From a one-hour pony trek to introduce your children to the joys of horse riding to a one-week luxury horse trekking holiday for more experienced horse riders, this wonderful sport is open to almost anyone regardless of age and ability! The unique relationship you have with your horse or pony, added to the pleasure of being high up in the mountains with exceptional scenery spread out around you, makes this activity truly unforgettable. Read on to find out more about the different options available with some important advice to bear in mind when booking…
In general, children love animals, and ponies and horses are certainly no exception. Being allowed to ride on an animal’s back is something most children dream of – I am sure, like me, you’ve seen a long-suffering pet cat or family dog being « ridden » by a small child… Most pony clubs or riding schools organise short pony treks for children as young as 3 years old – always accompanied by an adult of course – on well-trained, gentle and patient Shetland ponies!
Sitting up high on your horse’s back is, of course, a great way to enjoy the mountains and appreciate the stunning views. However, this activity also offers the possibility to get to places that are inaccessible by car or remote spots that require an extreme level of fitness to reach. Horses and ponies are well-known for their stamina and agility and both of these qualities come in handy high up on steep mountain paths… The mountains suddenly become accessible to anyone who is comfortable riding a horse or pony for a few hours.
Most pony clubs and horse riding schools have a range of horses and ponies available which are suitable for beginners through to more experienced riders. Depending on the location, these clubs offer treks that range from trotting through hillside forests and galloping through alpine meadows to trekking up steep, challenging mountain paths.
For more experienced horse riders who are looking for a bit more of an adventure, there are all types of horse riding treks available to suit all tastes and budgets. From a day trek through luxuriant forests with a lunchtime picnic and swimming in a mountain lake to overnight treks where you sleep in a tee-pee camp, make your own fire and dinner and ride back out again in the morning after breakfast …
If that all sounds a little too basic and you’d prefer to treat yourself to something special, there are all-inclusive horse riding holidays with accommodation in luxury chalets with spa facilties, on a full-board basis including continental or cooked breakfast, packed lunch and 3-course dinner with wine !!
You can also find multi activity holidays that include horse riding if you have older kids that need to keep on the move during their holiday. Having not yet had the chance to try out particular riding clubs or riding holidays, I’ll leave you to find the option that suits you best… Let us know if you’ve already been horse riding in the mountains or if you’ve been on a horse trekking holiday – leave a comment or join us on Facebook and tell us about your experiences. And, of course, don't forget to read our other articles about sporting activities in the mountains such as air sports, water sports and mountain biking in the Tignes Val d’Isère Bike Park...
Only choose riding schools that are fully licensed with completely qualified equestrian instructors who have experience working with horses in a mountain environment. This is an important element to take into account as horse riding in the mountaints is a completely different sport to riding on flat plains. If you are just planning to do a short trek for a couple of hours during your holiday and it’s possible to book onsite, then visit the stables and the living conditions of the horses and ponies and ask yourself if they look healthy and well cared for before booking !
Regarding your own health and safety and that of your children, it is extremely important to make sure that everyone wears a riding helmet. Even more importantly, you must wear a helmet that fits correctly and which has chin straps which fasten properly. There is almost no point in wearing an ill-fitting riding hat or one that is not done up correctly – by the time your head meets with an obstacle, the helmet will no longer be on your head! Before accepting a helmet, the rider should test that he or she can nod and shake his or her head briskly without the hat moving at all – WITHOUT the chin strap fastened ! Never accept a helmet that doesn’t fit correctly for fear of slowing the orgnisation down or being a nuisance – horse riding accidents can be fatal !
From a one-hour pony trek to introduce your children to the joys of horse riding to a one-week luxury horse trekking holiday for more experienced horse riders, this wonderful sport is open to almost anyone regardless of age and ability! The unique relationship you have with your horse or pony, added to the pleasure of being high up in the mountains with exceptional scenery spread out around you, makes this activity truly unforgettable. Read on to find out more about the different options available with some important advice to bear in mind when booking…
In general, children love animals, and ponies and horses are certainly no exception. Being allowed to ride on an animal’s back is something most children dream of – I am sure, like me, you’ve seen a long-suffering pet cat or family dog being « ridden » by a small child… Most pony clubs or riding schools organise short pony treks for children as young as 3 years old – always accompanied by an adult of course – on well-trained, gentle and patient Shetland ponies!
Sitting up high on your horse’s back is, of course, a great way to enjoy the mountains and appreciate the stunning views. However, this activity also offers the possibility to get to places that are inaccessible by car or remote spots that require an extreme level of fitness to reach. Horses and ponies are well-known for their stamina and agility and both of these qualities come in handy high up on steep mountain paths… The mountains suddenly become accessible to anyone who is comfortable riding a horse or pony for a few hours.
Most pony clubs and horse riding schools have a range of horses and ponies available which are suitable for beginners through to more experienced riders. Depending on the location, these clubs offer treks that range from trotting through hillside forests and galloping through alpine meadows to trekking up steep, challenging mountain paths.
For more experienced horse riders who are looking for a bit more of an adventure, there are all types of horse riding treks available to suit all tastes and budgets. From a day trek through luxuriant forests with a lunchtime picnic and swimming in a mountain lake to overnight treks where you sleep in a tee-pee camp, make your own fire and dinner and ride back out again in the morning after breakfast …
If that all sounds a little too basic and you’d prefer to treat yourself to something special, there are all-inclusive horse riding holidays with accommodation in luxury chalets with spa facilties, on a full-board basis including continental or cooked breakfast, packed lunch and 3-course dinner with wine !!
You can also find multi activity holidays that include horse riding if you have older kids that need to keep on the move during their holiday. Having not yet had the chance to try out particular riding clubs or riding holidays, I’ll leave you to find the option that suits you best… Let us know if you’ve already been horse riding in the mountains or if you’ve been on a horse trekking holiday – leave a comment or join us on Facebook and tell us about your experiences. And, of course, don't forget to read our other articles about sporting activities in the mountains such as air sports, water sports and mountain biking in the Tignes Val d’Isère Bike Park...
Only choose riding schools that are fully licensed with completely qualified equestrian instructors who have experience working with horses in a mountain environment. This is an important element to take into account as horse riding in the mountaints is a completely different sport to riding on flat plains. If you are just planning to do a short trek for a couple of hours during your holiday and it’s possible to book onsite, then visit the stables and the living conditions of the horses and ponies and ask yourself if they look healthy and well cared for before booking !
Regarding your own health and safety and that of your children, it is extremely important to make sure that everyone wears a riding helmet. Even more importantly, you must wear a helmet that fits correctly and which has chin straps which fasten properly. There is almost no point in wearing an ill-fitting riding hat or one that is not done up correctly – by the time your head meets with an obstacle, the helmet will no longer be on your head! Before accepting a helmet, the rider should test that he or she can nod and shake his or her head briskly without the hat moving at all – WITHOUT the chin strap fastened ! Never accept a helmet that doesn’t fit correctly for fear of slowing the orgnisation down or being a nuisance – horse riding accidents can be fatal !
Being lucky enough to have parents who were crazy about skiing, my love for the mountains started when I was 4 years old on our first family ski holiday to Austrian ski resort of Obergurl. One ski holiday a year was never enough and tears rolled down my face as I looked out the back window of the car on the drive down the valley on the way home!
