Holidays on Horseback

Frequently asked Questions

General Questions

> When are you open?

> What weight limit do you have?

> Do you belong to the BHS?

> What does it cost and what do the prices quoted include?

> What are your horses like?

> How long has FreeRein been operating?

> I dont have anyone to come with, what can I do?

> Help! can you clarify a few things?

On Trail Questions

> What time do you want us to arrive at FreeRein?

> What happens to our luggage?

> How long do we ride each day?

> Is the riding mostly off-road?

> What happens if my horse looses a shoe?

> How many can ride in a group?

Booking Questions

> How do I book?

> How far in advance do I need to book?

> Can I pay by credit card?

> Who do I make cheques payable to?

> Can we park the car?

> We are thinking of driving down the night before our trail, can you arrange accommodation for us?

> We are coming by train, where is the nearest station?

General Answers:

photo

a tack room on trail

When are you open?

We are open from Friday 21st March - Sunday 2nd November 2008. Unescorted 'FreeRein' trails (2-7 days) start and finish on any day of the week during this time. For further details of all trail dates and prices click here.

What weight limit do you have?

Our weight limit is around 16 stone.

Do you belong to the BHS?

No we are not a member of the BHS. However we are fully licensed and inspected under the Riding establishment acts 1964 & 1972 the highest form of legally recognised accreditation avialable.

What does it cost and what do the prices quoted include?

The cost of riding with FreeRein is around £125 per person per day. Unless otherwise stated prices quoted on this website include Fully equiped horse for duration of trail, Guide (where applicable), All on trail arrangements, Maps & route descriptions, Accommodation - B & B and evening meal at Farms - B & B at Pubs based on 2 sharing twin or double, Luggage Delivery *, Helpline & Full Backup as required, Parking.

For further details on pricing click here.

Please note that on your invoice we subtract the cost of your accommodation & food costs, you then pay the Farms and Inns directly.

[* except Trans Cambrin, Teme & Ithon Trails where you take the expedition saddle bags]

What are your horses like?

Due to the nature of what we do our horses are not plodding trekking ponies. Because people go out on their own all our horses and ponies are willing, friendly and happy at all paces. They vary in height from 14 to 16 hands. We normally put riders on the smallest horse for their weight as you may need to get on and off regularly to open and shut gates. Find out more about our horses here.

How long has FreeRein been operating?

We have been running unescorted trails for 18 years and was set up in 1989. For more details on the origins of FreeRein click here.

I dont have anyone to come with and want to do an unguided trail, what can I do?

Why not come on a guided trail & meet someone in a similar position?.

Help, can you clarify a few things?

Yes! we love having phone calls, do not hesitate to contact us on 01 497 821 356 with any queries you may have.

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On Trail Answers:

photo

tacking up

What time do you want us to arrive at FreeRein?

We normally ask you to arrive at FreeRein HQ as soon after 9 am as possible. Your final confirmation letter, which you will recieve after you have paid your balance will confirm your arrival time.

What happens to our luggage?

We deliver your luggage and the horses feed/groom kits to each of the places you stay. You will also get a pair of Freerein saddle bags per person to carry lunches, cameras etc (dimensions 11 x 6 x 3 inches). (except Trans Cambrin, Teme & Ithon Trails where you take the expedition saddle bags)

How long do we ride each day?

Riding days are between 5 and 8 hours in length. There are options to shorten and lengthen the day on most trails.

Is the riding mostly off-road?

Yes. If you are on a road it is likely to be a single track lane with very little traffic.

What happens if my horse looses a shoe?

This would be a very rare event, however if it does happen we will come out to meet you with a new horse.

How many can ride in a group?

All guided trails are a maximum of 8 riders. All Onto the Trail are a maximum of 6. For unescorted trails if your group is likely to be more than six ring us for a chat on 01 497 821 356.

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Booking Answers:

photo

ted the turkey at Pendre Farm

How do I book?

To book simply ring us on 01497 821 356 and provisionally book your dates. We will post you a booking form. As soon as we recieve the form and your deposits we can go ahead and make all the arrangements for your chosen trail.

Or book online here.

How far in advance do I need to book?

We accept bookings from January for the up coming season. In General the longer your trail the earlier you need to book. However if you fancy coming this weekend why not give us a ring and if we have horses available you could be in the saddle in just a couple of days!.

Can I pay by credit card?

Sorry at the moment no but if you do your banking on the internet you can pay us directly to our account or you can pay by cheque.

Who do I make cheques payable to?

Please make cheques payable to - FreeRein (Wales) Ltd.

Can we park the car?

Yes there is ample parking but it is at your own risk.

We are thinking of driving down the night before our trail, can you arrange accomodation for us?

With your booking form we send out a list of all the accommodation places in Hay-on-Wye (1 mile from FreeRein HQ). You can then book directly with the accommodation of your choice. This information is also available here (this is an external link).

We are coming by train, where is the nearest station?

The nearest train station is Hereford (20 miles from FreeRein) the easiest way to get to us from there is by taxi (£30-£35) although there are some infrequent buses to Hay-on-Wye. Hay Tourist Information Centre can be contacted on 01497 820 144.

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