Where to ride in Ambleside / The Lakes

[CautionToTheWind]

Me and my boyfriend are off on a weekend break next week and I'm itching to get him riding! I was just wondering if anyone can recommend some trekking centers that would cater for mixed ability. My boyfriend has never been on a horse before, but is a quick learner and has seen me ride so wouldn't really need a lead rope or whatever and obviously I ride all the time so would be bored being on a lead rein.

Any replies would be much appreciated!
:)

[CityLights]

Bigland Hall might be in that area, if not i dare say on some sort of 'Visit the Lakes' kind of site will have all sorts of trekking centres on

[helena]

There is a heavy horse trekking centre towards Barrow which cater for everyone, will be about half an hour from Ambleside by car. They were featured on TV not long ago, the reporter who went couldn't ride, but was cantering through fields by the end of it, and someone that used to be on this forum used to work for them.

They basically take you out hacking on a massive clydesdale type, and cater the hack for your needs. Horses are very safe and blokes don't feel daft riding them as they are not silly little ponies.

[Snowrider1]

The place you're looking for is Cumbrian Heavy Horses, near Millom.

They cater for everyone, from beginners to experts, and as has been said - they have big horses! Clydesdales, Shires an Ardennes and a Trait du Nord.

But I can vouch for them, as I've ridden there three times, and the last time I took my mum and stepdad with me. My mum's ridden a bit but my stepdad had TWO LESSONS before clambering onto my pal Lugs (17.3 Clydesdale) for a 2-hour dawdle in the fields.

Apart from that, it's genuinely a nice place to go to, as the staff are so very friendly (and if you're lucky enough to ride with Annie, it's quite entertaining!), they have a nice gift shop, and there's a nice wee rustic-style cafe too for a post-ride cuppa! Oh, and the scenery's nice. And the horses are gorgeous, too!

Here's a group of us going out the second time I was there - yours truly in the orange hi-viz.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/652_55261298148_501668148_1607127_7843892_n.jpg

[CautionToTheWind]

Ah Snowrider we did really want to go there but it was a tad expensive for us and a bit far from where we were staying. I would happily pay the price they were asking but my boyfriend was very skeptical! Thankfully we had a BRILLIANT time a Rookin House instead, but Cumbrian Heavy Horses is on the list for next time!

[Snowrider1]

Ah well! ;)

Your boyfriend clearly needs to experience the awesome of a Clydesdale! :D