‘This was the ride of a lifetime. The Irish countryside combined with the romantic castle setting, the cleanest village in Ireland, the excellent instructors and the well-kept and reliable horses, all made for such a very special time. The inclusion of a spa on-site was a great bonus. My companions on the ride were all friendly, and we all felt incredibly well looked after. I rode a variety of very reliable horses, all making me feel safe. As one of the older riders in the group, I felt well cared for. The guides were the best! They all had sense of humour and safety, and provided confidence to all. Lessons were well conducted with a positive atmosphere, and suited to the needs of the students. The sights, smells, flora and fauna of the country trails were a real treat. There were even herds of deer to observe on our rides. This trip was everything I expected, and more.’

‘This was a trip of a lifetime! Such a beautiful place. The castle and estate were out of a fairytale! The horses were all amazing and knew exactly how to take care of you. I rode 6 horses in total and loved them all. My favorite was Russell, the 18-hand draft who sailed over jumps effortlessly. The ride guides and instructors were so knowledgeable and friendly. They made the experience so fun and built up everyone’s confidence! The group of women who traveled on this trip from all over the world were some of the most friendly and supportive people I have had the pleasure of knowing. I cannot wait to go back!’

‘We are speechless…. this trip definitely exceeded our expectations! Words can’t describe it. I wouldn’t even know where to start. The service was outstanding. The scenery was magnificent. The food was delicious. Hangover free beers, and believe us, we tested it! The horses were incredible – I rode Mary Ellen, Charlie, Henry, Bumble and Russell. Their disposition and high level of training was amazing! The instructors were extremely caring, professional, and outstanding riders – they made me feel so safe. In short, everything was phenomenal!’

‘The Castle and Estate Ride in Ireland was a dream vacation. I had thought about going on a Globetrotting vacation for a very long time and am so glad I finally did! It pushed me out of my comfort zone and the rides were exhilarating! My favourite moments were my first ever canter through the forest and a very exciting gallop across a field. I had wonderful horses – Bumble and Jessica. I am already planning my next Globetrotting trip!’

‘Signing up for my first Globetrotting ride was easy and Laura and Kate were amazingly helpful, providing advice, scheduling, suggestions, answers and basically making me feel like everything was taken care of. Payments were super simple, and the preparation materials provided were exceptionally helpful!
Words cannot even begin to describe how wonderful this trip was. I hadn’t ridden in 15 years and was honestly terrified they’d just send me home! But I had nothing to worry about, it’s clear Globetrotting picks their partners with care. An amazing group of very supportive and knowledgeable instructors, plus the BEST stable of horses to take you from nervous beginner to soaring intermediate (in my case at least!). Pair that with gorgeous surroundings, sumptuous rooms and services and belt-challenging meals and you have a winning combination. It’s no wonder I booked the same package again for next year! I will also be on the lookout to join other Globetrotting rides, confident in the knowledge that I’m in safe (and fun) hands!’

‘An amazing luxury week in beautiful Irish countryside, surrounded by lovely people. The castle and estate is beautiful and well set up. Everything you need is right there, with wonderful staff. The close proximity of the equestrian centre and the lodge, and the integration of the two, made for an incredible experience full of luxury and convenience!
The horses are all lovely and safe. I rode Summer, Bumble, Squire, Arnie, Traveller, Blueberry and Wilson. The last day of cross country riding was the highlight of the week, especially jumping a few of the bigger jumps on the course.
Overall, the week was absolutely worth every cent. The scenery was lovely, the lodge and estate provided a luxury week away, the horses were well cared for. All the riding instructors were lovely, helpful and fun. The staff at the lodge were also great, going out of their way to help with anything, including ringing the chocolate shop to open up for us!’

‘A fantastic experience with the atmosphere of a stately home complete with lots of memorabilia, and enjoyable riding in beautiful, colourful countryside having great fun over cross country fences. It didn’t matter if it rained, it was an awesome time catching up with wonderful friends, and meeting new ones who were riding in Ireland for a myriad of reasons. Unbelievable Irish fun with delicious breakfasts and meals. Feeling so very lucky. Must be the shamrock!’

‘We had a wonderful time on the Castle & Estate Ride and made some great friends. Every day was different but wonderful! I especially enjoyed our lovely night up in Snaffles Restaurant with a few of the other girls on the ride – the staff treated us like royalty. A big thank you to all staff at the lodge and equestrian centre, especially Tina, Emma, Chris, Orla and Briggetta. Wonderful, experienced staff and a lot of fun.’

‘From Tina at the reception desk to all the guides, we had excellent service and were well cared for. Everyone was friendly and loads of fun. My friend and I were so pleased to see how well the horses are treated by not only the trainers but all the staff we saw interacting with them. They were well fed and the staff have a good handle on what each horse needs and enjoys.
When we were discussing this trip, I told my friend I did not want to canter as I was not comfortable going that fast on unfamiliar horses. Once we got to meet these gentle giants, though, all we wanted to do was canter! We were always excited about our daily rides and lessons. I had the opportunity to ride four different horses. I especially LOVED Arnie. I would have packed him in my luggage if he fitted! He was my jumping horse and I enjoyed every minute on him.
The castle is gorgeous! The rooms were far better than we expected. The balcony overlooking the stables was a great place to wind down. Having two restaurants on-site made life much easier and the food was delicious!’