Which riding level do I need for a ride on holiday?
There is no single scale for riding on holiday, so the question about the horse is worth asking.
How providers describe riding level, an example of a four-level scale and six questions to assess yourself honestly.
Why the level counts
On a ride it is not the arena but the terrain that decides. A horse you ride safely at the trot in an indoor school can get faster outside, spook or push downhill. Providers therefore assign riders and horses by experience. The more honest your statement, the better the horse fits. Reit-Safari writes that on a riding holiday you should not overestimate yourself: you should enjoy the rides and the surroundings without being too busy with yourself and the horse.
How providers describe the level
We found no single scale. Every provider words it differently. In our selection words like “for beginners” and “for experts” appear in titles. Many offers name no level, so ask.
As an example of a precise scale we show the four levels of the tour operator Reit-Safari. They apply only there, and other providers may grade differently.
| Level | Description according to Reit-Safari |
|---|---|
| 1 | beginner with at least 50 riding lessons, regular lessons, safe in walk, trot and restrained canter in the arena, little or no experience outside the arena |
| 2 | advanced beginner with about a year of lessons, rides regularly in arena and countryside, safe in all gaits, out in the countryside with company several times, normal fitness, also sits several hours in the saddle |
| 3 | advanced rider with several years of experience and confidence in the countryside, rides regularly, takes on demanding rides, can control an unfamiliar horse in all gaits |
| 4 | secure and skilled rider with more than 5 years of riding and countryside experience, good fitness, calm in confusing situations, confident in demanding terrain and on spirited horses |
Reit-Safari adds that you should in principle be safe in all gaits to join one of its trips, and that there are rides for every level.
Six questions for an honest assessment
- How often do you ride, and for how many years?
- Have you been out in the countryside, not only in the arena, and in which gaits?
- Can you control an unfamiliar horse at walk, trot and canter?
- How long do you sit in the saddle at a stretch without tiring?
- How do you react if the horse gets faster or spooks?
- Which gait should the ride have (only walk, trot, canter)?
What to do if you are between levels
Choose the lower one. A ride that underchallenges you is a nice ride. One that overchallenges you becomes strenuous for you and for the horse. Write to the provider what you can and cannot do, and ask whether it assigns you a calm horse. If the ride is short, one hour, the risk of choosing wrongly is smaller.
Questions for the provider
- Which level does the ride require, and is there trotting or cantering?
- How is the horse chosen according to my experience?
- Is there an introduction before the ride?
- Can I stay at a walk if the group gets faster?
Sources
- Reit-Safari.de, Reit-Erfahrung, reit-safari.de/reit-erfahrung. Read in the browser on 11 October 2026 (levels 1 to 4, statements on gaits, not overestimating).
- Viator offer data, as of 11 October 2026 (“2 hour horseback ride for experts in Valgraziosa”, “Horseback riding and aperitif 2 hours for beginners”), statement of the provider.
- Offers: Viator pool and GetYourGuide hand cards, as of 11 October 2026.