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Highlands Unbridled

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Aboyne
Highlands Unbridled

Highlands Unbridled Traill Riding and Trekking Centre
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Highlands Unbridled is a small and friendly horseback riding centre offering fantastic trail-riding holidays for experienced riders and pony trekking for all ages and abilities. Coast to Coast riding holidays are our speciality and we have lots of different trails, with new rides added each year.

10/11/2024

The days are getting colder and darker, the end of the year is almost upon us and tonight, there was a fabulous Aurora display dancing in the sky above the horses fields.

With the end of autumn almost here, we thought we'd give you all something to brighten up your calendars... the release of our 2025 riding holiday dates!

The dates for the day rides, short breaks and long distance riding holidays will go on our website at 11am (UK time) on the 1st of December. We will have all the old favourite rides on offer as well as some exciting new routes for you to explore. Set your alarms!

We expect our riding holidays to book out VERY quickly for next year. The majority of our 2024 high season dates booked out within 2 hours of the date release. Due to such high demand, if you have a specific route/date that you'd like to book, please make sure to email us as soon as possible after you view the calendar and be ready to pay the £350 deposit per rider to secure your spots. We will not be able to hold spaces without deposit payment. I will do my very best to keep the availability updated on the website however it is not live so the availability listed on the website is not a true indication of if spaces are available. To secure your desired route and date, we suggest you are online and ready for the date release as near to 11am on the 1st of December as you can.

Can't wait to see you all on the trails next year.

01/11/2024

The lovely Flora Mackinnon-Pryde on the even lovelier fjord horse, Freya. Me and Freya have had more than a few setbacks since I bought her in December last year, but I’m so so proud that her journey has taken a few steps forward after so many steps back along the way. It’s been a priority for me to get her hacking out with different riders to help her overcome her anxiety at new people and weight shifting. After a lot of work, she still has her moments of fear but she has now done two hacks 1.5hr hacks under saddle with a new rider. Freya is absolutely loving hacking out in company and strides out ahead confidently. So far we’ve just walked and done a trot or two. I hope our journey continues on this trajectory through the winter. I’ve felt so much guilt and inadequacy over the last year that I hadn’t made the progress I’d imagined as quick as I had hoped but this mare is proof that horses don’t give a toss about our plans. They communicate to us honestly and openly, it’s up to us to try to understand as best as we can.

17/10/2024

Miss Selkie pup starting to look grown up already!

16/10/2024

The leaves are turning every shade of autumn, the rowan berries are heavy on the branches, there's snow on the hills and the sun is lower in the sky each day... and with that, we are now finished our 2024 long distance riding holiday season. This year has gone by in the blink of an eye, it feels just like yesterday we were saddling up in the yard in April and riding away for a summer of adventure. What a year it's been!

For me personally, this year has been an emotional rollercoaster and it has been hard at times to keep up with everything but where there is a will, there is a way and it feels so rewarding to have made it through.

I can't thank our 2024 riders enough - I met some incredible people this year that I count as dear friends and I got the chance to reconnect with so many returning riders that my heart felt so full. What a privilege it is to get to ride with such awesome people and share my love of this landscape with them. For all those that came on a holiday this year, thank you. I hope you loved it - your appreciation, enjoyment and excitement make the struggles that come with working outdoors with vehicles and animals (and being at the whim of Scottish weather) worthwhile.

05/10/2024

Big welcome to my beautiful wee charcoal Labrador pup, Selkie! Selkies are a staple of Scottish folklore, they are creatures that can shift between human and seal form by donning their seal skins. I can't imagine a more perfect name for this wee girl - she looks just like a seal pup. Rua wasn't too sure about being a big sister at first but she now absolutely adores her. Can't wait to see their adventures together.

11/09/2024

It's hard to believe there are only a few more long distance rides left before the end of the 2024 season. Here are some of my favourite moments I've captured on our rides so far. It's been a privilege to ride with so many incredible people this year, I have met so many new faces that I absolutely adore and have had the complete joy of riding with memorable characters from years past. It's been so much fun to share these beautiful trails with such beautiful people and animals - even if the weather has been less than kind to us this summer! I hope you enjoy some of the highlights!

15/08/2024

I don't quite know how we've found ourselves in the middle of August already - this year has been such a whirlwind. Despite feeling so entirely exhausted, it's moments like these that invigorate me and remind me why it is we do what we do. As I stood on this glacial plateau surrounded by rocks billions of years old on the descent into Torridon, I was blessed by a quiet moment of awesome beauty as a rainbow unfurled beneath me. It has been one of the toughest summers for me to get through mentally and physically combined with the Scottish summer this year being far from kind... but this moment made me remember that we are so, so lucky to be here with these incredible animals and that what we do matters so, so much.

23/07/2024

Stumbled across a very majestic scene as we made our way down the hill on the ponies this afternoon. This gentleman kindly posed for a few minutes before sauntering off up the hillside.

18/07/2024

Just a casual reminder to you on this dreary Thursday morning… go for that adventure you’ve been putting off, spend time with your dog, put on your hiking shoes and see where you end up.

17/07/2024

Biiiig warm welcome to our new herd member, Dhruim! He is a 4 year old Highland pony and we can't wait to start his ridden journey over the next few months. What a handsome lad!

06/07/2024

We now have one cancellation space available on our Wild West Highlands ride this August 22nd - 29th.

This ride is our most popular, most intense and most scenic route through the heart of the west highlands. This route will see you explore landscapes so beautiful and so otherworldly, you will never forget these epic days in the saddle. This is my personal favourite route of all those we offer so this is definitely an opportunity not to miss out on!

If you are interested in this space, you can send us an email to [email protected]

This ride is NOT suitable for novice riders, we require all those who join this route to be confident, fit and up for adventure!

04/07/2024

It hasn't been such a straightforward journey with Freya. I bought her in December as a project thinking she would be easy peasy to get going under saddle as she was so kind and so calm. I used to live in Norway and have always loved Fjord horses and when I saw her for sale... I maybe let my heart rule my head a little bit and bought her as a 9 y/o "unbacked" project. As our journey has progressed, I realised there was more to this little mare than I at first realised. She clearly had some severe trauma in her past regarding abuse at the hands of humans, specifically surrounding the concept of riding. She was 100% to handle but would react with pure fear when touched or brushed with a rope and anything touching her belly sent her shooting forward in a panic. She would be fine one minute, bolting with fear the next when dealing with anything to do with saddles, ropes, halters or riding. Her trust in humans was a record low and whilst she was happy to stand for a cuddle or take a treat, the idea of being ridden held a lot of worry for her. It's been a long 6 months and I have asked for guidance, help and training from a lot of different people to try build her (and me) the skills to get her on the right track with her confidence and trust. She spent some time away with a friend learning natural horsemanship skills and how to cope with her stress. Today was my first solo hack out on her with Rua and she did fantastic. I find it such a mental workout to be riding out on a green horse solo - deep breaths, relax the muscles, don't hold tension, don't ask too much, don't get in your own way, ride quiet, be present, breathe breathe breathe!

I am so proud of this little mare and I hope this is the start of something really awesome for us both.

06/06/2024

We’ve had an incredible start to our riding holiday season, exploring the breathtaking Scottish Highlands and rugged coastlines with our gorgeous equine pals.

From ancient castles and misty lochs to rolling hills and scenic glens, every ride is a magical journey through Scotland’s rich history and natural beauty.

Check out these photos from our recent long distance riding holidays over April and May. From great weather to amazing riders, I am so lucky to have met some life long friends on the trails already this year and can't wait to see what adventures summer has in store. Tag a friend that you'd want to experience this incredible adventure with!

13/04/2024

We haven't had the best weather so far this year and spring has been off to a very slow start... Thankfully now the clouds have finally parted and our world is starting to dry out a wee bit. Flowers are blooming, rainbows are perpetually following us around the hills and the ponies are starting to lose their winter woolies. Better late than never!

19/03/2024

ONE 2024 SPACE NOW AVAILABLE:

Due to a cancellation, we now have 1 space available on our 2024 Legend of Loch Ness Trail running in May (1st May, 2024 - 4th May 2024.)

Please send us an email if you'd like to join us on this epic adventure as we circumnavigate Scotland's most famous loch!

17/03/2024

Just two gingers enjoying the sunshine 🌞

04/03/2024

Unfortunately today we say goodbye to Fearn. She always had the biggest and best character. She was a true highland pony through and through - full of cheeky antics and playfulness. This wee mare has taken so many people on so many wonderful adventures over her decades of life and I am thankful that she got to leave this world peacefully, surrounded by treats and love. Thank you Nic Robson for everything you did for her in her retirement. We will always love and miss her. If you remember Fearn or if you rode her during one of your holidays or hacks with us, pop a comment below with a wee memory of her. She was one of the true stars of Highlands Unbridled.

07/11/2023

Whoever said cats and dogs don't get along?! Finn the cat is best friends with everyone.

Address

Murley Steading. Ballogie
Aboyne
AB345DY

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.highlandsunbridled.com/

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Videos

If there’s anything in this world that I believe in, it’s this little mare ❤️

Join me and Rua on a sunset wander through Torridon as we check out potential trails for our future pony trekking adventures. In the midst of such a busy summer season, it was pure bliss to be able to lace up my boots and hit the trail.

A week of glorious weather as we crossed Scotland, coast to coast! This is such a magical trip, not only for the incredible canters and stunning scenery but for the real sense of adventure and journey within the experience. We traverse historical hill trails/drovers routes, cross pathless boggy moors, gallop on sandy beaches and experience the real joy that comes with a slow, sustainable and truly magical journey through the highlands.

Nacreous Clouds

I have never, ever seen anything like this. I walk out my front door to fill hay nets and I was completely blown away (metaphorically but also literally because there are 60mph winds right now) by this incredible display of polar stratospheric clouds. What an incredible Christmas Eve present that I’ll remember for a very long time.

Finn riding Brego the foal!

Some people say that 6 months old is too early to back a foal but Finn the cat had other ideas and decided he quite fancied an impromptu pony ride whilst Brego was being groomed this morning!

Snowy Mount Keen

After devastating flooding last week putting the kybosh on our penultimate long distance ride for the 2023 season, we weren’t quite sure what to expect for our final long ride of the year. We had an amazing group of riders who were up for the challenge and we experienced a whole range of exciting weather… from warm sunshine and rainbows to gale winds, snow and even a bit of a blizzard on top of Mount Keen. Sound on for the full experience!

POV: You book a horse riding holiday through the #scottishhighlands with #highlandsunbridled 🐴 ⚔️ #horsepower #scotlandexplore

My little man learning how to run!

My four favourite creatures all hanging out together - black and white cat, Rua and a very pregnant Breagha (she counts for two!) I felt her baby bump move loads today, it was such a special moment. Not long left now…

Winter Wonderland

And all of a sudden... winter has arrived! After a rather dreich and soggy November, December arrived with a bang and brought snow, snow and more snow. Our first week of winter working holidays was absolutely brilliant - how lucky were these ladies for getting to explore the brilliant Scottish landscape under a blanket of fresh and fluffy snow. From golden mountain vistas to snowflakes falling as big as your face, we experienced winter in all it's glory this week. I couldn't help but feel a real sense of awe as I looked out my window each morning, living in this winter wonderland with all these beautiful creatures is a true dream come true. I am super proud of this little video, I hope you enjoy coming along for the adventure.

Rua

📅 2023 DATES To all those eager to hear about our plans for next year… our dates for the 2023 centre based and long distance riding holidays will be released on the 1st of December! To be notified of the calendar the moment it goes online, sign up to the mailing list on our website. In the meantime, here’s some footage of my new helper around the yard 🐶

The big boys were having so much fun playing and racing about in the sun and spring warmth yesterday. I couldn't help but stop what I was doing, get out of the tractor and stand in awe as they pranced and galloped about so magnificently!