Horse Riding Holidays for Children

A horse riding holiday can be a fantastic treat for children, whether they have some experience of riding or are complete beginners. This article describes three top UK destinations for kids’ horse riding holidays.

The first is Raygill Riding Centre in Teesdale, County Durham: Raygill offers a week-long residential holiday for unaccompanied children aged 9 and up, which focuses on riding activities. It’s suitable for beginners, providing a week’s intensive training which will enable a child to get a firm grip of the basics of riding and looking after horses. More experienced riders can improve their skills with lessons aimed at dressage, cross-country or show-jumping. It’s great for improving riding skills and spending a week learning about looking after horses, along with a program of activities including treks through the local countryside, picnic rides, games and jumping, a gymkhana, disco and a barbeque.

Web Address: http://www.raygillriding.co.uk/riding/childrens-holidays.php

Another fantastic option is Willow Farm which is near Skegness in Lincolnshire. Situated in rustic farmland, Willow Farm is a 15-acre farm with ponies, goats and free range hens. It offers week-long riding holidays for children aged 8-18 with some prior experience of riding. Children staying at Willow Farm stay in the farmhouse and eat meals as part of the owners’ family. No more than six children stay at once, giving Willow Farm a cosy family atmosphere without the daunting anonymity of some larger riding camps. Visiting kids will look after their pony as if it were their own for the week and get a chance to interact with the goats and hens, perhaps being lucky enough to see chicks hatch in spring! Visitors receive riding lessons, hack out along green roads, take a day ride and, among other activities, visit the Heavy Horse Centre in a nearby village and meet the largest horse in the world (Guinness World Record holder!)

Web Address: http://www.willowfarmholidays.co.uk/content/riding_holidays.html

Cheshire is another great location for a family holiday, and this can easily be combined with horse riding for the kids – and for equestrian parents too! Equestrian Escapes offers a package with four nights’ accommodation in a farmhouse B&B, hotel or self-catering cottage and three pony mornings for the children. The pony mornings last from 10am-1pm and adults, if they like, can take part in lessons or go on a hack. The minimum age for the children’s programme is 6, but children as young as 3 can be offered a pony experience including riding and grooming a small pony.

The afternoons are then left free for the family to explore the beautiful and interesting Cheshire countryside. Local attractions include Delamere Forest, Cheshire’s largest woodland, Beeston Castle and the historic and picturesque city of Chester. And for those whose passion for horses needs further nurturing, there’s the Cotebrook Shire Horse centre with fabulous Shire horses and other English animals including red deer and otters.

Web Address: http://www.equestrian-escapes.com/RidingprogrammesSee-id73.html