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Browse through our blog posts to find out what life is like at Hoe Grange Holidays along with some great ideas for days out in the Peak District.

What to pack for a horse holiday in the Peak District (without overloading the trailer)

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

A horse stood in a stable with the door open, with a mucking out fork visible

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

Two black horses with white socks grazing in a field outside log cabinsEvery 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

A group of horses and riders outside a traditional village pub

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

A group of horses and riders crossing a shady stream in the Peak District

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

A woman in hi-vis on horseback out on a group rideIf 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

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Hoe Grange Holidays Tripadvisor Comments...

  • star rating  For the second year running, we have had a great family holiday at Hoe Grange. We had one cabin for the week, for two sisters and our elderly wheelchair-using... read more

    EJYork2013
    June 25, 2019

    star rating  We have just returned from a short stay in one of the pods on site at Hoe Grange Holidays. We couldn’t recommend them enough. The pod has everything you could... read more

    Catboy86
    August 17, 2019

    star rating  A beautiful place to stay! Amazingly run family business! Everyone were very welcoming, friendly and cozy! The skylark pod we stayed in was very clean, cozy and well equipped! The... read more

    sophiee249
    January 2, 2020
  • star rating  We stayed in the Skylark pod last October (2018) and had a lovely time. There was homemade, rustic goods (bread, biscuits etc) when we arrived. Felicity and David who run... read more

    KBarry
    September 15, 2019

    star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    David H
    October 25, 2019

    star rating  Myself and my sister travelled to Costa Rica and Panama via Viva Holidays Ltd. The holiday was exceptional and one to be treasured forever. Andrew at Viva Holidays... read more

    Paula C
    July 4, 2019
  • star rating  lovely surroundings real farm country with chickens paying you a visit nice decking area to chill at the end of the day accommodation very good plenty to do nearby... read more

    vincent s
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  Stayed last week, from 6th to 13th September in the log cabin called Hipley. This was amazing, it was our first visit but certainly not our last. Gold standard disability... read more

    548julie
    September 14, 2019

    star rating  Loved every minute of our stay, and so did the family and friends that came to stay. Excellent facilities in our cosy Hipley log cabin. By far the best... read more

    krimpenijssel
    October 25, 2019
  • star rating  It's been three years since we last visited but once we arrived it certainly didn't feel like it!
    We stayed in Hipley again which had had a refurbished wet... read more

    ElizabethA717
    September 21, 2019

    star rating  We love this place. Very wheelchair friendly, really well equipped and comfortable, with easy access by car to lots of places of interest particularly Crich Tramway Village, Chatsworth, Bakewell and... read more

    dghiggs61
    October 25, 2019

    star rating  What a lovely weekend away! We stayed in the lovely gypsy caravan, which was a wonderful and really unique experience. We took along our two horses, who also had a... read more

    rachelthomas2015
    June 18, 2019
  • star rating  Second visit to the accessible holiday cabins at Hoe Grange. David and Felicity were as helpful and friendly as ever. We had a welcome pack of freshly baked bread, butter,... read more

    Charlotte M
    August 7, 2019

    star rating  Felicity and David made us feel very welcome right from our booking. The pods are well equipped and spotlessly clean. The area is very peaceful with great views and we... read more

    Adventurer_12121
    January 30, 2020

    star rating  We had a lovely time staying in one of the incredibly well equipped pods. I bought my pony along and we had some great rides on the high peak trail.... read more

    plopster1
    June 7, 2019
  • star rating  Another great holiday at Hoe Grange - such a great place for us all to holiday as a family - this time with a baby, a 3 yr old, a... read more

    Thesamps
    October 4, 2019

    star rating  Arrived and was shown to our pod, fantastic location and the pod was very good indeed plus we had home made bread and milk and tea and coffee. A... read more

    mickvfr
    July 28, 2019

    star rating  What can I say?
    Absolutely superb!
    We have just returned from a family weekend staying in Daisybank cabin and the Skylark pod.
    It was our first trip away with my... read more

    Wheelieuser
    June 13, 2019
  • star rating  We stayed in Skylark, one of the two glamping pods available at Hoe Grange in February 2020.

    Felicity & David welcomed us when we arrived to show us around... read more

    HelenLCarter
    February 6, 2020

    star rating  Lovely place to holiday near to interesting locations and easy access to the High Peak trail and Carsington Water. Part of a working farm with fresh produce to enjoy during... read more

    Angie B
    August 3, 2019

    star rating  We've just returned from our second visit to Hoe Grange. The suggested riding routes with stunning scenery were enjoyed by my daughter and I while the menfolk were delighted with... read more

    Jdrichie12
    July 11, 2019
  • star rating  On arriving at Hoe Grange in a downpour, we doubted if we’d made the right decision to go glamping, but after the warm welcome from David and a quick tour,... read more

    karenmD4738KD
    June 25, 2019

    star rating  We wanted a complete break and some peace and quiet and this was perfect. The caravan was secluded with beautiful views over the countryside. Everything was spotlessly clean and well... read more

    joanne B
    June 4, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Pinder cabin and had a lovely stay, the cabin was spacious and comfortable, nice and warm after cold days out. The children loved meeting the animals and... read more

    Tiggywinkle15
    November 5, 2019
  • star rating  We stayed for a night in one of the cabins . The cabin was spotless and very well equipped , lots of extra touches were added like fresh eggs and... read more

    Ajtravels14
    February 3, 2020

    star rating  Recently spent a week in "Pinder" and had a lovely time. The location is stunning - the site is nestled in a beautiful valley on the edge of the Peaks... read more

    Peachey167
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  What a wonderful find. As our first experience of needing accessible accommodation we could not have wished for better. Beautiful well equipped lodges in lovely surroundings. We stayed in both... read more

    L9943KBlesleym
    April 3, 2020
  • star rating  We spent four nights at Hoe Grange and had a lovely time. The location is fantastic and right next to the High Peak Trail. The cabin was very clean and... read more

    Big_Al_0000
    July 16, 2019

    star rating  We stayed in Rainster cabin for a long weekend 6 th to 9 th September. This was my 5 th visit to the amazing Hoe Grange. I had visited before... read more

    Jan Horsman J
    September 17, 2019

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