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7 Day Venturesome Dartmoor Trails Horse Riding Holiday in Devon, England
Dartmoor, South Devon, Devon, South West England, England, UK
Breathtaking Horse Riding Holiday UK
This listing has one of the 10 most popular offers available in in the United Kingdom
Have you ever thought to spend your holiday spotting the attractive landscape in horse riding? Then, this horse riding holiday is really for you. Come and experience a great horse riding holiday in the UK!
Key information
- Rider Weight Limit: 95 kilograms / 209 pounds
- Horse Height Range: 14.3 to 16.2 hands
- Tack Type: Western tack, English tack available on request
- Horse Breed: Quarter horse
Highlights
- 5 days of horse riding
- Great adventures in the Dartmoor trails
- Explore the spectacular Dartmoor landscape
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily meals, snacks, and drinks
- Daily transfers to and from the farm
Skill level
- Intermediate
Styles
5 days with instruction
Group size: Maximum of 8 participants
Accommodation
Facilities
- Horse riding
- Tour assistance
Hotel
You will stay in an en-suite room with a color TV and Wi-Fi provided. All accommodation will be at the excellent Castle Inn and is on a half-board basis arranged by Dartmoor Riding Holidays.
Shepherd hut glamping option
For this cattle drive program, experiences offered include an ‘on-farm’ stay option. There are two ‘shepherd hut’ style accommodations. Each is very cozy, one has a double bed, and the other two singles, (linen provided). Each has a wood-burning stove (wood provided), a table and chairs, and seating. Outside, there is a firepit with utensils, etc. for open-air cooking.
Program
About the holiday
Dartmoor Riding Holidays’ team will take you to explore a bunch of beauty spots on an adventurous horse riding holiday at Dartmoor Trail, UK. Escorted by knowledgeable in the area, you are sure to have a horse riding holiday like you have never had before in your life. 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
Check-in at accommodation in the evening, Dartmoor Riding Holidays will meet you there to discuss your stay, the following morning, and subsequent days, and breakfast at the inn. You are collected and brought to Meldon Farm at around 10:00 a.m. You head off for four to five hours across Dartmoor to a beauty spot for a packed lunch or stop at one of many local pubs, tie up horses outside, ride home via a different route, followed by tea and cakes at Meldon Farm, and return to the hotel between 5:00 and 6:00 p.m.
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 a rider, 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-olds will also be accepted if accompanied by a riding parent or guardian. The upper age limit is discretionary depending on the rider's fitness and experience.
Please also kindly note that the maximum weight is 15 stone (95 kilograms). 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 horse care. Your seat is secure if you can control a horse at a walk, trot, or 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 be capable of riding a less experienced horse and helping in that horse’s training. You must also be able to train or compete at a more advanced level with a trainer’s assistance and know 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 of 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 a 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 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, the teams need to know your ability first.
Location
This holiday will take place at Dartmoor in Devon, England, UK. Dartmoor is a fantastic place to ride. It is one of the UK’s last wilderness and is best viewed through the ears of a horse. Here, you will take in the peace and sample the atmospheric beauty Dartmoor has to offer.
Distances
- Meldon Reservoir - 15 minutes walk
- Okehampton - 5 minutes drive / 15 minutes by bike
- Exeter Airport (EXT), 50 kilometers
- Granite Way cycle route, 300 meters
- Dartmoor Railway, 500 meters
Food
You will be served daily breakfast, lunch, tea, and cakes included in the price. Your breakfast will either be at the Castle Inn or the farm while the lunch will either be at the farm, a packed lunch, or en-route at one of many fabulous local pubs. You will also be served tea and cakes after the ride. Unfortunately, Dartmoor Riding Holidays do not do the evening meals. You are free to make use of the Castle Inn’s excellent restaurant or eat out elsewhere in the evening at an additional cost.
Guests staying ‘on-farm’ also have access to the beautiful guest lodge with kitchen or diner, bathroom, etc. The ingredients for your breakfast, bread, cereals, milk, etc., and lunch on riding days are provided. The same as the hotel option, evening meals are not provided so guests can cook their meals on the campfire or eat out at one of many local eateries.
The following meals are included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Snacks
- Drinks
The following drinks are included:
- Tea
The following dietary requirement(s) are served and/or catered for:
- Regular (typically includes meat and fish)
If you have special dietary requirements it's a good idea to communicate it to the organiser when making a reservation
Things to do (optional)
- Cycling on the Granite Way cycle route
- Dartmoor Railway visit
- Okehampton visit
- Relax in the games room
- Simmons Park visit
- Swimming in a nearby river
- Walking to Bluebell Woods and Dartmoor National Park
What's included
- 5 days on horseback
- 6 nights accommodation
- Daily breakfast and lunch
- Tea and cakes after riding
- Transfers to and from the farm each day
What's not included
- Airfare
- Transfers from and to Exeter Airport (EXT), railway station, etc.
- Any protective wear
- Dinners
- Drinks at the pub lunches
- Extra nights (available at 70 GBP per person)
How to get there
Recommended Airports
EXT
Exeter International Airport
39 km
Transfer not provided
Arrival by ferry / boat
You can arrive at Devonport in Plymouth. Transfer from and to the dock is available at a nominal charge.
Arrival by train
Dartmoor Riding Holidays team recommends using the very reasonable train to Okehampton station, which is 10 minutes away. Dartmoor Riding Holidays offers a shuttle service from Okehampton station to your accommodation at a nominal rate.
Cancellation Policy
- A reservation requires a deposit of 20% of the total price.
- The deposit is non-refundable, if the booking is cancelled.
- The rest of the payment should be paid 7 days before arrival.
For this organizer you can guarantee your booking through BookHorseRidingHolidays.com. All major credit cards supported.
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