Nestled between a number of different countries, Switzerland is land-locked and consequently only accessible by land or air. The country has a good road network to its major cities but the roads become more rugged as you progress further into the mountainous area of the country. There is an autobahn in Switzerland just as there is in neighbouring Germany but the speed limit in Switzerland is 120 km/h, slightly slower than it is in Germany.

There are also train services that run into Switzerland; the Eurostar runs into the country from Paris so UK travellers can change trains there and take the train into the country. There are also a number of airports in Switzerland that facilitate an airborne arrival into the country, the largest being Zurich airport, which is also known as Kloten airport. The cities of Geneva and Basel also have international airports.

Switzerland can be accessed from France, Germany, Italy and Austria and the country has 4 official languages: French, Italian, German and Romansh. The last of these is the least common. In areas which one language dominates, the culture and cuisine of that country tends to be prevalent.

Equestrian enthusiasts also enjoy visiting Switzerland for the marché-concours national de chevaux, the national horse market that takes place in the summer, in August. It is often a meeting place for breeders, trainers and riders and it is the home of the folkloric parade of horses. The event attracts thousands.

Although the horse is today found very commonly in Italy, the Freiberger, or franches-montagnes, is a notable horse breed from Switzerland. It is a large, sturdy and calm animal that is today used for mountain riding and the animal is the favoured steed of the Swiss army. The animal is most often a bay/chestnut colour and is a popular leisure riding horse today, but it was used in agriculture in the past.

Horse riding in Switzerland is refreshingly different; you are slightly off the beaten track and enjoy a different side of the Alps to most British tourists. Another advantage of visiting Switzerland is accommodation which includes horse riding is often of a higher quality, and so after a days riding you can return to your room and then enjoy a spa, sauna or swim! The lodges and hotels of Switzerland will help you relax and unwind after a day on horseback.

Germany’s transport system is top class; as well as an excellent road network, bolstered by the autobahn motorways, most major cities have either a bus, tram or underground system or a mix of these, and there is also the Deutsche Bahn train system which runs as efficiently as you would expect a German rail system to work. People visiting from the UK can take a car directly to Germany on a ferry, saving a great deal of time driving through France to the country. There are a number of ferries from other countries too. The train links pass out of Germany and connect it to its European neighbours – Denmark, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands. Germany is very much at the heart of Europe and its top class auto bahn road network allows you to quickly through the country.

Germany is also connected to the rest of the world through its airport network, which includes dozens of airports from very large international hubs like the Berliner Flughafen to small provincial airports. Major cities like Berlin, Hamburg and Bonn may have more than one airport to help cope with the demand of a larger population.

Germany has a long tradition of horse breeding and several notable breeds come from across the country. The Bavarian Warmblood is an animal that was developed in the south of Germany and is today often used in the Olympics equestrian sports. Bavaria has breathtaking landscapes and is a great place to go horse riding, if you would like to try something different you could even try llama riding or camel riding! There are a great deal of things to try in Bavaria, the region is well known for its beer and is a great place to go on holiday. You can find a number of country retreats in Bavaria, some of which will include horse riding as part of the holiday package. Some offer cottages with adjacent horse riding facilities, which makes it very convenient, as you don’t have to travel a great distance to start riding.

One disadvantage of going so deep into the south of Germany is that the country has no southern coasts and consequently you miss out on some of the country’s beaches. If you would prefer to stay in the north of the country there are a number of horse riding schools and equestrian centres outside Bremen. There are many schools and they can work with riders of all levels. If you would like to ride on the coast you could try Norden or a centre just outside Wangerland, which has some splendid coastlines for you to rise horses on.

The country is served by an excellent transport system which links it to the rest of Europe and the wider world, there are excellent roads that connect France to all its neighbouring countries: Germany, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy and Switzerland. Internally the train system is top class and the TGV, or high-speed train, connects many of France’s cities together meaning you can quickly and easily move across the country on public transport. The Channel Tunnel also connects the country across to the United Kingdom, or ‘Chunnel’, which gives France a fast train service into London.

France is also well connected beyond its borders. There are dozens of national and international airports all over France that allow travellers to enter and leave the country and visit any location in the world. Metropolitan France also has a number of a number of overseas regions and protectorates, and they are linked to the mainland by air. Corsica, Guadeloupe, Réunion and Martinique are good examples of this.

There are all kinds of opportunities to ride horses in France, and a great many types of terrain to explore on horseback. There are still a great deal of Medieval Castles and chateaux that you can visit or take the horses around the grounds of the buildings. You can also take the horses and visit the vineyards of Bordeaux and perhaps combine horse riding with a little wine tasting, but not too much! If you prefer more unspoilt countryside you could go into the Loire Valley and take in the valleys and fields before moving towards the coast and a view of the Atlantic Ocean.

The mountainous regions of the Pyrenees are also great for horse riding; you can get great views from the mountains. There are also epic beaches you can visit, from the rugged Normandy coast, to facing the Atlantic and finally the more tropical climes in the south of France, in Cannes, and St. Tropez onto the Mediterranean Sea.

There are all kinds of facilities for people looking for horse riding holidays in France. You can of course live in or at the edge of a city and drive out to the countryside, or you can of course stay at a beach house, camp site or in the countryside. There are a great deal of chateaux that you can stay in, or for a more modest budge you can book a small cottage, or ‘gite’, and live ‘à la française’ enjoying French life. You can often find deals that combine a place to live and the horse riding centre fees, these deals are very popular for short stays, for people who want to live close to the facilities and are equestrian enthusiasts.

There are dozens of airports across in the country; a number of the larger ones are based in or around Metropolitan centres like Rome, Milan, Genova and Naples. The country also has land borders with France, Germany, Austria and Croatia so there are many different road routes into the country. To access the Italian islands you can take one of many ferry routes or fly from the Italian mainland, or you can take ferries from other ports around the Mediterranean.

In addition to the cities, another popular holiday destination is Tuscany, a region full of historic cities like Pisa and Florence, but also some of the most picturesque countryside in all of Italy. The region is famous for the Renaissance artists it produced, its wines (Chianti, for example) and its attractive architecture and landscape. The landscape makes it ideal for horse riding holidays.

The luxurious Tuscan has a number of great horse riding centres that welcome all kinds of riders. You can go to Tuscany at any age, child or adult, and learn to ride horses. More experienced riders can go on the Tuscan trails and enjoy views of the vineyards, hills and valleys. Many of the horse riding centres are also have or are close to great accommodation. Visitors can rent luxury villas so that they can enjoy the Tuscan sun as well as the horses. Some villas come with pools and in their own land, however for those on a budget more modest accommodation is available. It is possible to find deals that combine the equestrian activities with a stay in Tuscany. There are a number of ‘activity’ holidays you can take in the region, including wine tasting and cooking holidays.

Italy is famous for a number of horse breeds. From the mainland there is the Italian Heavy Draft, or Rapid Heavy Draft, which is a horse that is bred around Venice. The numbers of this breed has declined in recent years. The colour of the horse tends to be chestnut, bay, or a mix of these. It is a large horse that is highly domesticated, in the past it was used to transport artillery in the army, it was also used in farming. Today the horse is used for the meat industry, and this has changed the character of the animal to become larger and more rounded. Another noted Italian horse breed is the Sardinian, sometimes known as the Sardinian Anglo-Arab. There is also a Sardinian pony, which is somewhat smaller than the horse and is often black, bay or brown. Although these horses are ‘Italian’ they are used beyond the borders of Italy.

Portugal is located on the western end of the Iberian peninsula and faces outwards into the Atlantic, the border starts at the bottom of the peninsula and goes almost as far north as the Spanish city of Vigo, the capital is Lisbon, which is a city of over half a million people. The whole country has a population of over 10 million.

There are a number of ways to get to Portugal. By car you can drive in from any number of major or minor roads from Spain, or you can your car on a ferry and get there that way. Portugal also has over 30 airports, the major one being in the capital. Portugal also includes the islands of Madeira and Porto Santo Island, two islands that are to the south west of the southern tip of Portugal. Although they are closer to Africa they are in fact an autonomous region of Portugal, Portuguese is spoken on the island and like the mainland the currency is the Euro. Tourism is particularly important to Madeira, it makes up around 20% of the economy, most visitors come from within the European Union.

Portugal has its own horse breed, the Lusitano. Until the 1960s the Lusitano, along with the Spanish Andalusian, was considered one and the same horse breed but since then the two breeds have been considered distinct in Europe. In the United States of America the horses are registered together. The Portuguese horse is considered a particularly brave horse that remains calm under pressure; the Portuguese still use them to fight bulls.

The horse is also known for its muscular rear legs, it was often used in the past as a military ride and continues to be used today in show jumping and dressage. An interesting feature of some Lusitanos is that some of the horses go grey with age. The horse was also used in Portugal as a workhorse and for pulling carriages. Grey is the most common colour for the breed. Despite its strength the horse is a light horse breed; one that weighs under 1,500lbs.

There are many exciting areas of Portugal you can visit for horse riding, the Góis town area, close to the Ceira River is known for its beautiful countryside, or you could of course visit the Algarve, where there are horse riding centres close to Lagos. Choosing this area means you are guaranteed to be close to good accomodation facilities, and the beach! The other advantage of horse riding in the Algarve is you get to visit the protected Monchique national park, one of the most unspoilt pieces of countryside in Portugal.

The country is very well served with transport links to Great Britain. There are multiple ferry destinations as well as good flights to the UK and beyond – there are 5 airports in Northern Ireland and 18 in the Republic, the most busy being of course in Dublin. Dublin has very strong links to London and to Manchester in England, but flights go across the world. There is also a considerable road and train network throughout the country, and you can get a car there on a ferry if you are travelling from across the sea.

The passion for horses is intense: as a whole island Ireland has a population of around 6.1 million, but has 26 racecourses. Scotland, which has a population of around 5 million, only has 5 racecourses. The courses are divided as 2 in Northern Ireland and the remaining 24 are in the Republic. There are many famous Irish jockeys, such as Kieren Fallon, and there is an enormous number of prominent Irish trainers. Much of the top horse breeding and training takes place in Ireland and as a result Irish horses, riders and trainers are a significant presence in UK and world horse racing.

Ireland is known for its animal husbandry and breeding, and its horses are no different: there are a great deal of Irish horse breeds that are used for riding, racing, exhibitions and work. The national breed of the country is the Irish Draught. An Irish Draught is a strong horse that was used in farming, and is now used in riding and other activities. It is often used to breed the Irish Sport Horse (or the Irish Draught Sports Horses), or ‘Irish Hunter’. Unsurprisingly the Irish Sport Horse is used for recreation and the horse is the favoured mount in fox hunting. The Irish Sport Horse is extremely popular in America and the export of these horses is a very lucrative business. The breed is also a popular choice in eventing – dressage, cross country and show jumping.

But Ireland also has a great deal to offer the casual horse rider. The Republic has many more horse riding centres than Northern Ireland. There is a significant concentration of stables in the south and West of Ireland, in County Limerick, Kerry and Galway. Horse riding centres can cater for all levels of riders, from new riders to experienced riders. Children and adults are all welcome, and many centres are close to or provide accommodation of all levels, from small bed and breakfasts to top-class luxury hotels.

The most northern National Park is Snowdonia, which houses Wales’ highest peak. The park is situated in the north west of Wales and sprawls southwards into central Wales. It is a very popular park with hikers and the landscape is some of the finest in the country. Wales has its own language, Gaelic, and the Gaelic word for a horse is ceffyl. The verb that means to ride a horse is marchocáu. In Wales all signage is displayed in English and Gaelic, so you do not need to learn Gaelic to go there, but you can pick some up easily once you get there!

In Wales horse riding holidays can be taken anywhere across the country. You can go on a horse riding holiday in Gower, for example. Gower is just a short car drive to the south west of Swansea, a major city with good transport links to Cardiff and England thanks to the M4 motorway. Transport to Cardiff is also made possible by Cardiff airport, an airport which serves a number of UK airports as well as dozens of destinations in Europe. Cardiff airport flies to most popular tourist hot spots in Europe and allows visitors from across the continent to come and sample what Wales has to offer.

But that is not the only area you can go horse riding in Wales, there are many others, and in fact there is another in nearby Mayals, a suburb of Swansea, meaning you do not even need to leave Swansea to enjoy the pleasure that horses bring. The great thing about these areas is that there are some very pleasant bed and breakfasts so you can just relax and spend a nice weekend or longer enjoying the Welsh countryside as well as taking part in the equestrian activities that are organised.

Photo By Sparetomato

Wales is also known for its own breed, the Welsh pony. The animal was and is used for a variety of activities, from pony riding and trekking to use in the mines and even in competitive driving. There are 4 sub types of the Welsh pony, Section A, Section B, Section C and Section D – Cob. The ‘Section D – Cob’ ponies are the biggest type of Welsh pony, and are often broader than the other types as well.

Section A is known as the mountain pony, and most often has a smaller skull than the other types of Welsh pony. Section B ponies are the most commonly used for riding, and are also used for pony jumping. This type is the most popular ride for children. Section C type ponies are the animals used the most often in competitive driving. The animal also helps breed the Norfolk Trotter, the Hackney and the Yorkshire Coach Horse, which shows that its influence reaches well out of Wales!

As everyone knows, winters in Russia are deadly and any trip to Russia during winter will be harsh, dangerous and must be planned to the finest detail.

Spring however is a different matter with lush green meadows, enchanting forests and a warm, friendly (and welcome) sun.

One of the most interesting trips that you can do while in Russia is to take a horse ride through the Siberian Forests right to the Mountain Lakes. These type of trips are for the real adventure lover who wants to see first hand the wild heart of Russia. With most nights being spent outdoors in a tent, under the stars there is no doubt that a horse riding holiday in Siberia is no for the faint hearted or those who like a little luxury with their horse riding holiday.

Other must see’s on any Russia horse riding holiday are the lush alpine mountain meadows, the crystal clear lakes and the amazing range of wildlife; it’s not hard to see why Russia is fast becoming one of the most popular horse riding holiday destinations.

Brazil can be divided up into four main zones; the North Region which is mainly rainforests, the North-East region, Central-West region, South-East Region and the South Region.

Brazil isn’t the cheapest or easiest of places to get to with flights being quite expensive and you can expect a good fourteen hours on a plane, but you wont be disappointed when you arrive.

Horse riding is the best way to see the Amazon rainforest, by moving quicker and easier on horse back you can see more animals and more of the natural beauty highlights.

Brazil is largely made up of many diverse ecosystems such as the Amazon Rainforest – a place with the largest range of biodiversity in the world. Moving through the rainforest on horse back allows for a more discreet journey – you won’t spook as much wildlife and so you will be able to really enjoy the natural flora and fauna.

Recently scientists have estimated that the rainforests of Brazil could be home to over four million varieties of animal and plant. During a Brazil horse riding holiday you might be luck enough to see Macaws, Monkeys, Armadillos, deer and many more stunning animals.

Brazil is a country made up of many cultures which means that it’s one of the most exotic and seductive horse riding holidays that we offer. No two tours are the same and everyone seems to take away different memories from a Brazil horse riding holiday. When you travel to Brazil for your trip you really won’t believe the diversity of the place. It truly is breathtaking.

There are two kinds of races in England, hurdle racing and ‘flat’ or sprint racing. One of the most famous courses in England is Ascot Racecourse, which is in Berkshire. It is very closely linked with the Royal family – who own the property, and the course hosts the Ascot Gold Cup, one of the biggest races in the sporting calendar. There are also a number of high stakes races at Ascot that take their names from members of the Royal family and commemorate special Royal anniversaries.

Races like these help encourage tourism to England and many people come to courses such as Ascot to enjoy a weekend in England and enjoy the equestrian activities. Betting on these races is very popular and wagers are made from all over the world.

But England is not just a place where people come to watch others ride horses. There is an abundance of picturesque countryside in which tourists can come and enjoy themselves whilst riding horses. In the north west of England the Lake District is a designated National Park and is an attractive destination all year-round for walkers, campers and anyone who enjoys the outdoors. There are a huge number of bed and breakfasts in the area and it is also a very popular destination for campers and caravan enthusiasts.

As well as the many lakes within the park it is also home to Scafell Pike, the highest point in England. It also accommodates over 80 bodies of water, yet only Bassenthwaite Lake is the only one that is officially named a lake. The Park is also known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, most of the land within it is either owned privately or held by the National Trust, an organisation that manages such areas of land. The Lake District is an ideal place to go horse riding in England because of the attractive landscape and the great views, it is also a nice place to get good country food and real ale!

The other horse riding activity that is well known in England is of course hunting. Although the traditional practice of hunting foxes with dogs was banned across the UK in 2004, many hunts continue in the form of drag hunting and bloodhound hunting, where a real fox is replaced so that the traditional hunt can continue. Hunting with dogs is seen as a very traditional English past time but in fact it has also taken place in Europe, in countries such as France and Italy, and in other English speaking nations like the United States of America and Canada.