Slieve Aughty Riding Centre
Slieve Aughty Riding Centre is Family owned and operated and makes the perfect day out for the entire family. Offering pony rides, trekking, riding lessons, organic food, walking trails, birthday parties with ponies and donkeys, small conferences, Halloween and Christmas festivals and also school tours. With quality accommodation, you can spend a few hours or a week at the riding centre.
AIRE and BHS approved
Riding Activities
Slieve Aughty Riding Centre offers riding lessons and treks for riders of all ages and abilities. The centre features a 30x50 metre all weather sand arena, full cross country course, and access to more than 2,000 acres of Coillte managed forest for treks by the hour. For those with their own horse, come on out for a lesson or do some schooling on your own. You can even bring your horse overnight for a holiday! Known as the Mountain Trotters, Saturday lessons are great value for money with sessions from 10am to 2pm for all children, and we offer fun pony camps during all school holidays and summer.
Visit http://www.riding-centre.com/index.php?page=riding-activities for more information!
Walking & Cycling
The quiet country lanes and Coillte forest paths are accessible, scenic places to cycle and walk. The centre has developed several walking trails of various lengths and has maps available for those who would like to be more adventurous and go further afield or visit a specific spot. You can even rent a donkey, order an organic picnic from us and spend the day exploring the natural beauty with a light pack and a special friend!
We have farm bicycles available for free loan for short jaunts and can organise bike rental for more serious cyclists. You can even make walking or cycling the focus of a weekend break or week long family holiday! Quiet and peaceful, you can explore everything from rivers to forests to farmland and bog, depending on how far you would like to go. Our donkey walking experience has been certified as a GOLD ecotourism activity by Ecotourism Ireland
Find out more about walking and cycling at http://www.riding-centre.com
Parties & Weddings
Parties at Slieve Aughty Centre are unique and fun and are sure to create lasting memories. For birthdays, we organise themed parties with ponies, donkeys, dressing up, face painting, storytelling, our famous pancakes, arts and crafts, or anything you might like to do! Each party is customised for the birthday boy or girl so their day is a special one. Confirmation parties, corporate parties, family reunions, weddings and other parties are also customised to your needs and budget. It's a great place to celebrate any occasion and offers something truly unique and special.
Break away from the old hotel meeting room and bring your colleagues or family horse riding or walking with a donkey carrying your picnic. Ride white horses at your wedding, or sit in the garden and nibble homemade organic treats while the kids paint a pony. Your imagination is the limit at Slieve Aughty Centre!
Visit our Family and Social page for more details!
http://www.riding-centre.com/index.php?page=family
Festivals
Every year Slieve Aughty Centre holds 4 fun-filled family festivals: Easter, Summer Solstice, Halloween and Christmas. Family events, the festivals offer outdoor activities, pony rides, food and drink, face painting, arts and crafts, and activities relevant to the time of year. With the exception of our spectacular Christmas Festival, entry is free! During the Easter and Halloween Festivals, pony camps can be booked by the half day or full day, and we organise 2 charity rides a year on Easter Sunday and during the October school holiday. Both are a great way to have a good time in the outdoors for a good cause and have options for all levels of riders, even beginners!
Visit our festivals page here http://www.riding-centre.com/index.php?page=festivals for more information and photos.
Riding holidays
For more than 25 years Slieve Aughty Centre has welcomed people of all ages for memorable riding holidays. Perfect for families, we have everything from small ponies to large draft horses, and our retired ponies provide a safe leading mount for small children. With so much to do and plenty of places for relaxation, a riding holiday is ideal for young and old. Family riding holidays and trail holidays take full advantage of the more than 2,000 acres of Coillte managed forest beside the centre, while those preferring greater challenge can test their skill on our diverse cross country course or improve flatwork and showjumping in the large sand arena.
With over 30 well schooled horses and ponies of all types, including Irish hunters, cobs, Arabs and Connemaras, the centre has suitable mounts for complete beginners, experienced riders, adults and children. All forest treks are guided and tailored to the rider's ability and qualified instructors are available for dressage, showjumping and cross country lessons. In 2009, Slieve Aughty became the first riding holiday centre in Ireland to use bitless bridles! Currently, 11 of the centres horses are happily ridden in the Nurtural Bitless Bridle.
Each day the Slieve Aughty Centre provides three healthy meals, horseback riding and opportunities to participate in the daily running of the farm, relax, or enjoy the surrounding sites. A family riding holiday begins on Saturday with arrival and departure of guests and includes 6 days of riding, for a total of 18 hours in the saddle.
Check Rates for Riding Holidays here...
Accommodation
Choose from several different places to stay at or near the Centre. Accommodation can be a part of a riding, cycling or walking holiday or simply booked alone. There are lots of things to do at the Centre and nearby, so bring family and friends. If you are interested in a riding holiday, check out your options on our riding holiday page. Want to see what else there is to do? Visit Things to Do, or contact us if you don't see your interest on our site. It's your holiday!
We are sure you will find that no matter where you stay you will be comfortable and welcome. We specialise in quality food from our garden. Vegetarians are welcome!
Click here for more information and accommodation options...
