Horse Riding and Yoga Holiday for Experienced Riders

This trip is designed for experienced riders who are comfortable with rising trot and cantering while maintaining control and steering confidently. Riders should have a solid foundation in horse riding, with experience handling a horse at different paces and in varying terrains. If you are returning to riding after a break, you should still have the skills and confidence to manage a horse independently.

You should have previous experience with horse riding, whether from regular lessons, owning or caring for a horse, or competing at some level. This trip is suitable for riders who have:

• Ridden regularly in the past, even if it was years ago.

• Competed or taken part in riding events, even if not at a professional level.

• Cared for a horse (even if not your own) and have a good understanding of handling and riding.

If you haven’t ridden in 15–20 years but were once a confident rider and are still comfortable around horses, you’re likely to be fine. However, this trip is not suitable for those who are nervous riders or only have very basic experience.

Riders must have good balance, control, and coordination. You should be comfortable:

• Maintaining control while cantering.

• Steering confidently at all paces.

• Getting on and off without assistance (mounting blocks are available).

• Leading your horse over uneven terrain, including rocky paths.

• Opening and closing gates while mounted.

• Riding for multiple hours over consecutive days.

This is a physically active trip, so a reasonable level of fitness is needed.

The horses on this trip are Norwegian Dole horses (Dølahest), a sturdy and calm breed well-suited to mountain riding. They are:

• Between 145 cm and 170 cm tall.

• Strong and reliable.

• Trained to respond to voice commands.

• Well-mannered and not overly spirited—calmer than a typical thoroughbred.

While they are steady and dependable, riders still need to be confident handling and controlling their horse independently.

Yes, we aim for each rider to be paired with one horse for the entire trip to allow you to build a bond. However, in rare cases, changes may be made if necessary for the well-being of the horse or rider.

Our sessions, developed by Ingeborg (Rider in Balance certified trainer and physiotherapist), are tailored for experienced riders. You’ll learn about balance, strength, and exercises to improve your riding. There’ll also be lessons on grooming, saddling, horse care, and communication with horses.

Expect a mix of paces, including walk, trot, and canter. Rides will take place on a variety of terrains, including woodland trails, gravel paths, and open spaces. We will have half-day rides on most days, with a longer full-day ride on the final day.

Only if you want to! We’ll cover horse grooming and saddling, but mucking out is optional.

Yes, mounting blocks will be available for getting on and off your horse.

You’ll mostly be riding on flat or gently rolling terrain, gravel paths, and through woodland.

Yes, for the safety and comfort of the horses, there is a rider weight limit of 100 kg. If you are close to or slightly over this limit, please contact us at bookings@gutsygirls.co.uk before booking to discuss options.

You’ll need a good level of fitness, as we’ll be riding and working with the horses for four consecutive days. If you have a medical condition that might make falling off a horse a concern, please contact us before booking.

The yoga sessions focus on stretching and recovery to help your body unwind from the rigorous riding sessions.