myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

My daughter and I ride regularly so we always try and do so on holiday. It is such a wonderful experience riding along the beach and often in to the sea. I researched this before we went and found the "Looking Out Stables" at http://www.essentiallytobago.com. By booking on line I got a 5% discount, and was given a number to phone on our arrival in Tobago, this we did and arranged a pick up time at our hotel.

We were picked up right on time by Kay, a very friendly lady. She drove us up to the stables which were very impressive compared to others we have ridden at on Caribbean islands. They had about 8 very nice horses that were obviously well cared for. There was just my daughter and I on our ride and we were led by Bertrand who amused us with his very dry humour!

We had chosen the beach ride ($75US each) as we love to ride on the beach and in fact this ride took us to Turtle Beach which is where we were staying, so husband was able to sit on the beach with camera waiting for us! The first part of the ride took us through some wonderful scenery and gave us the opportunity for some faster riding, before we arrived at the beach. Here the horses were untacked and we were able to take them in to the sea. The ride took us about 4 hours, but was at a very relaxed pace and we probably spent about an hour of that on the beach and in the sea.

I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone, experienced or not, it is a wonderful opportunity to get out and see places that one wouldn't normally see.

This is extremly helpful. I had been searching the Forum for info on Riding and obtained snippets. I had set my mind on a beach ride and was about to pose the question, but you have given me all I need to know.

I would say however that four hours for me might set me back a couple of days and the poor horse even longer.
regards
James

James
don't be put off by the length of the ride as it is all done at such a leisurely pace (if you wish). Some non riders from our hotel took the plunge (no pun intended) after watching us ride along the shoreline and thought it was really wonderful. The man, who had never been on a horse was given a western saddle - the big comfortable type that are difficult to fall from - and non of them were much worse for wear the following day. Perhaps don't do it just before flying home though!!

There were several other shorter rides but I think the beach experience is something that souldn't be missed.

Jacqui B

jaqui,
Thank you for the kind encouragement and advice. Nice comfy western saddle sounds just the job. Will definitely book up and give it a go. It sounds great.
regards
james

My partner and I, neither of us experienced, had not been on a horse for at least 30 years each, decided we wanted to experience this. kay picked us up at our apartments. She was a wonderful lady. Very knowledgeable - you would think she had been riding all her life - but she hasn't. Her and her partner have just trained hard and trained the horses very well. Although I was always nervous of horses I wanted to experience this - as did my partner Gary. On arrival at the stables we were introduced to the horses, shown how to mount and dismount, hold the reigns etc., About five minutes after being on the horses sauntering along the road, Kay directed us down a steep decline into the forest. We trekked through the forest for a good couple of hours admiring all the wildlife on the way. There were a couple of scary moments for me when we came across a couple of bulls and we had to to round them and find a different route. Gary took to it all like water off a ducks back. We arrived at the beach and took the saddles off the horses and went into the sea with them - Careful they don't stand on your toes when you go out too far. We climbed on their backs and swum back to shore with them - amazing - especially for complete beginners! We loved it and cannot recommend it highly enough - Kay if you get a chance to read this - Thank You - maybe you can teach us some more next year. P.S. I will still need a leg up though because I don't think I'll grow any more now at the age of 34! Maybe just width ways. Oh, and as a previous reader said - don't do this the day before you go gome because I did ache a bit for a few days afterwards.