Ireland is famous for its horse culture. The Connemara region of Co Galway is home to the native Connemara Pony, where the hardy breed evolved from the harsh landscape. Ireland also produces some of the best racehorses in the world, such as Rock of Gibraltar, Yeats and Montjeu, who have all gone on to sire the next generation of champions.

The Emerald Isle lies in the North Atlantic Ocean with its east coast separated from mainland Britain by the Irish Sea. In 1920 the island was divided into two parts. The Republic of Ireland, or Eire to give it its Gaelic name, is the larger and consists of 26 counties with Dublin as its capital city. The smaller section with just 6 counties is Northern Ireland which forms part of the UK. Its capital is Belfast. These two regions have a volatile and bloody history but a ceasefire has been in place since the nineties.

Ireland has a magnificent 3,519 miles of glorious sandy coastline with no part of the country more than 70 miles from the sea. The western coast is rugged with steep cliffs and valleys that run down to the ocean. Erosion has resulted in the creation of hundreds of small islands just off the coast.
The surface of Ireland is like a bowl, with the center low and flat and mountains around the edges. The main mountain ranges include the Mourne Mountains in the northeast, the mountains of Donegal in the north, the Sperrin Mountains in the northwest, the Maumturk Mountains in the west, the Caha Mountains in the southwest, the Boggeragh Mountains in the south, and the Wicklow Mountains in the east.

County Kerry, known as The Kingdom, has the highest mountain in Ireland, Carrantoohill, but the stunning Iveragh Peninsula is its key asset. The Ring of Kerry is a scenic 180 mile route that circles the peninsular. The Beargha Peninsula is less well known and relatively unexplored, and the narrow Dingle Peninsula has wonderful beaches. The town of Dingle is the westernmost town in Europe.

County Clare's main feature is The Burren - a beautiful limestone area overlooking Galway Bay. The flora and fauna in this region is excellent - with vast colonies of seabirds and unique plants growing in the limestone fissures. 

In the north of the Republic of Ireland along the border of Northern Ireland is the county of Monaghan, the home of Castle Leslie with luxurious accommodation and excellent riding for all levels of rider.

Donegal argueably the wildest and most romantic county, and is Ireland in minature with all the feaures of Ireland represented - heather moors, mountains, rich farmlands and rugged coastal cliffs. Here we offer 2 unguided trails for expereinced riders who are able to look after their own horses: the Donegal Trail South and Donegal Trail West.

County Westmeath in the midlands is a landlocked county of tranquil beauty with lakes, wooded countryside, and untamed bogland which produces a unique habitat for flora and fauna. Our tuition in Ireland programme is located in this heartland of the Republic.

At least one of the horse riding holidays in Ireland offered by Unicorn Trails is applicable to at least one of the following ride categories. To learn more about a category just click on the link. 
  beach horse riding holidays
  premier horse riding holiday
  trail riding horseback holidays
  unguided horseback trails
  adventure riding holidays
  health and lifestyle riding breaks
  horse riding holidays suitable for families 
  mountain riding holidays
  faster riding holidays
  advanced rider holidays
  singles horse back holidays
  centre based riding holidays
  beginner horse riding holidays 
  tuition on a horse riding holiday
  heavier rider horse holidays
  short horseriding breaks
  horse riding holiday that can also accommodate non riders  

Unicorn also has rides in the following European countries. Just click on the link to jump to the relevant web page:
horse riding holidays Europe:
    horse riding holidays France
    horseback holidays Spain
    horse riding holidays Ireland
    horse riding holidays Portugal
    horse riding holidays Greece
    horse riding vacation Cyprus
    horse riding breaks Wales
    horse riding break England
    horseriding holidays United Kingdom
    horse riding holidays Great Britain
    horse riding holidays Iceland
    equine adventures Turkey
    equestrian holiday Germany 
    horse riding vacations Sweden
    equestrian holidays Italy
   
horse riding holidays Eastern Europe:
   horse riding holidays Russia
   equine vacation Bulgaria
   horse riding holidays Czech Republic
   equestrian holiday Hungary
   riding holidays Romania