Horse Riding Highlights

Templewood, Inglewood

Templewood Horse Riding Centre at Inglewood in the northern Adelaide Hills specialises in lessons for beginners and nervous riders. Operations are led by Trish and Michael Kalleske who have run Templewood for nearly 50 years and are accredited National Coaches. In addition to riding lessons they offer pleasure rides, saddle club and a program for tiny tots.

Four Oaks Farm, Littlehampton

Four Oaks Farm at Littlehampton specialises in lessons for children and adult beginner riders. Horse care and management is also taught, with trail rides and parties available. Four Oaks offers a complete farm experience with programs for pre-schoolers and ‘Ponies Love Parties’ program where party guests enjoy pony rides, pony carriage rides, hand-feeding animals and other rides on fire engines and ‘old-school’ merry-go-rounds. Four Oaks Farm has become the first accredited member of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) which is the leading international non-profit association for professionals using equine therapy (horse therapy) to address mental health and human development needs. 

Megan Jones Riding School, Hahndorf

Megan Jones Riding School at Kirby Park Stud in Hahndorf specialises in competition coaching through to children and beginners with riding instructors led by South Australian Olympic Silver Medallist, Megan Jones. There are also school holiday programs and weekend saddle club, trail rides, birthday parties, corporate team building and horsemanship programs for children.

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.

Nyroca Riding Centre, One Tree Hill

At Nyroca Riding Centre in One Tree Hill between the Adelaide Hills and Barossa professional coaches and trained horses teach riders an array of skills and tools for success. In addition to 1-on-1 lessons and group sessions, they regularly host day long clinics and camps for people who want that extra time to bond with their horse and learn life-changing skills. Or explore the 300 acre property of rolling hills on a trail ride.

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!

Chamel Fields - Miniature Horse Stud & Accommodation

Chamel Fields at Kyeema is a 30-acre property that is a miniature horse stud and also offers 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.

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.

Guided Trail Rides

Trail rides through their large and picturesque properties are offered by Megan Jones Riding School in Hahndorf, Templewood Horse Riding Centre in Inglewood, Nyroca Riding Centre at One Tree Hill, and Four Oaks Farm in Littlehampton.

Horse Trails

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 Club 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.