Tipperary horse riding vacations

Horse culture is long established in Ireland. Many prestigious breeds, including the Connemara pony, originate from the Emerald Isle, and of course racing is a major industry here. Then there is the scenery. You could hardly wish for more picturesque terrain to gallop through, with moody skies commonplace and also adding to the photogenic quality.

Tipperary in particular is a hotbed for equestrian culture. A horse riding vacation in Tipperary sees you based close to the pretty town of Thurles, on a family owned working horse farm well located for arriving by either Dublin or Shannon airports.

Trips usually last between one and two weeks, and can be tailored to beginners, intermediates and expert riders who will love the scope for cross country hacks featuring plenty of obstacles. The center based vacations involve daily rides, usually one in the morning and another in the afternoon lasting two to three hours, with time set aside for relaxation.

Expert tuition is available in a number of disciplines onsite for you to brush up on your technique, or if you prefer just to head out at every opportunity for some thrilling open country gallops, guides will be happy to lead you around the farm estate. New arrivals spend a little time in the arena first of all to get acquainted with their mounts.

You’ll be staying at a listed Georgian property where socialising with fellow guests comes naturally over homecooked meals and on every ride. Itineraries can be personalised, so if you want to mix up your riding with some sightseeing around Thurles, which has a Gaelic games stadium as well as plenty of pubs to hear traditional Irish music, you can do so with ease. There is also a racing calendar that may tie in with your dates, and the historic Farley Castle is nearby too.