Yvette who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. As close as I will come to roughing it, and it was worth it! | The riding was brilliant, lots of wide open space for long canters and gallops, sometimes for kilometres at a time. The horses were willing and responsive and well-matched to their riders.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thanks so much for your lovely feedback. We are really happy that you enjoyed your Damaraland adventure!].

Gilva who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Transylvania Adventure | I had the most amazing experience .The guides ,logistic manager and horses were excellent. Time was taken to match horses to rider and when we were on the trail care was taken to ensure that we were comfortable and we were very well looked after as were the horses. The terrain was beautiful- through forests ,meadows and up onto the hills with far stretching views. For me the pace was perfect-trots ,canters some gallops but time also to take in what was around me. It was also fascinating to learn about the area and having time in Viscri was very special .I was a bit concerned prior to the ride that I would find it too physically challenging being a woman of more mature years although a regular rider. Yes, my legs did ache a bit after a long day in the saddle but I was very pleased to have challenged myself .I would highly recommend this trip and am are very grateful to the dream team of Catherine ,Jacqui and Marius from Equus Silvania and my riding companions.

Cathy who has been on 49 In The Saddle rides. A wild and challenging adventure | Horse wise you get what you ask for. Luna was the perfect match and looked after me throughout. One afternoon I rode a new horse to the ride who also didn't put a foot wrong. Both were soft mouthed, willing but listened to me. On this ride the canters and gallops are very long and exhilarating and the horses are amazing in just how much they give you. It was fascinating to see the young horses being trained during the ride. Wildlife is scarce but we were lucky to see a herd of desert elephants. There were lots of signs of black rhino. The desert landscapes and night skies are incredible in their beauty and starkness. Andrew gives you an amazing experience, he is knowledgeable and so obviously is proud of his horses and this land. There are lots of laughs and some aches! Andrew has a small professional and friendly team who look after you extremely well. Of all the rides I have done this was the greatest achievement for me personally and fits into the category of one of the best and most enjoyable I have ridden.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Wow - what great feedback! We're so pleased you had such a wonderful experience on this special trip].

Caroline (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Holiday far exceeded expectations - we had an epic time | Riding was as described. 80% of the time you are at the walk as you are negotiation mountain terrain, steep and narrow tracks. One day we had very long and quite fast canters as we were in a wide open valley with fantastic sandy going.

Mike who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. First class mountain equestrian experience | For someone who has a head for heights, is fit, can trust a horse 110%, enjoys outdoor pursuits, is passionate about nature (geology, botany, zoology, physical geography, hydrology, weather), loves to experience culture not influenced (too much) by globalization, and wants to meet friendly locals THIS IS THE RIDE FOR YOU.

Judith who has been on 15 In The Saddle rides. Riding with Ant | Love it that the horses make their own way back home and live in the bush. It definitely makes a difference how close you get to the wildlife especially comparing with Macatoo. Last day we had the privilege of riding with Ant over land he has recently bought – great long canter on old airstrip, and great fun with this larger than life character.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased to hear you enjoyed the riding at Ant's :-)]

Richard who has been on 7 In The Saddle rides. A lovely way to experience a grand and historic area of the Sierra Nevada | We were matched with lovely experienced horses. Dallas guided us on several varied trail rides, each with wonderful views. Dallas' knowledge of the area and her horsemanship are exceptional - and she makes a great picnic lunch. A lot of the trails are taken at walking pace, with some requiring the rider to dismount and lead the horse, but there were stretches where a faster pace, trot of canter, was possible.

Lorna who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. A great time | On the whole the horses appeared well cared for, however I noticed most of the horses on their hind quarters / flank had a lot of cuts. When I asked about this I was told it was from the screws from the horse trailer. The guide told me he was trying to sort this our by filing down the screws. It was something that could have been easily prevented by covering over with protective materials before the horses were loaded.
Some of the tack was old and not in good repair, and not very comfortable, a regular thorough clean and condition would have been beneficial for safety as well as presentation.

That said the horses were extremely willing and knew their job and coped exceptionally well in very steep, slippery and rocky terrain.

[In The Saddle replies: thank you for your feedback. We are pleased that you had a lovely time overall. We have contacted the ride operator about your comments. They have told us that as soon as they saw the scratch marks on the horses they took action and covered the screws with a soft material. The tack is cleaned and checked by the guides on a regular basis but the weather on Sao Miguel is very wet and humid and this is very hard on the leather. The ride operator is sad that you were uncomfortable in your saddle because had they known they could have provided a seat saver which might have made you more comfortable.]

Mary who has been on 11 In The Saddle rides. Super Big Five Safari | Wait a Little, Gerti and Philip were the perfect hosts backed up by an amazing team of people to help us with the horses.
I rode three different horses, my favourites being Ice and Miguel. They were forward going but totally controllable at all paces.
The experience with the game was unsurpassed and we got very close without the horses spooking.
Accommodation at Wait A Little was great as were the meals. At the other camp, Xi Dulu, we stayed in an amazing lodge.
Food was top notch, freshly cooked and well presented.
I would highly recommend this experience.

[Abbie from ITS replies: Thank you for your feedback. We're thrilled that you enjoyed your Big Five Safari].

Louise who has been on 19 In The Saddle rides. Brilliant | Riding superb, horses brilliant, expectations met

Amanda (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) The Perfect Holiday | Marianna and Pedro spent lots of time getting to know us and chatting about our riding experience and the type of horse we like to ride. We were all matched very well.
The riding was set at just the right level to make this trip feel like a holiday and not a challenging riding experience. The day lengths were varied which was great.

We were picked up from the villa at 10am each day which meant the day started in a lovely relaxed way.

We rode in beautiful and varied mountains, our guides were very knowledgable and clearly enjoyed showing us their backyard 🙂
We enjoyed seeing lots of wild herds, watching the horses in their natural environment was fascinating. [ITS replies: We are so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed your holiday. Thank you for taking the time to let us know.]

Lise (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Good, strong and well-trained horses for everyone in the group. Beautiful and varied rides in all directions from the stables. No stress.

Phoebe (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Unforgettable Experience | Very impressed by the matching of horses and riders and care given to listen to clients if horses were not suitable or you needed advice on how horses liked to be ridden.
Cantering spread out in Botswana was the absolute highlight of all riding.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback, we are so pleased that you enjoyed your holiday.]

Anne-Marie who has been on 30 In The Saddle rides. Nice relaxing break | I feel the effort was made to match us with horses that would suit us and the horses are clearly well cared for. I had the same horse throughout, when the initial order of horses didn’t quite work it was swapped around and one of the horses was changed. The groups are kept quite small, no more than four guests went out together at any time. The horses are very responsive to the guide’s hand signals and voice and you rarely have to give an aid to elicit a canter. Time was spent viewing the wildlife and made for some good photo opportunities.

Judith who has been on 15 In The Saddle rides. Lonely Honeymoon! | Only gave “agree” for pace because other group had longer canters, but they were a hunting group and all knew each other and we had ladies who had sore thighs. I know it says "more relaxed pace" in the afternoon but I was a bit surprised we only trotted in the afternoon (Safety issues)

Steven who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Alentejo trail Portugal | Riding was set at right pace, majority in walk but some long trots and varied canters. I found it concerning that there was no back marker, as when we cantered the group became wide spread so if anything happened the guide wouldn't have noticed. For the amount of time in the saddle one small bottle of water wasn't sufficient. Luckily the weather was not too hot on our riding days so could cope with amount of water. If the weather was in the high 20's then more water would be needed.

[In The Saddle replies: Thank you for your feedback, which is much appreciated.

We have discussed the provision of water with the ride operator. He assures us that additional water is available and refills are also made at the lunch stops.

We understand it may feel unusual if you are accustomed to riding with two guides, but Miguel has been running his rides very successfully for many years without a back-up rider. We are confident that he does everything possible to ensure guest safety, in the training of his horses, his experience as a guide and the manner in which his trails are conducted.]

Samantha (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) It was the best riding I’ve ever done. Lots more hiking on foot whilst leading the horse than I expected but it added to the variety!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased to hear that you enjoyed your holiday]

Len who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Lusitano experience | Horses were superb, fast but calm, very comfortable and safe at all paces. These are the best horses I have ever ridden.
The first day was a 30km loop near the farm, so was the second day, so was the third day.
The forth day we rode off to the next venue. That was very much better. The fifth day was only half a days ride, but still very enjoyable. The last day was brilliant.
After the first day, there were never more than six on the ride, not always the same six. This made it difficult for Miguel, as we had two “empty horses” with us most days. We had no back rider guide, only Miguel who had to do everything. Fine when everyone is okay, but hard when you have non riders every day. There were four non riders on the last day.
The pace was good for me, the right balance of walk, trot and canter to give interest and excitement. However, I think it was too much for some riders who weren’t totally fit and who weren’t experienced in English type saddles and stirrups. (just an impression really they need to speak for themselves)
Overall the riding was great, Miguel went out of his way to help me beat a personal best and I’ve never seen better looked after horses. I loved it!

Megan who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Great Horses | We have been on over 20 riding trips and these were some of the best horses we have ever ridden. I rode the same horse all week and she was perfectly matched for me. My husband (who can be a little fussy about his horses) rode five horses and loves each one.
[In The Saddle - thank you your feedback and so glad that you enjoyed this holiday.]

Joy (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Amazing | A dream experience come true. Our hosts Mamen and Emilio were awesome. Their horses well trained and much loved. The countryside beautiful:) Exceeded all expectations!!
A long haul from Australia, but worth every minute. [ITS replies: Thank you for your wonderful feedback. We are so pleased you enjoyed it.]

Julia who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic horses and beaches - perfect combination | Obviously the itinerary was rather impacted by the accident, and it was very disappointing that we didn't just continue up the coast on the next day, but had a 'quiet' ride inland. Also the pace was slower than we are generally used to. I know we can't gallop all the time on trail rides, but the biggest disappointment for me was not to have The Gallop on The Beach, and really see what our horses could do. I know that this was also due to geography, and for the safety of horses and riders!
That said, the horses, guides and location were stunning, and we did have lots of fast canters along amazing beaches and inland, and were extremely lucky with the weather.
I was perfectly matched with my horse Eclipse, who was exactly what was requested. Fast, forward and more importantly, fun! The guides were excellent, friendly and couldn't done more for us all.
Overall I would still say this was an excellent holiday and I would certainly recommend it!

[In The Saddle: Yours was a private group and the guides did their utmost best to make sure everyone was safe and had a good time. The river at Wavecrest was particularly high and so it wasn't safe to go across for the gallop to Mazeppa. We are pleased that overall you had a good time.]

Susana (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) My best holiday ever! | When I first noticed the Horse Safaris in Instagram by Horizon, I decided that I wanted to be there and live the experience, because I looked like there is so much freedom and when I got there, it really was as I saw in the videos. I felt the freedom I was wanting to feel in a horse surrounded by the richest and exotic wild life that Botswana offers plus the amazing land scapes. Loving every minute of it.

Roger who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. Wild Coast Adventure Trail - The best beach ride in the world. | Not only was it great riding, the area is really interesting and like nowhere else I have ever visited and I have been on lots of riding holidays. I think your literature should make more of this aspect. The Transkei is totally undeveloped and the local tribes people were both fascinating and friendly.

This ride is only suitable for good, fit riders. Those who are not will not stay the course and will hold up the rest of group. You can get all aspects of terrain in one day and often at pace and it is not possible to get the lunch stop and say "you can't carry on". This area is remote and there are no roads to get you out. This is what makes it so special.

As you know one of our riders came off and was badly hurt and concussed. I must commend Tertia our guide and Jess our back rider, for their professionalism in taking command of the situation, mobilising our group and getting outside assistance. I also know Julie-Anne did a lot of organising and provided support to the injured rider as we all carried on with our holiday. Most impressed.

The nearest hospital is in East London, some two hours drive away and we were able to get the injured rider off the beach with the help of a local who managed to get his flat bed truck over the sand dunes. Most of the beaches would have required a helicopter. Makes you realise the importance of good riding insurance.

[In The Saddle - as we all know, unfortunately anyone can fall off a horse at any time. We were fortunate that this accident happened relatively close to a hotel - but it must be remembered that this is a remote part of South Africa and medical support will not be as quick as we are used to in the UK.]

Hege-renate who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Incredible experience | Dedicated and caring hosts. Always good service, Far beyond expected. Excellent horses, well trained and cared for.
Beautiful landscape and the guide were very familiar with the area, giving us good insight. Friendly company from large parts of the world. Would love to Come back.

Lynda who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. A lovely peaceful quinta | The instruction was good , Miguel was exceptionally good .
you need to update the information you give out as it seems that Georgina Rogers does not work there now . My Portuguese friend seemed to think that Britta Paes taught there too but he did not seem to teach , we saw him ride though.
There was some confusion over our change of plans but that was sorted out. The taxi drive is actually an hour not 45 mins. It seemed odd too that no staff are on site after the evening meal which was a worry as one lady managed to lock herself out of her room.
The horses were good and well trained there was one we were a bit concerned about who did not seem" right "behind the instructors said he was always a bit stiff and that they do have osteopaths etc visiting.The horses are well looked after and the place is immaculate.Staff are super , really attentive and friendly and the pool area is lovely. There did not seem to be any massage on offer or yoga though but that did not matter to me.Accomodation was very clean and very comfortable

Jackie who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. Quite an adventure! | The horses are all rescues and quite a variety. Good to change whenever you wanted. The guides were keen to help and make sure you were happy. The horses were not used two days in a row if they were out for a whole day ride.
The riding was limited by the weather. The worst storm (Storm Oscar) that they had ever had. However, the riding we did was fun and there is lovely scenery to admire. As a plant lover, it didn't disappoint.
It is worth combining riding with options for tourist attractions that can be incorporated into the week, amazing whale/dolphin watching, visits to tea plantations, volcano craters etc. There is a huge team of staff, really friendly and go out of their way to drive you around. We always felt like we had personal guides whatever the activity.

In addition there is a small indoor arena which can be used in event of not being able to ride out. There are good riding trainers for coaching on well schooled horses. It was all very flexible in view of the conditions.

Anne who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Cannot get any better | Great hosts. We felt safe and well taken care of. Mamen, Emilio, their dog and their horses made this a week to remember. Are so greatful.

Bridget who has been on 15 In The Saddle rides. Just as good as the 2 previous visits | Excellent

Alison who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Had a great time | Instructors are world class

Jim who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. 4th visit, best ever (so far) | My wife Bev does the riding, I watch, video and learn too. She has a German warmblood at home competing at Advanced Medium level but even though he's now 21 everyone is saying there is PSG in there soon. Although Lusitanos are different, the opportunity to ride horses who can do the higher level moves is just amazing, to really get a riding feel and bring home to pass on. All the trainers at Monte Velho have been amazing, they know their horses and are very adept at matching horse with rider capabilities and aspirations. The 2 riders per trainer hour lessons work well, balancing time to learn with walk breaks to catch breath and let the instructions sink in. So lots of perspiration but loads more inspiration!

Jill who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Amazing | Horses are well looked after and not over ridden . They are well trained and super fast. Rachel will pair you up with your ideal stead.

Alix who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Unbelievable learning and fun | Brilliant tuition, well trained happy horses. Accommodation stylish, comfortable, to die for. Hot tub, plunge pool. Lovely food. Honesty bar. Brilliant staff. Very accommodating. Other guests very supportive and friendly. Thoroughly recommend!

[Abbie from ITS replies: Many thanks for your lovely feedback. We're so pleased that you had such a good time at Monte Velho in dressage paradise!]