Ride Overview
For four days you will be discovering Ireland’s beautiful nature and colorful history on horseback. Your horse will be carrying you on this post to post trail ride about 80km (about 50 miles) from rural County Galway westward through the beautiful countryside of County Clare. We ride on forest tracks, quiet country lanes and across bog land.
Passing through charming Irish villages, you will be introduced to wonderful Irish jigs as well as the chance to enjoy a rest and a pint of your preference. This is quintessential Ireland.
All riders wanting to join our Galway Clare County trail ride must be physically fit and be safe riders in the outdoors in a group of horses at all paces.
Please note that there is a strict 185 lb weight limit.
5 nights at the guest house:
2027 Dates: May 1-6, May 15-20, May 29-June 3, June 12-17, June 26-July 1, July 10-15, July 24-29, Aug. 7-12, Aug. 21-26
2027 Rate: $2,330.00 USD (or 1865€) per person in a shared room (Single Supplement: $188.00 USD or 150€)
Non rider sharing with a rider: $975.00 USD (or 780€)
NOTE: all riders must be physically fit and safe riders in the outdoors in a group of horses.
We ride up to 6 hours daily and we do NOT use western saddles!
Our max weight limit is 85Kg/185lbs on all of our rides.
For 2027 we plan airport/bus transfers as follows:
Shannon airport transfers can be arranged for 55€ per person / each way
Our group pick up time is 11:30h and our group drop off time is for flights from 12:30h
Loughrea bus stop transfers can be arrange for 45€ per person / per way
Our group pick up time is from the 16:50h (4:50pm) bus and drop off time is for the 10:35h bus with www.citylink.ie route # 763 (Dublin – Galway route)
All transfers must be paid in cash to the driver.
Other transfers on request at cost.
Included
- 5 nights accommodation
- 4 days of guided riding
- All meals
- Horse and all tack
- Guiding services on the trail rides
- Luggage transfers
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Airport transfers
- Travel Insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
Day 1 - Saturday
Arrival to our guesthouse in the An Sibin Riding Centre, where you will stay for 5 nights. For the next 4 days you will enjoy a different guided trail ride each day, while the horses stay on a new pasture each night. To cover this 80km post to post trail ride we mix walk, trot and canter on our varied terrain.
Day 2 - Sunday
Meet your horse and get used to each other by grooming and saddling up. Not to worry, our guides are always ready to help you with your horse. This morning you will enjoy an easy half day guided trail ride along the peaceful slopes of the wooded Slieve Aughty Mountains and across widespread bog land. The afternoon is time to rest for horse & rider.
Day 3 - Monday
Taking in the grand views over the majestic River Shannon, you will be riding a full day and passing the traditional peat cutting areas and learning about the mystic Neolithic tombs and about the legends of the ruined monastic settlement on Holy Island.
Day 4 - Tuesday
Heading for the top of the hills we will overlook peaceful rolling countryside and ride along miles of storytelling rough old stonewalls sheltering the fresh green pastures for a full day. The waters of Lough Graney invite us to a refreshing ride, right across the gentle lapping lake.
Day 5 - Wednesday
The old narrow country lanes of rural Ireland and the tranquil forest tracks guide you on this full day ride to the boggy uplands where County Clare unfolds all around you. Many colourful wild flowers like gorse,foxglove and heather line your path.
Day 6 - Thursday
After breakfast it is time to say ”slan abhaile” and get on your onward journey.
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Adrienne J.
The ride was wonderful – after seeing similar areas of Ireland from a car in 2008, nothing compares to the up-close of riding through that beautiful landscape. The horses were incredible – extremely well cared for, with excellent manners, sensitive to the leg, and sound minds and bodies! I’m proud to say I did my first gallops on an Irish Cob! At the same time – safety was number-one and our guides were always checking our girths, giving us fair warning of an upcoming faster gait, etc! Bertie and Nicola have the logistics of that trip down to a science, and there the food at their place was incredible too! In short – loved it!
Thanks for everything, Stacey – it was a blast!
Sharon G.
This was an experience of a lifetime and sharing the experience with my daughter, granddaughter and friends made it even better.
We loved the restored old home that was converted into a rustic and comfortable inn. The grounds were lovingly enhanced with beautiful flowers and landscaping features. Our rooms were comfortable and pleasant. Our hosts were gracious and willing to spend time with us with lots of stories. The staff was friendly and accommodating. The meals were always very good. My daughter has a gluten allergy and they always offered her gluten-free options. Then even made gluten-free bread especially for her that tasted like “real’ wheat bread – this is a very difficult feat.
Clearly they love their horses and have made great effort to ensure the comfort and health of their animals. The pairing the horse and riders was done appropriately. The route planned for us was varied with interesting vistas and experiences. Each day of riding was an all-encompassing environment of history lessons, fun with your horse, new sights and sounds – love the dialects.
I enjoyed the lead rider who told us stories about the area through which we were riding, kept us safe and made us laugh. The end rider was also delightful and concerned with our safety.
I enjoyed the two villages in which we had rooms the last three days. This allowed us to know a little of the village life. Again the accommodations were very comfortable. The old hotel where we stayed for the last two nights had a faded glory about it, including the large and luxurious bathroom, and the staff was very professional. This hotel was a window into an earlier time when our simple horse-riding crew would have been insufficiently important to be guests. So I felt this sense of history with the touch of luxury.
Though I have covered many facets of the trip, I must stress that the horse-back riding was the highlight.
Gaby C.
What can I tell you – the trip was almost perfect (not too perfect as I lost my phone on the return trip) but minor detail. Nicola and Bertie and their team was great. Food was excellent, they were very accommodating with food. The horses were great! I loved the mare I was riding. Our guides were great and only one day of rain, but other than that, it was a fabulous trip.
I hope to do this again somewhere else in due time! Thanks again!
Heather M.
Thank you for all of your help with this trip! It was amazing. The company was great – there were 3 riders from Canada, 3 from the US, 3 from Germany and 2 from Sweden. My friend, Glenda and I hit it off with the US ladies.
The pace was quite surprising! On the Sunday when we went for our first trot – it was a total forward trot – really fast. I was in shock! I figured it out and then the guide said, “Are we ready to do the canter?” The horses speak amazing English! By the time that the guide starts to say ‘tr…” or “cant…” they were gone! So for the first “canter” (gallop!) – I lost a stirrup, but luckily, I was able to pull my guy back to a trot to get myself under control again. Thank goodness, I thought it was funny.
We ended up in hysterics at dinner on the Sunday night with the US girls, talking about the “canter”! We were joking saying that we could save time tacking up in the am as we didn’t need bridles – the horses spoke English so well.
I was totally amazed at how Bertie and Nicola managed the logistics. We had 11 riders plus guides and every morning went smoothly. The food was great, the accommodations were comfortable and the horses were charming. Once you got used to the pace, it was great.
We are actually talking about doing another riding vacation with our new US friends. We were thinking, Scotland, Spain or Italy. What would you suggest? I don’t know how we would top this trip. The countryside was also amazing – as well as the weather – it was 18-21 every day and it only rained twice lightly. We actually got sun burned – in Ireland!!
Thank you for your help in booking a wonderful trip. Happy to be a reference!
Glenda W.
We had a great time in Ireland – beautiful scenery – great hospitality (Bertie and Nicola were very gracious hosts), great food – both Heather and I loved our horses (Jasper and Nina). There were 11 of us in total but we rode in two smaller groups, one slightly ahead of the other – great mixed of different ages and nationalities – German/Swedish/French/American/Canadian – we really had some good laughs. The day we crossed the lake was hot and sunny – that was a blast!!. A most memorable vacation in every way – we’re already thinking about where we can ride next.
Thank you again!
Karen N.
This was an awesome, well-organized program! I would give it top ratings! The only thing I might recommend is a side trip to one of the castles. I took a day off riding and used the public transportation system to the Bunratty Castle and it was well worth the trip. Thanks for all of your help and I look forward to traveling again next year.
Melissa G.
You were right, the trip was AMAZING! Everything was perfectly coordinated. The accommodations were stellar & the renovated farmhouse is just so adorable. I also can’t say enough about the food @ the farmhouse, as all the meals were gourmet caliber & extremely fresh! Nicola did a great job pairing me with my horse & I had a great time as Coleen cantered through the pine tree forests, the turf fields, the lake & of course along the Atlantic! Each day was a perfect mix of scenery, history, walk, trot & canter. It was definitely a trip of a lifetime!
Will definitely recommend to all my friends!
Thanks so much for all your help planning this trip.
Holly G.
Nicola and Bertie are exceptional hosts! Their many years of experience provide a seamless schedule that affords you the opportunity to truly relax and enjoy their OUTSTANDING horses and beautiful countryside. We were amazed at the immaculately clean (and wonderfully comfy) tack and daily blacksmith visits. They look after their horses with as much care as their guests and that makes for happy horses, thus happy riders. Nicola and Bertie’s hand-picked guides were a delight, catering to any need we had on the trail and always putting our safety first. I wish I could have brought my sweet mount Colleen home with me. I already miss her sweet eye and wonderfully smooth ride! The delicious food, comfortable accommodations, amazing rides and overall experience were an exceptional value for the price we paid for the trip. Thanks Stacey, Nicola and Bertie for a wonderfully fun and safe riding vacation.
Brooke B.
This trip was GREAT! It was exactly what I was looking for: a wonderful combination of exciting riding and peaceful relaxation. The terrain was varied and interesting. One day we rode up a mountain and then rode through a bog on top of the mountain, which was cool (it was strange to see such deep water that high). By far the most fun day was when we rode through the lake. I’d never experienced anything quite like that and it’s something I definitely won’t forget!
The people were great as well, real icing on the cake! Our fellow guests were so nice and fascinating to talk to and our guides and hosts were welcoming and accommodating. Thank you so much for all of your help organizing. I think I’ve now been bitten by the international riding trip bug, so will definitely be contacting you to arrange more trips in the future!
Thanks again!
Bonnie P.
I’m guessing you may have heard this before, so at the risk of being redundant I will say: IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST TRIP I HAVE EVER TAKEN IN MY LIFE!!! Ross and I are ready to go again.
You were right-on about everything we discussed. The horses were wonderful and the rides in the country were fantastic. Berte and Nicola are gracious and welcoming. Their home is incredibly beautiful and the gardens are breathtaking! They have this down to a science and never missed a beat organizing 8 people and horses 24/7. The amazing thing is they make everything look so effortless and easy which definitely made me feel relaxed and at ease. I got to ride Oliver and Ross rode Lafeen. We both fell in love with our horses. Oliver took such good care of me. It was funny how quickly I started to trust him. But he sure could canter and he loved to go fast.
The day we went across the lake was the highlight of the trip. Our guides, Kiki and Caroline, were charming, funny, safety conscious, and knowledgeable. They were always close by when I needed help. On the last day of our trip, Berte took Ross and I back to Ennis where we checked back into our hotel. So, yes, this was a dream vacation and thank you so much for encouraging us to go. Do you have any suggestions for a similar ride in a different country? I am already researching our next trip!
Felicia K.
My trip to the An Sibin Riding Center was that PLUS. Because of the weather here on the east coast, I arrived at Shannon no problem but others were delayed, so Bertie dropped me off at the Bunratty Castle to tour while he went back to Shannon to pick up the others. My group was very international – 3 French and 2 Swedes and me. They spoke great English but some times we used hand/sign language and had many laughs!! The horses were great and suitable with the food and lodging awesome. Bertie said you had been to the riding center and he spoke very highly of you!!
We went to pubs and enjoyed the Irish music and they also arranged for us to go to the Cliffs of Moher which was sunny. Although we had some rain, It was sunny every day we stopped for lunch and Friday no rain at all. Even when it did rain, it was Ireland at it’s finest.
I can’t tell you enough how glad I am to have chosen this trip of a lifetime.
Donna R.
The trip was absolutely the best! Only two days of rain. The rest was sunshine and 6 – 8 hours of riding every day, and the food was delicious. I must tell you we nicknamed the van that Bertie drove to serve our lunches outdoors on the trail each day was nicknamed, “The Irish Chuck Wagon.” like on cattle drives in the Old West in USA! Except we had real silverware and china dishes. We were in a local pub on the 4th of July and our group convinced Nicole (who has a beautiful trained voice) to sing “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Since the final day was pouring rain, myself and two other American women from our group from RI took an early bus to GalwayI regret we did not personally get to thank Nicola and Bertie that day and I will send them a email with pictures. That last evening we took a cab to the Cliffs of Moher – bright sunlight at 10 PM! You’ll see in the pics I sent how much fun we had. My only regret is I screwed up my back a week before we left and despite many last-minute visits to the chiropractor, I had to trot.canter, and yes, gallop in half-seat the whole time, bridging my reins and holding onto my Gypsy Vanner mare’s mane. Cantering in the shallow water of the Shannon River was priceless. Still being treated for back pain but I did not let this get in my way of a good time.
So I’m thinking about where we should go on our next riding trip…perhaps riding Lusitanos in Portugal?
Thank you so much! Stay in touch.
Wendy M.
I just wanted to tell you how much I really enjoyed the ride. I had so much fun. The horses were awesome and the hospitality was fantastic. Bertie and Nicola were great hosts, and I could see that they made every effort to make everything run smoothly and efficiently. My husband went along on the trip as a non-rider, and Bertie and Nicola made sure he didn’t get lost and gave him site-seeing ideas while I was out riding. He had a great time. Bertie and Nicola have a great sense of humor, and we really enjoyed talking with them. This was the first time I had ever taken a horse riding vacation, and I had so much fun. The scenery changed everyday and there were views that I will never forget. Although riding through the lake was great, I think the views were my favorite. I remember trotting down the road and looking out at the most amazing landscapes. The horses were fantastic and there was enough excitement to keep the riding fun. Our group was great together I think, and I was especially appreciative of our guides. Sarah had other guides take photos of us with her camera and later shared them with us. So nice of her and thoughtful. I loved being able to groom and tack up your horse everyday. You really bond with your horse over the six days, and at the end I was really sad to bid him goodbye. It was definitely a trip I would recommend to anyone traveling to Ireland.
Monika M.
This was my best vacation ever! More rigorous than I expected, but well worth it. Great horses, great people, great weather, I couldn’t have asked for more.
Thank you for playing a part in this adventure and I will definitely do another in the future.
Jordon & Laurie L.
What a great trip we had! Was a little sore first two days,but after that… all was great for us.. Laurie got to ride her dream horse..his name was McCool, still had his handlebar mustache.. funniest thing.. I had a huge Irish Draft named Aron.. she was a typical mare, really had to control her.. she ruled all the horses in our group of 5..
Bertie and Nicola were great hosts.. Our two guides were always smiling and very helpful! Just such a great trip! We bought a GoPro and got us on video cantering across the lake, we are going to post it on YouTube as soon as we get time.. That was Laurie’s favorite day..
I definitely see another equestrian vacation in the future.. We will keep your contact info!
Thanks for setting up this trip. everything was perfection.
Nancy R.
This was truly an amazing trip! The rides were fabulous, the horses wonderful, the food and lodging excellent! Bertie and Nicola were the perfect hosts! The guides were great and very informative.
Thank you Active Riding and and the Ireland Team!