Horse Riding In Australia’s Victoria State
30 November -0001
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Ever fancy the wide open ranges, the big country riding the ranges on horse back. Rather than just confine yourself to the USA why not consider Australia.
If you are a complete novice, or a bow legged bean eating cowboy/cowgirl, horse riding is a safe, fun and enjoyable way to explore Victoria. With most horse establishments catering for all levels of experience with some also accredited specially for disabled riders, it’s also a very egalitarian experience. There are special learn-to-ride groups for all ages, through to challenging cross-country courses for the experienced.
- A few words of advice
- Pockets of bushland in and around Melbourne
- This being a travel story, our focus is on how saddling up and exploring on four legs gives you unparalleled access to some stunning natural attractions. But a few words of advice about choosing between the many horse riding establishments.
If you’re a beginner, it’s important to choose a riding school or trail ride operator that puts their money where their mouth is when it comes to safety. Do they provide a good range of safety helmets that actually fit your head properly? What insurance cover do they have? Are they an accredited member of Australian Horse Riding Centres (AHRC)? Are their rider instructions accredited with AHRC or with the Equestrian Federation of Australia?
If you are an experienced rider (and remember, it’s always best to err on the side of caution), the last thing you want to do is find yourself astride a bored horse, walking conveyor belt-style within a large group of beginners. Does the course offer opportunities to move at your own pace to explore, with an agreed meeting point to re-group? What is the terrain like?
Regardless of your level of experience, you should expect the riding centre operators to carefully assess your actual ability early on in the ride. When a French tourist turned up in an expensive riding gear but turned out to be a complete novice they now make a habit of checking for price tags before assigning horses!
Many of the following riding centres are listed in Things to see & do, while other good sources are www.horseridingdirectory.com.au.
The list of riding establishments below is not exhaustive, and don’t forget to book well ahead of the period on which you want to set off, as many get fully booked, while others have, or are considering, closing down now that public liability insurance is much more expensive.
Fortunately, though, there are a few pockets of acreage where you can enjoy a ride without having to travel out of the metro area.
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