unique and very special experience as the horse begins to swim under you. The horses dry off and rest in a beach side pasture while the riders eat a picnic lunch on over the beach over looking the ocean. Then it is back into the saddle for another ride along the beach to discover more of the wonders of this coastline. Friday The ride begins at the sea and ends at Toombeola, inland over the mountains. The ride follows the coastline, passing small farmsteads, where generations of small farmers have lived and worked. The coastline is beautiful, the water often the colour of a tropical sea. The ride continues into Errisbeg mountain along an old grassy track before our lunch stop, which is eaten in the mountains, overlooking the pasture where the horses eat. Then they are saddled for the ride that takes us high into Errisbeg mountain high above the seaside village of Roundstone. Watch out for the leprechauns that are known to inhabit this area. Below is the stunning scenery of Dogs Bay, which curves out into the Atlantic Ocean. The horses spend the night in a pasture at Toombeola while the riders travel back to Clifden for the night.  Saturday The riders are collected
from Clifden for this, the final day of the trail. After the horses have been
saddled the ride heads straight up into the mountains overlooking Cashel Bay.
The trail today goes through the mountains right around the beautiful bay, past
long abandoned villages, where the potato ridges still remain, a memory of a
long forgotten way of life. Lunch is eaten close to the small village of Cashel
while the horses graze. Then the horses are resaddled for the final leg of the
trail which takes the riders through Cashel and then along the coastline around
Cashel Bay to Willie's Mountain, Shanndonnell, where the ride ends. The horses
are unsaddled and set free into the mountain pasture while the riders travel
back to Galway for a welcome drink.Sunday Depart after breakfast. Trains to Dublin, and transfers to Shannon are available at added cost. Connemara Trail Price includes:
Connemara Coast Trail - April to October: Trail Ride along the Connemara Coast from Clifden to the area near Galway. The Coast Trail began over 20 years ago to compliment the Connemara Trail. The trail rides through the most wild and beautiful scenery that Ireland has to offer. "Connemara has always been a wild place, too barren and bog-ridden for agriculture but good for ponies, sheep, fishermen and ghosts. Men earn their living by fishing and gathering seaweed and by breeding horses. The annual Connemara Horse Show in Clifden is world famous. You'll hear Gaelic, the native Irish language, spoken here more than anywhere else in Ireland. The people of this rugged coast have an aura of toughness about them." (by Virginia Westbury).  Monday The riders meet
at the Meyrick Hotel (formerly the Great Southern Hotel), Eyre Square, in the
heart of Galway at 10am. Here you are introduced to your guide and the back up
team who are on hand to move luggage, bring the picnic and help with the
horses. The ride begins with a drive to Willie's Mountain, Shanndonnell, in
Connemara. Your first sight of the horse or pony that will be your companion
for the week is grazing in the spectacular scenery of Connemara, above a
beautiful lake, close to the ruins of an old farmstead. The horses and ponies
are assigned to the riders, according to the rider's ability, weight, height
etc. After tacking up the ride departs and heads straight into the mountains
for a long ride that will finish at Carna. On the trail you will see an old
poteen still where illegal whiskey was once brewed high in the mountains. The
trail goes high into the mountains and bogs over rocky outcrops while in the
distance the riders are treated to fantastic views of the spectacular Connemara
coastline. The first mountain trail ends on a small track which leads out onto
a small tarmac road. The trail then heads off onto more mountain land, wading
through a vast, silent lake until emerging close to the village of Carna and
then onto Willie's Beach House where the ride ends for the day.Tuesday This is an unforgettable day, Riding on the beaches around the peaceful island of Mweenish. Riders can gallop their horses along fantastic stretches of coastline and through the sparkling seawater. Lunch is eaten in the grounds of an old cottage, situated on rocks high above the sea, while the horses graze. After lunch we visit more beaches on the island, galloping along the sand. Later we return to the beach house where there is an opportunity to swim with your horse. This is an unforgettable experience as your horse begins to swim beneath you. Wednesday Today, tide permitting the trail goes through the wide strip of sea that separates Finish island from the mainland. Finish island can only be reached if the tide is low enough and at some times this may not be possible. Riding on the island is a magical experience. The island was once inhabited and the ruins of the houses still remain, along with stone walls that the riders can jump. We return to the mainland for lunch before heading up into the mountains for a relaxing afternoons ride in the rocky hills above Kikerrin where the views have to be seen to be believed. The horses spend the night in a pasture close to Kilkerrin.  Thursday The trail leaves the
pasture and heads over mountain and bogland above the coastline. Riders can see
small herds of Connemara ponies that graze on the mountain sides, past piles of
turf stored for the winter. Lunch is eaten beside an old mill where corn was
once milled for the village. After lunch the ride heads along the coastline
past the awesome Gowla mountain range, which has spectacularly steep slopes.
The ride ends at Derryrush where the horses are turned loose into a pasture
before the riders return to their accommodation. Friday The horses are saddled in the morning and the trail follows the coastline for the first half of the day. Once past Screebe Lodge, a traditional hunting lodge now a luxurious hotel, the trail turns off into the mountains where lunch is eaten while the horses graze. After lunch the ride heads up into the mountains stopping for a look at a traditional farm cottage. The ride continues over the mountains, through bogs and past abandoned cottages, amidst spectacular scenery, before emerging into a forest at Shanafestin. There is then a short ride to the pasture where the horses spend the night, first fording the deep stream that borders the pasture. The riders then travel to Oughterard and to their accommodation.  Saturday The final day of the ride. After
saddling the horses the riders head into the forest at Shanaphestin where they
gallop along forest tracks. This is a completely different landscape from the
rest of the week. Lunch is eaten in the forest before the horses are resaddled
and then the ride continues along the forest tracks before emerging above
Oughterard. The ride ends by crossing a short stretch of mountain above
Oughterard before reaching the pasture where the horses are unsaddled before
the riders head off for a well earned drink. Sunday Depart after breakfast. Trains to Dublin, and transfers to Shannon are available at added cost. Aille Cross Country Trail - October to April Ireland's winter climate is idealy suited for cross country riding. The Aille Cross Cross-Country Ride provides cross country jumping and trail riding at a pace that can be varied to suit riders of different abilities. The ride will take you cross country from one farm to another , and at each farm, if you wish, there will be opportunities to jump a variety of very varied cross-country courses. The trail provides riding and jumping at a pace that can be varied to suit riders of different abilities. Willie Leahy is famous for matching horse and rider to ensure that your holiday is as enjoyable as possible. One of the highlights for more advanced riders and for those wanting to improve their jumping skills is the Dartfield event course. The course was professionally designed to accommodate riders and horses of all levels from novice to advanced. An international three day 2 star event has been held at the course since 2004 attracting riders from all over the world, including America and Europe. As well as the international standard fences, there are plenty of natural and man made fences that any rider will enjoy jumping.
Add a day of riding to any tour: We offer daily rides in the Killarney National Park for 1, 2 or 3 hours. The trails go through the park alongside Lough Lein (the largest of the three lakes in Killarney) taking in views of Ross Castle and Ross Island, panoramic views of Innisfallen Island. The Kenmare Estate and the majestic mountains surrounding Killarney will all be appreciated. All rides are supervised by guides with special care taken of nervous or beginner riders, all levels of riding experience are catered for, riders are grouped according to their abilities. The stables can supply those who come unequipped with hard hats and rubber boots. Horse riding in Ireland by the hour. Trail rides at scheduled intervals.
Killarney Trail -
The trail operates from April to October and assembles in Killarney on Saturdays. With riders, horses and all luggage ready for transfer, the day begins with a short trip to the base of Seefinn Mountain, where the first day's ride starts. When horses and riders have been introduced, the ride heads off, and up over the Windy Gap, viewing the splendor of Caragh Lake and the valleys beyond. The ride then continues on to Coomasaharn Lake enclosed by Horseshoe mountain, followed by a scenic ride over an Irish Bog, finishing for the day at our stables in Mountain Stage. Saturday-Assemble in Killarney. Sunday/Monday The overnight stop for Sunday and Monday nights is in the quaint village of Glenbeigh. (Glenbeigh comes from Gleann Beithe, the Glen of the Birch Trees). Surrounded almost entirely by mountains, Glenbeigh offers a famous friendliness and humor which is nowhere better found than in this tranquil and charming region of Kerry. The beauty of the area is breath-taking, with the River Behy and Rossbeigh Strand close by. History is evident throughout the locality and such a destination as Winns Folly Castle is well worth a visit. After breakfast on the second day the riders return to the stables of the previous evening and begin Monday's ride. The day is spent on Rossbeigh beach, and exploring magnificent sand dunes, returning from the beach via the Cliff road.  Tuesday/Wednesday On Tuesday, while the
luggage is transferred to Waterville, a morning ride takes horse and rider from
Kells Station through the bogs of Cnoc Bawn and on to Liss Bawn, taking in some
spectacular views of Caherciveen and its surrounds. Lunch is served alongside a
nearby forestry. After lunch we continue on through Island Boy and the Inny
Valley. Finishing for the day alongside the Tulligane Woods. The overnight stop
for Tuesday and Wednesday nights is spent in the coastal village of Waterville.
Waterville, the little whirlpool, nestles on a narrow strip of land between
Lough Currane and the Atlantic Ocean, in the very centre of south-west Kerry.
Situated between the seashore and the impressive mountains and headlands, the
area has many interesting routes to offer and many fine beaches. The first
Celtic invaders are reputed to have landed in Ballinskelligs Bay, coming ashore
near Waterville. These beginnings of the Gaelic Nation are echoed by the
Archaeological remains such as those on Church Island, at Derrynane Abbey or
Skellig Michael, giving the area a wealth of history.Wednesday brings an adventurous morning spent in Tulligane Woods, riding through the Inny Valley and lunching by the Inny River in an old School House. Afterwards, a scenic ride into Waterville via the old Glencar/Waterville road, along the shores of the famous fishing lake - Lough Currane. Thursday/Friday On Thursday the final accommodation transfer is made. The day begins with a brisk ride to Waterville beach, spending the morning enjoying some exciting gallops. The panorama of Hoggs Head and Ballinskelligs Bay conjures up the afternoon ride in Waterville. Afterwards, both horses and riders are transferred back to Killarney. The final day's riding follows routes through some of the 19,400 acres of woodland and mountains and lakes of Killarney's National Park. Riding along the shores of Lough Lein, with extraordinary views of the 16th century Ross Castle, Ross Island. Lunch is served once back at the stables and the afternoon is left free for shopping and extra sightseeing.
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