WELSH HORSE MOUNTAIN RIDES – INFORMATION FOR RIDERS
INTRODUCTION
Thank you for booking a Welsh Horse Mountain Ride. Please read this letter carefully.
Welsh Horse Mountain Rides are challenging and exciting Rides for competent, confident and experienced riders who must enjoy riding at all paces over open country and steep and challenging terrain. Dressage ability is not required! - but you must be fit enough to ride for at least 4 hours. Our horses are well-schooled, obedient, fit and forward-going Welsh Cobs and Welsh Cob crosses, all of which have been ridden over the routes many times. Any jumps encountered on our Rides are optional.
OUTLINE OF RIDES
We meet at a previously notified location at the start of the day’s Ride. You will need to get there independently in your vehicle. We will saddle the horses, and allocate them to riders. The first part of the Ride is fairly slow, and is an assessment of abilities, the suitability of horses for riders, adjusting stirrup leathers, etc. When you are settled on your mount, the Ride becomes faster, but there are ample stops for viewing the stunning scenery and taking photographs.
RIDING STANDARDS
The minimum standard of riding ability is attached at Annex A. You must ensure that you meet these standards. You must show that you have correct control of your horse, but our guides will always be willing to help and advise you. We need to know your age, height, weight and riding experience and ability. The maximum permitted bodyweight is 15 stone. If you are over 13 stone, please let us know so that we can ensure that appropriate horses are taken. There are no upper or lower age limits, but our smallest Cobs are 14 hands.
DRESS AND EQUIPMENT
Regardless of the time of year, you should bring appropriate clothing to meet all climatic conditions, and a change of clothes for afterwards. You will be coldest at the start point; you will only get warmer from there! If you have booked a Horse Drawn Wagon Ride, you should bring extra warm and waterproof clothing. It is your responsibility to provide your own suitable protective headwear. Gloves are recommended. Spurs and whips are not permitted.
FEEDING
A substantial picnic meal, with a selection of drinks, will be provided. Please tell us if you have any dietary needs. Depending on the route and the weather, this may be provided before setting off, on the Ride or at the end.
TOILET FACILITIES
Please be aware that there are very few toilet facilities on the mountain.
HORSE DRAWN WAGON RIDES
For anyone who cannot ride or who does not meet the required standard (perhaps the partner of a rider), there is an opportunity to be driven on a different route with a horse drawn wagon.
FIRST AID COVER
All riders ride at your own risk, and you should have your own personal accident insurance policy. There is no dedicated First Aid cover. First Aid will be provided by national medical facilities.
DISCLAIMER
While every effort will be made to ride on the pre-arranged route, it may be necessary to change routes before or on the day. We must have your mobile telephone number so that we can warn you of any changes. If a Ride has to be cancelled for any reason beyond our control (eg extreme weather conditions), no refund will be given, but riders may re-book for a new date at no extra charge.
PAYMENT
The cost of the Rides is £95 per person (£85 per person for pre-booked parties of 4 – 7). Bookings are confirmed when you have paid a non-refundable deposit of £30. The balance is payable three days before the Ride. Payment may be made by BACS or Paypal ([email protected]). Payment of the balance with cash on the day is also acceptable, but please note that cards and cheques are not acceptable.
CONTACTS
If for any reason you have to cancel your booking or you need to contact us, please call us on one of the following numbers. Our mobile telephone numbers are:
Gareth Blyth: 07710 203835
Bridget Tompsett: 07763 782683
CONCLUSION
Before confirming your booking, please ensure that you are up to the required standards of riding ability, as outlined in Annex A. We look forward to meeting you, and we hope you have an enjoyable ride with us.
Gareth
ANNEX A TO
WH/MOUNTAINRIDES/JI03
DATED 27 APRIL 2014
RIDING STANDARDS
Before anyone is permitted to ride on a Welsh Horse Mountain Ride, you must ensure that you can do the following correctly:
Mount and dismount.
Adjust stirrups.
Hold the reins.
Have a good position in the saddle.
Have a good knowledge of the aids.
Have the correct use of the aids for elementary movements: walk, trot and canter, turns and circles, increase and decrease of pace, halt and stand still.
Ride a horse independently at the walk, trot and canter.
Have control of the horse at all paces.
Ride without stirrups at the walk, trot and canter – in emergency only!
Ride up and down hill.
In addition, you must be fit enough to take part in a challenging ride, and to be in the saddle for over 4 hours.
WELSH HORSE MOUNTAIN RIDES
SOME LOCAL ACCOMMODATION
THE KING’S HEAD, 1 MARKET SQUARE, LLANDOVERY, SA20 0AB 01550 720393
www.kingsheadllandovery.co.uk
THE LEVEL CROSSING, QUEENSWAY, LLANDOVERY, SA20 0RG 01550 721155
www.thelevelcrossing.co.uk
WHITE HALL, LLANDOVERY, SA20 0PU 01550 721139
BARBARA & STAN BILLINGHAM, PENCERRIG B & b, 59 NEW ROAD, LLANDOVERY, SA20 0EA 01550 721259
CASTLE COACHING INN, TRECASTELL, LD3 8UH 01874 636354
ERWLON CARAVAN & CAMPING PARK, BRECON ROAD, LLANDOVERY, SA20 0RD 01550 721021