How To Book and Other Questions

August 10, 2023

Caitlin Hoskins

Want to join one of our fabulous horse riding holidays but not sure how it all works? Worried about being the only solo traveller? Or have complicated dietary requirements? Want to book a group or reenact a historical scene on horseback?! All these questions have been asked and answered by riders before you so read on for our definitive guide to the booking process.

1. Choose Your Trip
There is no one right way to do this. All our trips are listed on our website at saddletravel.com so you could see what catches your eye or browse by a particular country (or continent).Some key factors to bear in mind are your riding ability, the time of year you want to travel, the kind of riding you like (sedate and steady? or wet and wild? or something in-between?) and of course, your budget. You can always contact our travel advisors with your requirements if you are not sure, matching riders to dream holidays is our speciality!

2. Book Online
Once you’ve found your dream holiday you can book your place immediately online with our live booking. To secure your place you pay a 20% deposit which you can pay with a credit or debit card.

3. Receive Further Details
Once you have booked you will receive a ‘Booking Confirmation’ from us with a link to complete your ‘Rider Information Form’. Let us know your accommodation preferences, the type of horse you like and any dietary requirements. This is sent straight through to us so you can now go ahead and book your flights and start packing! You will also receive final details for your trip including a packing list, climate information and specific meeting point details.

4. Pay Your Final Balance
We send out an invoice for your final balance and this is due 8 weeks before departure. If booking less than 8 weeks before departure, your full balance is due immediately. You can pay in GBP, USD or Euros and via bank transfer or credit or debit card.

Can I travel alone? And Other Frequently Asked Questions

The vast majority of our customers are travelling alone, it can be difficult to find friends who not only are free to go away at the same time as you but are also at a similar riding level to you! For most rides you will be travelling with the same group of like minded people and you are picked up and dropped off directly at the airport. You will imiediatly have horse riding in common with the rest of the group and the guides which makes for an easy ice-breaker!

What insurance do I need?

Your insurance is a boring but necessary part of your trip. You must check that the insurance covers the riding activities that you are participating in and you should also check whether wearing a riding helmet is a condition of your insurance. Your insurance should cover any medical expenses you may incur, repatriation to your home country if required, and pre-trip cancellation. We usually use World Nomads for international cover.

Can I create a bespoke trip?

Although the majority of our rides have set departure dates and rigid itineraries, a few of our partners are able to cater to bespoke requests, particularly if you are part of a group. So whether the advertised dates don’t quite fit your schedule or you want to squeeze in a particular sightseeing visit alongside your trip just let us know and we’ll see what we can do.