Europe > Ireland

Horse riding holidays and trail rides in Ireland

The Emerald Isle is a mecca for horse riders. The Connemara pony, the Irish Draught, the Irish cob, the Irish Hunter.... not forgetting the beautiful landscapes and famous Irish hospitality. Relax on a riding holiday where you can enjoy lessons, join trails or jump cross country courses. Or join a horse riding trail in Ireland for a voyage of discovery through mountains, along beaches and across wild heathlands. Just a short distance from home and yet a world away...
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From the horse’s mouth

  • Cross-country training at Castle Leslie
    April 2025 Donna aged 64
    An expensive riding holiday with not enough riding and nothing else really included. Too much downtime for me and other activities were not included and even if they were they were never available without giving up some of your limited amount of riding. A very lovely estate and nice people working there and easy to... Read all
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  • Ring of Kerry mini-trail
    April 2025 Nurhaily aged 48
    My sister and I had a great time doing the truncated Ring of Kerry ride. So great in fact that we really wish we'd done the full ride. Maybe next year. The horses were healthy and well cared for. The ride was magnificent. Cantering on the beach was literally a dream come true. And we met some amazing kindred horse... Read all
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  • Ring of Kerry mini-trail
    February 2025 Kate aged 39
    Absolutely magnificent ride- wonderful to be back in the saddle, first time in Ireland in such beautiful scenery with a close old friend. Our guide Natalie was fantastic- looked after us so well and informative. She was a great communicator and had a good sense of humour. The horses were so genuine, well mannered and... Read all
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  • Culture and sights of Ireland
    September 2024 JOCELYNE aged 65
    The place and people were absolutely wonderful, I did enjoy every moments and recommended without hesitation. Food was good, guides were fantastic (we became friends and keeping contact with), the host was so friendly. I just loved it My horse had a name of a beer lol, it was a gypsy, beautifull horse. The way they... Read all
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  • Ring of Kerry mini-trail
    September 2024 Megan Ann aged 58
    What an amazing trip! We saw spectacular scenery in the mountains the first day. My pony was sure footed and the guides were very knowledgeable. The second day we had a great time cantering on the beach. The horses were extremely well cared for. They took care to match the riders with appropriate horses. I rode Maeve... Read all
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  • Old cemetary in Ireland
    Equestrian holiday in Ireland

Visa & Health

Formalities

Please refer to your home country's Foreign Office website for up-to-date information. Although we endeavour to keep this section updated, requirements can change quickly, and your home country's Foreign Office website takes precedence.

This section is mostly directed towards UK citizen. Other nationalities, please contact us.

Visa

British nationals don't need a visa to travel to Ireland.

Passport Validity

British nationals are not legally required to show a passport to enter Ireland, but it may be useful to carry in case you need to prove your identity.
Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

EU Entry/Exit System for non-EU travellers

From October 2025, the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES) will start for all non-EU nationals travelling in or out of the Schengen area.
The EES is a digital border system which registers non-EU visitors travelling into the Schengen area instead of stamping their passports.
You will need to have your fingerprints and your photo taken when entering and exiting the Schengen area.

You may experience longer queues at borders when the new system starts. You can read more information here.

Please click here to check the updated entry requirements.

Health

It’s important to take out appropriate travel insurance for your needs. A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance and you should have both before you travel. It does not cover all health-related costs, for example, medical repatriation, ongoing medical treatment and non-urgent treatment.

UK Citizens: A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the European Union (EU).

Travellers should ideally arrange an appointment with their GP around five weeks before travelling. This appointment provides an opportunity to assess health risks taking into account a number of factors including destination, medical history, and planned activities.
For those with pre-existing health problems, an earlier appointment is recommended.

Please click here to check health recommendations.

Insurance

It is a condition of your booking with Equus Journeys that you have travel insurance which covers you for the riding activities to be undertaken. Your travel insurance should cover you for medical expenses and repatriation. Your guides may request your travel insurance details before they allow you to ride and may refuse to let you ride if you cannot provide them. You should take your insurance documents with you.

You can check our "Insurance Guide" here.

Voltage

The electrical supply in Ireland is 230v 50hz. The plugs and sockets are a three-pronged formation, the same as those used in the United Kingdom. If your appliances operate on a different current you will need a power converter and plug adapter.

Budget and money

The official currency in Ireland is the Euro.

Telephone and jetlag

Country code: +353

Country information

Country ID

Capital: Dublin
Area: 70,182 sq km (27,097 sq miles)
Language: English, Irish and some gaelic
Religion: Roman Catholic 84%, the remainder being Protestant, with Jewish and Islamic minorities.
Political regime: Republic


Socio-economical data

Not so long ago Ireland's economy was characterised as the 'Celtic Tiger', the country having transformed itself from a struggling nation into one of the most prosperous in Europe.
After a long growth spurt, however, this economic boom came to a halt in 2008 as a result of the global economic downturn, suffering greatly. The property bubble was particularly inflated here. The global recession saw the Irish economy slump severely, with Ireland recently accepting an €85bn bail-out from the IMF and EU in order to shore up the country’s balance sheet. A modest return to growth was seen in 2011, but Ireland’s woes very much continue to be felt and a stringent four-year National Recovery Plan will be in force until 2014.


History

Most of Ireland was covered with ice until the end of the last ice age over 9,000 years ago. Sea-levels were much lower and Ireland, and its neighbor Britain, were a part of continental Europe rather than being islands. Mesolithic stone age inhabitants arrived some time after 8,000 BC. Agriculture was introduced around 4,500 to 4,000 BC when sheep, goats, cattle and cereals were imported from the Iberian peninsula. The Chronicle of Ireland records that in 431 AD Bishop Palladius arrived in Ireland on a mission from Pope Celestine I to minister to the Irish "already believing in Christ." The same chronicle records that Saint Patrick, Ireland's patron saint, arrived a year later. There has always been a debate about these missions but it is likely that they actually both took place, causing the older druid traditions to collapse in the face of the new religion.
In the 7th century AD, a concept of national kingship gradually became articulated through the concept of a High King of Ireland. The High King was chosen amongst other lower kings, which still ruled their own little Kingdoms. In the 12th century the Norman invasions took place. The Norman rulers and the native Irish elites intermarried and the areas under Norman rule became Gaelicised. In 1199, John became the King of England and the Lord of Ireland. The Irish parliament passed the Statutes of Kilkenny in 1367. These were laws designed to prevent the assimilation of the Normans into Irish society by requiring English subjects in Ireland to speak English, follow English customs and abide by English law.
The English Crown control remained relatively unshaken in the area around Dublin known as The Pale. English rule of law was reinforced and expanded, however, in the sixteenth century leading to the Tudor reconquest of Ireland. A near complete conquest was achieved by the turn of the seventeenth century following the Nine Years' War and the Flight of the Earls. This control was further consolidated during the seventeenth century. This century witnessed English and Scottish colonization in the Plantations of Ireland, the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and the Williamite War. The religious struggles of the 17th century left a deep sectarian division in Ireland. Religious allegiance now determined the perception in law of loyalty to the Irish King and Parliament.
The Great Famine of the 1840s caused the deaths of one million Irish people. Over a million more emigrated to escape it. By the end of the decade, half of all immigration to the United States was from Ireland. The 19th and early 20th century saw the rise of modern Irish nationalism, primarily among the Roman Catholic population. After a couple of failed attempts Ireland became independent in 1920, while at the same time Northern Ireland was created. Disagreements over the provisions of the treaty led to a split in the nationalist movement and a subsequent civil war. The civil war officially ended in May 1923. In 1937, the Irish Free State was given full sovereignty within the Commonwealth, and remaining links with Britain dissolved.

Geography

Ireland is an island in Western Europe, located directly west of the United Kingdom. It shares international borders with the United Kingdom because of Northern Ireland. It has a total area of 84,421 km2 (32,595 sq mi) and is separated from Great Britain by the Irish Sea and from mainland Europe (France) by the Celtic Sea. Located in the northwest of Europe it also borders the Atlantic Ocean to the western coastlines. The main geographical features of Ireland are low central plains surrounded by a ring of coastal mountains. The highest peak is Carrauntoohil at 1,041 metres (3,415 feet) above sea level. The western coastline is rugged, with many islands, peninsulas, headlands and bays. The island is bisected by the River Shannon, which at 386 kilometres is the longest river in Ireland and flows south from County Cavan in Ulster to meet the Atlantic just south of Limerick. There are a number of sizeable lakes along Ireland's rivers, of which Lough Neagh is the largest. Together, the landscape and the offshore waters provide a good habitat for a wide variety of wildlife. Seals and dolphins are spotted regularly, while the Cork coast even offers the chance to whale-watch over the summer months

People, culture and traditions

Social conventions:
The Irish are renowned as an affable, easy-going people, whose conversation is liberally dosed with humour, irreverence and - if you listen carefully - a beal bocht, an Irish expression that translates as 'the poor mouth'. It refers to a kind of modesty where the speaker is careful to talk themselves down and never reveal how well he or she is actually doing. In short, the Irish don't really like a show-off.
Arguably the best place to observe and engage with the Irish is in the pub, still a centre of social interaction in Ireland, especially in smaller communities throughout the country. A meal in an Irish home is usually a substantial affair and guests will eat well. Dinner is the main meal of the day and is now eaten in the evening. Casual dress is widely acceptable, but people will often dress up for smart restaurants and social functions. Handshaking is usual, and modes of address will often be informal. Smoking is banned in all public enclosed/working spaces, including pubs, bars and restaurants.
Language in Ireland
Irish (Gaelic) is the official language. Estimates vary on the number of people who genuinely speak it as a first language (somewhere between 50,000 and 100,000), but English is the language of the majority.