Ride Overview

Once a year in October, Ireland’s oldest traditional horse fair has taken place in Ballinasloe since the time of the High Kings of Tara.

The main purpose of the fair is the sale of horses, and watching the hundreds of horse dealers gathered with their stock and doing business on the Fair Green is a real treat. Riding, jumping and driving horses, mares with foals and stallions. All sorts of horses are sold, from tiny ponies to huge hunters. Selling is done the old way – no fancy sales ring, just horses, buyers and sellers who gather and deals are done in cash on the spot.

You’ll be transported back to a time before mechanization. While at the fair, it takes but half breath to visualize it the old way – people looking for farm horses with strong bodies for plowing, or folks looking for riding stock to get them to town or the neighboring farm, foals recently weaned, stallions, gelding groups – they are all here. It’s a day you won’t soon forget!

Our riding program this week includes a full day visit to this horse fair, as well as the incredible Irish countryside you yearn to see – this is a once a year offering and spaces are limited.

2027 Date: Oct. 2-7
Rate: $2,030.00 USD or €1,625 per person sharing. Single Supplement: $190.00 USD or €150.
Non Rider Rate: $1,300.00 USD or €1,040

Included

  • 5 nights accommodation
  • 3 days of riding
  • 1 day visit to the Ballinasloe Horse Fair
  • All meals as indicated on the itinerary
  • Horse and all tack
  • Guiding services on the trail rides
  • Transfers to/from Ballinasloe
  • All local taxes

Not Included

  • Airfare
  • Travel and medical Insurance
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Airport Transfers
  • Gratuities for the guide at the end of the ride

Saturday

Transfer (if booked) from Shannon airport to the riding center in County Clare.

Lunch snack in the riding center.

Boat ride to Holy Island to visit the ruins of one of Irelands most important monastic settlements.

Traditional home cooked dinner by the open peat fire.

Sunday

After breakfast drive to the famous horse fair in Ballinasloe.

Spend all day between hundreds of horses – just looking…we are not bringing a horse trailer ;))

Drive back to the riding center in the late afternoon for dinner.

Monday

Full Irish breakfast.

2 hour ride through the beautiful Irish countryside.

Back to the riding centre for tasty lunch.

1 hour ride on ancient Celtic trails.

Candle light dinner.

Tuesday

Full Irish breakfast.

2 hour ride across the magical landscape of peat and heather.

After the lunch snack in the riding center we visit the ruins of the impressive Pallas Castle, one of the best preserved tower-houses and walled castle grounds of the 15th century.

Drive back to the riding center for dinner.

Wednesday

Full Irish breakfast.

2 hour ride through rural farmland.

Picnic lunch break along the trail route.

1 + 1/2 hour ride passing a 5000 year old Celtic Dolmen.

Dinner in the comfy atmosphere of the riding center.

Thursday

Full Irish breakfast.

Time to say “slan abhaile” to your Irish mounts.

Transfer (if booked) back to Shannon airport / rent a car.

The itinerary might change due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control…

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