Horseback Riding In Bled

Would not recommend this. It is falsely advertised and overpriced for what you actually receive, versus what they advertise it as. We paid for myself and partner to do the full day ride around lake bled for 199€ each, advertised as 5/6 hours, with an experienced English speaking guide and being able to trot/canter (subject to riding to weakest riders ability). What we received, was a trail ride for 3 hours, no where near bled, 100% of the ride was on car accessible roads, most of which was asphalt and hard on the horses not allowing for anything above a walk. We were never able to trot or canter as advertised, and this would not of been possible even if we requested it. My partners horse was really old, and struggled walking down the mountain as it was asphalt. Our guide was 15. She was lovely but a high school kid, so not the ‘experienced guide’ that was advertised. We got to the first stop half way up the mountain and stopped for coffee. She told us we had 2 options, to either go to see a bear in captivity or go further up to a view point. She advised us against going any further up as she said we wouldn’t be able to see anything anyway. We followed her advice, and went to see the bear thinking it would one or the other for the full day experience. She then led us back to the stable at around 11am, and when we were about 300m from the stable, she requested us to end the ride 2/3 hours early as it was raining (not heavily). We were both wearing rain jackets so it didn’t affect us. I kept thinking due to the time we’d be going to another location where we’d be able to trot and canter than wasn’t hard on the horses, but there was no where to do this 300m from the stable when she asked if we could finish early. Admittedly should would have been cold as she wasn’t wearing a rain jacket. We went the long way back, but this was still all on asphalt roads and the ‘whole day’ of riding we’d paid for ended by 11:45am. My partner went to get cash out and I hung around the stables waiting to see if the owner or anyone would be there to talk to. The guide was the whole time, but it wasn’t her fault, so I didn’t feel comfortable raising any of this with her, as she was so young. She asked us if we enjoyed the ride, and I said yes but I think she knew we were disappointed. My partner retuned and paid her. She gave us 20€ back and said it was because the ride was cut short. I emailed afterwards explaining what had happened, and explained it wasn’t as advertised, and we paid for a full day and only received 3 hours or riding when it specifically advertised 5/6 hours, trotting/cantering etc. A half day was also being offered for 149€ (which is what we’d received but still paid for the full day). He essentially refused for offer letting us only pay for the half day. So we paid 398€ to walk on a road for 3 hours. We really got ripped off. I would not advise doing this experience at all. My horse was also not suitable for a beginner, which if they were only offering walking trial rides would make sense. However even doing the whole thing at a walk, and reading other reviews on here, I can totally understand why people would say these things and have fallen off or called the horses dangerous. I also used to work retraining ex race horses and was a horse riding instructor previously. In my opinion, the horse I was riding, whilst I was fine with and handled easily, I would never allow a beginner to ride her as it would have been dangerous. Usually when made to walk the whole way, it is because the ‘experience’ is tailored to beginners rather than more experienced riders. So considering that, I wouldn’t recommend this ride to anyone. I’d save your money as it won’t be worth it.

Amazing, free feeling experience. Great and friendly guide. Really recommend to anyone in the area. Certainly if you haven’t done horseriding before.

Throughout my whole trip across europe i was most excited for this, I was very disappointed when the horse I was on did not listen to me no matter how hard I pulled, it didn’t want to leave for the trail, despite behaving fine earlier. This resulted in not being able to ride on the trail ride which I paid a very high price for. I have ridden since I was young and I do ride occasionally now so I’m not sure that they should be advertising this trail ride for beginners as even though im not a beginner, the horses (or at least the horse I was on) are very difficult to ride.

Bled-No experience needed horseback riding: Nobody greeted us when we arrived; they quietly saddled the horses. We don't know the names of the tour guides (2 female) because they didn't introduce themselves. They didn’t ask ours. They only asked how well each of us could ride. We said our daughter has been riding for a year, my husband used to ride, and I've only been on a horse a few times (Did similar rides like this should have been). They assigned us horses, my husband and daughter rode theirs alone, while I was led by reins next to another horse (They told us before that the horse I got is a little “too energetic”). We mounted up and set off. Early on, one horse nearly kicked my daughter's pony, but she skillfully kept it under control and avoided trouble. Shortly after, the horse I was led beside kicked mine, causing it to press down on their reins and me to fall off. They said we should switch horses, so we did. Ten minutes later, the two horses started biting each other and jumping around erratically beneath me. I didn't feel safe at all, so I dismounted and walked instead. The other horses behaved capriciously too, showing no signs of being under control. They couldn’t place the pony and my husband’s horse next to each other for one photo, they were also laughing about that, how misbehaving the horses were. We covered most of the journey on concrete, through busy roads, until we reached a field. After 45 minutes and due to the continuous unpredictable behavior of the horses, we didn't feel safe, especially with our 7-year-old daughter, so we asked to go back. When we returned, nobody said a word to us, nobody apologized or offered any explanation. We said goodbye, and after that the young girl apologized, saying she was sorry for what happened, and that was it. Along with the money we spent, we gained a bad experience. They advertise this program as open to anyone, claiming no riding experience is necessary. This is not true! Perhaps if the horses were properly trained, it would be, but unfortunately, that's not the case. These horses are only suitable for very experienced riders! The tour route itself was very disappointing, not what we expected. We are very fortunate that no one was seriously injured! Absolutely not recommend this stable.

Great horses, excellent instructors, and beautiful scenery. Would recommend for old and new horse riders.