A Guide to the 10 Best Places to Horse Ride in the UK!

There are more beautiful Horse Riding tracks in the UK than you can shake a lead reign at … which made putting together a list of 10 of the Best Places to Horse Ride in the UK a real challenge! Thanks to the Ordnance Survey and the National Parks website, we've collated ten beautiful places to go exploring with your horse.

1. The North York Moors:

The North York Moors National Park has almost 500 miles of bridleways, from old railway routes to forest tracks and open heather moorland. The Newtondale Horse Trail is a 35.5-mile circular route, through a dramatic gorge, that makes a stunning 2- or 3-day ride.

2. Pennine Bridleway:

Largely off road, this historical trail offers a variety of riding, from gentle rolling landscape through to more challenging hills. Connecting the Peak District, South Pennines, Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria, there's 200 miles of fantastic riding to be enjoyed.

3. South Downs Way:

Explore some of England's finest countryside, stretching from historic Winchester to the white cliffs at Eastbourne. From short hacks to epic challenges, the South Downs Way provides miles of designated bridleways, meaning you can ride off road for hours - or even days!

4. Strath Brora, Sutherland:

Experience the dramatic beauty of the Scottish Highlands and follow an old trail high in to the hills above Loch Brora. The ride offers stunning views and the opportunity to spot red deer and osprey. 

5. Dartmoor:

A little place we like to call Home! The wild Dartmoor landscape is completely unforgettable. Ride out on the open moor and really stretch your horse's legs, or follow woodland trails and bridleways for a gentle trot. 

6. Holy Island, Northumberland:

The white sandy of beaches of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne offer enjoyable rides along the beach, with the impressive backdrop of Lindisfarne castle. Cut off from the mainland twice daily, both an island and a picturesque village, there's lots to see.

7. Studland Beach, Dorset:

With three miles of sandy beaches to enjoy there are also cliff top rides overlooking the impressive Dorset coastline and around Old Harry Rocks. With backdrops like this for your ride and plenty of sand to run on it's a great experience for horse riders. Be aware that beach riding permits are not available all year round.

8. The New Forest:

Renowned for ‘wild’ ponies which roam free across the Forest, exploring this unique place on horseback seems only natural. 

9. Radnor Forest Trail, Powys:

This trail offers riders glorious views of tranquil Welsh countryside - ideal for those wanting to step off the beaten track and explore parts of Wales that are virtually untouched.

10. Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path:

Ride along a historic Roman road, along low cliffs and extensive sandy beaches. Separate riding and walking routes are available and there's something to suit every rider, from short hacks to longer full day excursions. 

Understanding Your Horse's Ears.

Observe how your horse’s ears are positioned.

A horse has 16 muscles in his ear so he can move them all over the place. A horse has excellent hearing, and the ears point in the direction of the horse’s attention.

It seems that when a horse is interested in something, it pricks up its ears and swivels them towards whatever has caught its attention.

Horses will hold their ears in different ways to pick up different signals from their environment and indicate how they feel about what’s going on around them. Horses can move both their ears at one time, or move them individually.

Ears that are slightly forward indicate that a horse is relaxed. If your horse’s ears are pricked forward, he may be feeling interested in, or maybe even threatened by, his environment. 

If his ears indicate that he is feeling threatened, his nostrils will flare and his eyes will widen.

If one ear is back, then your horse is likely listening to something behind him.

If your horse’s ears are to the side, that means that he is concentrating yet relaxed.

Ears that are flattened back are a clear sign that your horse is upset. If you are near your horse when you see this, move a safe distance away to protect yourself from injury.

If you are riding your horse and notice him putting his ears back, it could mean several things. He may be doing something he doesn’t want to do or something he finds difficult. He could also be uncomfortable due to a badly fitting saddle, bridle or bit, hard rider hands pulling on the bit, or a rider with an unbalanced, bouncy seat. He could also have some pain in his back or maybe his teeth are bothering him.

Pinned ears should not be confused with ears pointed in the direction of the rider, as some horses will do that when they concentrate very hard and focus on their rider.

PlotMyTrot is a great tool for analysing your horses wars when mounted on the riders chest.

Horse and Rider Magazine - Horsey Tech Buyer's Guide

We were thrilled when the folks over at Horse and Rider Magazine featured PlotMyTrot as a 'Great Horsey Gadget' in May's issue of their monthly magazine!

PlotMyTrot is the latest horse rider's companion; ride and record your route's using your Smartphone or tablet, share with friends and family, manage and view online. Ideal for eventing, cross country, hacking and other equine sports. PlotMyTrot provides the ability to create routes by combining video and GPS straight from your Smartphone meaning you are always prepared to capture your greatest sporting achievements or the breath-taking moments you least expected.