Horse Riding

There’s little to beat the thrill and excitement of horse riding in the Outer Hebrides.

Think hacking in the Western Isles and you will immediately be stuck by images of riding horses along beautiful Scottish island beaches. The smell of the sea, the crash of the surf, the wail of seabirds, the endless sand and the sea glistening in the unique Outer Hebrides sunlight. Of course, horse riding on Lewis, Harris, Berneray, North Uist, Grimsay, Benbecula, South Uist, Eriskay, Barra and Vatersay also offer opportunities to enjoy a wide range of Scottish island equestrian experiences.

Choose to ride inland trails in the Western Isles, enjoy Outer Hebrides pony trekking alongside the machair grasses that carpet our coast, or enjoy Hebrides riding breaks taking in the hill and mountain trails of these islands. More than anything else, there is an unbeatable sense of freedom that accompanies riding holidays in the Outer Hebrides

Riders looking to indulge their passion for the equestrian in the Outer Hebrides can choose from a selection of horse riding centres in the Western Isles, including the Outer Hebrides own British Horse Society approved riding school on Benbecula – the Uist Community Riding School .

This Outer Hebrides equestrian centre offers livery, Western Isles beach rides and horse-riding lessons at all levels. There is also an indoor school where tuition and practice can carry on irrespective of what the Hebridean weather is doing outside!

Another Western Isles riding school can be found on the Isle of Lewis. Lochside Arena is a horse riding centre near Stornoway with indoor and outdoor schools hosting Outer Hebrides horse shows and other Scottish island equestrian events throughout the year.

Of course, no description of riding in the Outer Hebrides would be complete without mention of the Western Isles native pony, the sturdy and rugged Eriskay - originally from the island of Eriskay. Considered an endangered breed not so many years ago, these tough little ponies are now kept throughout the islands, and if you visit one of the island equestrian centres, you may well get the chance to ride one.