Emma who has been on 7 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic riding | This holiday was great. We were all matched with horses that suited our needs and the guides we’re always willing to adapt the riding or horses to suit our needs. One member of our group was a novice rider and everyone went out of their way to accommodate her offering her lessons and hacks that involved a quieter pace. I would definitely return!

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.

Linda who has been on 21 In The Saddle rides. Fantastic week of riding - fast paced at times along the beaches | All expectations exceeded. Our third visit to The Wild Coast - back with more friends this time. Postponed twice because of Covid. Horses are amazing, sure footed, keen to run on the endless deserted sandy beaches but with brakes. Also foot-sure negotiating rocky rivers and gorges. They are a pleasure to ride and are clearly well loved and cared for. Fantastic to ride along the beaches and cliffs while spotting whales and dolphins. One of our top 3 riding holidays (and we have been on many). Julie-Anne and her team are doing a fantastic job. Mel and Tertia are brilliant guides and dealt with some challenging situations in a professional, caring and friendly way. We laughed a lot!

[Abbie from In The Saddle replies: We are so pleased that you enjoyed your return visit to the Wild Coast. Many thanks for taking the time to tell us about your trip].

Rosa who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Namib Desert Safari - a must do trip | This is holiday for truly experienced riders who are comfortable riding sensitive and forward going horses in varied terrain. If you are confident and comfortable with this sort of riding you will have an amazing experience!! The horses are so well cared for and the matching of horse to rider was perfect. You get to pitch in with the grooming, feeding and racking up as well which is also really lovely.

Alexandra (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Adventurous, exhausting and beautiful | The first 3 days were very long (8 hours riding), but that was not the fault of the operator. 3 riders in the group couldn't keep up the pace at the beginning. It was really exhausting to arrive that late at the camp. But after a good talk they managed to keep up and we actually had some time to relax in the afternoon.
What I really missed was more information about the region, flora and fauna. When asked Helen answered the questions, but it could have been so much more.
Otherwise it was a really good ride and I can absolutely recommend it.
Helen is a very competend guide and the horses are in good shape and are well treated.

Penny who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Pretty amazing | The only thing that I was not happy about on this holiday is the horse trainers. I observed a very heavy handed approach to training that left the horses fearful of the trainer. Horses were disciplined while on the rides in a manner that I felt was not safe. On one occasion the trainer was attempting to school her horse who was afraid of the mounting stairs in the arena. He spooked and fled dragging the trainer while several of the riders were mounted in the arena and waiting to go on the ride. I know that Sabine cares deeply for her horses and do not understand why this type of training is allowed to occur.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for letting us know and we've followed this up with the owner, Sabine. The safety and welfare of the horses is very important to us.
Sabine explained that the horse in question was only recently backed and has a tendancy to bolt when spooked. He isn't easily mounted and so for now he remains a guide only horse until he becomes more confident.]

Kate who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Tuli Safari - Unbeatable horse riding safari | This was by far the best riding holiday I have been on. The horses were wonderful and really well matched to myself and my two teenage daughters, the guides were so knowledgeable and great fun, we saw tons of animals and had lots of fun, fast canters. Riding from camp to camp rather than riding out from the same place every day made it really interesting and such a different, exciting experience. Couldn’t recommend it enough. My daughters, who have never been on safari before, were blown away and both now want to go and volunteer at Horizon in Botswana in a year off before University

[In The Saddle note: We’re absolutely delighted that you all had such a great time on the Tuli Safari. It is a special experience and we are so glad that you enjoyed it].

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.]

Caitlin (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) A Perfect Week! | The riding and the horses all exceeded my expectations. No ride was the same and the variety on offer was great. They are wonderfully trained and cared for. [In The Saddle replies: we are pleased to hear that you had such a great time.]

Linda who has been on 8 In The Saddle rides. Monte Velho - nice time but uninspiring riding | I expected the riding to be much more challenging. In the whole of the week I must have done a total of about six flying changes and just a few minutes of passage. No piaffe at all.

All the instructors were lovely - calm, clear and professional. The problem was that they give personal tuition but there were always two people in a lesson. So, while one person was being taught the other person was doing nothing which meant that an hour's lesson was really only half an hour at the very most.

I could have quite happily done at least twice the amount of riding that I actually did.

Alison who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Fabulous - Trip of a Life Time | We experienced all sorts of terrains through villages, rain forest and plantations. Lots of chances to canter and gallop (if you wanted to) whilst waving and smiling at the beautiful Ugandan people. We even got to swim the horses. The guides were upbeat and fun to ride with.
[Olwen from In The Saddle - we are so pleased that you enjoyed this wonderful holiday in Uganda]

Maria (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Refreshing holiday | Riding was through beautiful scenery. Horses were well cared for, but not all the equipment best fit each horse.

Christel Shermer (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) We had a really nice experience at the Velani Country Hotel in Crete and a nice riding experience. The riding suited our level well and there was an opportunity for our 12-year-old daughter to get extra hours and enjoy herself in the stable with the horses. Both guides were competent, friendly and welcoming, and we felt in safe hands with both, especially the male guide. The female guide was super good at “nerding” horses with our daughter and was sweet and welcoming, which provided a wonderful experience for young and old ones. It works well with some in the family riding and others walking, there are good hiking trails right outside the hotel.

Penny who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Monte Velho - Fantastic accommodation and great horses | The horses were lovely and I was able to experience flying changes and Passage on a schoolmaster. It was July so incredibly hot, but the horses were willing and submissive.

The lessons were always for 2, taking turns and usually with a Bluetooth earpiece which made it easy to hear instructions. The only downside was that this meant for half the lesson you spent your time trying to keep out of the way of the other person, and I can imagine if there was more than one lesson taking place it would have been difficult.

The instruction was relevant and pitched to the right level. I got a lot out of them as did my daughter.

Riders were all expected to wear spurs so although they can be provided, best to bring your own.

[In The Saddle replies: Thank you for your feedback. We're so pleased that you enjoyed your stay at Monte Velho and gained so much from the lessons. Spurs are included as an item on our suggested packing list].

Sue who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. Brilliant week’s trekking on well schooled horses in the most beautiful environment. | The holiday met with my expectations, it was everything I’d hoped for and read about. The scenery was spectacular and riding well schooled, exceptionally sure footed and safe horses allowed for relaxed viewing of the landscape as we rode. In addition there were plenty of rest stops (partly to allow for the extreme heat), and photo opportunities. Though not a fast paced ride we did enjoy some decent canters along the forest paths, and my horse ‘Kinder’ was very comfortable, gentle and a perfect match.
This ride does demand a good level of fitness as there was a fair amount of mounting and dismounting to enable the horses to be led up and down some vey steep and often slippery slopes, however Dallas and her great team gave clear instructions on how to negotiate these challenges and we all felt completely safe and well looked after.
I would recommend riding in long sleeves, taking a sunhat for use at lunch time, and cycling water bottles for ease of drinking whilst mounted.
The accommodation was extremely comfortable and meals varied with plenty of choice. The picnic lunches provided each day by Dallas were legendary!
All in all, I would thoroughly recommend this ride.

Troels Vang (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Good, steady, fresh horses. Nice to try different horses and get your favorite horse on the last ride. The guides are very attentive to all riders, throughout the ride, they are in control of everything.

Ros (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Breathtaking | What a fabulous experience! Such a hardy & willing breed of horse, a joy to ride.
Very much enjoyed learning the Tolt and Pace!
The team at Islandshestar were brilliant with people and clearly loved their horses.
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you very much for your feedback and we are so pleased you enjoyed your holiday in Iceland.]

Lina who has been on 4 In The Saddle rides. Damara Ride - Amazing | The trip was everything I had hoped for and more. The riding was fast and fun, through amazing ever changing landscapes. Everything was very well organized from day 1 till the end. Go if you can!

[Abbie from In The Saddle replies: Thank you for your super feedback Lina. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the beauty and excitement of riding in the Namibian desert].

Rebecca who has been on 7 In The Saddle rides. World class horses, fast and super safe on their hooves. Tried 3 different horses, all amazing in their own way. And the horses are well taken care of.

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].

Tim who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. Masai Mara Ride - an amazing experience | The horses were all in tip-top condition and were responsive and well behaved, It was clear that Felicia had taken great care to match the horses to the riders. All of us really enjoyed our horses. We specifically booked this holiday for the wildlife experience and as such fully expected a leisurely pace getting very close to a wide variety of game, yet feeling totally safe in the experienced and capable hands of Gordie
I have to say we had heard great things of this trip from a few years ago and, with that in mind and the Covid wait we had built up very high expectations of the holiday. Our expectations were very much exceeded. Where this safari really excelled was the personal hands-on involvement of Gordie and Felicia in every aspect of the holiday
The whole camp team were simply wonderful, it was great to see that everyone was so happy, friendly and obliging. The service was first class, the tents and beds excellent and the food was superb
We can can certainly recommend anyone seeking a true wildlife experience to book this trip.

[Abbie from In The Saddle replies - Thank you so much for providing feedback on your long-awaited trip to Kenya. We are thrilled that you had such a memorable and special experience. It was a pleasure to arrange your safari].

Liza who has been on 3 In The Saddle rides. The quality of 2 of the horses I rode was perhaps not quite as good. One seemed to be slightly lame and the other had no doubt previously been very good, but coughed a lot, had difficulty keeping up and was affected by his age. But there was no problem in getting another horse.

Janet who has been on 16 In The Saddle rides. Well worth waiting for | This was my third attempt at going on this holiday and wow did it deliver. First the horses are perfectly cared for and know their job in a nice way. They are certainly not dull. The guides are very attentive to what is going on and we did have a riding lesson on Day 1! It is beautiful, lush with extremely different terrains...and no biting insects. The riding is very varied, plenty of change of pace and you do see all parts of the island. Christina and Claude have an amazingly beautiful place and organise everything perfectly nothing is too much trouble. Christina cooks the food and it is delicious....what more can I say other that this is a place you will meet people from everywhere.For us we had Americans and Danes all delightful. I will certainly go back
[Olwen from In The Saddle - we are so glad that you were eventually able to enjoy this wonderful holiday having deferred from 2020 and 2021.]

Christine who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. The horses were fresh and well schooled, and they were really well looked after by the guides. I asked for a forwardgoing horse that was responsive for light helpers. I was very happy with the horse I was allocated, which suited me very well and lived up to my expectations. It was long days in the saddle with an average of 8 hours of riding, but my experience was that everyone on the ride enjoyed every moment.

Linda who has been on 15 In The Saddle rides. Special | Rocky ground, two canters a day

Jo (this is their first In The Saddle holiday) Dream come true! | Great instructors for both lessons and trail rides.

Alison who has been on 2 In The Saddle rides. A good riding experience | These are working horses and as such were fit and well cared for with the odd knock here and there. My horse suffered from heat stroke one lunchtime and the crew were on it immediately and soon had everything under control. I was impressed by their efficiency in dealing with the issue - this is about the 14th trip I've done so I've seen it all before and have owned horses for more that 40 years so I accept that different countries have differing standards.
This was a good team and they looked after us well.

Jo who has been on 6 In The Saddle rides. Perfect Sicilian Adventure | Excellent

Wendy who has been on 7 In The Saddle rides. Portugal-Wolves and wild horses | The pace of the ride is leisurely as it is in the mountains which gives you time to take in the beautiful and varied surroundings. We were able to canter two times each day with the canters being long ,fast and fabulous!
The horses are all schooled by Pedro and are ridden with a loose rein and a light squeeze ,no kicking needed ( or allowed ). The horses are very sensitive to the human on board but if you are confident with them they are confident with you and are a joy to ride !
We saw lots of groups of the wild garrano horses on our rides out .
[Becky from In The Saddle replies: Thank you for your great feedback and we are so pleased that you had a lovely time in Portugal.]

Sine Orgaard Olsson who has been on 5 In The Saddle rides. A dream that was fulfilled. Good horse, tack and fantastic scenery