Holiday with your horse

[lucyspin]

Hi
Need some help.

How much would you pay to stay in a log cabin and bring your horse with you (can either be on a diy basis or full livery) facilities include post and rail fencing, 20x40 arena, and small cross country course. Excellent hacking with miles of off road hacking in local forestry.

We are also thinking of putting a fishing lake in so the other half can stay behind and spend the day fishing while you go of exploring on your horse.

All set in 20 acres quite rural location.

Of course you can come and stay without your horse!

Thanks in advance
Lucy

[Mum, skivvy, groom, driver]

No idea about price but please could you send me details thanks

[lucyspin]

thank you so far this is a dream in the process of business plans and research, wonderful to know people would be interested

[lovebird]

Look on ride Yorkshire website they will give you an idea of prices. I did a couple of years at it to give it a try, but found that self catering lets were more profitable.

[Philippa]

Hmmm, sounds like a really great idea in theory but as a family we like to go away without the ponies and do family 'together' things as this is one of the only times we get to spend that all important precious time together. We spend enough time apart at home with the business and ponies, shows etc so to do it on holiday too would defeat the object of a holiday for us.

There are many people who would find this kind of holiday idyllic I'm sure but personally it's not for us.

Regarding cost, well the world is your oyster, log cabins can be up to £1000 per week and more in peak periods then you've got the livery costs to include. You would need to decide if you were going to charge per cabin or per person then put the extra charges on top for pets/ponies.

How lucky you are though to have the land, facilities, motivation and forethought to do this.

I wish you every success

[brindlerainbow]

This is something I have thought of doing although not in the property we are in now as not enough room or land, but I am constantly looking for suitable affordable properties. I live in the Dartmoor national park and the riding is superb and in the winter there is a choice of 3 packs that hunt on the moor. I can see Phillipas point about getting away from ponies and having family time but I also think that folk that maybe live in area's with not such good riding and that have their horses on livery would love the idea of taking their horses on holiday with them, also saves on finding someone to look after them. It would also appeal to maybe younger single girls, groups from livery yards etc. If you can offer something for the husbands/partners like mountain bike hire, golf or fishing then that would also appeal. It is something that needs a lot of research before going ahead but I definitely think it would work. Good luck, be great to hear how you get on

[lucyspin]

If all goes to plan the main holiday would be the log cabins but with the option of bringing your own horse/s to enjoy the beautiful countryside we have on our door step. The equestrian facilities will be in place anyway for my own horses. We have 3 local golf courses all very friendly and welcoming so this is another good selling point. It all depends whether we can get the financing so lots of researching and planning to do, although from speaking to people everyone seems to like the idea. Lets hope the bank thinks so too

Thank you for all your comments and will keep you all updated on the progress

[tillyfloss]

We have just done this type of holiday, in a self catering cottage with ponies in a paddock (£10 each per night) and approx £80 for the cottage per night that would sleep 5 or 6. Brilliant fun around the Mary Towneley Loop and Pennine Bridleway with packed lunches or on one day pub lunch mid ride. My other half brought his mountain bike along too and joined us to be chief map reader and gate opener ha ha...we would definitely do this type of break again, totally affordable outdoor fun with our ponies which we work hard to keep, enjoy them and they seemed to enjoy too, mine in particular was full of gusto in new surroundings. Made a brilliant change from centre parcs type of break.

[lucyspin]

Sounds wonderdul. Really hope this is something we can do

[lovebird]

Just a couple of things we found. It was as someone stated mainly female livery that were our customers, it was nearly always over a weekend, so if you are thinking of doing something else, that breaks into 2 trading weeks. You need to have a very good reliable farrier, the amount who lost shoes or arrived with very loose shoe's, luckily my farrier was on board and was helpful. Your maps have to be spot on and exact, risks were also included in the route. After all that good luck, we met some great people doing it.

[lucyspin]

lovebird is this something you do? if so so what do you offer etc if you don't mind me asking. The option to bring your horse with you is just a sideline for the self catering log cabins really just something else to offer as the facilities are there. I've been doing lots of research and any information is greatly received.

[lovebird]

Hi, I gave it a go, but just didn't get the customers, I am close to Castle Howard, which was the attraction. Like you self catering is our main customer base, I offered self catering, or meals, most took the cooked breakfast, packed lunch, evening meal package. I also found it very restrictive for myself, most only stayed 2 or 3 nights, so quick change over's. We also have stables paddocks etc, so cost us nothing to try. We get about 45 weeks a year self catering, I know I wouldn't get that with the riding. If there is anything else I can help you with ask away. Give it a go, and good luck.