About

Bookings are available on the app - Register first on the website and once completed, the app can be downloaded on your smart phone or tablet. 

Set in 40 acres of countryside on the outskirts of Newport, Island Riding Centre’s location in the middle of the Island make it easy to get to by car and public transport (the no 9 bus from Newport to Ryde stops outside), it is 20 mins away from local beaches and close to Island attractions. Onsite you’ll find rescued sheep, lambs and chickens, the horses graze in fields surrounding the accommodation, onsite walks and there’s a café serving barista coffee and a children’s play area.

Please read the Accommodation section on Visit Isle of Wight for details and images of our self-catering cottages and safari tents.

Boasting top class equestrian facilities; indoor and outdoor riding arenas and fully qualified instructors IRC offers horse riding tuition for riders of all ages and abilities and also those with physical limitations. For beginners through to advanced riders there is a good selection of horses with safe on-site hacks as well as excursions to some of the Island’s finest beaches and trails with spectacular views and amazing experiences.

Fully licensed and insured the centre offers beginners a ‘pony ride and pamper’ session which incorporate a 15 minute ride and 15 minute stable management session with pony grooming a must! Lessons are available in groups from £20 per hour or privately for £30, whilst a variety of visiting instructors offer specialist tuition including, flat, pole work and dressage. During school holidays and at weekends there are group activities such as ‘own a pony’, your chance to try before you buy and see what it is really like to have your own horse, and as a Pony Club Centre there are opportunities to work towards badges and qualifications.

If a riding holiday is on your bucket list you have the choice of bringing your own horse and using the centre’s excellent holiday livery facilities which include automated drinkers, solarium and horse walker. Alternatively we have a choice of horses and ponies to suit riders of all abilities. We are a 40 minute crossing form Portsmouth and 10 mins from Fishbourne and we can assist with ferry fares for horseboxes.

For riders with physical limitations we have a range of adapted mounting blocks and equipment, the island’s only ‘para-hoist’ which can lift you directly from your wheelchair onto horse back. We have a hearing loop and a Changing Places toilet.

There is a good choice of holiday accommodation whether you are horse riding or not with cottages sleeping 2 to 10 and some with accessible features including downstairs bedrooms, wet-rooms and adapted kitchen.

We have a gated safari camp surrounded by fields with grazing horses, the spacious and luxurious safari tents sleep up to 8 and have all the mod cons – real beds, real furniture and 2 shower rooms and toilets in each tent to make it a great glamping experience. A communal firepit, wood-fired pizza oven and a short walk from the café and play area make this a fantastic adventure. The safari camp with all 4 tents is available to hire exclusively for get-togthers and in low season we can hire out the gated safari camp without the tents (bring a hog roast/bouncy castle and have a great gathering).

Wight Horse CIC based at Island Riding Centre has a new volunteer run café serving Island Roasted coffee and snacks, there’s a kids play area, rescued sheep and cats, a working stables to watch, ducks, chickens and a sunny terrace. All proceeds from the café go to Wight Horse CIC to ensure that anyone no matter age or ability is able to work and ride with horses. The benefits are huge and due to the past lockdowns and mental health being impacted so detrimentally, we are so keen to run more activities to help our island’s community – your coffee purchases will help us do this!

Welcome to Weddings at GG’s. - A new luxury wedding venue set within the Island Riding Centre. At GG’s, we extend a heartfelt invitation to all brides and grooms seeking the perfect backdrop for their wedding day. Nestled amidst the serene countryside of the Isle of Wight, our enchanting family-friendly venue beckons you to embark on a journey of timeless tranquility.

Picture a place where warm embraces and an air of relaxation envelop you, crafting the ideal setting for your extraordinary day alongside cherished family and friends.

Please see the downloadable Wedding Brochure on the left hand side of this page and also click on website for further details.