Ride abroad · Europe
Horse Riding Holidays in Europe
Europe offers three kinds of riding week: beach and hill riding on the Atlantic edge, schooled Andalusians and Lusitanos in Spain and Portugal, and long trails in Iceland, France, Italy and Greece.
At a glance
What should you know first?
- WhereIreland, Wales, Scotland, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Iceland and Greece
- Riding levelBeginners at some Spanish haciendas and Scottish centres; confident at all paces for most trails
- Hours in the saddle1 to 3 hours at a riding centre; 4 to 8 hours on a trail
- Typical trip3 to 7 nights
- Weight limit80kg to 95kg on most rides; up to 110kg in Iceland and on some Irish rides
- Best monthsSpring and autumn in the south; late spring to early autumn in the north
- Price guide
Moderate to higher, per person, before flights
Choosing
Where in Europe should you go on a riding holiday?
Choose Ireland, Wales or Scotland for beaches and hills close to home, Spain or Portugal for a schooled horse, and Iceland, France, Italy or Greece for a trail that covers new ground each day.
The Atlantic edge
Iberia
The long trail
The three kinds of week differ in the horse you sit on, the ground under it, and whether you sleep in the same bed each night. Those three things decide most of what your holiday will feel like.
If you have ridden only in a school at home, start with a centre-based week, where you ride out and back from one base. You can then choose how much you ride each day, and a day off is easy to arrange.
Country by country
What is the riding like in each European country?
Each country has its own horse and its own ground, and the table sets them side by side.
In Ireland you ride Irish Draughts, Irish Sport Horses and Connemaras on beaches and bog roads in Kerry, Clare, Mayo and Donegal. Wales rides Welsh Cobs through the Borders and the Black Mountains, while one trail crosses the country from coast to coast, and Scotland has Highland trails for secure riders and centre-based weeks that take beginners.
Spain is Andalusian country, with hacienda weeks near Antequera and mountain trails in the Alpujarras. Portugal rides Lusitanos across the Alentejo and the Ribatejo, often in Portuguese saddles with sheepskin.
France covers the Camargue delta, the Auvergne and the Pyrenees. Italy rides Maremmani and Haflingers through Tuscany and the Maremma, mostly in Western saddles, while Iceland has its own small gaited horse and the tölt, and Greece rides Arabs and mountain ponies on Crete and Lesvos.
Riding level
What riding level do you need for a riding holiday in Europe?
For most European trails you need to be confident at walk, trot and canter in open country, but a few centres take complete beginners.
It suits you if
- You are confident at walk, trot and canter outside an arena
- You can ride four hours a day, several days running
- You want to see a country from the saddle
It is not for you if
- You have never ridden and want a long trail
- You weigh more than the limit for the ride you want
- You want the same horse and the same bed guaranteed all week
Spanish hacienda weeks near Antequera take beginners upwards and split the rides by ability; Scottish centre-based weeks also take beginners, as do some Italian farm stays and some Greek beginner weeks.
Iceland asks for more, because its highland trails expect you to be comfortable at all paces, including a fast tölt, for four to eight hours a day. The Welsh coast to coast ride asks for experienced riders.
Describe your riding in plain facts when you enquire: how often you ride, on what, over what ground, and when you last rode for four hours in a day. A word such as intermediate means different things in different countries.
Season
When is the best time for a riding holiday in Europe?
Spring and autumn suit Spain, Portugal and Greece, while Ireland, Wales, Scotland and Iceland ride best from late spring to early autumn.
In the south, summer heat shortens the riding day. Spanish centres start at eight in the morning in summer, and most trails in Spain, Portugal and Greece run from March to May and from September to November.
Iceland has the shortest season, with highland trails that run from June to August, and the autumn sheep and horse round-ups take place in September.
Italy rides from April to October, with May and October for the Maremma cattle weeks. France rides from May to September, and May, June and September are the better months in the Camargue.
Prices
How much does a riding holiday in Europe cost?
A European riding holiday carries a moderate price for a short Spanish hacienda break or an Italian ride, and a higher price, like most riding weeks, for Wales, Greece, France, Portugal, Scotland, Ireland and Iceland, per person before flights.
Spain
Price guide
Moderate
Italy
Price guide
Moderate
Wales
Price guide
Higher
Greece
Price guide
Higher
France
Price guide
Higher
Portugal
Price guide
Higher
Scotland
Price guide
Higher
Ireland
Price guide
Higher
Iceland
Price guide
Higher
Each card shows the band for the lowest published price we found for that country, per person, and most include full board and the riding. Check what is included on the ride page before you compare two prices.
Beyond the ride, allow for flights, airport transfers, drinks, tips for the guides and a single supplement if you travel alone. Most standard travel policies need a riding extension, which our riding holiday insurance guide covers.
Kit
What should you take on a European riding holiday?
Take your own riding hat to a current standard, because loan hats are not offered on every ride and rarely fit well.
Add half chaps or long boots, gloves, layers for a cold start and a hot afternoon, and waterproofs for the Atlantic edge and Iceland. Take a body protector if the week includes any jumping.
Most trails move your luggage by vehicle, and some set a weight or size limit for your bag. Check the kit list on the ride page before you pack.
Where to book
Which European rides would we point you at?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Antequera hacienda week, Spain
A week at one hacienda near Antequera, riding Andalusians one to three hours a day. Beginners upwards.
Alpujarras seven-night trail, Spain
Seven nights through the Alpujarras on Andalusians and Andalusian crosses, four to five hours a day.
Sierra Nevada village-to-village ride, Spain
Village to village in the Alpujarras, four to six hours a day, for intermediate to experienced riders.
Common questions
Questions about riding holidays in Europe
Which country in Europe is best for a horse riding holiday?
Choose by the week you want. Ireland, Wales and Scotland suit beach and hill riding with short journeys. Spain and Portugal suit riders who want a schooled Andalusian or Lusitano. Iceland, France, Italy and Greece suit riders who want a trail with a new bed most nights.
Can a beginner go on a riding holiday in Europe?
Yes, at some centres. Spanish hacienda weeks near Antequera take beginners, as do Scottish centre-based weeks and some Italian farm stays. Most trails ask you to be confident at walk, trot and canter in open country.
What is the weight limit on European riding holidays?
Most rides set a limit between 80kg and 95kg. Iceland allows 110kg on most rides, and some Irish rides allow up to 110kg. Check the limit on the ride page, because it varies from one ride to the next.
When is the best time to ride in Spain and Portugal?
Spring and autumn. Most Spanish and Portuguese trails run from March to May and from September to November, because summer heat shortens the riding day. Some Spanish centres stay open all year.
How many hours a day will you ride in Europe?
One to three hours a day at a riding centre, and four to eight hours on a trail. Iceland's highland trails cover 15 to 45km a day.
Do you need special insurance for a riding holiday in Europe?
Most standard travel policies need a riding extension or a specialist policy. Read the exclusions for riding off road, jumping and riding without a hat before you travel.
Where to go next
Where next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and where you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.