Code of Good Practice: Horse Riding & Pony Trekking

As part of our commitment to advancing sustainable tourism, we encourage our tourism partners to improve their sustainability performance by providing them with the guidance below.

• Ensure applicable legal permits & permission to access activity area are in place
• Ensure insurance for participants and team is in place
• Identify health & safety risks, implement management systems, and provide appropriate safety equipment, including suitable, well-fitted tack
• Ensure enough team members are available in case of emergency
• Monitor activity area conditions (including weather) in advance & during the activity
• Be familiar with activity area, ensure that navigation and communication tools are in good working order, and pack spare tack in case breakage occurs during the ride
• Maximize local economic benefits through employment and purchasing
• Avoid single use & disposable items, pack out what you take in, and pick up rubbish found along the way
• Use eco-friendly products, e.g., for cleaning purposes
• Be waterwise and take pro-active measures to use water sparingly
• Minimize energy used in the activity as part of a climate action strategy
• Provide information in advance about your sustainability actions, activity accessibility, what to expect, and what to bring with
• Provide best practice in animal welfare – “Five Freedoms” – freedom from hunger & thirst, discomfort, pain / injury / disease, fear / distress, and freedom to express normal behaviour
• Ensure caretakers are suitably equipped, trained, and experienced to provide best practice care
• Train horses / ponies to ensure reasonable standard of behaviour during activity
• Keep detailed records of behavioural incidents with horses / ponies used for activity
• Ensure horses / ponies are adequately fit & healthy for the nature of the activity
• Monitor physical health of animals, including checks for lameness and shoe condition (if applicable), providing veterinary advice / care as needed
• Ensure animals on same activity are familiar with each other, to prevent incident
• Groom animals prior to saddling
• Plan routes to maximize safety of riders and animals, and avoid trails after significant rainfall
• Screen riders ahead of time to ensure activity is suitable for their fitness and level of ability, especially children
• Manage group size to minimize impacts and ensure a safe guide : rider ratio
• Obtain written confirmation, e.g., via indemnity, that participants are aware of activity risks
• Provide ‘test ride’ opportunity to ensure riders are confident with allocated horse / pony
• Brief riders, pre-departure, about do’s and don’ts, safety, what to expect, hazards to be aware of, logistical considerations, applicable conduct (including handling horses / ponies, communication, etiquette around other users, vehicles, other animals and in populated areas, etc.), not disturbing / removing flora and fauna, and rubbish collection and disposal
• In sensitive environments, clean riders’ footwear, horse / pony hooves, coats and equipment before activity starts, and provide weed-free feed for preceding 48 hours to prevent spread of invasive species
• Secure loose items to prevent entanglement with riding equipment
• Stay on designated trails and remain in the middle of the trail to avoid widening
• Cross properties at gates / stiles, and leave them behind as you found them
• Cross watercourses at designated points or available bridges, otherwise at firm / stony sections to avoid erosion, and at 90° to bank / shore
• Do not allow horses / ponies to remain in or be washed in natural watercourses
• Water horses / ponies at designated water points, where possible
• Do not allow horses / ponies to graze on natural vegetation in the activity area
• Do not allow animals to roam freely during rest stops
• Provide food at overnight rest stops, and keep animals in a designated area that allows sufficient space (minimum 15m² as a guideline)
• Rotate use of different overnight / rest stops to minimise cumulative impacts
• Share information about local nature & culture, as well as social development / conservation projects that participants may want to support
• Repair and compensate for any damage caused to the activity area
• Participate in conserving activity area integrity; notify authorities of concerns and participate in rehabilitation projects