Horse Riding Highlights

Megan Jones Riding School & Trail Rides through Kirkby Park

Megan Jones Riding School at the glorious Kirby Park facility in Hahndorf offers a range of activities including workshops, trail rides, school holiday programs, riding lessons and more.  Hour long trail rides for any level and age (over 7 years) through the rolling hills on this 100 acre property with a chance to see frolicking foals and native wildlife.  Individual and group lessons can be booked for any level of rider, from beginner through to advanced including jumps and dressage.  Lessons are led by South Australian Olympic Silver Medallist, Megan Jones.

Templewood Horse Riding Centre

Templewood Horse Riding Centre is perched on 200 acres and offer classes to both adults and children.  Their property is surrounded by stunning scenery and a menagerie of wildlife, beginners looking for a unique Australian experience are very welcome here, with horses specifically selected to riders' abilities. The team cater for lessons for all experience levels for adults and kids ages 4 and up (including their popular school holiday programs). Comfortable and safe, they also offer stunning accommodation onsite at Templewood House.

Academy of Dressage, Mount George

Academy of Dressage at Mount George near Bridgewater specialises in classical and modern dressage with International Riding Masters Barrie and Sarita Stratton. Barrie is an ‘A’ Level (Olympic) dressage judge. Also on offer are trick horse training and working equitation, which involves a range of activities including dressage movements and obstacle tests. 

Dynasty Park Stud, Dawesly

Dynasty Park Stud is located just out of Nairne and offers lessons as well as riding camps and clinics during the school holidays.

Rusty's Riding Retreat, Sanderston

Rusty’s Riding Retreat at Sanderston in the north-eastern reaches of the Adelaide Hills offers a range of services to suit riders of all experience levels at an affordable price in a safe and encouraging environment with a qualified instructor. There are lessons, monthly kids’ saddle club, clinics, workshops and even a monthly ‘Nervous Nellies’ club!

Other Horse Experiences

WalkSublime

A first in Australian wellness for horse lovers, WalkSublime offer relaxing walks for groups of 1-2 people (and kids aged 7 and above, on a case-by-case basis) in nature with a well-loved and trained horse matched specifically to you as your dedicated walking partner. Designed for those with absolutely no experience you’ll be fully supported by a trail guide, with experiences aimed at slowing you down, tuning into your senses, sharing peace and understanding in the stunning Kuitpo Forest.

Classic Carriage Drives, Montacute

Step back in time and travel in style in a horse-drawn carriage - Classic Carriage Drives, located in Montacute, regularly offers rides through the picturesque Adelaide Hills and is also available for off-site hire.

For pony and other farm activities targeted at children see Family Fun.

Chamel Fields - Miniature Horse Stud & Accommodation

Chamel Fields at Kyeema is a 30-acre property offering farmstay accommodation. The property of softly rolling pasture is nestled in the south end of Kuitpo Forest, just south of Meadows and Prospect Hill. Stay in the 1930's cottage or the large newly converted barn and have an 'Adopt a Horse' holiday experience with plenty of opportunity for hands-on horse activities - feeding, brushing, walking and cuddling. Help the proprietor feed the horses and take care of the other animals too. Although there is no horseback riding it’s a great way to learn how to be with and understand a horse – and being miniatures they are less intimidating for little kids.

Horse Trails

Guided Trail Rides

Guided trail rides are offered by Megan Jones Riding School, traversing through their large and picturesque property in Hahndorf.

The Kidman Trail

The Kidman Trail is a multi-use horse riding, cycling and walking trail that traverses 225 kilometres of roadsides, quiet farm routes, forest tracks and unmade road reserves from Willunga on the Fleurieu Peninsula to Kapunda in the Clare Valley. It winds its way through the Adelaide Hills from Kuitpo Forest in the south through Echunga, Macclesfield, Balhannah, Woodside, Charleston and Mount Torrens where it meets the Barossa. The Kidman Trail provides a sustainable, safe and scenic trail that highlights the natural beauty, cultural history and major points of interest along the Mount Lofty Ranges. It utilises existing tracks and trails through Forest Reserves and other accessible public land, quiet roads and unmade road reserves with trail markers indicating the route. The trail is proudly named after Sir Sidney Kidman, a prominent local pastoralist and horse breeder.

Tom Roberts Horse Trail Network

The Tom Roberts Horse Trail Network is designed for horse riding and is also utilised by walkers and cyclists. This natural terrain multi-use trail network broadly spans from Cherry Gardens in the north, to Kangarilla in the south and Woodcroft in the west. Established through on-road linkages, road verges and unmade road reserves the network of trails features Adelaide Hills locations such as Cherry Gardens, Coromandel East, Clarendon, Scott Creek and Kangarilla.

Amy Gillett Pathway - Oakbank to Mount Torrens

The 17-kilometre Amy Gillett Pathway is designed for cyclists, walkers and horse riders. The bitumen track follows an old railway corridor running from Oakbank to Mount Torrens. Named in honour of champion Australian cyclist Amy Gillett the track is mostly flat, with four loop trails taking in other points of interest. Stay tuned for further developments including visitor infrastructure. This project received grant funding from the Australian Government.

Belair National Park

Belair National Park features a series of shared use trails that are used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders including the Tom Roberts Trail. 

Trail Riding Events

The Adelaide Trail Horse Riders Association regularly run trail riding events in the Adelaide Hills including 'come and try' events. The South Australian Endurance Riders Association holds regular events in the Adelaide Hills covering variations in altitude, terrain, and weather that test the fitness and stamina of the horse as well as the athlete’s discipline and horsemanship skills.

Horse Events

Oakbank Races

Oakbank Week at Oakbank Racing Club is the world's largest picnic racing carnival, attracting more than 60,000 people during the Easter period. As a picnic race meeting, racegoers are able to bring their own food and drinks onto the course (at no cost) and enjoy a picnic by their car at various locations around the course. Alternatively, racegoers may choose to enjoy the numerous facilities that are available throughout the course.

Macclesfield Horse Show

The Community of Macclesfield in the southern Adelaide Hills holds the Macclesfield Picnic and Horse Show on the first Sunday of January. Competitors come from far and wide to participate in multiple disciplines of equestrian. The event which has been running for well over a hundred years features Hacks, Harness, Novelties, Show Jumping, Hunters and Hurdles, Kids Corral, and Local Rider Events.

Horses in Action

The Horses in Action event is held in conjunction with the annual Mount Barker District Royal Show each March and features Hacks and Galloways, Andalusians, Side Saddle, Encouragement, Open Led, and Novelties. Country shows are always a great way to get a taste of country life and you can find a list of them here.

Other events are run by Equestrian South Australia, Adelaide Polo Club in Woodside and Adelaide Polocrosse Club in Lobethal.

Polo

The Adelaide Polo Club is located in the Adelaide Hills and is one of Australia's leading and most competitive polo clubs. Established in 1879, the club was originally located in the centre of Adelaide at the Old Victoria Park racecourse but is now based at Woodside among rolling hills and big gums.