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Overview

Flowerhill Equestrian is a dream for riders who love to jump or for those looking to improve their jumping skills and confidence - located on 250 acres of glorious countryside and with a range of fences, it's an authentic taste of Ireland and its horsemanship. Your host, Oliver, has a range of work…

Highlights

  • World-renowned cross country destination
  • Top quality Irish horses who love to jump
  • Huge range of fences and obstacles
  • Experience real Irish horse culture
  • Fantastic hostesses in the B&Bs

Essential Facts

  • 3 itineraries available
  • £1075 $1420 €1285 - £1635 $2160 €1955 per person
  • Max 10 riders per group
  • Average of 2 - 3 hours riding per day
  • Weight limit: 95kg / 14st 13lbs / 209lbs for experienced jump riders, 85kg / 13st 5lbs / 187lbs for intermediate riders

Description

Flowerhill Equestrian is a dream for riders who love to jump or for those looking to improve their jumping skills and confidence - located on 250 acres of glorious countryside and with a range of fences, it's an authentic taste of Ireland and its horsemanship. Your host, Oliver, has a range of working horses and his team will match you to suitable steeds which they feel are safe and enjoyable mounts for you. The horses have good jumping and hunting experience, courage and common sense.

This riding centre offers a huge range of obstacles with to include walls, logs, ditches and manmade fences with many offering two or more height options allowing for different experience levels - the majority of the fences are around 70 - 80cm but experienced jump riders may sometimes be permitted to jump larger fences, at the discretion of the instructor. All riders should be confident at walk, trot and canter with some basic jumping experience, but nervous jumpers will find plenty of smaller, inviting fences whilst the confident riders can feel more challenged. Afternoon rides are generally a bit more relaxed than the mornings.

During the winter season, a day of drag hunting can be organised on request, replacing a day of cross country - please note that this comes with a surcharge and hunting is usually on a hireling provided by one of Oliver's contacts (rather than on a Flowerhill horse).

Guests are generally accommodated at comfortable accommodation in Portumna town where breakfast supplies are provided and you have use of kitchen facilities. There are lots of great pubs and restaurants in the area which provide wonderful evening meals and entertainment.

Team member Holly has visited and ridden here on several occasions - please contact the office to chat with her about it.

Horses & Riding

Tack

English.

Horses

Flowerhill horses come in all shapes and sizes but are primarily Irish Sport Horses, cobs and ponies. They are brave and well-cared for. You will be matched in accordance with your riding ability and stature, at the discretion of the staff.

Riding

There are 3 itineraries:

  • Weekend Programme (3 Nights) is a based ride
  • Long Weekend (4 Nights) is a based ride
  • Short Week Programme (5 Nights) is a based ride

Ages

12+ years

Health

We recommend good general health and fitness.

Weight

95kg / 14st 13lbs / 209lbs for experienced jump riders, 85kg / 13st 5lbs / 187lbs for intermediate riders

Food & Accommodation

Food

If you stay at Oak Lodge in Portumna town then the breakfasts will include basic supplies for breakfasts and packed lunches but guests will make their own.

At Gordon's Guesthouse B&B you can stay with breakfasts and packed lunches only or you can upgrade to full board and have dinners included.

Accommodation

Guests are generally accommodated at Oak Lodge in Portumna town.

Oak Lodge is a 4* accommodation, situated less than 15 minutes by car from Flowerhill and situated within walking distance of the restaurants and pubs in town. Mary and her family are known for their exceptional hospitality and for being helpful - they can happily help you out with booking restaurants and taxis or for any advice about the local area. When staying here you have breakfast included on a self-catering basis - simple supplies for breakfasts and packed lunches will be provided but guests are asked to prepare their own using the kitchen facilities.

For those who prefer it we can also offer accommodation at Gordon's Guesthouse B&B is located in the village of Tynagh, around 10 minutes drive from Flowerhill. Your hostess there is Caroline who is an experienced horsewoman herself. Caroline runs the B&B alongside a successful café and she is also able to upgrade you to full board if you'd like to have dinners included in your stay.

Private youth groups may be accommodated at Flowerhill House, subject to availability. These rooms are more basic but you have a comfy bed, a hot shower and access to a kitchen to cook your meals. There is also a seating area and WiFi, plus you are on site with the horses which is always a treat.

Itineraries

Weekend Programme (3 Nights) Standard accommodation.

Long Weekend (4 Nights) Standard accommodation.

Short Week Programme (5 Nights) Standard accommodation.

Other Activities

Please contact us if you'd like to bring a non-rider along - the area offers beautiful countryside and we can advise on other activities.

Travel

Flowerhill Equestrian is approximately 1.5 hours by car from Shannon Airport or 2 hours from Dublin airport. Car hire is recommended but it is also possible to come from the airport by bus and/or taxi. In this case your hosts at the B&B or Oliver and his team at Flowerhill will transport you back and forth between the stables and B&B each day.

Testimonials

Stephanie N., Nov. 6, 2025

Delightful experience, incredible riding and very kind people. The horses are 10/10 - every single one of them is an absolute superstar who knows exactly what they're doing and is very well kept.


Jo C., Oct. 18, 2023

Incredible in every way. Mary at Oak Lodge was fantastic, the food was perfect. (Guides?) Brilliant and helpful, I learnt a lot. (enjoyed) Jumping things I would never normally dream of doing.


Alison B., Sept. 27, 2023

Incredibly fun, so great for my riding confidence & provided my son and friend with a lot of really challenging and thrilling cross country. Exceptional horses & the staff were wonderful.


Fiona A., Sept. 27, 2023

It exceeded my expectations in every way. I feel like I came back a new person and rider. I'll admit I was terrified going in and Holly did an amazing job ensuring that they would look after me and boy did they! I did more in the first morning riding than I had expected over the course of the entire trip. Oliver, his horses and his team were just beyond. He's an incredibly special human and I will forever treasure having been in his presence. It was transformative.


Kayti M., Sept. 27, 2023

Exceeded all of my expectations! Connie was absolutely terrific! Mary Lynch is a queen!


Caitlin A., Sept. 27, 2023

Amazing and an experience I am so glad I treated myself to. The horses, the staff and the grounds were an eventers quintessential Irish cross country holiday. I loved all the horses and every fence we jumped, but the water obstacles were my favorite!


Robert M., Nov. 29, 2022

An amazing experience! Oliver was such a treat! He was encouraging and provided helpful comments.


Emma S., Sept. 22, 2022

AMAZING! One of the best holidays I've ever been on. So much fun and definitely jumped much more and bigger fences than I imagined. Speckles was an absolutely gem and Zorrow, Dessie and Lee too. Mary at Oak Lodge is so accommodation, the best B&B host! She went above and beyond, what a diamond. Oliver is a great character and Connie was a fab instructor and great at setting the ground rules and foundation for a great time. Exceeded all expectations!


Annbjørg N., Sept. 14, 2022

Love Flowerhill and Portumna. Oak Lodge is a perfect B&B, and Mary is an extraordinary host. Very happy with the horses. Found a favourite and got her several times. I liked the rides with Giulia very much. She nearly matched Oliver as a guide.


Kathryn C., Oct. 20, 2018

It was all fantastic! For me it was a personal achievement that was such a boost for me. Loved it. Five Star accommodation at Oak Lodge and Mary is just so wonderful. Lovely horses and well matched to the riders. Tack all ok. All the staff at Flowerhill were so warm and friendly. It was so well put together - well done!


Clare M., Oct. 20, 2018

Brilliant! Great horses, exciting and fun riding, lovely accommodation. Oliver and his team and great and Mary at Oak Lodge is so welcoming and wonderful host. Favourite memory was riding fences with Jamieson on a glorious sunny day - big smile on my face.


Michele D., July 12, 2017

I have nothing but great things to say about my trip to Flowerhill and Ireland! Everything was fantastic and I hope to plan another trip there, maybe even next spring. I wish I lived closer so I could visit more often. The scenery was amazing, the horses and cross country jumping was excellent, and the guides were wonderful! It was an invaluable jumping experience for me and boosted my confidence for training my own horse. The BnB and the owners were extremely friendly and excellent too - nice location and comfortable accommodation, great breakfast too. Thank you, Natalie and Holly, for coordinating everything on last minute notice!


Itinerary & Pricing

Day 1 - Thursday

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Arrive in time for a cross country training session starting at approximately 1pm.

Days 2 to 3 - Friday and Saturday

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Cross country training from approximately 10 - 11.30am. After lunch there is another cross country session from around 1 - 2.50pm.

Day 4 - Sunday

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Morning cross country session. Departure after riding, around 12:00 (midday).

*Occasionally* the Sunday morning session may become a training "have a go at eventing" event, allowing guests a go at jumping a fuller course, but that usually cannot be guaranteed ahead of time and should be viewed as an added bonus.

Accommodation

Comfortable accommodation in Portumna town.
Experience Intermediate / Experienced

Riders must be confident at all paces in open countryside and have some jumping experience, but you do not need to be an expert.
Minimum group size 1
Maximum group size 10
Departure windows

At any time during: Jan. 1, 2026 - Dec. 18, 2027  (Open all year, please enquire.)

Pricing

2026/2027
Oak Lodge, shared room		 £1075 $1420 €1285
Included 3 nights of twin or double room accommodation, supplies for breakfasts and packed lunches (you make your own) and riding as detailed in the programme.
Not included Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, meals, drinks, tips, personal expenses and extras not mentioned. You must supply your own riding helmet and ideally a body protector/air jacket/safety vest for jumping.

Extras

2026/2027 - Single Supplement £13 $17 €15 per night per person
Paid to Far and Ride
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.

Day 1 - Wednesday

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Arrive in time for a cross country training session starting at 1pm.

Days 2 to 4 - Thursday, Friday and Saturday

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

Cross country training from approximately 10 - 11.30am. After lunch there is another cross country session from around 1 - 2.50pm.

Day 5

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Morning cross country session. Departure after riding, around 12:00 (midday).

*Occasionally* the Sunday morning session may become a training "have a go at eventing" event, allowing guests a go at jumping a fuller course, but that usually cannot be guaranteed ahead of time and should be viewed as an added bonus.

Accommodation

Comfortable accommodation in Portumna town.
Experience Intermediate / Experienced

Riders must be confident at all paces in open countryside and have some jumping experience, but you do not need to be an expert.
Minimum group size 1
Maximum group size 10
Departure windows

Jan. 1, 2026 - Dec. 18, 2027  (Open all year, please enquire.)

Pricing

2026/2027
Oak Lodge, shared room		 £1420 $1875 €1700
Included 4 nights of twin or double room accommodation, supplies for breakfasts and packed lunches (you make your own) and riding as detailed in the programme.
Not included Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, meals, drinks, tips, personal expenses and extras not mentioned. You must supply your own riding helmet and ideally a body protector/air jacket/safety vest for jumping.

Extras

2026/2027 - Single Supplement £13 $17 €15 per night per person
Paid to Far and Ride
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.

Day 1 - Arrival Day - Tuesday

Riding: No riding.

Arrival late afternoon/early evening for check in at your accommodation at the B&B in Portumna town.

Days 2 to 5 - Full Riding Days (Wednesday to Saturday)

Riding: 3 - 4 hours

For the four main riding days from Wednesday to Saturday you will enjoy two rides per day, one starting at approximately 10am (finishing at approximately 11.30am) and the second at around 1pm (finishing at approximately 2.50pm). These sessions will primarily be cross country jumping but occasionally a show jumping lesson may be included on Saturday, depending on the group's wishes. Each day you will ride two different horses.

Day 6 - Departure Day - Sunday

Riding: 1 - 2 hours

Morning cross country session. Departure after riding, around 12:00 (midday).

*Occasionally* the Sunday morning session may become a training "have a go at eventing" event, allowing guests a go at jumping a fuller course, but that usually cannot be guaranteed ahead of time and should be viewed as an added bonus.

Accommodation

Comfortable accommodation in Portumna town.
Experience Intermediate / Experienced

Riders must be confident at all paces in open countryside and have some jumping experience, but you do not need to be an expert.
Minimum group size 1
Maximum group size 10
Departure windows

At any time during: Jan. 1, 2026 - Dec. 18, 2027  (Open all year, please enquire.)

Pricing

2026/2027
Oak Lodge, shared room		 £1635 $2160 €1955
Included Five nights of accommodation, supplies for breakfasts and packed lunches (you make your own) and approximately 18 hours of riding.
Not included Flights, airport transfers, travel insurance, meals, drinks, tips or personal expenses. You must supply your own riding helmet and ideally a body protector/air jacket/safety vest for jumping.

Extras

2026/2027 - Single Supplement £13 $17 €15 per night per person
Paid to Far and Ride
Note: All programmes and itineraries are weather dependent; in the face of adverse, or unexpected, weather conditions reasonable attempts will be made to provide equivalent riding. All programmes are accurate at the time of writing. However, the team may adapt or modify details, whilst aiming to provide a similar experience.