Our horse, Dawn, says, "This is not your typical horseback riding vacation." One of the highlights of our recent trip to Ireland was not in the form of a horseback riding vacation. Instead, we took a Pony Trap ride through the Gap of Dunloe, near Killarney, Co Kerry, Ireland. The Gap of [...]
Riding on Tullan Strand in Ireland. Photo © Nancy D. Brown A horseback riding vacation in County Donegal, along the Wild Atlantic Way, is an experience that will delight the heart of every equestrian. Beach riding in California is dying due to high insurance premiums forced on public riding stables and the closures [...]
Ursula Schweiger leads beach rides in North Sligo between Benbulben and the Atlantic. Photo © Nancy D. Brown As an American, horseback riding in Ireland is a treat. Not only for the gorgeous country, wonderful horses and friendly people; it's the sheer ease of booking a horseback riding holiday that makes me smile [...]
Pony Trekking in Ballyconneely, Connemara, Ireland If you’re considering horse riding in Connemara, I have the place for you. Horse crazy as a young girl, I grew up reading horse books like Misty of Chincoteague. I have always wanted to ride a Connemara pony. My deam came true at The Point Pony Trekking [...]
Watering the horses in Glaslough Lake When we first pulled into the driveway of Castle Leslie Estate, I spied the sign for Castle Leslie Equestrian Centre. I was giddy with excitement. Even though my husband is not an equestrian, he was able to accommodate my desires for a horseback riding vacation without compromising [...]
Mares & foals at Irish National Stud. Photo © Nancy D. Brown Irish National Stud isn't a headline ripped from the pages of People Magazine. It's a horse-lovers dream come true in County Kildare, Ireland. Irish National Stud & Gardens, just 30 miles from Dublin, is a must visit for the equestrian, horse-crazy [...]
Ballyhannon House and Equestrian Center. Photo © Nancy D. Brown There's something magical about taking a horseback riding vacation in Ireland. When my husband and I drove up to Dromoland Castle we couldn't believe that we would actually be spending the night in this fairytale castle hotel. Then when a horse and carriage [...]
Horse riding on Mount Juliet's 1,500 acre estate Rebekah Power has one of the best jobs in the world. The Waterford, Ireland resident gets to take guests of Mount Juliet horse riding on trails and bridle paths meandering through the 1,500 acre estate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXtDFhchnvo "I've ridden in Alberta, Canada and all over Ireland," [...]
Castle Leslie. Horseback riding vacations in Ireland. Photo by Alex Calder Between Two Ears Renowned as ‘the land of the horse’, Ireland has a deep connection to horses and horsemanship. With about 35 horses per 1,000 people, horses, and especially horse-racing, are very much a part of Irish life. A dark green, often [...]