Rates Note:

Day 1: Arrive at the riding center by mid day to meet your horse and have a trial ride so you become acquainted with your mount for the next few days. Receive saddlebags and maps and overnight in the vicinity of the farm.

Day 2:  Ride from the farm along the shore to Dernish Island and Streedagh Beach where three ships of the Spanish Armada went aground in 1588 just a short distance off shore. Experience the gallop of your life on the wonderful long golden sandy beach of Streedagh. Overnight near Streedagh.

Day 3: With Ben Bulben on your left and the Atlantic on your right ride along old cart tracks, bogland paths and small country roads to Trawbawn ( in English White Sands). About 7km off shore you can see Inishmurray Island - it has a monastic settlement founded around 500 A.D. You will enjoy an unforgettable view from Cullumore cliffs over Sligo Bay as far as the coastline of Co. Mayo. Follow the way to your next overnight stop at a family guesthouse.

Day 4: To Drumcliffe: Head for Ardtarmon Strand passing the lovely Ardtarmon Castle on the way to Lissadell Beach. You will pass by the historical Lissadell House family home of Countess Constance Markievicz and extolled in poetry by W.B.Yeats.
" the light of evening , Lissadell,
Great windows open to the south"
Leaving Lissadell Beach at Carney, riding through forest, you are now heading for the foot of Ben Bulben from where you will have fantastic views over Sligo Bay arriving at Drumcliffe to overnight at a modern guesthouse. Do take the time to visit Drumcliffe Churchyard nearby to visit Yeat's grave and read his epitaph..

Day 5: Return to the riding center after breakfast for departure.
           subject to change

Offer includes: 4 nights Bed and Breakfast, 4 days riding ( including the arrival day)
Arrivals: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

General:
In order to participate riders must be fit and able to trot, canter and gallop at ease, You must also be capable of taking good care of your horse: feed , groom and tack up. Children must be over 12 years of age and good riders and also must be capable of spending long hours in the saddle.

The weather is mild but changeable and rain can be expected at any time of the year. Parts of the country are oceanic, and as you move further away from the coast the conditions become slightly more temperature- however the prevailing factor across the whole country is that few temperature extremes are experienced.

Ireland is affected by the North Atlantic Drift, so this has a moderating affect on the climate and keeps winter in Ireland warmer than places of similar latitudes. Its northerly location, however, means that summers never get particular hot either. The climate is generally fairly typical of an insular climate and is moderated by the moist winds that blow across the island, these winds prevail from the south west, off the Atlantic, and can reach particular high speeds at times of the year.

On the whole the west coast is much wetter than the east coast, so this should dispel common belief that Dublin is the wettest city in Ireland. Lying on the east coast, Dublin sees almost half as much rainfall as parts of the west coast.

Inland Ireland gets warmer in the summer months than the coastal region, though on the flipside it also gets much colder in the winter. These temperature differences are not that great, with central Ireland only being a few degrees cooler than the coast. In the centre of the country across the year will record about 40 days below freezing, however on the coast the mercury will only fall below 0 degrees on average 10 days per year.

The country is made up of a ring of coastal mountains, with low lying central plains in the centre. Due to Ireland's mild climate and significant rainfall this has lead to luscious green terrain and plentiful vegetation which makes for very scenic and pleasant landscapes, which has lead to the island being called the ‘Emerald Isle.’ Home to rolling hills, mountainous rocky areas and dramatic green vistas, Ireland is a picturesque place to visit any time of the year.

DUBLIN-Dublin is the capital of Ireland and sits upon the east coast where it is sheltered from the heavy storms that the Atlantic coast is subject to. The climate in Dublin is a maritime, temperate climate that (like the rest of the country) lacks major temperature extremes and has cool summers and mild winters. Although popular belief leads many tourists to believe that Dublin is a very rainy city, it in fact sees fewer days of rain, on average, than London.

The average maximum temperature in January, the midst of winter, is about 8 degrees while July sees average maximums of about 20 degrees. From May to June will see Dublin basking in the most hours of uninterrupted sunlight as this is when the sky will be the clearest and before the more overcast weather sits in. Because of its northerly latitude, in the height of summer the days will have about 19 hours of daylight before the sun sets. On the flipside the winters days are short and in the peak up winter there are only 9 hours of daylight.

December and August in Dublin are generally the wettest months and record 74mm of precipitation on average for the month. April is, on average, the driest month of the year recording 45 mm of precipitation for the whole month.

Occasionally Dublin is hit by strong winds that blow from the Atlantic, though the storms are much less severe here than they are in other parts of the country. If Dublin is to be hit my strong winds it is most likely to occur in the height of winter. In 1997 on December 24, a region just out of Dublin was hit by winds that gathered speeds of 151 km/h!

There are plenty of things to keep you busy if visiting Dublin and find your self in the midst of a rainy windy day, take in the city streets or take a visit to the original Guinness Brewery- don't worry it'll be here for awhile as it as a 9,000 year lease on it's property.

Dublin is affected by the urban heat phenomenon which means the inner city is a few degrees warmer than more regional areas. The heat is stored up in the city centre and will keep it warmer throughout the days.

 Any variations in rain or temperature are due mainly to varying altitude and proximity to the Atlantic. The east coast sees about 750mm of precipitation, on average, across the year while the west coast sees 1500mm. In the mountains at higher altitude about 2000mm of precipitation will be recorded, before falling to 800-1200mm in lower lying areas.

Though it has been stated that Ireland does lack temperature extremes, it is hit by the occasional heat wave. Historically the highest temperature ever recorded in Ireland was 33.3°C at Kilkenny Castle June 26 1887. During the 20th century, the record high is 32.5°C at Boora, Co. Offaly which was recorded on 29th June 1976.

For your comfort you will need to bring the following items:
Riding hat, riding boots, breeches, gloves, a warm sweater and good quality raincoat, (preferably waxed), Ponchos are not suitable rainwear for riders which we sincerely hope you will not need, but better to be prepared.

RIDERS MUST WEAR A PROPERLY SECURED HARD HAT WHEN MOUNTED. The riding centre has several models to choose from, but you might be better off to bring your own that fits.

The saddlebags are waterproof, however bring some plastic bags to put clothes etc. in- just in case!
2 x Large Saddlebags    30 cm x 40 cm x 15 cm  (at back of saddle)
2 x Small Saddlebags    20 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm   (at front of saddle)
All your belongings for the week will have to fit into these bags - there is no luggage transfer available, unless you want to arrange it by taxi.

A cell phone is very helpful during this ride. If you are coming from North America, make sure your service provider has the international roaming option in "TriBand" frequency. Otherwise, just buy an inexpensive phone on arrival. The pay as you go options are very inexpensive even with purchasing a phone.

All the equipment for your horse will be provided by the riding center.

… this list is only a guideline for you Remember that you will need to take your personal items along with you on your horse ! You can leave some luggage behind at the ridng center.

Travel documents and Voucher

Flight tickets

Passport

Visa (check with your consulate)

RIDING GEAR

Riding pants or Jodhpurs (used if possible!)

Riding boots (there will be contact with salt water on the beach) + Minichaps

Riding helmet (mandatory)

Riding gloves

Rain coat/Wax jacket, possibly some overpants

Seat saver (possibly)

PERSONAL CLOTHING

Jacket or sweater for cool evenings

Comfortable T-Shirts/Shirts

Jeans

Shorts

Underwear and socks

Pyjama

Light summer jacket

Warm jacket

Comfortable shoes/sneakers

ADDITIONAL THINGS TO BRING

Personal Toiletries

Insect protection

Personal medications

Sore cream (for an emergency)

Handkerchiefs

Adapter for electric appliances

Camera and enough extra batteries

Belt pack

Address book and pen (for postcards!)

Sun glasses with strap

Sun tan lotion and lip balm (for the ever hopeful)

You will overnight at different guesthouses along the way.

A substantial Irish Breakfast is provided in the offer. Lunch and Dinner not included. Some of the innkeepers will also prepare lunches and/or dinner upon request – call ahead to inquire and reserve when you are on the ride.

At lunch time you could call to one of the local pubs and in the evening you can avail of one of the local restaurants for a good dinner, which would include shell-fish, fresh salmon and lobster as well as lamb, beef, pork and chicken. When you start the trail in Ireland- you will be advised which places to stop for lunch. If a lunch stop is not feasible - you can organise a packed lunch with your innkeeper/B&B host.

The riding is suitable for riders with good intermediate riding level and handling horses. We require at least 2 riders per group. Riding in Ireland is often on paved roadways- bring a 'seat saver' or sheepskin pad for you saddle for added comfort.

We provide you with strong and experienced horses, which are used to carry you safely through all kinds of open country. Our Irish Hunters are known for easy handling and safe riding - and they love a lively gallop on the beach. Our horses graze on green pastures and are friendly and reliable towards their riders. At the moment we have almost one hundred horses in our stables. You will find that "your" horse becomes your friend during your ride.

Our equipment such as bridles, saddles, blankets and cleaning tools are practical and well looked after. Our saddles are general purpose saddles made especially to suit the business – they are extremely comfortable and built on the old military style tree by a firm in France and also now in Ireland by O’Callaghan Saddlery. The same goes for saddlebags to carry your clothing from station to station and maps with trail descriptions and marked trails.

There is a luggage room at the farm for you to leave your excess clothing, luggage etc.

You are issued with waterproof saddlebags for the trail, two large ones to the rear of the horse (30 cm x 40 cm x 15 cm ) and two smaller ones for the front of the horse (20 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm ). The saddlebags will take up to approx. 15 kilos. 

Safety: You will never be too far away from a phone (local villages etc. along the trail). You may also bring your own mobile phone. Please call the Farm should you require any assisance. (Your cell phone provider will be able to tell you if your phone will work in Ireland).

Tack:		English
Horses:		Irish hunter, Irish Cob, Connemara
Pace:		At your own pace, usually 4-6 hrs per day. Riders should be able to mount, dismount, trot, canter and gallop with ease and confidence. | Walk | Trot | Canter | Gallop |
Level:		(3 to 4 out of 5)    Intermediate +
Weight:		Max 200
Riders:		Min 2	Max 6

The riding is suitable for riders with good intermediate riding level and handling horses. We require at least 2 riders per group. Riding in Ireland is often on paved roadways- bring a 'seat saver' or sheepskin pad for you saddle for added comfort.

We provide you with strong and experienced horses, which are used to carry you safely through all kinds of open country. Our Irish Hunters are known for easy handling and safe riding - and they love a lively gallop on the beach. Our horses graze on green pastures and are friendly and reliable towards their riders. At the moment we have almost one hundred horses in our stables. You will find that "your" horse becomes your friend during your ride.

Our equipment such as bridles, saddles, blankets and cleaning tools are practical and well looked after. Our saddles are general purpose saddles made especially to suit the business – they are extremely comfortable and built on the old military style tree by a firm in France and also now in Ireland by O’Callaghan Saddlery. The same goes for saddlebags to carry your clothing from station to station and maps with trail descriptions and marked trails.

There is a luggage room at the farm for you to leave your excess clothing, luggage etc.

You are issued with waterproof saddlebags for the trail, two large ones to the rear of the horse (30 cm x 40 cm x 15 cm ) and two smaller ones for the front of the horse (20 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm ). The saddlebags will take up to approx. 15 kilos. 

Safety: You will never be too far away from a phone (local villages etc. along the trail). You may also bring your own mobile phone. Please call the Farm should you require any assisance. (Your cell phone provider will be able to tell you if your phone will work in Ireland).

Passports
Passport valid for at least three months beyond length of stay required by all except:
(a) 1. persons born in the UK travelling direct from the UK (applicable to British passport holders only).
Note: Whilst UK citizens do not require a passport or visa to enter Ireland, most carriers by air or sea now require some form of identification with photograph, usually a passport or driving licence with photo. Visitors should check what form of ID is required with the individual airline, ferry company or travel agent before travelling.
(b) 2. EU nationals holding a valid national ID card.
Note: EU nationals are only required to produce evidence of their EU nationality and identity in order to be admitted to any EU Member State. This evidence can take the form of a valid national passport or national identity card. Either is acceptable. Possession of a return ticket, any length of validity on their document, sufficient funds for the length of their proposed visit should not be imposed.
Passport Note
3. Imposition of a return ticket as a condition of entry is at the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.

Visas
Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for the following durations:
(a) nationals of EU countries for an unlimited period (nationals of EU countries wishing to stay for longer than three months must register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau).
(b) nationals of Australia, Canada and the USA for stays of up to 90 days.
Note: Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements