RideBorders.com - Riding in the Scottish Borders

Straight from the Horse's Mouth! - 'RideBorders Ride-Guide'  2010 Common Ridings Guide for riders considering taking part in our unique traditional Border festivals.

Part of the annual Common Riding festivals - the Scottish Borders holds a unique range of spectacular rides which local people, their friends and family plus many visitors are welcome to enjoy. They are great fun to watch but if you want to take part on horseback, it's important that both you and your horse are fit enough. Some of the rides are very demanding; others are easier. If you are hiring a horse, it's also important that you are honest with yourself and the supplier of your horse, about your riding ability so that everyone can have as much fun as possible. If hiring a horse, it's sometimes wise to understate your riding ability so that you are sure to get something you can control. There's nothing more miserable for everyone than to watch someone out of control endangering themselves, their horse and all those around them. 

To help you choose the rides that suit you,  we have created the following star rating system.

* rides - novice - easy, nearly all walk and trot, suitable for children and more nervous riders perhaps  not used to riding in large groups of horses. 

** rides - intermediate -definitely walk trot and canter,possibly gallop, perhaps river crossing, riders must be able to control their horse at all paces and in company. 

*** rides - advanced, - mostly longer rides, several hours in the saddle over some challenging terrain - definitely cantering and galloping, some fast and furious. Horse and rider must be capable and fit. 

What to Wear - Respect for tradition always goes down well with all riders wearing smart, practical riding wear. There are no strict rules but traditionally, riders and their horses are always well turned out on these rides and take great pride in their appearance, which certainly contributes to their very special nature. Most important of course is that all riders wear a good hat that meets current safety regulations. You may be in control of your horse but someone else near you may not and you must be aware of that!

Hawick

The Rides

Rideborders has been advised by the Hawick Common Riding Committee that all the rides are fast and only suitable for experienced riders.

  May 
 

Selkirk Common Riding** - Friday 18th June - 7pm - to around 11.30am(horses muster at Mungo Park monument from 6.30am for departure at 7am). 

Melrose Festival Week - 21st - 26th  June - Rideout 21st

Peebles Beltane - 20th - 26th June

Rideouts - Wednesday 23rd June*

                Saturday 26th June

Galashiels Braw Lads Gathering - 28th June - 3rd July

Lindean Rideout** - Monday 28th June

Torwoodlea Rideout* - Wednesday 30th June

Gala Day** - Saturday 3rd July

Jedburgh Callants Festival - 20th June - 10th July

Morebattle Rideout*** - Sunday 20th - 12.00 noon - 7pm

Southdean Rideout*** - Saturday 26th June - 1.00pm- 7pm - (tough and exhilarating)

Crailing Rideout** - Thursday 1st July - 6.15pm - 9.30pm (lovely, evening ride)

Redeswire Day Rideout*** - Saturday 3rd July - 10am-6pm (great, hard ride)

Queens Rideout** - Monday 5th July - 6.30pm

Lanton Rideout* - Tuesday 6th July - (nice novice ride)

Ancrum Rideout** - Wednesday 7th July - 18.00

Festival Day Ceremonial Rideout** - Friday 9th July - 8.30

Duns Summer Festival - Reivers Week

Wednesday Rideout** - 7th July - lovely scenic intermediate

Saturday Rideout** - 10th July- 8.30am - 2pm

Langholm

Langholm Benty** - 17th July

Langholm Castle Craig**  - 24th July (mainly Langholm rides or by invitation)

Langholm Friday** - 30th July

Kelso Civic Week - 19th - 24thh July

Kelso Monday Rideout* - 19th July

Kelso Tuesday ** - 20th July 

Kelso Thursday*  - 22nd July

Kelso Friday *- 23rd July

Kelso  - Yetholm*** - Saturday 24th July - marathon! 8am - 5pm (long 'lunch' break at Yetholm)

Musselburgh

Musselburgh Monday** - 26th July

Musselburgh Saturday** - 31st July

Lauder Common Riding

Lauder Thursday** - 5th August 

Lauder Saturday** - 7th August

.............................................................................................................................................

Coldstream Civic Week - a fantastic full week of great rides!

Coldstream Monday*** - 2nd August - fast ride with little road work - crossing large fields at fast pace - only competent riders

Coldstream Tuesday  - Gymkhana with jumping and games events

Coldstream Wednesday**  - 4th August - shorter than Monday, more suitable for newcomers, still plenty of fields, some riding at speed

Coldstream Thursday*** - 5th August ( Coldstream's big ride)- long ride at fast pace - competent riders/fit horses

Coldstream Friday ** - 6th August - shorter than Monday, more suitable for newcomers, plenty of fields and some riding at speed

For full details of Coldstream Civic Week - go now to www.coldstreamcivicweek.com  

..........................................................

The above is merely a guide to riders who must carefully assess their own ability before taking part. It was prepared by RideBorders in association with Lesley Douglas who have first hand knowledge and experience of these rides and who are well placed to clarify what's involved. Lesley Douglas owns and runs Langlee Riding Stables, Langlee, Jedburgh from whom horses can be hired. Click here for details . 

If you require any information about any of the Common Ridings including how you can take part please e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and we will do our best to help out.

(Neither RideBorders nor Lesley Douglas can accept responsibility for any rider taking part in the above rides. Riders do so entirely at their own risk).