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Dingle Peninsula Horseback riding?

Can anyone recommend beach and beautiful view of the Dingle Peninsula for begin riders?

Posted by
2743 posts

Welcome to the forum WOZ. If you are an absolute beginner rider, I’d recommend taking a few English (dressage or hunter) riding lessons before riding in Ireland. Riding in an English saddle is much different than riding in a Western saddle. You need better balance and it helps to understand the aids.

Posted by
3122 posts

I'll just chime in that I got to experience horseback riding in Scotland (not helpful for your Ireland trip, I know). When I booked it, they asked my weight, which I thought was a good sign that they would choose a horse suited to me. I was able to book a walking ride, usually recommended for children or rank beginners, where a "groom" (a lovely young lady) partly held one of the reins and I sat in the saddle (also holding the reins) for a walk along the shore of Loch Fyne. This was great for me because I hadn't ridden in about 20 years.

Then we had an incident where a couple of dogs barked at us and the horse started bucking and the groom had to let go. My teenage-years training took over, I kept my weight on the stirrups, and I was able to keep my seat until the horse calmed down.

Frankly I like English better than Western because the saddle is lighter and the stirrups are a bit shorter, allowing you to more easily adjust your seat as the horse moves beneath you.

Posted by
1376 posts

A friend and her sister did an inn to inn tour on the west coast of Ireland via horseback. They are both experienced riders. But perhaps more importantly, the horses were very experienced. If they were riding western, they could have looped the reins around the horn and the horses would have just made their way to the next inn without prompting. My point being, most outfitters will put an unknown rider on as bomb-proof a horse as possible and will not take an inexperienced rider galloping through the waves on the ocean shore. It will be nose to tail trail riding. The PP's experience in Scotland would be the exception, albeit not impossible.

Posted by
2743 posts

I don't want to talk anyone out of riding in Ireland or anywhere. I just think you need to know a bit of the basics. A tip I learned a long time ago is if you're nervous on the horse, sing a song to relax. It makes you breathe and if you breathe you relax, then the horse will relax. "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" mimics the trot hoof beats. Be alert, be aware, look between the horse's ear to where you're going.
I did a point-to-point ride in Donegal in 1992. Yep, a very long time ago. I was in my 40s back then and owned a Thoroughbred, not bomb proof and not tolerant of beginners, but a good dressage and hunter school horse who taught me lots. I started riding late in life.
The ride was advertised for novice and above riders who knew how to ride in English saddles, walk, trot, canter for a week, about five hours riding per day. Horses were chosen based on riding ability and preference. One thing to think about is if you're not in shape, riding for a couple hours will be achingly tiring.
I'm now horseless as of two months ago after having a horse or two in my backyard for 30 years. Scheduled into September's itinerary is a meander ride through Hyde Park and a trail ride through the Camargue during our RS South of France Arles free time.
epltd: riding a horse is like riding a bicycle. Thankfully the muscle memory kicks in when you need it and the mental memory instantly hears your trainer's voice "sit back, head up, heels down".

Posted by
2743 posts

WOZ, A hint to keep you comfortable in the saddle: wear leggings with knee socks over them, not jeans. The seams on jeans will rub your legs raw since most beginners clinch with their knees. The socks will help prevent your calves from being pinched by the stirrup leathers.
Enjoy! You may come home wanting to take up a great sport. For a long time I kept a picture on my bulletin board of an 80+ y/o lady riding dressage using her cane as her whip. There's hope for us all.

Posted by
15 posts

I found several when I googled as well as on TripAdvisor, including the one listed above. I emailed this farm, they were very quick to respond.
https://longsriding.com/treks/#beachmountain
We're experienced western riders, but less experienced with English tack, so I looked for rides for beginner and novice. Another one I'm looking at is Sea View Equestrian. We live in Oregon so we've done cantering on the beach. At this point (and age 67 and 71) just want to check out the scenery.
And horsewoofie is right: singing helps you relax. I get nervous on steep narrow mountain trails.