Can I bring the horses a treat?
Yes, and many riders do. There is one rule, and it is there for the horse.
You may bring apples or carrots as treats for the horses. Please ask the riding staff before feeding a horse. Feeding is controlled by the staff so that it suits the individual horse — the right horse, the right amount, the right moment — and uncontrolled feeding is never encouraged.
What to bring
- Apples — cut into pieces is easier for the horse and for you
- Carrots — the classic, and easy to hold flat on an open palm
Nothing else. Not bread, not sugar, not sweets, not whatever is left of the buffet. Two treats, and the staff decide who gets them.
Why you ask first
Because the horses are individuals. One may be on a particular feed, another may have already had its share from an earlier group, a third may simply be the sort that gets pushy when treats appear. The staff know each horse; you have known yours for an hour. Asking first means the treat goes to the right horse in the right way — and a rider who is new to horses does it with someone standing beside them.
How to hand it over
Flat palm, fingers together, treat in the middle, hand held low and still. The horse takes it with its lips. The staff will show you if you have not done it before; there is a knack, and it takes ten seconds to learn.
When
Before the ride, once the horses are matched and the staff are with you, or after it. Not from the saddle, and not while the group is moving.
What this is part of
Feeding under staff control is one small piece of how the horses are looked after. The rest — regular monitoring, veterinary supervision, identification and documentation — is on the welfare page.
Ready to ride?
One ride to book, three to request, hotel transfer included, nothing charged online.
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