I'm going to Ireland, England, and Paris France this summer. I am so excited, but I want to know of some places that I could ride at. I am very experienced (9 years - I'm sixteen), although I don't think that matters much. Are there any riding things abroad that you can do more than walk? There are only a few here (Minnesota, USA). Do they do mostly english? I primarily ride western and bareback, but I can do english fairly well (posting and all). I can neck rein and direct rein. I really don't think any of this matters though when considering one day programs. Any information would be greatly appreciated! Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Oh my goodness. People I wasn't being cocky! I was stating my experience level so that people know. Goodness! Seriously though, those are not the extents of my riding capabilities! That is simply a small part! I don't understand why if someone says they are an experienced rider they are shot down! I've seen this happen on this site before! I know I am experienced, but that doesn't mean that I think I am better than everyone else. I ride, train, teach, take lessons, and lease okay. I am not your average horse owner because i have had to work my way up in a riding environment without any help from my parents whatsoever. Again i am not being cocky or saying I am better than anyone! I am simply saying that I am experienced! Seriously! You have never seen me ride, never known my experience, so I would not go pointing fingers at anyone! Maybe European riders are better than American riders, I don't care! All I know is that I have had a lot of riding experience, and that I want to go riding
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December 22nd, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Riding in Europe is 'way different than riding in the states. Especially in Ireland, you don't want to go in saying you are "very experienced" or they will have a really wonderful time making you eat dirt. Literally. The Irish are very proud of their bold jumping style, and seem to enjoy making us upstarts look bad.
Western riding is kind of a "fad" over there, so you probably won't find it in the horses you will have a chance to rent. If you find the local "school" you should sign up for lessons; that will give you the best chance of getting to do more than "trek" or walk in a group.
We did a couple of pub crawls on horseback in Ireland. It was the hardest and most fun riding I ever did, and that was with 25 years experience in dressage and eventing.
In Europe, "very experienced" means you are ready for Badminton or only a bit below Olympic level jumping. Those kids do pony club from 3 years and up. Be careful how you present yourself, and you'll learn alot and have tons of fun.
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I didn't put this in here to shoot you down, and I didn't want to be mean. I will tell you that in Ireland they seem to like to literally make you eat dirt. They think a ride wasn't a good ride unless you wet your pants. No joke, just a statement of fact.
There was no intent to put you down or to make you feel small, but I think you will love what you learn, but there is a different way of thinking about horses in Europe. In the States, we all own our own beasties. In Europe, many local areas have a "school" or a "yard" that many people go to ride and few of the horses are privately owned. You take lessons on these horses that are much higher quality than what you might find here in the states at such a yard.
In Germany, there are few privately owned barns and horses, but people join the "club" and are assigned a horse and ride that horse on certain days or times. These horses are High level horses! FEI schoolmasters! The students learn on these very experienced horses, and they learn more and faster than most of us in the US do because they are taught well from the beginning. It works; look what the Germans and Swiss are doing in the Olympics for the past 20 years.
I'm sorry if you took my suggestion that you go to the schools and not call yourself "experienced" because I truly did not mean it as a put down. I meant it as a suggestion so you don't skip the schools as they have some really talented horses and are very different from the norm here in the states.
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December 23rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
I'm afraid being able to rise to the trot and hold the reins doesn't make you very experienced! To call yourself very experienced you'd have to be confident and competent getting on any horse and asking it to do anything. Honestly, I would call you a novice.
There are lots of places to ride here in Ireland - same for England. But western is not popular at all. I know of one place in the north which does western, but that's it. There may well be more, but like the person above me said it's just a fad. It'll never take off - it's a novelty act.
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December 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Here a an excellent source of international riding vacations. Go to http://www.equestrianvacations.com
References :