Hi everyone, first-time poster, long-time reader here. I’m heading to Ireland in May with my husband for our (delayed) honeymoon. While we’re there, I’d like to get a taste of Irish riding (obviously). I’d like to take a lesson with a trainer there, and maybe get out into the fields for a bit, possibly some xc schooling? Does anyone have any recommendations? Just a quick google search shows me there’s no shortage of farms there. We’ll be traveling around the country a bit so I don’t mind making a day trip of it. We’ll be flying into Dublin, and heading out from there- we haven’t totally nailed down our itinerary yet. A few places that have caught my eye are Crossogue, Brennanstown, and Flowerhill. Anyway, any further recommendations would be great. Thanks!
I went to Flowerhill for two days about 10 years ago. The first day was a practice ride before going foxhunting the second day. The owner and staff are quite down-to-earth and not too fussy. The first day I was put on an Irish Draft cross, very solid schoolmaster. We went on a group ride of about 5 people including a staff member who led us around their cross country course on the property. There wasn’t much instruction, mostly just get-on-with-it jumping around. My horse was a plodder and lazy (eventually the staff broke me off a willow branch for a whip) and I didn’t want to ride one like him the following day, so I asked the owner if I could upgrade. I guess they play it safe (fair enough) with guests but after seeing me ride and explaining my current mount at home was a 3-year old ex-race horse, they put me on a lovely ex-grade B show jumper for hunting who was much more forward and fun (if a little on edge at the beginning of the day, which is probably why they don’t take chances).
Several friends at my barn have gone here: www.annaharveyfarm.ie/
They rave about the great hosts and horses!! They return to this same far every year - so that says something when there are so many riding trips available in Ireland. There are also lots of online reviews as well and they consistently get top ratings from customers. If it were in my budget, I’d book a trip there myself!
I spent 10 days at Clonshire Equestrian Centre several years back and had a wonderful time. I wanted an intense training vacation and they accommodated it very well, I spent a minimum of 4 hours a day riding, usually 3-4 lessons (jumping, cross country and dressage) and maybe a hack. It is located in Adare (near Limerick) which is a beautiful little town. It was an amazing experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to go back there again.
There was someone at my first barn who was a low level eventer, pretty good rider. She went to Ireland, went foxhunting, came home and sold her horse and hasn’t been on one since. She said that when people fell off (which happened fairly frequently), the riders behind would jump over the horse that was standing at the fence. It scared the crap out of her. 
Oh good grief. I just returned from a hunting trip in Ireland and never saw anything of the sort. I’m sorry your acquaintance had a bad time, but many of us have memorable experiences and can’t wait to go back.
Go to the Hunting Forum and see my write up on my trip.
Personally, I would give my left leg to go to Ireland and ride. Of course my left leg is pretty useless, but still.
I used to live in England for a while and just never got the chance to get there.
Thanks for the recommendations everyone! @DrBeckett, it’s a shame your friend had such a bad experience, but it sounds like what happened to her is not the norm. @BigMick, I read your write-up and your experience has got me so excited to go! I don’t know if I’ll do any hunting while we’re there, I’ve never actually gone on a hunt, have wanted to for years, but haven’t had the opportunity. I’m not sure if hunting in a different country would be the best place to start, ha! But the horses sound so lovely, I think if I had the mounts you did I’d be proposing marriage too! I think most of all, I’d like to get out and take in some of the breathtaking countryside from the best vantage point- the back of a horse.
It varies drastically based on the hunt. There are (or at least were when I was there) hunts that absolutely are like that and hunts that are not. The crazy hunts are well-known as such so do your due diligence if you go foxhunting.
I had a fabulous time at Castle Leslie. I stayed at the Coach House and not the main property and they were operated separately from Castle leslie at that point- I know they have changed a bit since I was there so it may not be the same set up but when I was there we did xc every day on the Castle Leslie property (and one day at a local HT course because I asked to :)), the horses were great and Eric Smiley was a regular trainer of the Castle Leslie trainer and so I sat in the indoor ring one night instead of going to dinner to watch him teach her on several horses.
Ireland is fabulous no matter what you do
