Beach Rides
We have wonderful hacking out from Moat Farm, from a one hour beach ride which requires absolutely no roadwork, to a two and a half hour hack which includes the beach and then nearby Birkrigg Common.
“Thank you so much – we enjoyed our two rides out with Pat both on the beach and then the two hour Beach and Birkrigg ride. You have a very friendly and helpful establishment. The hacks out catered for individual needs and abilities”. (Rachel and Hannah, mum and daughter, from Sheffield).
Barbara from Buckinghamshire enjoyed two rides out with us and presented Pat with flowers on her last ride.
Our beach ride can be conducted on lead rein for either adults or children if required. For our longer rides we do need our riders to be able to ride independently (it’s a long way for someone leading a horse to walk!) and to be capable in walk, trot and canter.
For young children who would find an hour a bit too much we continue to offer lead rein rides out for 30 minutes.
Here’s a brief description, with prices, of the rides we currently offer. All need to be booked in advance so that we can check tides times and staff availability. Please contact us for more details on 01229 588522 or 01229 869663 or alternatively e-mail your query to us. Please, please do leave a message on our answermachine if we are unavailable and we will call you back. Please remember to leave your name and contact number too!
“I learnt more from Pat in two hours than in all my riding lessons at home. Thank you for two lovely hacks out”. (Rose from Manchester).
30 MINUTE BEACH RIDE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
We use either the shetland ponies (Tosca, Marjorie, Samantha, Bassett) for this or for slightly taller children, Gingerbread or Poppy. We will ensure that your child is feeling secure and comfortable on the pony by spending a few minutes in our indoor school before walking down our private track which leads directly onto a very quiet beach. We will walk (or trot if the child wishes to and we think he/she is capable of doing this safely) along the beach to the second breakwater and back. The actual ride will take about 20-25 minutes depending upon which way the wind is blowing!
ONE HOUR BEACH RIDE FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS
We have horses and ponies suitable for all heights, weights and riding ability. Please however do note that our weight restriction is 15 stones. Our horses and ponies range from Gingerbread at 12.2hands to Sally at 16.2 hands. In between we have Charlie Watts, Winston Churchill, Frank Bruno, Ash, Montgomery and Poppy. All are well schooled horses. They are not “riding school plods” and will require you to be able to steer. For this reason we assess all riders in our indoor school before the ride out starts and if we feel you are a bit “wobbly” please don’t be offended if we pop you onto a lead rein. You will then be able to relax and enjoy the ride if you are a nervous rider or someone getting on board for the first time.
Once we have settled you onto your horse, we go down our private track direct to the beach and ride out along the quiet beach with wonderful views of the coastline. On a clear day, Blackpool Tower can be seen! This ride can either be conducted in walk only or walk and trot or walk, trot and canter depending upon your ability. The tempo of any ride out is determined by the least experienced in your group. After riding on the sands and passing Aldingham Vicarage and Church we will leave the beach for a few minutes and head up a small country lane before returning to the sands for the ride back to Moat Farm. This diversion is totally optional and you can stay on the beach for the duration of the ride if you wish.
TWO HOUR BEACH AND BIRKRIGG COMMON RIDE
This ride is suitable for riders who are competent in walk trot and canter. Again, we start with an assessment in the indoor school and then head down our private track to the beach. We will then walk, trot and canter for approximately 45 minutes on the sands of Morecambe Bay and heading towards the peaceful village of Bardsea (very nice pub, The Braddylls Arms – good for a cleansing glass of ale after your ride!). We will then leave the beach and walk up a fairly steep road leading to Birkrigg Common passing through a gate to join Sunbrick Lane, a bridle path where you can enjoy fabulous views of Morecambe Bay, and a chance for another canter before walking through the village of Baycliff (excellent farm shop open Tuesday-Saturday for fresh sandwiches). We will then rejoin the beach via Lethey Lane and enjoy another 20 minutes riding on the sands and back to the Equestrian Centre.
TWO AND A HALF HOUR BEACH AND BIRKRIGG COMMON RIDE
Again this ride is only suitable for riders who are competent in walk trot and canter. It begins as with the two hour ride but with some “extras” along the way! At Bardsea we ride into the village and along a country lane before heading up a track to Birkrigg Common. We then trot or canter across the common and take in the spectacular views across the bay, leaving Birkrigg we ride down Sunbrick Lane to Baycliff and then rejoin the beach via Lethey Lane for our return to Moat Farm.
We have riding hats for all ages and sizes and riding boots for adult sizes three to eleven. Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a jacket. Footwear for children should preferably be wellington boots or some other boot with a small heel. No trainers or shoes/boots with laces or velcro, please.
All our rides are conducted by experienced mature staff who have many years of riding experience amongst them and who know our horses and ponies very well indeed.
When you book a hack out with us, it is YOUR hack out. We do not put groups of unknown people together. The maximum amount of riders per ride is four.
TARIFF
30 minute beach ride for young children – £15 per child
One hour beach ride for older children and adults – £30 per rider
Two hour beach and birkrigg common ride – £50 per rider.
Two and a half hour beach and birkrigg common ride – £60 per rider.
All our rides are by appointment only. When you phone to make an appointment we will take a card payment from you for the total price of the ride. This will not be refundable should you cancel for any reason. If the weather makes riding conditions unsafe then we will arrange to refund the cost of the ride out to you.