Reviews

This trip was a dream come true! Cáit and her amazing team took the utmost care of us and we had the best mix of Irish culture, seeing the epic sights of Connemara, magical rides through forests and exhilarating gallops in the sea. The tack is excellent and the horses are beautiful, brave and sure footed. Our guides Cáit, Clodagh, Lucy and Anna were knowledgeable as well as kind and just awesome to be around. I can’t thank them all enough for this wonderful experience!! My cousin and I came over together from California and were joined by 3 wonderful Irish women who made the trip even more memorable. Lots of love to you ladies as well. Cannot wait to do it again!!!

Erica Dicterow

This trip was greater than I even imagine . From start to finish a perfect blend of touring local sites, dinners and lunches in local pubs and restaurants to give us a sense of local living. Best of all the most amazing horseback riding experience of my life. Cait made it all happen and feel so sad to leave. Ireland and Connemara Equestrian have my heart and I would definitely come back and recommend it.

Nancy Mackenzie

I would give Cáit and Connemara Equestrian Escapes 100 stars if I could. I spent the most magical week there with my sister and friends and can’t wait to return next summer. The accommodations were fabulous, horses were gentle and fun to ride and each ride was filled with breathtaking scenery and fun. Cáit and her team take tremendous care of their guests and we had so many laughs, making wonderful memories. Connemara Equestrian Escapes is a top notch business providing the best in equestrian experiences.

Mary Beth Ruby

This trip couldn’t have been more magical. We travelled to Connemara to ride the special ponies and see the gorgeous landscape. Cait has a truly special home and farm right on the water, and it is clear immediately how much she loves and cares for her animals. Her guides were fantastic (shout out to Clodagh, Anna and Lucy!) taking us though the forest, over beaches and into the sea! Cait also took us to see sights and villages and tour the gems of the region. I will be coming back again, for sure.

Laura Dicterow

I can’t recommend Connemara Equestrian Escapes highly enough. Our hostess Cait was exceptionally thoughtful, welcoming and fun! Her horses are outstanding—- beautiful, athletic, engaged and intelligent. Her itinerary is varied, enriching and off the beaten path. I’m wiping a tear away as I write this, because I miss Cait and her lovely horses and staff already. I’ve definitely left a piece of my heart in that beautiful place!

Tracy Hodges Slaughter

An exceptional week of experiencing beautiful landscapes while riding gentle,sweet , loved , Connemara ponies! So enjoyed meeting local crafts people as well as indulging in some grand pub food & music! Our group of 8 from across the pond became friends while sharing in this memorable experience. We were well looked after by Cait who became not only our guide & mentor but our friend! I so look forward to coming back to such a magical country with truly beautiful authentic people! Thank you to Cait & her sweet skilled team ; her amazing ponies; her sweet doggies for a week I will cherish !

Jolene Matlock

Outstanding horse vacations! Beautiful setting in Connemara. Cultural tours included. Diligent attention to customers. We love it and are repeat customers. Hope to go back next year.

Donald Wathen

Cait and her team take care of you like a long lost friend. Cait shows you her Ireland. The horses are wonderful and very well behaved. The trails and scenery are beautiful. I will be back without hesitation.

Mara Patchett

As a new rider I was a little nervous about this adventure my friends talked me into but now that it is over I can honestly say this has been one of my most memorable and fantastic experiences of my life. I have always been adventurous but this was over the top amazing. I never felt nervous on my horse and Cait and girls always made me feel safe and confident. Our group was mixed with Britts, Canadians, and Americans and we all became fast friends although living totally different lives in different parts of the world and that is thanks to Cait and her crew and their amazing hospitality. (And wine). I have travelled all over the world and never seen natural beauty like I saw this week. I highly recommend this trip to others that have a sense of adventure and don’t want an ordinary boring holiday If I can do it anyone can!

Barbard Welsh

Cait is a one of a kind person who loves and cares for her horses, does a fine job of matching horse to rider, and listening to her clients. She individualizes your tour (which is top notch) and her knowledge of “everything Ireland” is amazing! She is a natural story teller and demonstrates a knack for choosing adventures that are exceptional. Accommodations were first class and her farm is a magical place. This is a very special experience! If you want to get an accurate flavor of the friendly people of Ireland , spend time outside on beautiful horses don’t miss this trip! It can’t be done any better.

Donna De Francis

Can’t figure out where to give this 5 stars, but I’d give it 100 stars if I could!!
This was one of the best holidays I’ve ever had! Cáit’s Connemaras are all gorgeous and so easy to ride. There are no words to describe the magic of galloping on the beach and in the ocean – that memory will stay with me forever!
Cáit is a fantastic host who made us feel immediately at home and so welcome. We had a great mix of riding, culture and lots of laughs! I’ll definitely be a repeat visitor – in fact I’m counting the days until I can gallop on that gorgeous beach again.

Joyce Lannigan

Connemara Equestrian Escapes is the best way to see Ireland. Horseback riding with friends, both new and old, visiting castles, Connemara Marble, glass making, sheep herding, going 240′ feet into a mine, the Dublin horse show, and more. The meals were fabulous, the accommodations were spectacular and the horses were calm, well cared for, and enjoy their job. The tack was well cared for and comfortable. I wholeheartedly recommend Connemara Equestrian Escape for your next vacation. There are many to chose from, but do yourself a favor and go with the best. You won’t regret it.

Betsy Guyther Fritz

This riding vacation surpassed all my expectations and included a variety of other tourist activities including mine tour, marble cutting, sheep dog demo, bog talk, abby, gardens, shopping and more. Two days at the Dublin horse show were exciting and glamorous. A fine horsewoman and hostess (Cait) ensured our horses were suitable and provided historical context and Irish humor as we rode through scenic fields, past lakes and in forests and even cantered through the wild Atlantic. The horses were beautiful, well mannered, well loved and fit. Accommodations were beautiful, unique, and historical. Cait’s staff and spaniels were helpful and lovable. We will miss them all. Truly a special experience for the 5 of us. Don’t miss this vacation!

Judy Johnson Tsai

I have been riding in many places throughout Europe and I found this trip with Connemara Equestrian Escapes to be my best. I went on the Dublin Horse Show package. The show is unique and offers an opportunity to see the best riders and horses. The riding portion of our trip was excellent with sturdy horses and an easygoing pace. We also toured many historical sites in the Connemara area which was a real treat. I am recommending this trip to all my friends.

Cathy Glockner

As a woman in her early 70’s who hadn’t been riding in decades, I had some concerns about riding a strange horse in a foreign country. Communication before the trip and the actual meeting of Cathriona from Connemara Equestrian Escapes was encouraging . She is expert at matching rider to horse. I felt so comfortable on Dougle. Safety is paramount with Connemara Equestrian Escapes. I’d just like to encourage anybody of a certain age to go for it. You will be well taken care of in every aspect . I have just returned from my second trip with Connemara Equestrian Escapes and look forward to a return again in 2018. I love horses but by no means am I a horse woman or a great rider, but I can tell you there is nothing like experiencing the beautiful Irish countryside and wild Atlantic on the back of a Connemara pony …thank you Cathriona for making it happen.

Margaret Ann LaRue

What a grand time we had in Ireland with Connemara Equestrian Escapes! My sister and I joined a merry bunch of friends for a horseback riding adventure. We chose to see the countryside by horseback and CEE gave us six wonderful rides with magnificent views, great trails, friendly people, and great meals. What an amazing way to see Ireland! As this was our first equestrian tour venture and in Ireland, we worried about what to expect—Galway Blazers or nose to tail walking rides (not that there’s anything wrong either), we are a little to old for the first and were looking for more than the second. We shouldn’t have worried. CEE had it covered. They perfectly matched each of us with a horse that met our skills perfectly, allowing us to make the ride whatever we wanted it to be. I was blessed with Miss Betty who was perfectly happy to go with or away from the group and happy to go at a mad gallop or w/t/c until we caught up with the group. An absolutely wonderful mare! I wish I could have brought Betty home with me. We had just as much fun on the non-riding side, too. CEE planned adventures each day that taught us about Irish history and life—connemara marble, raising sheep & sheep herding, silver mining, peat cutting, movie making, castle touring, sightseeing, gardens, and, of course, all about Connemara ponies/horses. We loved that all meals were included in our tour—full breakfasts, great pub meals and while at Renvyle House 5-course dinners that rival the best restaurants in the U.S. I am very glad our rides were 3-5 hours long. Overall, an outstanding week in Ireland with Connemara Equestrian Escapes! We fell in love with Ireland—the people, the horses, the scenery, the food, the Irish way of life—and will back for another adventure soon! Thank you Cait (and your wonderful staff) for helping us leave our stress and worries behind and enjoy life in the moment.
P.S. Although our adventure continued without CEE to the Dublin Horse Show (highly recommend), we did meet up with Cait and CEE at the show. She is a wonderful host and knows everyone in Ireland, giving us great recommendations on things to see and do. We are honored to call her friend.

Kim Cutchins