Flowerhill Equestrian Centre
Flowerhill Equestrian Centre
Flowerhill Equestrian Centre
5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
About
Welcome to our TripAdvisor page. I am Oliver Walsh and for the past 15 years I have welcomed visitors from all over the world to Flowerhill Equestrian Centre in Co Galway, Ireland. Visitors come for the hospitality, willing and fit horses, extensive cross country horseback riding facilities and relaxed and happy atmosphere. Flowerhill is based in 250 acres of beautiful east Galway country side. We are surrounded by the best possible cross country horse riding land - green fields, woods, the Kilcrow river, and wonderful wildlife. You can gallop across open fields, swim through the lake and splash in the Kilcrow river, scaring away the fish as you go. Our fences are a mixture of natural logs, stone walls, ditches and a variety of man made obstacles, including giant bananas! Most of the 150 fences include 2 or more options, so whether you are a nervous novice or confident competitor, we will cater for your needs. The riding standard varies from novice cross sountry, through intermediate, right up to advanced open. All riders need to be confident at walk trot and canter, therefore Flowerhil is not for the absolute beginner.Ride with us by the hour, a full day of 2 or 3 rides per day, or stay with us and chill out for a week or more. Rides usually go out daily at 10.00am and 1.30pm, and we change the rides to suit our customers needs. Horse riding variations include show jumping and dressage tuition, cross country workshops, exercising the hounds and hacking down to the local pub, where there are stabling facilities while we enjoy a pint and toasted sandwich. Private cross country or show jumping clinics for an individual rider can also be arranged. Over the years many of customers return again and again to enjoy the fun.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
78 reviews
Excellent
73
Very good
2
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
3
Rachel Freeman
Hong Kong, China6 contributions
Jul 2022
I was at Flowerhill Equestrian with my daughter, age 14. She is an experienced rider and had a wonderful experience - i would recommend Flowerhill to anyone who wants to try X country. We came from Singapore where there is no X country so this was really special. Within 10 min of arriving, she was already jumping and went out with the hounds on the second day. Thank you Oliver and Giulia!
Great horses, great instructors, and great care of the horses.
Great horses, great instructors, and great care of the horses.
Written August 1, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Nataliya F
Doha, Qatar39 contributions
May 2024 • Solo
I spent 5 days with Oliver’s team and learnt more than through my whole riding experience. Plenty of obstacles to jump, beautiful scenery. The horses are trained to do their best for the riders, giving you confidence. Also the rides are very safe, the staff is welcoming and professional. Oliver is the best of course!
Written August 29, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeremy C
St. George, UT1 contribution
Sep 2020
With less than 24 hours notice, they were able to accommodate my wife and I. All of the staff were very hospitable, and the trainer that took us out was very patient. They quickly made adjustments according to our skill level and provided us with well mannered horses. The facilities and the setting are beautiful, but easy to see that the attention is all about taking care of the horses. Thanks for a fantastic morning!
Written September 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Morgan
1 contribution
Mar 2023 • Friends
My first time cross country riding and an experience I’ll remember forever! Loved riding Dover especially! Our instructors were great and the horses were amazing. Can’t recommend Flowerhill enough for serious riders!
Written March 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chris V
4 contributions
May 2017 • Family
I booked a trail ride in advance of our visit. When we arrived we were told that the owner forgot to write down our reservation and that we could not ride as planned. Very frustrating and annoying. Fortunately Knockillaree Riding Centre in Galway agreed to a very short notice same day ride.
Written May 31, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sean M
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States7 contributions
Jun 2013 • Friends
Flowerhill was recommended to me by a riding instructor. If you are interested in riding in Ireland there are lots of places to choose from and it can be very hard to know where to go. The recommendation to ride at Flowerhill turned out to be a great one.
I had done very little cross country jumping before, and I am not really a very well balanced rider - certainly not balanced enough to expect to have the kind of experience I had at Flowerhill. But because of the excellent horses and the fine guidance from Oliver Walsh and his staff, I had a great time, and stayed on the horses nearly all the time!
Oliver takes pride that the riding is challenging and technical at Flowerhill. I was there with a friend who is a much more experienced and capable rider than I am. We found from the outset that we could ride together (most of the time you are riding in small groups of 5 or 6 to 8 riders) a yet there were options for bigger or smaller jumps next to each other, so we were both getting what we wanted and what was appropriate for us. Oliver takes care in matching riders to a horse that works for you, and he generally makes really good decisions on this! He or his helpers are always along with the group (unless you bring your own horses, then you are able to ride out on your own) providing guidance and instruction - this is exactly what I needed. By the end of six days of riding I had jumped things I never imagined I would jump at the beginning of the week.
The general drill is that there is a group that goes at at 10 am to jump for an hour or so. At 11:30 many (but not all) mornings we'd go out for a hack for about 30 minutes or so, that always included a big gallop somewhere on the grounds. After a lunch break at 1:30 we'd go out for another hour or more or jumping. You could always opt out of ay ride, but my friend and I wanted to get in every bit we could. You are generally changing horses three times a day - so the horses stay fresh and safe.
I just can't say enough about how much we enjoyed ourselves. I felt that I learned a lot and made big strides forward in confidence. The horses are sturdy and sure-footed, and know the terrain and the jumps (though Oliver does change the jump configurations). You figure out that you are going to be OK if you do the things you are supposed to do: keep your leg on, give the horse its head, stay balanced in the saddle. There is an emphasis on dropping down, often into water, which was also really helpful, since doing anything in a downward direction scared me before this trip! Additionally, Oliver's staff, helpers, hangers-on, and regulars were all friendly and easy to be with. Oliver himself is a true character, and a guy that you feel fortunate to have met and learned from. I asked him for advice at the conclusion of our trip (should I give up riding?) and he told me that his only advice was that I should come back and go fox hunting with him - a suggestion I would very much like to take him up on!
We stayed at the Oak Lodge in Portumna, with Mary Lynch, who is terrific, and provides excellent hospitality, clean comfy beds and baths, at a fantastic price; all walking distance from pubs and restaurants in town. Also, you cannot believe how reasonable the cost of riding at Flowerhill is - I'm not sure how it compares to other places, but I'd say it was extremely high value for the money.
Go to Flowerhill; you will not regret it!
I had done very little cross country jumping before, and I am not really a very well balanced rider - certainly not balanced enough to expect to have the kind of experience I had at Flowerhill. But because of the excellent horses and the fine guidance from Oliver Walsh and his staff, I had a great time, and stayed on the horses nearly all the time!
Oliver takes pride that the riding is challenging and technical at Flowerhill. I was there with a friend who is a much more experienced and capable rider than I am. We found from the outset that we could ride together (most of the time you are riding in small groups of 5 or 6 to 8 riders) a yet there were options for bigger or smaller jumps next to each other, so we were both getting what we wanted and what was appropriate for us. Oliver takes care in matching riders to a horse that works for you, and he generally makes really good decisions on this! He or his helpers are always along with the group (unless you bring your own horses, then you are able to ride out on your own) providing guidance and instruction - this is exactly what I needed. By the end of six days of riding I had jumped things I never imagined I would jump at the beginning of the week.
The general drill is that there is a group that goes at at 10 am to jump for an hour or so. At 11:30 many (but not all) mornings we'd go out for a hack for about 30 minutes or so, that always included a big gallop somewhere on the grounds. After a lunch break at 1:30 we'd go out for another hour or more or jumping. You could always opt out of ay ride, but my friend and I wanted to get in every bit we could. You are generally changing horses three times a day - so the horses stay fresh and safe.
I just can't say enough about how much we enjoyed ourselves. I felt that I learned a lot and made big strides forward in confidence. The horses are sturdy and sure-footed, and know the terrain and the jumps (though Oliver does change the jump configurations). You figure out that you are going to be OK if you do the things you are supposed to do: keep your leg on, give the horse its head, stay balanced in the saddle. There is an emphasis on dropping down, often into water, which was also really helpful, since doing anything in a downward direction scared me before this trip! Additionally, Oliver's staff, helpers, hangers-on, and regulars were all friendly and easy to be with. Oliver himself is a true character, and a guy that you feel fortunate to have met and learned from. I asked him for advice at the conclusion of our trip (should I give up riding?) and he told me that his only advice was that I should come back and go fox hunting with him - a suggestion I would very much like to take him up on!
We stayed at the Oak Lodge in Portumna, with Mary Lynch, who is terrific, and provides excellent hospitality, clean comfy beds and baths, at a fantastic price; all walking distance from pubs and restaurants in town. Also, you cannot believe how reasonable the cost of riding at Flowerhill is - I'm not sure how it compares to other places, but I'd say it was extremely high value for the money.
Go to Flowerhill; you will not regret it!
Written July 7, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
foodie-Gareth
35 contributions
Jun 2019 • Couples
If I were to imagine a pleasant day out.. quietly riding horses.. this would not be it...
The owner Oliver has all the manners of a cornered badger.. the horses are so highly strung that I fear they are not well treated...
I'd avoid this place if you want a relaxing day or if you have children with sensitive natures.. it's not going to be a pleasant experience...
I'll never go back... you shouldn't either..
Written November 27, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
antinomian
Oxford, UK2 contributions
Mar 2016
Nice horses, nice people, nice place. Without any worry at all, they'll have you jumping things on your first ride out that you'd never have jumped yourself. If you're a weekend rider, as I am, and you want to learn to jump cross-country, this is the place to do it.
Don't expect to be cossetted or pampered. You might be told on occasion you're an "eejit". But the stable staff will push you steadily along, and even if you're not much of a horseman, as I'm certainly not, you'll come out of the end of a long weekend feeling you can deal with drops and banks and all sorts of stuff.
I've not learned so much horsemanship so quickly since I first got on a horse a few years ago in late middle age. If Flowerhill will have me back, I'm up for more fo this and I'll aim to go hunting sometime soon, I came away from Flowerhill buzzing and happy.
Don't expect to be cossetted or pampered. You might be told on occasion you're an "eejit". But the stable staff will push you steadily along, and even if you're not much of a horseman, as I'm certainly not, you'll come out of the end of a long weekend feeling you can deal with drops and banks and all sorts of stuff.
I've not learned so much horsemanship so quickly since I first got on a horse a few years ago in late middle age. If Flowerhill will have me back, I'm up for more fo this and I'll aim to go hunting sometime soon, I came away from Flowerhill buzzing and happy.
Written March 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Peter D
2 contributions
Aug 2017 • Business
I purchased a wonderful gelding from Oliver while on a tour in the west of Ireland. I ride and hunt in the Virginia region and was looking for a large, strong hunter jumper who will be confident within a large flight of riders. I was shown eight excellent candidates and offered the opportunity to ride and jump my choice of mount. Excellent jumps and top notch operation. Friendly and simple process. The deal was done with a handshake. Oliver is well known in the business and his supporting organizations (shipping, vet etc) are also top notch.
I'll be back again and again.
Thanks Oliver.
I'll be back again and again.
Thanks Oliver.
Written August 19, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
573claire
Melbourne, Australia16 contributions
Nov 2016 • Solo
Second trip to Flowerhill in two months from Australia and absolutely love it! The horses and staff amazing, without a doubt the best equestrian experience I have had anywhere in the world...
Can't wait to go back
Thanks to the entire team again at Flowerhill!
Can't wait to go back
Thanks to the entire team again at Flowerhill!
Written November 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is it possible to rent a room some days on Flowerhill Equestrian Centre? Or do we need to find some place neerby to sleep, when we visit the place more than one day?
Written September 6, 2019
Are there helmets to borrow? If not, can I rent one from somewhere?
Written May 19, 2019
Hi - when you say jumps are novice to intermediate what heights are we actually talking about ? Definitions differ from country to country.
Written February 3, 2019
They range from small logs to larger more challenging jumps, skinnies, drops, steps etc for the braver more confident rider. There is no pressure to do anything you don't feel comfortable with and the horses know their jobs which tends to make you a bit braver
Written February 10, 2019
Do you need to own a back protector to do the cross country course ?
Written October 2, 2018
You can call and check, but last time we were there they had a few to borrow.
Written October 5, 2018
Nearest airport is Shannon, but Dublin airport allows you to choose public transprt if you dont wish to hire a car. My prefernce was car hire as the area is lovely to explore. The days at Flowerhill can finish early (around 3pm) and can give you time to go visiting.
Written May 2, 2017
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