She was stocky, but 100% safe and
steady. The Irish horses are so reliable,
well trained, and good at their job.”
Ginny had organized a group tour to
say thank-you to riders at her own
stable in New York. “The women that
went with me had never ‘left the farm’
as far as riding on a guided tour! We
stayed eight days, seven of them participating
in a ride, and saw four towns.
Dinners were fantastic, breakfasts
one could have whatever they want!
It was just the right amount of time.”
Depending on a rider’s interests and skill level, Ireland
by horseback can mean many things. A riding tour
agency should be able to offer a range of
travel packages and -- in Ginny’s case -- the
added confidence of firsthand expertise as
promised by Active Riding Trips: “I picked this
trip because of the range of riding abilities that
I would be responsible for in my group. Stacey
(Adams) has experienced most of the rides and is
very informative.”
“You won’t see an exhaustive list of trips but you
will find a well rounded, hand-picked list of the
best places on earth for adventurous riders,”
says Adams, of Active Riding Trips. ”We will not
offer a trip unless we’ve been there. When you
reserve a trip with us, we have firsthand knowledge
about how the horses interact with each
other and on the trail, what sights you’ll see
each day, and how the food is prepared and dietary
restrictions are accommodated. The trip you receive
should match exactly with the trip you discussed with
us.”
There’s also an Ireland for every rider, from Ring of
Kerry inn-to-inn rides; tours of Kinnitty or Portumna
Castles; gallops along the coastlines of Connemara
or Donegal Beaches; a stay at Mount Juliet Country
Estate for golf and riding; trail rides at the foothills of
the Slieve Aughty Mountains; or a getaway to the Ballinasloe
Horse Fair.
“Ireland is even more beautiful from horseback,” says
Ginny. “You will never forget the landscape or its
green, rolling hills.”
EQUINE Lifestyle
The current ownership group of investors
includes Derek Warfield, founding member
of the Wolfe Tones and Colin Breen of Four
Green Fields Pub in Tampa, Florida. Since the
purchase in 2015, Kinnity Castle Hotel has
undergone significant renovations and continues
to serve as a wedding and executive-level
conference venue, and 4-star hotel
How to Pick a Trip: 5 First Steps
1. What sort of ride interests you?
2. What type of rider are you?
3. How far are you willing to travel?
4. Do you want to travel outside your comfort zone?
5. What does your ideal vacation look/feel like?
54 www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com
A Flowerhill inn to inn ride is a great
way to see the Irish countryside.
At Flower Hill, find Irish
hospitality and horsemanship,
including
cross-country lessons.
/www.EliteEquestrianMagazine.com