I think horseback riding would be great fun. I found a place of the internet about riding on the beach and/or mountains in the town of Caherdaniel on the Ring of Kerry.
Any ideas?

I love Caherdaniel - it's one of my favourite places in Ireland...if not the world! You could also try www.dinglehorseriding.com

Quite a few years ago, I went on a several-hour horseback ride to see the sights somewhere in the Ring of Kerry. It was a beautiful ride and great fun, though my mother (not a rider) hated it. Are you looking for "real" riding, or more of a trail ride, at only a walking pace? Do you ride English? I do remember that we did quite a bit of trotting (posting), and I was pretty sore later on.

Thanks for the response. I used to ride when I was younger, in my 30"s , now probably had better stick to a trail ride at a walking pace. I thought it would be a nice slow, up close look at scenery etc. Have you heard of Eagle Rock Equestrian Centre. What I saw about it on the internet look great. My party will be 3 or 4. Thanks again.

I posted and it disappeared! There is a "dude Ranch" in Leitrim not far from Carrick on Shannon that does western Style Rising. Otherwise I would stick to shorter trail rides...my arse is killing me usually after an hour in an English saddle . We found a place a few weeks ago by doing a google search on google.ie.

Have fun

I think there are many places for riding. We went riding in Cleggan in Connemara. There were several stables to choose from in that area. Also, when we stayed at Castle Leslie in Co. Monaghan there was a stable there. We saw many when driving around the various counties. It's fun to go on the beach.

I rode in the dunes west of Haarlem, NL. I've also seen horses on the beach at Zandvoort. The horses are fitted with English style saddles, much different than American saddles.

...and before I potentially ruined the balance of my vacation, I'd make darn sure I got those "special" muscles back into "shape" before I did any riding overseas...
Those inside thigh muscles... YIKES

That said, does anyone know what kind of saddles they generally use in France? English saddles require a rider to actually "ride", an american western saddle, I think, one can get away with like sitting in a rocking chair, at least on a simple trail ride

SusieC - I haven't gone riding in Europe (yet - have a riding trip scheduled for this fall), but based on my research, most places in France ride what we call English style, using English saddles. There are some areas (the Camargue, I believe) where some people use something more like a Western saddle, but I think they call it something else (in French, of course). Also, sometimes stables apparently have some Western saddles (and, I presume, have horses trained in Western riding).

I didn't see any Western saddles in Ireland--only English. Come on--you can do it!

Where I live they still have "hunts". I don't want to read any of the moral issues. In my youth, I exercised and helped train a couple of hunters, of course, English. It is easy but one does have to actually HOLD ON with your knees! Those are some strange muscles that one uses...don't get used much else in an otherwise active life in my opinion. All I recommend is to get some hours on horseback BEFORE you go on a trip...and if you do...imagine the beauty and wonder... from atop one of those nobel animals! And try to find a Frisson (I think...) they are the grand-pappy sires to Knight's Steeds!! See a castle, a chateau upon an animal whose lineage would have carried a chivalrous knight!?? WOW

In most of Europe you will find only english saddles although not all will be close contact jumping saddles most will be a more comfy crosses between dressage and all purpose saddles. Some will have almost a quilted seat, some are sueded as opposeed to leather therefore less slippery. As a person who rides horses for a living I would suggest if you want to do a trail ride while in Ireland you do a trial trail ride at home to test out your muscles. Also make sure you bring pants that won't chafe your legs.

Have seen a couple of other posts like this and the idea of riding in europe sound like a lot of fun. But I would not recommend this for someone who has never ridden - or who has ridden once or twice western and hanging onto the pommel.

Riding with an English saddle is not difficult - but it does require some basic balance skills - and that you not be afraid of sitting 5 feet in the air on a moving object (I was at my local stable once and an adult beginner was horified when the horse began to walk - she though it was going to feel like sitting in a car - not like being on top of a live animal).

If you want to center your trip around
riding, Castle Leslie in County Monaghan is fabulous. It is a 1000 acre estate geared for all levels of
riding. Great horses, if you already ride, you will come back a new, better
more confident rider. Food at the castle was hearty and wonderful. the owners are great, and the pub was,
(and don't know if still is) based on
an honor system. You record what you
drink when no bartender is in service,
and settle up at the end of your stay.
Rooms were clean, definately not the Ritz, but plenty comfortable. After
1,2,3, or 6 hours a day of riding, who
cares what they look like, you'll sleep
like a log. Do a search for equestrian
tours.

I loved Castle Leslie--I prefer coming back to the same place to stay every night as opposed to those equestrian tours where you stay in a different place every night.

I loved the horses--my favorite was a Welsh Pony named Bobby--and the riding, but the food was hardly splendid when we visited (which was probably 10 years ago now, so perhaps things have changed).

I like to ride and used to fairly frequently so I was used to it, but now I don't, so I'm sure my thighs would be really sore after a couple hours. I've always toyed with the idea of one of those riding trips (in Spain or somewhere in France or even Ireland). There are lots of companies that do that kind of thing you can find on the internet. I have ridden in Egypt on the desert.

In France, they do often have English tack, but they also may have McClellan-type military saddles or a trekking saddle for some of those longer trips. I never really was very good on an English saddle, didn't ride enough or take enough lessons -- I found it easier to ride bareback than with an English saddle, for some reason.

IN France, they have various places to ride in Normandy, the Loire, and in Provence -- about anywhere outside the main large urban areas. IN the cities, you can't rent horses as a casual tourist, that I know of. A lot of places I used to ride by the hour don't do that anymore, either. If they do, it is just an escorted trail ride or walk, basically. I think there may have been liability problems or the insurance got raised too high.

Hi Stella, you say that horseback riding would be great fun. And it is. But as others have stated, if you have never, or have not riden for years a vacation is not the time to start or restart. I made that mistake once. Went horseback riding (western) after not being on a horse for over ten years. I thought I would die from pain the the following days. Just a thought, for what it is worth.

Agree with LoveItaly. Horseback riding is fun but it can be dangerous and scary for someone who does not ride well. Ireland uses English saddles - you hold on with your inner thighs/legs only (nothing on the saddle to hold onto).

If you are planning just a short, few hours ride, then being a low novice is probably OK. If you are talking about a several days ride, then you need to, at the very least, get some basic lessons and practice in before you go.
Talk to the stable to find out what level of rider they would recommend for their trips. Many say that riders should at the very least be comfortable at a trot and can stay in a saddle for at least 3 hours. Someone who is a non-rider or novice will probably have problems with trotting and will definitely have problems with the number of hours in the saddle.
Be honest about the skill level of each rider. If you have not ridden in many years, you would most likely be considered a novice. Someone who has only ridden once here and there over the years is more likely considered a non-rider. Be honest - it is for YOUR safety and enjoyment.
Real mountain riding is usually NOT for novices because of the often narrow, high, rocky paths. I rode in the mountains of Ireland and it was stunning and a great ride. But the ride I did definitely was NOT for novices. I ride frequently and still managed to fall off. It happens.

We are going to be using a place in Dunfanaghy and it turns out a story was written about them in the most recent Ireland of the Welcomes. One of our group is very experienced and the rest of us not so. Only doing a short ride though.

Bill