Giddy Up! Gold Coast Horse Riding Trails & Tours

Select your steed and saddle up to experience the Gold Coast on horseback. Never ridden before? Rest assured that the following Gold Coast horse riding facilities will breeze you through the basics and you'll be up and riding one of these majestic creatures in no time. Whether you want learn in a lesson format or take to the trails and explore the hinterland, there's an equestrian experience to suit you. Follow our lead to discover the best trail rides, horse riding tours and stables on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Equestrian Centre

Located in the delightful hinterland hamlet of Clagiraba, this Gold Coast horse riding school delivers a diverse range of horse riding activities for both adults and kids. Plus, it's one of the few places that offer guided trail rides on the Gold Coast. Suitable for beginners, trail rides last one hour and begin with a 15-minute lesson in the arena before you and your noble steed venture out in a group to explore the beautiful 50-acre property on horseback and ride along the river. It’s a wonderful way to experience the stunning hinterland setting. All riders will learn a love and respect for these gorgeous creatures and coaches are highly qualified and experienced with a focus on fun. Gold Coast Equestrian Centre also offer coaching for advanced riders, themed parties, private and group lessons for beginners and agistment services.

Red Gum Riding

The core ethos of Red Gum Riding is to gift children a powerful and positive interaction with their soon-to-be equestrian friends. Their dedicated horse day camps offer kids the chance to learn about horse anatomy, horse riding equipment, basic horse riding skills, and horse care tips and hints. It’s a terrific school holiday program that runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, including morning tea and lunch.

Horses are like family here at Red Gum Riding so come along and meet Koko, Chandon, Jessie, and the rest of the herd. This facility features a safe fenced riding area, stables, and four large paddocks for grazing and frolicking. The owner loves to share her passion for horses and strongly believes (through first-hand experience) that an equine influence can assist special needs children with developmental challenges by improving communication skills and strengthening their core muscles. 

Bonogin Valley Horse Retreat

The team at Bonogin Valley Horse Retreat has all aspects of horse riding on the Gold Coast covered. Perfect for private coaching, introductory kids’ classes and group development lessons - the latter is a 4-hour clinic that teaches participants how to build trust with the horse, follow communication cues, and improve your horse-riding confidence overall. For out-of-the-box adventure seekers, why not take the reins and launch into specialised horse sport-themed activities such as horse archery and polocrosse. 

Arundel Park Riding For the Disabled

Fact: horse riding has many benefits for adults and children with disabilities. Interaction with horses is shown to greatly improve both emotional and physical development. Arundel Park Riding for the Disabled has an outstanding reputation as a top venue to sign-up for an Introduction to Natural Horsemanship class (non-riding) and for their Guided Trail Riding afternoon sessions. All horse riding programs are led by qualified RDA/Equestrian Coaches and supported by highly trained volunteers.

There are lots of different horse breeds on-site here, all with their own unique personalities. Great care is taken to match the right horse/pony with the right person. One-on-one or group lessons are available along with dedicated individual programs tailored to the participants’ needs. Check out their school holiday horse riding programs for able-bodied beginners/kids too, it’s a popular activity on the Gold Coast so be sure to book in pronto.

Paradise Country Pony Rides

Pony rides are a right of passage for those too young to take the reigns themselves. Paradise Country provides this wholesome experience, perfectly tailored to suit the little ones in your life. Note: children must be 130cm or under and 50kgs max. The dedicated pony area is found directly behind the shearing shed – which is another cool farm-style highlight for kids to experience whilst here. The pony rides are an additional cost to Paradise Country entry but it’s certainly worth a few extra pennies to create such magic memories. So, trot on in with kids and keep your camera ready.

Outback Spectacular

While you can’t ride the horses at Australian Outback Spectacular, it’s an experience any equestrian enthusiast will love. You’ll be treated to an unforgettable night of entertainment while enjoying a delicious three-course meal and drinks. The show is set in an incredible arena, and with the immersive projection technology, the space is transformed into a variety of Australian landscapes and sets. While cows, sheep and cattle dogs make an appearance, it’s the horses who take the starring role in this show. Along with the talented trick riders, stockwomen and stock men, actors and performers, they tell they retell true stories of the outback and rural life. You can snap a pic with some of the beautiful horses in the pre-show area or book a behind the scenes tour where you can meet the magnificent and talented animals in this world-class production.