Maggie who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic | Beyond expectations - the horses are amazing and very fit.

[Abbie from In The Saddle replies: Many thanks for your feedback, we are really pleased that you enjoyed this fabulous ride].

Sarah who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Amazing! | Exceeded expectations.
First rail tride where proper lunch provided and not just pack lunch. So much nicer!
Given a small horse so I could mount from the ground. (Was the oldest on the group).
Leaders led my horse downhill for me at times which was a relief as his manners were not perfect and a twisted ankle or something would have ruined my holiday.
Seat savers terribly thin but they gave me a suede covered gel one which was better. If anyone has half a sheepskin - take it!!
Suggest a red ribbon on Angel Brain’s tail as one day he will connect with an arm or a leg.
Superb trip. Will be very hard to beat!!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your feedback and we are so pleased to hear you enjoyed your expedition in North Macedonia. It is certainly a challenging holiday up in the mountains.]

Irene (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Mountain top experience | What an incredible experience! Vasko shared his in-depth knowledge of what he referred to as his front and back garden and during the week he shared some incredible places. Perfect lunch spots with delicious meals before we set off for the next part of the day. Amazing sunrise ride with views of the Balklands!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your feedback and it's wonderful to hear how much you enjoyed your holiday.]

Caroline who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Incredible adventure of a lifetime | The riding is not for the feint hearted but if you’re up to it, it will blow your mind. Forward going ponies and so sure footed over the toughest terrain. Even galloping was exhilarating over the mountains. Everybody was carefully considered and matched perfectly to their pony.

Jamie (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Phenomenal! | Excellent

Julie who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Exhilarating Unforgettable Ride | Vasco takes great care to match you well with your horse and Johan my horse was a dream. I loved every minute of the riding especially the fast walking and great fast canters and gallops. Such a thrilling ride.

Kate who has been on 10 In The Saddle rides. Stunning Macedonia, exciting and amazing trial riding and life experience | The riding exceeded expectations. Every terrain and some steep climbs up and down along with faster paces where possible. Wonderful mountain horses and saddle saver really helped with long days riding!

Mia who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Excellent

Sarah who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Miyak Tribe trail - probably my favourite trail so far | The horses were incredible - very sure-footed even on rocks and ready to canter uphill. They were never scared even when we occasionally met trucks or people cutting trees. There are frequent stops to adjust the girths to prevent injuries, and every horse ischecked during lunch breaks and at the end of the day. Vasco took time asking us individually about our riding experience and expectations to match us with our horses. This really makes a difference. Lastly, I was so impressed by the number of gallops we had even in mountain terrain! The horses were totally trustworthy - they knew the path, knew when they were allowed to overtake in canter, where the race stops, and when to stand in a line! The ride to the sunrise was truly magical. It is not for everyone though - it is quite tough, with very long days in the saddle and short nights.

Annalea who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. My absolute favorite ride of the ones I've been on so far.
I got a really nice horse that I still miss. That is also why I know I will return at some point.

Giselle who has been on 17 In The Saddle rides. Miyak Tribe Trail - real sense of achievement trail riding | This holiday exceeded my expectations in every way. Every care was taken to match rider with horse. On the first morning, we each had to ride around in the paddock so that our riding seat and balance could be assessed. Every-one was matched very well. The riding was challenging, fast and vigorous - probably the more so than any other trip I have been on, but the sense of achievement at the end was all the greater for it.

The landscape was very varied, indescribably beautiful and completely natural and unspoilt, all open and unfenced and absolutely timeless. Nothing to remind you of what century you are in.

The horses' tack was amazing and of exceptionally high quality - no expense spared. All hand crafted in the best leather from Rajasthan.

[In The Saddle Note: Thank you for this incredible feedback. We're so pleased that you enjoyed the Miyak Tribe Trail so much.]

Joanna who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Miyak Tribes North Macedonia | This is a superb holiday - its a proper "pony adventure" that reminded me of the pony fiction I used to read as a teenager! The terrain is challenging - constantly up and down mountains, the paths often feature overhanging branches so you need to concentrate! There are plenty of opportunities for fast canters where the terrain allows; the smell of fresh mountain thyme rushing past as we cantered through the meadows will always remind me of Macedonia! There are long days in the saddle and I personally would have benefitted from a higher level of fitness. Vasko and his team were amazing. What makes Sherpa Riding so special is the seamless organisation. The support and catering jeep led by David and Beatriz provided excellent mountain rescue support and the most delicious, creative picnic lunches. The camp team set up a wonderful mountain camp; everything was taken care of under Vasko's careful but relaxed direction. Everyone supported one another when you felt you couldn't ride another kilometre. The horses were complete sweethearts, so genuine and brave and lots of fun. Although it was challenging riding, I completely relaxed and switched off from the trappings of a fast paced life at home - just wonderful!

[Abbie from In The Saddle replies: Thank you Joanna for this wonderful feedback. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your adventure in North Macedonia].

Joe who has been on 16 In The Saddle rides. An exiting, adventurous trail ride on superb horses through glorious forests & mountain scenery. | After reading previous reviews our expectations were high but were totally exceeded on this holiday.
We had a great group , great weather & the organisation & itinerary were excellent. The Sherpa team couldn't do enough for us & were very good company .
Vasko & his team know horses inside out. We were carefully matched with our mounts & their welfare was the main priority throughout the ride. After 6 days of hard riding over 180 km with thousands of metres of ascent & descent the horses were in better shape than we were!
The horses were forward going, well behaved & well socialised & the western saddles were comfortable & secure. The pace is a fast walk which eats up the miles. As the week went on there were plenty of opportunities for steady & fast canters through the alpine beech forests & lots of exhilarating gallops through mountain meadows full of wild flowers & skylarks.
The accommodation was very comfortable & the 2 campsites were in beautiful locations.
The food was some of the best we've had on any holiday both in hotels & on the trail Everything was freshly cooked with fresh local ingredients. The meat was first class as were the vegetarian options & the local sheep cheeses were delicious & often straight from the farm. The team were very careful & considerate in looking after any special dietary requirements & cold beer & decent wine were always at hand.
Macedonia is a beautiful country & the Mavrovo National Park is particularly stunning with steep, wooded gorges & valleys which are heavily forested in beech up to about 1800m which then gives way to grassy valleys , meadows & mountain tops full of wild flowers, herbs , butterflies & insects. Skylarks are everywhere & we saw eagles , wild boar, deer, chamois, wild horses & even a couple of bears. The vistas are huge.
The meadows are grazed by sheep which are milked by hand twice daily for cheese production. The flocks of sheep are minded by shepherds & huge dogs to protect them from wolves. We often ate lunch in the sheep farms & were lucky enough to see the milking & cheese making processes. Vasko worked on the farms as a boy & gave us great insights into the way of life.
An added bonus to this ride is learning about the long & interesting history of the region & the Miyak people. Vasko was born & bred in the area & his family have been there for centuries. He`s extremely knowledgeable about the past & is keen to pass this on to visitors.
The modern day history is no less interesting.
We've been on a fair few riding holidays & this is up there with the best. The horses & riding were first class as were the organisation & the Sherpa team. The location was breathtaking . If you`re riding fit , adventurous & up for some excitement you`ll have a blast.
Thanks to Vasko, Shaipe, Davide, Beatrice,all the team & the lovely Sherpa Shenanigan crew for an amazing holiday.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your great feedback! We are so pleased to hear how much you enjoyed the Miyak Tribe Trail.]

Ricky who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. An exhilarating adventure from start to finish | This was the second In The Saddle riding holiday that my wife and I (both experienced riders) have been on. The first trip to Mongolia was incredible with lots of open gallops, well-cared-for horses and great accommodation. We were worried that we would struggle to find another riding holiday that was as fast and adventurous, but the North Macedonia Miyak Tribe Trail sounded like the closest option. I am pleased to say that it exceeded all of our expectations. It is an exhilarating adventure from start to finish. The terrain is mountainous which means long climbs and descents in walk over varied terrain with amazing views (including sunrise over a valley on one morning), and lots of short to medium-length fast gallops. There are some long days in the saddle so a good level of fitness is required, but the saddles are comfortable, the horses sure-footed and incredibly well looked after. Vasko and his team would stop multiple times throughout each day, checking tack and girth straps, etc., to ensure the horses (and riders) were comfortable.

The accommodation was very comfortable and the food was fantastic, plentiful and met all of the group's dietary requirements. Vasko the trail lead and his team including David and Beatrice were great, supportive and fun to be around. Before we started on the trail Vasko also organised a tour of Skopje as well, which we all appreciated as it was nice to know more about the country, its history and traditions.

We cannot recommend this trip enough and we plan to go back in the future!
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you so much for your feedback and it's great to hear how much you enojoyed your holiday to North Macedonia!]

Jane who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Full of wonderful surprises | yes, exceeded expectations. Vasco took great care of his horses - those of us who have a horse, and we had an experienced vet in our group, could see the condition of backs, legs, mouth etc was excellent. The tack fitted well and great care was taken to ensure that girths/cinches were checked several times during each day's ride to accommodate up and downhill work - often very steep.
The horses were watered and fed appropriately and were all very fit and happy.
This is so important for MY enjoyment - to know the horse that is working under me is a fit, sound animal and has received the best care possible.

Augusta who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. N Macedonia | Beyond expectations in every way. I have been on many riding holidays , this is right up there at the top of the list. Wonderful attention paid to match us perfectly and all through the ride attention was paid to the horses and us. Even when plans had to be changed due to the weather it was all arranged with little fuss and continued to make the ride on of the most thrilling I have been on HIGHLY recommend.

Annalise (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Exceeded expectations, with excellent group of people. | The terrain and vegetation, forests etc were just what I was hoping for.

Laura (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Out of this world | The scenery/ mountains/ vast plains exceeded my expectations. The terrain was steep and rough at times but these horses are so sure footed. Everything was explained to us and we were matched perfectly to our horses. I can’t explain how beautiful the mountains were from rocky outcrops to expansive plains. The wild flowers were out and Vasko gave us lots of opertunities to take plenty photos.
Food was turkey amazing as my waist has expanded. Vasko is passionate about his heritage and the way of life of shepherds high in the mountains. Nothing was a bother even when we were meant to be camping but the weather was terrible he just went to plan B. I will definitely be back. This whole experience gets 200% from me one very happy customer

Jackie who has been on 13 In The Saddle rides. Superb holiday in every aspect | The terrain was varied including woodland tracks, open mountain ascents and descents and open grassy valleys where we enjoyed some fast canters/gallops. Although it was the first trail of the season, the horses were all forward going and managed the terrain and long days (9 hours +) exceptionally well. They were all extremely well behaved.

Lorraine who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Miyak Tribe Trail | The riding exceeded expectations. Lots of fast walking as expected, but also plenty of nice canters and races in gallop! So exhilarating! The horses were always up for it, even on the toughest days!

Sara who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. A breath of fresh air | The horses are incredibly fit and sure-footed on the roughest terrain. It was a pleasure to ride them and they were always ready for a canter without ever being too forward-going. The horses are trained to walk fast and much of the ride was at this pace, although we had fast canters/gallops every day. The terrain included tracks through vast forests of beech trees and high mountain grassland pastures, with exceptional scenery and stunning views as far as Greece and Bulgaria. We brought dual purpose hiking/riding boots and these were really useful on rough terrain when we had to lead the horses. We found the Western saddles really comfortable.

Bertie who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. An amazing adventure ! | Short bursts of canters

Emily who has been on 26 In The Saddle rides. MIYAK TRIBE TRAIL | Lovely horses and very well looked after.

Chris who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Undiscovered Country | Very well matched, forward going and fun horse.

Katy who has been on 10 In The Saddle rides. A true adventure in a wild and remote mountain region | This is a truly amazing trip. The riding was fast paced with lots of fast canters where the terrain allowed. The horses, as you said in the itinerary, have a very forward going walk and you are encouraged to maintain this rather than trot. This is a real endurance ride and being fit in and out of the saddle is important. Good (non-slip) boots that will cope with the downhill walking, when leading your horse, are also important.
I found riding in a western saddle took a bit of getting used to (first time for me), and I decided to change saddles on day 3 for a barrel racing saddle which was slightly narrower and suited me better.
The horses are incredibly fit , keen, and love to go fast but were always well behaved in canters and easy to control.

The whole set up was really well organised and the support team were fantastic.

Line (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Super nice horses and absolute top fit. We rode the same horses for 6 days, up and down the mountains and they were never tired. The horses were forwardgoing, in the good way, and always ready to canter. They were surefooted and my horse only stumbled once on the 6 riding days. However, it was some long days in the saddle, so the better fit you are, the better the ride will be. Hiking boots to ride in or riding boots with a really good sole are a necessity, because when you walk and lead the horses down the hill, it goes steep down, and it can be a bit difficult terrain.

Sue who has been on 7 In The Saddle rides. A totally fabulous, stunning adventure in amazing mountains. Very interesting culture and fabulously capable horses. | The riding was challenging but at just the right level. The terrain was very varied and the horses coped extremely well with it. The views were stunning every single day. The horses were very fit and footsure - perfect for the job. There was a lot of getting on and off from the ground so you need to be agile enough for that. At the end of each day you really felt like you had ridden a lot and seen a huge amount of wonderful scenery. The group I was in varied from 21 - 50 somethings and we all coped well. Not everyone had their own horses but everyone rode fairly regularly and were able to cope with the riding level.

Lesley who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Miyak Trail - Exploring off grid Macedonia | We were part of the July Miyak trail. What an awesome experience! Hardy forward going trusty horses, carried us through the beautifully unique Macedonian countryside. We stayed in comfortable hotels with good home cooked dishes but the highlight was two nights wild camping. Going to sleep in total darkness and waking up to the sound of birdsong was stunning. Dinner and breakfast cooked over an open fire was a great experience. To enjoy the trail fully you need to be very saddle fit, comfortable with full on gallop and have good riding/walking boots. Sometimes the terrain demands that you get off and lead the horse. It’s a trail for riders with an open mind and a sense of adventure.