How Fit Do You Need to Be for a Horse Riding Holiday?

How Fit Do You Need to Be for a Horse Riding Holiday?

You have found the riding holiday you have been dreaming about, with days on horseback, open landscapes and beautiful places you could never quite experience in the same way from a car. Then you notice that the itinerary includes four or perhaps five hours in the saddle, followed by another day of riding tomorrow.

That raises a very reasonable question: how fit do you actually need to be for a horse riding holiday?

The short answer is that you do not need to be an athlete for every horse riding holiday, but your fitness should match the amount of riding, pace and terrain involved.

A relaxed riding retreat with a few hours in the saddle is very different from spending consecutive days crossing mountains at walk, trot and canter, so your riding experience matters alongside your balance, mobility, stamina and ability to remain comfortable in the saddle for several hours.

The good news is that there are horse riding holidays for many different fitness and riding levels, provided you choose one that suits you.

Do You Need to Be Fit for a Horse Riding Holiday?

Yes, but how fit you need to be depends entirely on the riding holiday, because horse riding is physical exercise even though the horse is carrying you.

Rather than simply sitting there, your body is constantly responding to the horse’s movement as your core helps stabilize you, your legs maintain position and communicate with the horse, and your hips and pelvis move continuously with every stride.

The 2020 study “Muscle Modes of the Equestrian Rider at Walk, Rising Trot and Canter” examined muscle activity across gaits and rider experience, while “Cardio-metabolic Responses During Horse Riding at Three Different Speeds” measured physical demands during a riding session. These studies help explain why riding is active, although they do not provide a universal fitness test for every holiday.

This is why an hour-long trail ride can feel easy while several consecutive days in the saddle can be surprisingly tiring.

The British Horse Society’s description of equestrian-tourism work notes that long periods in the saddle and practical tasks call for physical fitness, a useful reminder that time around horses can include more than the ride itself. For a guest, the relevant standard remains the particular itinerary and what its responsible team expects you to do.

You do not necessarily need exceptional fitness, but you do need appropriate fitness for the journey you are booking.

How Many Hours a Day Do You Ride on a Horse Riding Holiday?

There is no standard number of hours, because some riding holidays are intentionally relaxed, with a shorter morning or afternoon ride and plenty of time for meals, swimming, sightseeing or relaxing, while others are journeys where much of the day is spent traveling from one place to another on horseback.

That distinction matters enormously when two people can both say they are going on a “horse riding holiday” while one spends two leisurely hours riding each day and the other spends most of the day in the saddle.

Before booking, look beyond the total number of days and check:

• Approximate riding hours per day
• Number of consecutive riding days
• Expected pace
• Terrain
• Whether riders regularly trot or canter
• Whether there are breaks during the day
• Whether parts of the route require walking beside the horse
• Whether riding is optional on certain days
• The stated riding and fitness level

A six-night trip does not tell you very much by itself, so it is the daily itinerary that will help you understand what to expect.

Is Horse Riding Physically Demanding?

Horse riding can be physically demanding, although it requires balance, coordination, mobility and muscular endurance rather than simply brute strength.

At walk, the physical demands may feel relatively gentle, but the effort increases as you introduce longer periods of rising trot, canter, hills, uneven terrain and consecutive hours in the saddle.

Even experienced riders sometimes underestimate the difference between their normal riding routine at home and a full riding holiday, because riding for an hour a few times a week is not necessarily the same as riding for several hours on consecutive days.

There is also a less glamorous part of riding fitness that becomes very noticeable on holiday: saddle time, which can leave your hips, inner thighs or seat uncomfortable when you ride for much longer than you are accustomed to, even if you have the cardiovascular fitness to hike for hours. Fitness and riding fitness are related, but they are not exactly the same thing.

What Muscles Does Horse Riding Use?

Horse riding involves much more of the body than it appears to from the ground, with your core continuously stabilizing your torso while allowing you to follow the horse’s movement, and your hips and pelvis needing enough mobility to move with the horse rather than resisting every stride.

Your legs help maintain your position and communicate with the horse without gripping excessively, while your back and upper body help you stay balanced and upright with relaxed shoulders and arms.

Research comparing riders has found that more advanced riders demonstrate greater core-muscle engagement and coordination while riding.

For a riding holiday, however, you do not need to turn preparation into an elite training program; the goal is simply to have enough strength, mobility and endurance that physical discomfort does not become the main thing you remember about the journey.

Can Beginners Go on Horse Riding Holidays?

Being a beginner does not automatically rule out a horse riding holiday, provided you book a journey that genuinely welcomes beginners.

Some journeys are designed around experienced riders traveling significant distances at faster paces, which makes them inappropriate for someone who has only had a handful of lessons.

Other horse riding holidays are specifically created for beginners or mixed abilities, with calm horses, shorter riding days, slower routes and opportunities to learn as part of the experience.

British Equestrian describes horse riding as an activity open to different ages and abilities, including people learning to ride for the first time.

If you are a complete beginner, do not try to make yourself sound more experienced when booking, because the information you give about your riding level helps the team choose the right horse and determine whether the itinerary is appropriate for you.

A beautiful riding holiday becomes considerably less beautiful if you spend the entire time frightened or physically overwhelmed, rather than enjoying the place you came to experience.

Read next: The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Horseback Riding

How Fit Should a Beginner Be for a Horse Riding Holiday?

For a beginner-friendly riding holiday, you generally want to be comfortable with normal daily physical activity and capable of spending the advertised amount of time in the saddle.

Rather than asking simply “Am I fit?”, the most useful question is “Am I fit enough for this particular itinerary?”

A reasonably active person may be perfectly comfortable on a relaxed riding holiday involving shorter rides, yet struggle on a demanding journey involving long days, steep terrain and frequent faster riding.

That does not mean riding holidays are not for them, but that choosing a different itinerary could make all the difference, because matching the experience to the rider is one of the most important parts of planning an enjoyable equestrian trip.

Do Experienced Riders Need to Prepare for a Riding Holiday?

Experienced riders sometimes need to prepare too, because being an accomplished rider and being ready for several long riding days are not necessarily the same thing.

You may ride beautifully in an arena for 45 minutes several times a week but rarely spend four or five continuous hours in the saddle, or perhaps you have ridden for twenty years but currently only ride occasionally.

This is why Saddle Stories recommends describing your current riding experience, rather than the strongest level you reached at some point in your life.

If a journey involves long days in the saddle, experienced riders can benefit from gradually increasing their riding time before traveling when possible, with the aim of arriving able to enjoy the ride rather than feeling they have something to prove.

Compare One Real Riding Day With Your Current Routine

Write down the longest riding day in the proposed itinerary and compare it with the riding you have done recently, including the pace, hills, breaks and number of days before a rest. If your usual week contains a 45-minute lesson, a four- or five-hour trail day followed by another the next morning deserves a conversation with both your instructor and the holiday team, even when you are comfortable at every advertised pace.

Ask what happens if you become tired before the planned finish: whether riding can be shortened, whether there is a practical alternative and whether that changes the cost. A roadless trail, a ride returning to the same base and a stay with optional daily activities offer different amounts of flexibility, so an encouraging label such as “moderate” needs an explanation.

How Do You Prepare Your Body for a Horse Riding Holiday?

Preparation does not need to be complicated, and focusing on the following four areas can help you organize it around the demands of your holiday:

1. Spend More Time in the Saddle

If you already ride, spending more time in the saddle is the most obvious preparation, so where practical, gradually increase the length of your rides before a trip that includes significantly longer riding days.

Actual riding trains the particular combination of balance, movement and endurance you will need on the holiday, rather than general fitness alone.

2. Build Core Strength

Your core helps you remain stable without becoming rigid, and simple exercises such as planks, controlled dead bugs and other appropriately performed core exercises can complement your riding.

The objective is not to hold yourself stiffly in the saddle, because good riding requires stability and the ability to move with the horse.

3. Work on Hip Mobility

Long hours in the saddle can expose tight hips very quickly, so regular mobility work can make it easier to maintain a comfortable position without gripping or forcing your legs into place.

4. Build General Endurance

Walking, hiking, cycling, swimming or another form of cardiovascular exercise can help improve overall endurance, without the need for an elaborate equestrian fitness program, because consistency matters more than complexity.

If you have an injury, medical condition or concerns about whether a particular level of activity is appropriate for you, speak with an appropriate healthcare professional before beginning a new exercise program or booking a physically demanding trip.

How Long Before a Riding Holiday Should You Start Getting Fit?

There is no universal number of weeks that works for every rider, because your starting fitness, riding experience and the difficulty of the holiday all matter.

Someone who already rides regularly and exercises several times a week will have very different preparation needs from someone who has not been in the saddle for several years.

Rather than waiting for a particular countdown date, start once you know what the trip requires, favoring gradual preparation over several suddenly demanding workouts just before traveling.

If the riding holiday looks significantly more intensive than your normal routine, that is a good indication that some preparation would be worthwhile.

What Is the Difference Between a Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Riding Holiday?

There is no perfectly universal definition across every riding destination, which is why you should always read the specific requirements of the experience you are considering.

In broad terms:

Beginner Riding Holidays

Beginner riding holidays usually focus on slower riding, learning, confidence and manageable periods in the saddle, and may welcome people with little or no previous riding experience.

Intermediate Riding Holidays

Intermediate riding holidays may expect riders to be comfortable controlling a horse independently and riding at more than one gait, while some itineraries also include longer days and more varied terrain.

Advanced Riding Holidays

Advanced riding holidays can involve substantial time in the saddle, sustained periods of trot or canter, challenging terrain or situations where riders need to confidently control their horses in open spaces.

Choose your level according to the type of riding you can comfortably and confidently do now, rather than the level you would like to put on a booking form.

Read next: How to Choose the Right Horseback Riding Experience

Does Your Weight Matter on a Horse Riding Holiday?

Horse riding holidays may have rider weight limits, primarily to match each rider with a horse that can comfortably carry them for the particular duration, terrain and pace involved.

Different journeys can therefore have different limits, because a short, gentle ride and a demanding multi-day trek do not necessarily place the same demands on a horse.

If a company asks for your weight, provide it accurately, because the information helps the team plan an appropriate horse-and-rider match and protect horse welfare.

Read next: Horseback Riding Weight Limits Explained

What Should You Wear on a Horse Riding Holiday?

Comfort becomes increasingly important the longer you spend in the saddle.

For most riding holidays, you will need:

• Comfortable long riding trousers
• Suitable riding boots or boots with a small heel and a smooth sole, checked with the provider.
• Layers appropriate for the climate
• Weather protection when required
• Riding gloves if recommended
• A properly fitted riding helmet

The exact packing list depends heavily on the destination, because a riding holiday in Iceland requires very different clothing from a beach ride in the Caribbean or a safari on horseback in Southern Africa, so always follow the packing information for your specific journey.

Read next: What Should You Wear Horseback Riding?

What If You Are Not Fit Enough for the Riding Holiday You Want?

If the riding holiday you want asks more of you than you can comfortably manage, choosing another one is worthwhile, even when you have become attached to a particular destination or itinerary.

There are extraordinary ways to travel on horseback at almost every intensity, and a slower ride can still mean a few quiet hours crossing a beach, riding between vineyards, exploring mountain foothills, following coastal trails or staying somewhere beautiful and riding for part of each day.

The purpose of a riding holiday is to experience a place from horseback, rather than simply make it through an itinerary that is too demanding for you.

If you are comparing journeys, pay attention to the riding hours, pace, terrain and experience requirements rather than choosing solely from photographs.

How Do You Choose the Right Horse Riding Holiday for Your Fitness Level?

Before booking, ask these six questions:

How many hours will I actually spend riding each day?

How many days will I ride consecutively?

What pace should I expect?

What is the terrain like?

What riding ability is required?

How does this compare with what I currently do?

Those answers will usually tell you far more than a simple label such as “moderate fitness required.”

At Saddle Stories, we believe the best riding holiday is the one where the horse, landscape, pace and rider belong together, whether or not it is the most challenging journey available.

When you are not worried about making it through another three hours in the saddle, you have time to notice everything you came for: the silence, the landscape, the horse beneath you and the places you would probably never have reached quite the same way without one.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fitness for a Horse Riding Holiday

How fit do you need to be for a horse riding holiday?

Your required fitness depends on the length, pace and terrain of the riding holiday. Short, relaxed riding holidays can suit people with moderate general fitness, while multi-day journeys involving long periods in the saddle require greater riding-specific endurance.

Do you have to be an experienced rider to go on a horse riding holiday?

Some horse riding holidays are designed specifically for beginners, while others require intermediate or advanced riding experience, so always check the individual riding requirements before booking.

Is horse riding good exercise?

Horse riding involves physical effort, including continuous postural control and muscular activity. Studies of rider muscle activity and cardio-metabolic responses show that the demands vary with gait and riding conditions, rather than suggesting that every scenic ride has the same exercise intensity.

Can I go on a riding holiday if I haven’t ridden for years?

Potentially, yes, but choose an experience based on your current ability rather than your previous riding level. Taking several lessons before traveling can also help you assess your comfort and confidence in the saddle again.

How can I get fit for a riding holiday?

Regular riding is particularly useful because it builds riding-specific endurance, while general cardiovascular exercise, core strengthening and mobility work can also support your preparation.

Do I need strong legs for a horse riding holiday?

You need enough leg strength and muscular endurance to maintain a balanced position and communicate effectively with the horse, but effective riding is not about gripping the horse tightly with your legs.

Why do I feel sore after horse riding?

Horse riding uses muscles and movement patterns that many people do not use extensively in everyday life, so longer periods in the saddle can lead to temporary muscular soreness, particularly for new riders or people returning after a break.

Is horseback riding tiring even if the horse does the walking?

Horseback riding can be tiring because the rider continuously responds to the horse’s movement and uses balance, coordination and muscular control, with the physical demands increasing according to speed, duration and riding conditions.

Are horse riding holidays suitable for older adults?

Age alone does not determine whether someone can take a riding holiday, because current riding ability, mobility, general fitness and the demands of the individual itinerary matter more. British Equestrian notes that horse riding is open to people across different ages and abilities.

What happens if I choose a riding holiday that is too difficult?

You may struggle to maintain a secure riding position, become excessively tired or be unable to participate comfortably in the planned riding. Being accurate about your experience and fitness before booking makes it easier to choose an appropriate journey.

Should I train before a multi-day horse riding holiday?

If the itinerary involves considerably more riding than you normally do, preparation is sensible. Increasing your riding exposure gradually, together with appropriate general conditioning, can make longer days in the saddle more comfortable.

What is the best horse riding holiday for a beginner?

Look for a journey that explicitly welcomes beginners, offers manageable riding hours and uses routes and horses suitable for less experienced riders. Do not assume that every horse riding holiday is beginner-friendly.