Horse Riding in Victoria

The 21 places here fall into three groups: trail rides within 30 to 90 minutes of Melbourne, alpine operators around Mansfield and Mount Beauty running half-day to multi-day treks, and farms where horses are one part of a wider animal visit. The first thing to check is the minimum age, because it varies widely. Woodlands Trail Riding (Riding Location) takes pony riders from two and a half, and Time Out recommends it as an easy first ride close to the city, about 30 minutes from the CBD by its reckoning. Billabong Ranch in Echuca starts at four and has an air-conditioned indoor area for hot days. Gunnamatta Trail Rides runs separate sessions for six to twelve year olds, while Uncle Nev's Trail Rides, Bogong Horseback Adventures and Dandenong Ranges Horse Trail Rides start at ten or twelve.

Beach riding is concentrated on the southern Mornington Peninsula, which Beach Stays singles out as one of the best places for it. Gunnamatta is described there as best known for its coastal rides to St Andrews Beach, though reviewers say the beach section is a walk of around ten minutes under conservation rules, with the trotting in the bush. The Ranch Mornington Peninsula nearby keeps non-riders busy with archery, a flying fox and a giant swing, and enforces a heel-boot rule at check-in.

For a bigger trip, the high country operators around Mansfield, Watsons Mountain Country Trail Rides, McCormack's Mountain Valley Trail Rides and Buckle Up Bushrides, welcome novices on shorter rides and save multi-day treks for confident teens. If nobody wants to ride at all, Living Legends runs guided carrot-feeding tours of retired racehorses, and Sages Cottage Farm in Baxter offers open-access animals, a flat lake walk and a cafe serving full meals.