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What to pack for a horse holiday in the Peak District (without overloading the trailer)
May 29, 2026Archives
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A quick and easy packing list for your next horse holiday at Hoe Grange

If you’ve ever stood at the tack room door thinking, “Right...what do I actually need for a horse holiday, and what’s just going to rattle around in the trailer unused?”, then this guide is for you!
If this is your first horse holiday, don’t worry, most guests find it much simpler than expected once they know the basics. The key is bringing your horse’s usual routine items and letting us help with the rest.
At Hoe Grange Holidays, we make the practical stuff easy so you can focus on the best bit: getting out on the trails, enjoying the Peak District views, and relaxing together afterwards.
Pack lighter – we’ve got the yard essentials covered
This is the part many guests are pleasantly surprised by: you really can leave quite a lot at home!
We provide:
- Stables with self-filling water bowls
- Straw bedding and hay
- Electric fencing and posts to split the grazing paddocks if needed
- Secure tack storage with saddle racks and space for feed
- Rug racks in the stable block
- Mucking out tools
- Wheelbarrows
- Buckets for water and washing your horse
- Hosepipe for washing out trailers or hosing down horses
And because emergencies are the last thing you want to think about on holiday, we also provide a horse and rider first aid kit. Plus we have trusted contacts for the local vet and farrier that we use for our own horses, just in case you ever need them.
So you can leave all of these at home and save space in your trailer for the things that are truly your horse’s essentials.
What to pack for your horse
Every horse is different, but these are the common things we’d recommend our horsey guests pack:
- Headcollar and lead rope
- Your horse’s usual feed and supplements (enough for the stay, plus a little extra)
- Any medication they need, clearly labelled
- Buckets (handy even if your horse isn’t fussy at home)
- A hay net you trust
- Rugs to suit the season and your horse (more on that below)
- Grooming kit including your usual brushes, a hoof pick and a sweat scraper and/or sponge
- Your horse’s passport and insurance details
Tack-wise, keep it simple for relaxed hacking:
- Saddle and girth
- Bridle
- Numnahs or saddle pads (more than one as Peak District hills can be sweaty work!)
- Any boots or bandages your horse normally wears out hacking
- Hi-vis for either horse or rider (or both!), as there are some quiet lanes in some of the routes (we do have a few spares if you forget yours)
What to pack for you
The weather in the Peak District can be changeable, so the trick is layers, not bulk.
We recommend packing:
- Riding hat
- Gloves (and a spare pair if it’s wet)
- A waterproof you can actually ride in
- Base layers you can peel on and off
- A couple of pairs of jodhpurs/breeches
- Comfy riding boots and good socks
- Yard boots or wellies for pottering about
- A power bank if you’re using your phone for maps and photos
Then add your “nice to have” bits:
- Comfy layers for cosy evenings
- A swimsuit if you’ve booked the hot tub or sauna
- Blister plasters if you’re planning to ride for longer than usual
Our accommodation is set up to feel like a home-from-home with everything you need, so you can properly switch off once your horse is settled. best of all you can enjoy watching your horses at play in the paddock.
Seasonal tweaks (so you’re covered all year round!)
You don’t need four different packing lists for four different seasons, just a few smart swaps.
Spring:
- A lightweight rug option
- Lightweight waterproof trousers for spring showers
Late spring and summer:
- Fly spray and fly mask if your horse tends to be bothered
- Suncream (for you and potentially your horse if they’re anything like Oliver – he gets a burnt nose!)
- Lightweight clothing for riding
- Sunhat and sunglasses for pottering around the yard
Late autumn and winter:
- A head torch (it’s one of those tiny things that makes everything easier!)
- Warmer rug options
- Base layers for you
- Heavy duty or waterproof jodhpurs/breeches to keep your legs warm
- Extra thick socks
- A neck warmer if it’s cold
- Extra gloves in case you get wet and cold
Coming with friends from the yard? Here’s how to keep it simple

Horse holidays with friends are the best – laughter, pub rides, and those deep chats that often happen out on a longer hack. But if you’re coming with friends from the same yard, there’s an added bonus – you can share transport and equipment!
Here are some of the things from the packing list above that you might like to share – but make sure you agree who is bringing what so you don’t end up with duplicates!
- Grooming kits
- Power bank
- Blister plasters
- Suncream
Planning your rides

We can help you pick routes that suit your group and the day you’re riding – weekdays can feel very different to weekends – and provide detailed, tried-and-tested route maps so you’re not second guessing every turn.
Depending on how you like to navigate, we can give you GPX files and/or paper maps. We’d recommend downloading the free trial of the OS Maps app just before you come if you haven't used it before and you’d prefer to navigate on your phone.
Sometimes I can take you out on a familiarisation ride if I’m around. If this is something you’re interested in, please do pop us an email so I can check my diary.
Alternatively, we partner with Ellen over at Peak District Guided Rides, who can give you a private guided ride starting from right here at Hoe Grange! There are plenty of group rides you can hop onto too – check her calendar for the latest dates.
Your next horse holiday is waiting
If you’re reading this and thinking, “Actually, this sounds more straightforward than I expected,” take that as your sign. Bring your horse, pack lighter, and let us help with the routes so the whole holiday feels straightforward from the moment you arrive.
Have a look at our horse holiday availability now, and then choose your cosy log cabin, spacious glamping pod, or even see if the vintage Gypsy caravan is available! We can’t wait to welcome you.
-Felicity







