• Killarney National Park, Irelandkillarney park,ireland image by AGITA LEIMANE from Fotolia.com
  
  Ireland is known as the "Land of the Horse," and the relationship between man and horse is a recurring theme in the Celtic literature and folklore of the island. Modern Ireland offers a host of opportunities for equestrian activities--hacking, trekking, cross-country, jumping and more--against a backdrop of green rolling hills, majestic forest scenery and white sandy beaches. Ireland can be reached by air, or by ferry, from many locations, and a variety of Irish riding centers offer all-inclusive holidays.
  
  

Northern Ireland

• Ireland is divided into Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, but horse riding opportunities abound throughout the whole island. In the extreme north, in County Derry, the Bennone/Magilligan region offers year-round riding, although riding is restricted to before 11 a.m. and after 7:30 p.m. in the summer months. The beach between Benone and Downhill offers a ride of more than five miles in length, but visitors should note that there is restricted access to the Magilligan training camp and firing range to the west of Benone. Further east, in County Antrim, Glenariff Forest Park offers a ride of nearly four miles on a well-established trail managed by the Northern District Forest Service. Riding here is restricted to permit holders, but permits can be bought daily at a cost of around $11 a day, as of 2010.
  
  

West of Ireland

• Moving southwest into the Republic of Ireland, County Galway and County Clare--home to the 37,065-acre Burren National Park-- offer numerous horse riding opportunities. The word "Burren" comes from the Gaelic word "Boíreann" ("Rocky Place") and the Burren National Park certainly lives up to its name, offering a unique limestone landscape combined with bogs, fields and farmland. There is also a high concentration of historical attractions-castles, churches, houses, etc--and, from a purely equestrian point of view, the possibility of joining a real Irish drag hunt.
  
  

Ring of Kerry

• The so-called Ring of Kerry, otherwise known as the Iveragh Peninsula, is situated in the extreme southwest of the Republic of Ireland and offers horse riding on mountain trails through McGillicuddy Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland, country lanes and some of the best beaches in Europe. Rossbeigh, for example, is a four-mile stretch of golden sand that extends, at right angles, from the Iveragh Peninsula and faces the full force of the Atlantic Ocean on its seaward side. Horse riding in Killarney National Park is available by the hour or by the day, and packages including several days riding, bed and breakfast accommodation, lunch and a guide are available.