Horse riding and the weather
This is an outdoor activity on a live animal over natural ground, and weather is the one variable nobody controls. Here is what actually changes, and what happens to your booking when it does.
The riding centre may change the route, move the time or reschedule the ride when heavy rain, a storm, extreme heat or unsafe ground make it sensible. Safety and the horses' condition come before the timetable. If a ride cannot run, we arrange another day or you are not charged — you pay on the day, so there is nothing to claw back. Free cancellation is up to 24 hours before in any case.
What actually stops a ride
- A storm. Lightning and horses are not an argument anyone needs to have.
- Heavy rain that has soaked the ground. Not the rain — the footing it leaves behind. Wet, slick ground is where a horse slips.
- Extreme heat. Usually moves the departure rather than cancelling it.
- Strong wind. Horses are prey animals and wind makes them jumpy — a beginner group in a gale is a bad combination.
Ordinary rain, on the other hand, usually changes very little — a light shower on a shaded track is pleasant. But the call belongs to the day and the ground rather than to this page.
Who decides, and when
The riding centre, on the day, looking at the actual ground — not a forecast on a phone the night before.
That means you may be told at short notice, and it also means you are being told by somebody who has just walked on the track. We would rather have a call on the day than a ride that should not have gone out.
What happens to your booking
- Nothing has been charged, because payment is at the riding centre on the day. There is no refund process to sit through.
- We will offer another day if you have one left on your holiday.
- If you would rather not rebook, that is the end of it — nothing owed either way.
- Cancelling for your own reasons is free up to 24 hours before. After that, just tell us as early as you can; the horse and the vehicle have both been arranged for you.
The full terms are on the cancellation page.
Riding in winter
The coast does not stop in winter, and a cool clear day is genuinely excellent riding weather — better than August, if you ask the horses. What changes is that the weather is less predictable, so a rescheduled ride is more likely.
Bring a layer you can take off, and expect the shoreline to be windier than the forest.
Ready to ride?
The standard hour has a price and a calendar. Sunset, sunrise and private rides are arranged with the riding centre.
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