Horseback Riding in Ireland
AILLE CROSS COUNTRY TRAIL |
Jumping course
Preparing to let the hounds move off
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Ride cross-country from one farm to another with opportunities to jump a variety of natural and man made obstacles. The horses are all excellent hunters experienced following hounds with the Galway Blazers. During hunting season you may, if you wish, hunt up to three times during the week. The trail's varied terrain includes the Slieve Aughty Mountains, large tracts of forestry, rolling hills and green fields set off by a latticework of lacy stone walls, and small country roads. During the summer months the same outfitter offers the adventurous Connemara and Coastal Trails.
The base for this ride is about an hour's drive from Shannon Airport. Accommodations are at O'Dea's Hotel, or a local B&B. Program: Begins any Monday, with optional hunting on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday during hunting season (mid October to mid February). The ride provides cross-country jumping and trail riding for riders with advanced abilities. Ride cross-country through the surrounding area and jump a variety of cross-country courses. There are inclines, drops and double stone walls at Knock Ash, and fallen tree trunks on the forest ride to Killnadema where the landscape is laced with single walls. It is walls and more walls which make this landscape so distinctive. There are also superb event courses, which give your guides the opportunity to increase your confidence and ability in controlled conditions.
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| Itinerary |
| Day 1: | Riders are collected from their accommodations approximately at 10:30 AM and transferred to the Aille Cross. The morning is spent getting to know the horses and country. Ride through the forest to Killnadema where riders have the opportunity to jump small obstacles, while the guide assesses their ability. While there is plenty of jumping available for those who want to, it must be stressed that all obstacles can be avoided.
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| Day 2: | Today, fox hunt with the Galway Blazers. For those not hunting, cross-country riding to Knock Ash, site of an ancient ring fort. After a simple picnic lunch jump on the farmland surrounding the Aille Cross.
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| Day 3: | Begin riding at Dartfield Horse Museum and Park. There are 350 acres of rolling parkland with a superb cross-country course for riders to jump. Visit the museum after lunch. The afternoon is spent riding and jumping on the farmland surrounding the museum.
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| Day 4: | Once again those wishing to participate may fox hunt with the Galway Blazers. Those not hunting ride to Killnadema where there are natural obstacles and stone walls to jump. After lunch enjoy a hack through a large area of forestry with plenty of opportunity for fast gallops along woodland tracks.
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| Day 5: | Today return to the event course at Dartfield. This course has many professionally designed jumps for all levels of riders. It includes some of the best water complexes in Ireland. Those not wishing to jump can ride through the farmland around the museum and beyond into the surrounding area.
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| Day 6: | During hunting season (late October through February), riders may choose to join Willie and spend the day hunting with the Galway Blazers. For those not hunting this is a great day to attend the meet and watch the hounds move off. Those who want to ride but don't want to hunt spend the day riding in the countryside around Aille Cross. Riders will be surprised at how much their confidence and ability has increased during the week.
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| Day 7: | Depart after breakfast. |
| THIS ITINERARY IS FLEXIBLE. CHANGES MAY OCCUR DUE TO WEATHER OR OTHER UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES. |
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Showing the horses a jumping off place
An afternoon on the green
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| Pricing and Dates |
| Meeting Point | Loughrea |
| Length of Ride | 7 days, 6 nights and 5 1/2 days riding. |
| Riding Ability | Advanced Strong Intermediate Intermediate |
| Group Size | Minimum-2 Maximum-15 |
| Riding Per Day | 4-6 hours |
| Pace | moderate to fast, with jumping |
| Tack | English |
| Horses | Irish Hunter, Connemara |
| Weight Limit | 250 lbs |
| 2010 Dates | Every Monday, October to mid April.
Hunts available mid-October through February.
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| 2010 Price | Oct 2010 - April 2011
Hotel price: $2,205
B&B price: $2,080
NEW DISCOUNTED PRICE
Oct 2010 - April 2011
Hotel price: $1,950
B&B price: $1,840 |
| Single Supplement | $195 Hotel; $120 B&B NEW PRICE $175 Hotel; $ 105 B&B |
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