Cornish Riding Holidays

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Riding holidays in Cornwall

Cornwall has long been regarded as something of a romantic destination in England. Birthplace of King Arthur, home of smugglers and shipwreckers, the site of Daphne Du Maurier’s Jamaica Inn. Add to this long sandy beaches, rugged cliffs, idyllic country pubs and castles galore and what more could you want?

One of the best ways of exploring Cornwall is from the back of a horse. It’s slow, you can appreciate the fantastic scenery; it’s environmentally friendly… no internal combustion engines and carbon monoxide fumes; and the horse does the work, no leg tiring cycling or blister inducing hiking!

Why not consider a Cornish riding holiday? There are a number of equestrian establishments you could choose from in Cornwall, but one of the best is Cornish Riding Holidays Ltd., operating from the Wheal Buller Riding School, situated just outside Redruth. Set in the lush countryside with loads of bridleways, you will catch sight of the sea as you ride along, either towards Carn Brea Castle, or on the way down for a canter along the beach. They provide holidays for individuals and groups of children during school holidays and for adults the rest of the time. Naturally, the holidays are designed for riders of all abilities.

For beginners of all ages, it’s best to start with some lessons and Wheal Buller has both indoor and outdoor training rings and a team of enthusiastic qualified instructors to help you have the best possible start to your riding. Plus, your riding isn’t all within the confines of the school. As soon as you are confident enough, you can go hacking in the countryside and put into practice what you have learnt in the ring.

For those of you who have ridden before, you might want to spend some time brushing up on your skills or learning some new ones, like dressage, show jumping or learn to ride side saddle. When you have spent some time at your lessons, there is nothing like a canter in the open countryside to blow away those cobwebs and build up an appetite.

During the school holidays Cornish Riding Holidays concentrate on the children’s side of things. They pack each day with loads of activities. They teach the youngsters how to look after, groom and tack up their mounts, to swimming with them in a nearby lake. There is even a mock hunt to give the riders something to chase cross country. Children who have gone on one of these holidays, come back with the increased self-confidence from having learnt and mastered new skills, interacted with other kids and having had a fantastic time!

When the schools are back, the grownups can have their turn. They get almost unlimited access to the horses, whether having riding lessons or hacking around the surrounding area or along the coastal paths. The lessons on offer cover the full range of riding skills and you can even train for your BHS Horse Owners Certificate!

Remember, however, it is a holiday, and you needn’t spend the entire time living, breathing and dreaming horses! Cornish Riding Holidays are very flexible; so you can book from two to six days or more with accommodation and meals or just the days and stay elsewhere if you wish

But the best thing about Cornish Riding Holidays, is that they are in Cornwall! Nowhere in the county is very far from the sea, and the 300 or more beaches, so the air is clean and invigorating. Fresh caught seafood abounds in pubs and restaurants and you can wash it down with some local ales or “scrumpy”. And while we are on the subject, if you are not familiar with Cornish scrumpy, beware! It is local cider, slides down remarkably easily and is pretty strong, so go easy on it or you will pay for it later. We digress.

When you have finished riding, Redruth is ideally located to explore Cornwall. It is pretty central so is not far from the best sights and activities of the county, whether you want to explore St Ives, the Eden Project or visit Land’s End.

So why not get up close and personal with this area of Cornwall from the back of a horse?