What sort of horse do you need ?
To come with Bridle Rides, you need a horse - or at least access to a horse. If you don't, click I don't have a horse.

Almost any horse is OK to go bridle riding unless he is really traffic-shy or spooks at everything. You certainly don't need a competition horse to enjoy it because you can go at your own pace, although they benefit from it as much as any others. We even had a Badminton 3-day eventer out on a Bridle Ride a couple of years ago!

Most horses love bridle riding as much as you do - or even more. It's a wonderful mixture of new terrain, sights and smells that is both challenging and rewarding, so it really is a holiday for your horse as well as for you.

Our equine guests come in all shapes and sizes! We've had horses aged from 4 to late 20s, ranging from Exmoor and Icelandic ponies (see photo top right) right up to 17hh hunters and Shires. When they aren't bridle riding, these horses turn their hooves to lots of different activities including driving, dressage, cross-country or endurance - you name it - although plenty do nothing more than a bit of hacking.

You and your horse need to be able to open and close gates, cross streams and main roads, and go through fields with livestock in them. It's also an advantage if your horse is OK being tied up while you have lunch.
A pair of Icelandic horses on the Wansdyke network
The shot above is of Debbie Jones & Sheena McRae from Huntingdon on the Rutland Rides.
Bridle riding is an ideal way to develop your partnership with your horse because you rely so much on each other. A lot of customers have told us what a good education it is for a young horse or a horse that is new to them. Most horses behave well away from home - and they will often listen to you more readily than they do on home rides!
Angie and Star (in the photo on the right) look really happy lunching together in the Yorkshire Wolds!
One or two networks have no fords at all while others have several - but your horse does need to be able to cross water to really enjoy bridle riding. As a general rule, mountain and moorland areas have more stream crossings, while chalky downland like the Ridgeway Downs are pretty dry.
The photos below are of two of the biggest fords in any of our networks. Below left is a group of bridle riders at Stonesfield ford in the Oxforshire Cotswolds, while below right you can see Bridle Rides' proprietor, Bobbie and her horse, Herbie, crossing the River Barle in Exmoor.
Laura (left) & Suzanne McIntyre in the North York Moors. Suzanne is riding Amber (aged 24) and said "The 3 days of bridle-riding was no problem to her - she loved it - she had loads of energy".
The photo above is of Mim Anderson (behind) on Orinoco, an 8 year-old Irish gelding, and her friend, Sue Dunk. Sue is riding Royal Mystic, an 11 year old Anglo-Arab.
These 2 lovely horses are Notable (left), a 19 year old mare, ex-Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, and her friend Henri, an 18 year old Thoroughbred.