Reviews
1226 reviews    1 2 3 39
Learn to Ride in a Week - Azores

Learn to Ride in a Week

5 star rating   29 January 2025

Suzy (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A Learn to Ride in a Week holiday - my granddaughter certainly achieved this. | Met every expectation. Great place - highly recommend.

Great hosts, staff and horses. A beautiful place. Great break away from winter in the UK. I'd definitely recommend the winter months as it's still warm and lovely riding weather.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you so much for your feedback. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time in the Azores.]


Tierra del Fuego - Argentina

Mitre Peninsula

5 star rating   26 January 2025

Lacey (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) My most amazing adventure thus far in my life! | Argentina - the Mitre peninsula horseback ride was the most amazing adventure I have embarked on so far in my life. It was beyond all of my wildest dreams, filled with wild natural beauty for 100’s of miles with no one but me and my horse.

I found a part of myself there and left a part of my soul in that wild, beautiful, natural country in the Mitre peninsula at the end of the world, or the beginning as the locals like to think of it. Exceptional horses, wild life, beautiful shelters, invigorating weather, adventure around every bend.

The family that took us was kind, experts in horsemanship, ranch living, knowledgeable about the land, horses, history and the science exploration all around them.

This magical land will always be a part of me now. Part of my soul was left there and I will need to go back to join it every once in a while throughout the rest of my life.

That magical land is where I was meant to experience life, I felt like my best self there. I enjoyed living like we would have 100 years ago very much.

I got to help with the horses care, horse round ups, ranch trail maintenance the shelter chores, cooking, trail guiding through tough terrain, everything. I was invited to come back and help take the tours out next year. I’m very honored and excited for this possibility.

Life is so beautiful, exciting and precious.

Sending you all the peace, love and happiness the universe.

My heart is full
Love Lacey

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you Lacey for your wonderful feedback. The Mitre Peninsula is a really special place and we are so happy that you enjoyed your riding adventure there. We really appreciate your lovely comments. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences with us.]


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   21 January 2025

Mark (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Amazing time with wonderful horses in a beautiful place | Wonderful fast canters for those like me that wanted it, but equally very respectful and accommodating for those who wanted a slower pace. We got so close to the animals, just amazing!


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   21 January 2025

Carla who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. A brilliant week | This was my second time at Ant's Nest and it gets better and better. All the staff are very professional, the lodge manager is extremely well organised, I rode my favourite horse from last year - and was introduced to a new favourite. Many opportunities to canter with beautiful scenery and animals close-up. Can't ask for more.


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   21 January 2025

Sara who has been on 9 In The Saddle rides. Another wonderful trip to Ant’s Nest | As always the team at Ants took care to match the riders with the horses. I have a particular favourite and was allocated this horse .. much to my delight.
There had been huge amounts of rain in the period before we arrived and the ground was very boggy, so we had to take special care to avoid ‘sticky’ ground.
The guides and all the staff were professional and helpful.


Mountain Adventures - Colombia

Barichara Ride

5 star rating   21 January 2025

Anna who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Amazing | Julio and the team looked after us all very well, anticipating every need. The horses were well schooled and responsive, a pleasure to ride. The trip was a good mix of riding and cultural experiences making us feel like we really got to know the country and it's people. The scenery was spectacular, can't wait for my next visit.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your time in beautiful Colombia].


Mountain Adventures - Colombia

Barichara Ride

5 star rating   21 January 2025

Stacey (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Holiday of a lifetime - just fantastic | The holiday was amazing , the country is beyond beautiful and the combination of riding, history and culture was just right. The organization of the holiday was suburb and everything was exactly as it stated it would be on the ride.

The care of the horses welfare was at the forefront of the holiday and they received everything they needed as well as affection and individual care.

It was definitely for experienced riders and you felt exhilarated when you completed the day.
The accommodation was excellent and the welcome from people was heart-warming.

Overall the best organised, enjoyable whilst challenging riding holiday I have experienced.

[Abbie from ITS replies: We are so pleased that you enjoyed the Barichara Ride. Thank you so much for your super comments].


Estancia Los Potreros - Argentina

Estancia Los Potreros

5 star rating   17 January 2025

Chantal (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Magical | Horses at Los Potreros are very well cared for and loved. They are relaxed and are very carefully cared for and are happy. Although I am an experienced rider, it took me a few days to get used to the way the horses are ridden. I was therefore matched according to my progress with more powerful horses as I got more secure and experienced. That said, every horse is sensational and I enjoyed every ride. It was a real pleasure to be introduced to the Paso Peruano horses. Their gait is exquisite and it was magical to ride them on the late rides each day.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your holiday. We are so pleased that you enjoyed your stay at the wonderful Estancia Los Potreros!].


Estancia Los Potreros - Argentina

Estancia Los Potreros

5 star rating   10 January 2025

Anthony (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Five stars, from start to finish | First and foremost, I could tell the horses were so beloved and had all the care and attention they deserve. This was my first riding holiday and the days cantering through long grass in sunshine with new friends were more than I could have imagined.
Away from the saddle, I was particularly impressed by the little touches Kevin and Georgia offered, being personally greeted upon arrival, the way the tables were set at meal times etc. The social gatherings were made all the nicer with the company of Emily, Oria and Molly. Much gratitude also for the guidance of our gauchos and the care by chefs and staff at Los Pots. It’s a well-run operation up in those hills!

[Abbie from ITS replies: We are so pleased that you enjoyed your riding holiday at Los Potreros. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us].


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   9 January 2025

Wendy who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Absolutely wonderful | Everybody was so welcoming and helpful. You could tell they enjoyed there jobs.
There is no words to express how wonderful the place and people were.


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   9 January 2025

Monika who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic horse riding safari | Well cared for horses, lovely staff and guides who couldn’t do enough for good. Luxurious accommodation and great food what else can one wish for.


Los Alamos - Spain

New Year Week

5 star rating   5 January 2025

Katerina who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic from beginning to the end | This is a well-run, friendly and fantastic riding holiday destination. The scenery, the villa, the food and the opportunities of riding on forward-going, well cared for horses and meet such lovely people and also not forgetting the family-run holiday, where all the logistics, food preferences and transfers and help are just so professional run are why so many of us love to come back. The riding was, at times, fast so you must be honest about your abilities and be confident in all paces and although you will be matched with a horse for your skills, that doesn't mean you should expect the horses to ride for you - this is not trekking. I would say you need to be a regular rider and have been out of hacks, not just in an arena. You will get the most thrill and enjoyment by ensuring you have worked on your experience and are ready for all the fast and slower paced riding skills required and are happy to meet new people and have a great time.


Los Alamos - Spain

New Year Week

5 star rating   5 January 2025

Lisa who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Galloping Into 2025! | The riding at Los Alamos was excellent with lovely quiet tracks in the forest and fantastic canters and gallops in the firebreaks and on the beach. I had a fixed smile on my face from the moment I mounted.


Los Alamos - Spain

Christmas Week

5 star rating   29 December 2024

Netta who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. Fab as always | Yes.................I need to book another x


Los Alamos - Spain

Christmas Week

5 star rating   29 December 2024

Judy who has been on 39 In The Saddle rides. Always a pleasure. | Rachel works hard to find a good 'fit' between rider and horse. This may mean riding 2 (or more) horses during the course of the week.


Los Alamos - Spain

Christmas Week

5 star rating   29 December 2024

Cathy who has been on 53 In The Saddle rides. Riding through wooded dunes, exhilarating gallops along the firebreaks. Two days were ridden on the beach with the backdrop of Cape Trafalgar lighthouse, such fun. To get the best of the beach re the tides, one morning we began the ride in the dark with only the stars and moon for illumination. The horses were full of energy yet easy to control and all in immaculate condition.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for your lovely feedback. We're so pleased that you enjoyed Christmas at Los Alamos].


Los Alamos - Spain

Christmas Week

5 star rating   29 December 2024

Neil who has been on 24 In The Saddle rides. Amazing, as always | It can be quite a long time at walk between canters. It might be nice to have a few little trots to break things up a little.


Los Alamos - Spain

Christmas Week

5 star rating   29 December 2024

Wendy who has been on 20 In The Saddle rides. Wonderful Christmas Week | This was my second visit to Los Alamos over Christmas and I couldn't fault it. What better way to spend the festive season than in Spain, enjoying some winter sunshine, great food and drink, fabulous horses, fun rides and a gallop down the beach to blow away any cobwebs! Our hosts Andrew, Rhiannon and Rachel and our riding guides Jose and Roberto were all superb which made for a fantastic week. Loved it and would definitely go again!


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   24 December 2024

Judy who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic Overall Experience | The team at Ants were great (Bushwillow and Ants Hill). From the start, they said they would "underhorse" us to ensure we were comfortable. We were asked each day if we were happy with our horses and always had options to change horses; it took us a few rides to be matched with horses who were a good match (forward and light). The group sizes were small, and we were matched with comparable riders. We were at the reserve for a total of 10 days, and the staff went out of their way each day to take us to new reserve areas and find animals we hadn't seen. A balance of walks and great canters. They also worked with the weather (lots of rain) to ensure we had a reasonable amount of time in the saddle each day, which sometimes meant changing the schedule to allow us all to get our riding in. We generally had two different horses a day to allow them to rest. Our guide, Ali, at Bushwillow, was outstanding - special mention for him. He was an incredible guide and teacher and fun to be with. Realising how curious we were (From the million questions I'd throw at him), he went out of his way to teach us as much as possible - from insects, tracking, trees, birds and the larger game.

[Abbie from ITS replies: We are so pleased that you had such a great experience at Ant’s Lodges and enjoyed a special Christmas in South Africa. Thank you for taking the time to submit your review].


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Ant's Nest

5 star rating   11 December 2024

Karen who has been on 12 In The Saddle rides. Best Holiday Ever! | The riding at Ant's is such a wonderful experience the staff want to make every aspect of your stay as special as they can and the horses seem to enjoy the rides as much as we do!


Los Alamos - Spain

Villa Based Ride

5 star rating   8 December 2024

Jane who has been on 16 In The Saddle rides. Fun week riding on the beaches and in the forest | I wasn’t happy with the first horse selected for me - this wasn’t a problem and I was immediately given a horse I was much happier with and rode the whole week. This meant i really got to know him and had a great time


Los Alamos - Spain

Short Break

5 star rating   5 December 2024

David who has been on 12 In The Saddle rides. As always at Los Alamos, a good holiday in all respects | The days were not too long, which I appreciated


Los Alamos - Spain

Villa Based Ride

5 star rating   1 December 2024

Judith who has been on 19 In The Saddle rides. Fun, food and fast | Beach gallop always tide and sand dependant.


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Ant's Nest

5 star rating   29 November 2024

Sara (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) My dream South African adventure | The riding was excellent. I’m not particularly riding fit, so was mainly matched with others of the same ability. I always felt in control. The horses are very well cared for and I felt that every horse was suited to me and my ability.
The guides were very knowledgeable and tailored the rides to the group requests. They knew where to look for certain animals and we were able to get up close to many of them. The guides and volunteers were all beyond my expectations and I have learned so much about South Africa.
I asked about swimming with the horses, and they made this happen twice, which was one of my highlights.


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Ant's Hill

5 star rating   28 November 2024

Jane who has been on 16 In The Saddle rides. Wonderful time; everything we could have hoped for - luxury accommodation, friendly staff and great company. | Yes as we knew it was not riding with the big 5 but we went for the luxury accommodation and was not disappointed had a great selection of people .


Tierra del Fuego - Argentina

Mitre Peninsula

5 star rating   27 November 2024

Sally (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Incredible experience riding to 'The end of the World'! | Definitely not for the faint hearted or those afraid of heights! We rode over terrain I would never have contemplated here in the UK but at no point did I doubt that my horse would get me safely through. All the horses were really strong and fit, excellently trained, well cared for and fun to ride.


Los Alamos - Spain

Villa Based Ride

5 star rating   24 November 2024

Helen (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Beautifully understood and cared for horses and riders | The horses and hosts love their jobs and excel in sharing their passion for this beautiful part of Spain with their riders. The riding is fabulous, both beach and forest. Fast and fun, but also peaceful.


Los Alamos - Spain

Villa Based Ride

5 star rating   24 November 2024

Christine who has been on 13 In The Saddle rides. Super holiday | Lovely riding and beach conditions were very good both days.


Ant's Lodges - South Africa

Lodge Stay

5 star rating   23 November 2024

Nathalie who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Exceeded my (already high) expectations | The riding exceeded my expectations as I was able to build upon the confidence I'd gained last year on my first trip. I never felt unsafe but I was also allowed to go on faster rides, which was exhilarating. I still miss the horse that I rode that week and a photo of me riding him is now the background photo on my phone so it brings back happy memories every time I look at it.
[Olwen from In The Saddle replies - I am so glad that you enjoyed your return visit to Ant's Lodges]


Wait A Little - South Africa

Big Five Safari

5 star rating   23 November 2024

Deana (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Just WOW ! The most amazing experience that could never be topped. | The Big Five Safari, Wait A Little and everyone that looked after us was absolutely awesome, this experience will never leave me, I didn’t know what to expect from this holiday but it was out of this world, the riding, horses and people are amazing. Really hope I get to return again one day as right now it seems like an amazing dream.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Wow, what wonderful feedback! We are so pleased that you had such a fabulous time at Wait A Little.]


Wait A Little - South Africa

Big Five Safari

5 star rating   23 November 2024

Sian (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A perfect week! | This was my first horse riding holiday and what an amazing experience! Everything was well organised from booking through to travel arrangements. Wait A Little is very special and everyone works tirelessly to make our stay unforgettable. We were very lucky to see lots of wildlife and all “the big five”, but even if we hadn’t seen them the riding and horses would have made for a wonderful week. I would definitely recommend this safari.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for your super feedback! We are so pleased that you had such a fabulous time at Wait A Little.]


Monte Velho - Portugal

Monte Velho

5 star rating   17 November 2024

Helen (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A wonderful oasis of calm and dressage focus | Excellent


1226 reviews    1 2 3 39