During this horse riding holiday, you will ride the superb Quarter horses in cowboy fashion and also view the spectacular Dartmoor landscape. The team will guide you to the best riding areas with long canters and beautiful lunch stops with fantastic views.
Typical itinerary
Upon arrival, you will check-in at accommodation in the evening. Then, the teams will meet you on your accommodation to discuss your stay, following morning and subsequent days activities. After breakfast at the inn, you will be collected and brought to Meldon Farm at around 10:00. You will then head off for four to five hours riding across Dartmoor to a beautiful spot for a packed lunch or stop at one of many local pubs, tie up horses outside, and ride home via a different route followed by tea and cakes at Meldon Farm. Next, you will return to your accommodation between 17:00 and 18:00.
Type of riding and riding ability
Dartmoor Riding Holidays normally ride Western. However, they can provide English saddles if you send a request. You need to be reasonably fit and at least an intermediate standard or better. The terrain involves crossing streams, shallow rivers, undulating ground and up and down steep inclines and would not be suitable for novice or inexperienced riders. The style of riding is very much akin to Natural Horsemanship. Dartmoor Riding Holidays like riders to be relaxed and ride with soft hands.
Please note that Dartmoor Riding Holidays is not a riding school and they do not give tuition. Their horses are fit, forward going and sure-footed. To be the riders, you must be confident, reasonably fit and have some riding experience, in other words, you need to be an intermediate or better. For riders, the age range is from 18 to 65. Experienced 14 to 17-year old will also be accepted if accompanied by a riding parent / guardian. Upper age limit is discretionary depending on rider fitness and experience. Please also kindly note that the maximum weight is 15 stone (95 kilogram). In addition, all guests have to wear hard hats and individual body protection is optional.
A strong intermediate rider must have ridden several different types of horses and can independently manage a horse care. Your seat is secure if you are able to control a horse at a walk, trot, canter, and do not apply unintentional aids to the horse when you lose balance or become unseated. You must know how to rise or post to the trot and ask for and obtain a specific lead or change in the lead as well as capable of riding a less experienced horse and helping in that horse’s training. You must also be able to train / compete at a more advanced level with a trainer’s assistance and has the knowledge about different horse breeds and disciplines. Last but not least, you also have to know the basic horse conformation and can detect lameness issues.
The guides
The guides will be all local moor men or women who know the moor well. They know where the best crossings are, and where to avoid, as there are areas where it is unsuitable for horses. Some of the guides are members the Dartmoor Rescue Group and some more are range clearers for the army on the moor. All are excellent horsemen or women and first-aid trained.
The horses
Dartmoor Riding Holidays has a selection of other horses that they can match to guests. Dartmoor Riding Holidays has a selection of fantastic Quarter horses with their calm attitude and appetite for work. All horses are western-trained, very sure-footed and a pleasure to ride. Dartmoor Riding Holidays also has a selection of Irish hunters some western trained some English-style, all are a pleasure to ride and able to cross the terrain with ease.
The horses' heights range from 14:3 to 16:2 hands. Dartmoor Riding Holidays usually starts and backs their own horses to suit the type of work - all must be sensible with good manners. Your horse will be matched to you as far as possible since the teams have a good selection. However, it is important for the teams to know your ability first.
