Ride Overview
Want to tune up your XC riding? Flowerhill Equestrian Centre just outside Galway, is a superb way to make the most of a short few days. This is an exceptional program catering to experienced riders (not appropriate for beginner riders) (strict 187lb. weight limit in effect).
The daily intensive program consists of a 1 hour AM XC lesson followed immediately by a 45-60 minute hack and then an afternoon 1.5 hour XC session. You will ride 3 different horses each day.
Accommodations are in a comfortable nearby B&B, rental cars are recommended.
2025 Dates: March 12-17, March 26-30, April 9-13, April 16-21, April 20-May 4, May 14-18, May 28-June 1, June 11-15, June 25-30, July 2-6, July 16-20, July 20-Aug. 4, Aug. 13-17, Aug. 27-31, Sept. 10-14, Sept. 24-28, Oct. 8-12
Rates:
5 Night/5 Days Riding (arrive on Tuesday): $2,050.00 USD per person (Single Supplement: $95.00 USD)
4 Night/5 Days Riding (arrive on Wednesday): $1,765.00 USD per person ($75.00 Single Supplement)
3 Night/4 Days Riding (arrive on Thursday): $1,325.00 USD per person ($65.00 Single Supplement)
Hunting offered in season – and can be added to any of the above programs in lieu of the daily riding. We hunt with the Galway Blazers on Saturdays. Cap fee (paid direct) is 150€
Drag Hunting can also be accommodated – ask us for more info!
Included
- 3-5 nights accommodation
- 4-5 days of riding
- Horse and all tack
- Instruction
- Daily breakfast and packed lunch
- All local taxes
Not Included
- Airfare
- Travel Insurance
- Transfers to/from the airport
- Daily transfers to/from the riding centre
- Dinners
- Gratuities for the team at the end of the stay
3N/4D Program
Arrive Thursday noon, ride out at 1:00pm to approximately 3:00pm to include hack out assessment and cross country jumping.
Friday 10.00 am to 11.45am cross country jumping training followed by lunch break then, from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Saturday 10.00 am to 11.45 am cross country training then lunch break followed by cross country training from 1.00pm to approximately 3:00pm.
Sunday morning full cross country ride from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.
4N/5D Program
Arrive Wednesday at 12:00PM Noon.
Wednesday 1:00pm until approximately 3:00pm hack out assessment and cross-country training.
Thursday 10.00 am until 11.45 am cross-country jumping followed by a lunch break then from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Friday 10.00 am to 11.45 am cross country jumping followed by lunch break, then from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Saturday 10.00 am to 11.45 am cross country training then lunch break followed by cross country training from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm.
Sunday morning full cross country ride from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.
5N/5D Program
Arrive Tuesday evening, no riding.
Wednesday 10.00 am until 11.45 am hack out assessment and cross-country jumping followed by a lunch break then from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Thursday 10.00 am until 11.45 am cross-country jumping followed by a lunch break then from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Friday 10.00 am to 11.45 am cross country jumping followed by lunch break, then from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm cross country training.
Saturday 10.00 am to 11.45 am cross country training then lunch break followed by cross country training from 1.00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm.
Sunday morning full cross country ride from 10.00 am to 12.00 pm.
Julia W.
I had an unbelievably good time. I keep telling everyone that somehow Ireland both lived up to and surpassed every one of my expectations, and the riding was incredible.
The weather was great! I lucked out with the timing because up until that week apparently, it’d been raining nonstop. Flowerhill was amazing. I don’t know of an opportunity stateside where you can ride 9 different horses over 5 days and learn over a huge variety of x-country jumps. So fun!
Now that I’m back to work, I’m already planning my next equestrian vacation.
Sabrina H.
We just got home Friday – I would much rather still be gallivanting the Irish countryside!
We had a great time! We rode with Connie. Oliver was there, but he seemed to be recovering from opening day of the hunt. What a character he is! I so wish we had more than the one day……
In the morning, I rode Marble and my mom rode Myra. Marble was lots of fun – lots of “go”, which I really enjoyed! Then in the afternoon, I rode Speckles, the little Appy – he was great too – different obviously, but I enjoyed both of them. My mom rode, I forget the name, but it was a big black gelding, I think.
Since they had gotten so much rain, we couldn’t use all of the x-country areas, but there was still plenty to have a good time! I would love to go back there again and spend more time with them and hunting in Ireland is still on my bucket list! Speaking of hunting, do you know of anything on the east coast (or I guess anywhere in the U.S) where they would allow someone to rent a horse and go out with them?
Thank you again for arranging – it made it much easier.
Olivia & Kurt S.
We had the best vacation ever in Ireland! Both Mary and Oliver, and everyone associated with Flowerhill, were wonderful to us. Mary took great care of us, fed us more that we could hope to ever finish (lunch included!) and even gave me an extra pair of socks when I ran out.
Oliver also went above and beyond, taking us (and his other international visitors) on our own hunt when Roscommon cancelled their meet. Kurt and I both enjoyed Connie’s xc coaching immensely, and the horses were fantastic! Even the tropical storm didn’t slow anyone down, and we missed the worst of the predicted weather, only having one ride during some gusty high winds, and no more than the expected amount of rain for the season and locale. Half the days were even sunny!
We did end up buying the Bua saddle you helped us arrange to try – if you have any clients that are interested, send them my way for a test ride. It’s the first saddle we’ve ever had that fits both Kurt and myself, and all our different horses – and it fit in our suitcase on the trip home without adding overweight for the airline. Irish designed and produced.
Thank you for everything – I’ve already given out your contact information to my boss, who enjoys equestrian vacations, and I’ll certainly recommend you to anyone else looking for a great riding holiday!
Mimi N.
Just got home. Flowerhill was great! Loved it. Rode 14 horses in 5 days…..and did the infamous ski jump. Loved it beyond!
Megan S.
I had the BEST time at Flowerhill, it was as you described – the horses were super fun and willing and knew their job, and the jumps were plentiful and varied. We had great instruction with Connie and they even took us on a mini-fox hunt which was quite the experience. We had mostly sunny days which was incredible. I loved the experience and would go back in a heartbeat.
Thank you so much for helping with this experience and for the encouragement. I was sad when the trip was over!
Barb G.
This was a great holiday! Flowerhill is an amazing place, the horses (we all had our favorites!) were great, the staff was great, Oliver was great – he’s quite the character! I’m so glad I went!
And I learned so so much and rode a lot more aggressively than I thought I would – I got back in to jumping and that was a big break-through for me after my riding accident in May 2018. It was hard work and hard riding and I enjoyed every minute of it! It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure and when they say it’s not for a beginner rider it’s not as there’s an expectation that you have riding and jumping experience – having said that, there is also absolutely no pressure to partake in the jumping and the staff were very clear on only doing what you felt safe and comfortable doing.
Mary, the owner at Oak Lodge B&B – she’s a great lady! We loved her – and she makes a mean G&T!
Anyway it was a great riding holiday and I learned so much! I would recommend Flowerhill – absolutely! And that part of Ireland is beautiful! Lots of sights to see, good places to eat, lovely people to meet…!
Thanks – I would definitely do another riding holiday!
David & Nastia W.
Flowerhill was simply amazing. Nastia loved it. Portumna was fun. Mary and PJ just perfect.
I don’t believe Flowerhill’s business model exists in the US. Perhaps because of liability? What a value! With the right priced flight that is a no-brainer.
Thanks so much for your help planning this. We will be in touch again.
Thanks again.
Heather S.
I wanted to take a moment to thank you for our trip to Flowerhill. There were many improvements for both of us as a result.
There was one jump that I was just so-so on and the next day I got to try it again with lots of coaching/encouragement on how to get over it. It felt great to be able to do it better the next day. Oliver is excellent at sensing when you’re ready and what you need.
The variety of jumps there is fabulous. It exceeded our expectations. Neil loved going down the lane ways where there were several jumps in a row. Something really satisfying about that. And I don’t know if you remember that small ring where there are jumps in a circle, and one with a drop. We did that every morning and you could see where you were making headway.
Neil is much improved. And one of the instructors told me I had also improved nicely, so it was nice to get that confirmation. We also had the benefit of watching really good riders who were with us.
I absolutely loved one of the horses there, Rosie. And Oliver also matched Neil with great horses. In addition, we really enjoyed the B&B, Mary was the ultimate hostess.
We can’t wait to return.