Borgarnes: Horseback Riding Tour with Prep Lesson

The best part of this Borgarnes outing is the indoor prep lesson. You get time to meet your horse and find your balance before heading outside, a sensible touch for first-time riders. I also like the small groups, limited to 10 people, and the chance to experience Icelandic horses in open countryside rather than only watching them from the roadside.

The main consideration is the short duration. The 1.5-hour ride gives you a friendly introduction, not a full day in the saddle. Wind and cold can also affect your comfort, and transportation to Hestaland is not included. Still, for $109 per person, it offers a well-structured first ride with a strong focus on confidence and safety.

Key points to know before booking

• Practice comes first: You spend time in a large indoor arena before riding the trail.
• Beginner-friendly horses and instruction: The short ride is designed for all experience levels, including first-time riders.
• Scenery with a local touch: The route can follow a small river and open countryside near Hestaland.
• Icelandic horse skills: With the right horse and conditions, you may try the famous tölt, a smooth Icelandic gait.
• Small groups matter: A maximum of 10 participants allows the guide to keep an eye on riders.
• Private rides are available: Choose one if you have specific riding goals or want the pace adapted to you.

Starting at Hestaland, 15 minutes from Borgarnes

Hestaland sits a short drive from Borgarnes in western Iceland. You need to arrange your own way there, since transportation is not included, so allow extra time for the 15-minute trip from town.

The meeting point is the stable itself. That makes the start simple: you arrive, meet the guide, and get introduced to the horse assigned to you. The setting is rural, with the stable serving as both the practical base and the beginning of the ride.

This location works well if you are driving around western Iceland and want to add a horse ride to a day of sightseeing. It is less convenient if you are relying on public transport or hoping for hotel pickup. Check your route before booking, particularly if your day already includes Borgarnes, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, or other stops.

The activity has a current rating of 4.6 from 28 ratings. That number is useful, but the details matter more: the strongest pattern is friendly instruction, calm horses, and good treatment of beginners.

The indoor arena gives beginners room to learn

Before you go outside, you spend time in a large indoor arena. This is the part I consider most valuable for a first ride. You can check your stirrups, learn basic control, and get used to the horse’s movement without immediately having to manage uneven ground or a changing group.

The lesson is not just a quick safety talk. You get a chance to see if you understand the instructions and feel comfortable in the saddle. That extra space can make a real difference if you have never ridden before or last sat on a horse many years ago.

Some outings put beginners straight onto a trail and expect them to copy the rider ahead. Hestaland’s approach is calmer. You can get your bearings indoors, ask questions, and settle down before the scenery begins to pass by.

You may also have time to help prepare or groom the horse, depending on the way your session is arranged. That gives you a useful first connection with the animal and lets you notice its size, temperament, and movement before riding.

The instruction languages are English, Icelandic, German, and Danish. That makes the activity easier to follow for a wider range of visitors, though the booking information does not specify which language each individual guide will use.

Meeting the Icelandic horses

The horse is not just transportation here. Getting to know it is part of the appeal.

Icelandic horses are known for their compact build and distinctive gaits. On this ride, the most notable possibility is the tölt, a smooth four-beat gait associated with Icelandic horses. You should not assume that you will spend the whole ride tölting, since the pace depends on your ability, the horse, the guide, and trail conditions. But some riders have been able to try it several times during the short outing.

The horses used for these sessions are described as gentle and calm, which is exactly what you want when learning. A quiet horse allows you to focus on posture and basic commands instead of worrying about every movement.

That said, horses are living animals, and the information does not promise that every horse will feel identical. If you have a particular concern about your riding ability, comfort, or preferred pace, a private trail ride is the better choice. It gives the guide more room to match the ride to your needs.

One useful point is that a private booking can also suit an experienced rider. A solo rider with some previous experience was able to spend more time tölting and even galloping after discussing it with the guide. That is not the standard promise of the 1.5-hour group ride, but it shows how much more flexible a private session can be.

Riding beside the river and through open countryside

Once the arena lesson is finished, you head onto the trail. The route takes you through the countryside around Hestaland, with broad views and, on some rides, a small river beside the route.

This is a good setting for a first taste of riding in Iceland. You get more than a fenced riding-school lesson, but the outing remains short enough that you are unlikely to feel worn out from saddle time. The scenery is the main reward: open ground, distant views, and the feeling of moving through the countryside at horse pace.

A photo stop may be included along the route. This gives you a chance to pause, take in the surroundings, and get pictures without trying to hold your phone while riding. Guides may also take photos of you during the outing, though you should treat that as a helpful extra rather than a guaranteed package feature.

The scenery will change with the weather. Iceland can be windy, wet, and cold even when the forecast looks manageable. One rider found strong wind made the trip less comfortable, while another had unexpectedly good weather on a day that was expected to be rainy. The lesson is simple: dress for exposure, not just the temperature shown on your phone.

Bring warm clothing and comfortable clothes, along with comfortable shoes for the stable. You should avoid smoking during the activity. A helmet is included.

Why the 1.5-hour format works

The short ride is aimed at all ability levels, including people trying horseback riding for the first time. That makes it a practical option for families, couples, and people fitting a horse ride between other Iceland plans.

You get three useful stages in a compact visit:

• Meeting and becoming comfortable with the horse
• Practicing in the indoor arena
• Riding a guided trail through the countryside

The total activity lasts 1.5 hours, so you should not expect a long wilderness ride or a full afternoon at the stable. The time is better understood as a complete introduction. You learn the basics, ride outside, and get a feel for Icelandic horses without committing to a demanding day in the saddle.

The shorter format also limits the physical cost. Even if you are new to riding, you have less chance of ending the day sore and tired than you would after a long excursion. That matters if you are driving onward or have another activity planned.

Hestaland also offers a five-hour day tour, which includes lunch. That longer option is recommended for intermediate to advanced riders. Do not choose it simply because you want more scenery if you have no riding background. The 1.5-hour route is the safer match for beginners.

Group ride or private ride?

The regular tour is limited to 10 participants. That is small enough to give the guide a reasonable view of the group, while still keeping the price at $109 per person.

A group setting is a good fit if you want a social outing or are happy to follow a shared pace. It also makes sense if you are a beginner and want a structured introduction without having to decide every detail yourself.

A private ride costs more than the listed group price, though the exact private rate is not provided. The extra privacy may be worth it if you have a specific wish, a different level of experience from the rest of your party, or a strong preference for a particular pace.

Private rides are especially useful for mixed groups. One person may be new to horses while another already knows how to ride. A tailored outing gives the guide more freedom to adjust the session rather than keeping everyone at the same basic level.

If your only goal is to ride outside and enjoy the scenery, the regular tour should be enough. If you want to focus on tölting, request more advanced riding, or need a slower and more personal introduction, ask about the private option before booking.

The guide can shape the whole outing

The guide is central to this activity because the ride is short. There is not much time to recover from unclear instructions or a poor horse match.

Bára is described as patient and attentive with beginners, checking repeatedly that riders felt safe and understood what to do. Juna also led a successful outing for two people with no riding experience, giving clear instruction and helping them enjoy the trail from the start.

Those details point to the right kind of service for this ride: calm explanations, frequent checks, and attention to the whole group. A good guide can turn nervousness into concentration within a few minutes.

The stable setting can also include small, memorable touches. Depending on the day, you might see a stable dog named Tófa or a very young foal. These moments are not part of the formal route and should not be expected, but they add a glimpse of everyday life at an Icelandic horse farm.

Is $109 a fair price?

At $109 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend 90 minutes in Iceland. The value comes from the full setup rather than the trail time alone.

Your price includes the indoor prep lesson, the guided ride, and a helmet. You are paying for a horse, stable staff, an indoor riding space, and a guided route, not simply access to a saddle. For a beginner, the arena time is particularly important because it reduces the risk of spending the entire ride feeling lost.

The price is easier to justify if you are already near Borgarnes and can reach Hestaland without paying for a separate transfer. It is less attractive if you need to arrange an expensive taxi just to reach the stable.

Compared with the five-hour day tour, the short ride is also a lower-commitment choice. It lets you test how you feel about horseback riding in Iceland before paying for a longer outing. Lunch is included only with the five-hour day tour, not this 1.5-hour session.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Iceland schedule is still changing. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. Those terms reduce some of the risk, especially in a country where weather can alter plans.

Who should book this ride?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• First-time riders
• People who want a short introduction to Icelandic horses
• Families with children aged 6 and older
• Couples looking for a countryside activity near Borgarnes
• Riders who want a guided outing without spending a full day in the saddle
• Experienced riders willing to ask about a private, more tailored ride

Children under 6 are not allowed. The maximum listed participant weight is 243 pounds, or 110 kilograms. If either limit applies to someone in your party, confirm suitability before making plans.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. Because horseback riding involves transferring to a horse and sitting in the saddle, you should still contact the provider directly about the specific support you need. The accessibility listing is useful, but it does not explain the transfer process or stable layout.

What to bring and how to prepare

Wear warm, comfortable clothing that allows your legs to move freely. Iceland’s weather can shift quickly, and wind can make an otherwise pleasant ride feel raw.

Comfortable shoes are required for the stable and ride. A helmet is supplied, so you do not need to bring one. Smoking is not allowed.

Arrive ready to listen during the arena session. The most useful preparation is not previous riding experience. It is patience. Let the guide explain how to use the reins, how to sit, and how to respond to the horse before you worry about speed.

If you are nervous, say so at the start. The indoor arena is there to help you gain control before the trail, and the guides have experience working with people who have never ridden.

Should you book Hestaland?

Book this ride if you want a manageable introduction to horseback riding in Iceland, especially if you are near Borgarnes and can drive to Hestaland. The indoor lesson, calm horses, small group size, and scenic route make it a practical choice for beginners.

Choose a private ride if you have riding experience, want to focus on tölting, or need the outing adjusted to your own pace. Choose the five-hour tour only if you are an intermediate or advanced rider and want a longer day with lunch.

Skip it if you are looking for a long expedition, dislike cold or wind, or cannot arrange transportation to the stable. For everyone else, the 1.5-hour format offers a pleasant balance: enough time to learn, ride outside, and enjoy the countryside without letting the activity take over your entire day.

FAQ

How long does the horseback riding tour last?

The standard horseback riding experience lasts 1.5 hours, including the prep lesson and scenic trail ride.

Where does the activity start?

The tour starts at Hestaland, located about a 15-minute drive from Borgarnes.

Is transportation to Hestaland included?

No. Transportation to and from the activity location is not included.

Is the tour suitable for beginners?

Yes. The shorter trail ride is suitable for all experience levels, including people trying horseback riding for the first time. An indoor prep lesson takes place before the trail ride.

What is included in the price?

The activity includes the indoor prep lesson, scenic trail ride, guide, and helmet. Lunch is included only with the five-hour day tour.

How old must children be to participate?

Children must be at least 6 years old. The activity is not suitable for children under 6.

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve the activity and pay later.