Heavy Horse Experience Days

Hands on Heavy Horse Experience Days with Beautiful Clydesdale and Shire horses

Step back in time to life at the pace of a Heavy Horse. Gather up the reins for yourself and live a day in the life of true working horses. The Heavy Horse Experience aims to give you a flavour of what it was like to handle a real working Shire or Clydesdale horse. From the moment you arrive, the emphasis is on, hands on. You will be able to gather up the reins and experience over one ton of real horsepower. No experience is necessary. 100s have visited for experience days. Our guestbook feedback says it all.

Spend a Day with Major the Peaky Blinders Star

Major will be your trusty shire for the day: Major’s normal life sees him relaxing or welcoming visitors. But now and then Major turns star of the silver screen, having being filmed in scenes for TV programs Peaky Blinders (Examiner, 2012) and Death comes to Pemberley. Groom Michael, sometimes with Major, has appeared in scenes for Peaky Blinders, Death comes to Pemberley, The Mill, The Village, Our Zoo, Jericho and on BBC Look North.

Long reining experience

Full-Day Hands-On Heavy Horse Experience

£150 per person which includes:

  • Welcome & Introductions: Meet your Groom and hosts for your Special Heavy Horse Experience.
  • Complete the paperwork – it only takes a few minutes.
  • Enjoy a light informal chat about the Heavy Horse and the important role in our country’s history.
  • Meet the chosen hoses for the day.
  • Help skip out the stables, water and net the hay
  • Preparing for the day ahead – Check the horse and equipment.
  • Enjoy a magical bonding experience, petting and grooming our gentle giants.
  • Help select and fit the right harness for long reining.
  • Learn how the horses are long reined around simple obstacles, using voice commands with authentic ploughman’s lines.
  • Return back to yard, remove cart and harnessing and stable horses
  • Break for a well deserved lunch at Hinchliffes restaurant at around 1pm – Ploughman’s if you like.
  • With the help of our groom, attach a harrow or cart to your horse and enjoy a unique hands-on experience handling a member of the world’s largest breed.
  • Return to stables and help harness and hitch-up a pair of horses to the carriage.
  • Help drive the carriage or just sit back relax and enjoy your ride through some of our most beautiful local countryside.
  • Return to the stable, remove the harnessing and give the horses a final brush down.
  • Sad farewells and an opportunity to take some memorable photo-graphs and purchase a horse brass or postcard to remember your day.
  • The full day experience finishes around 4.00pm, You are then free to roam around, visit the award winning Hinchcliffe’s farm shop and restaurant or visit nearby Holmfirth, home of famous TV series Last of the Summer Wine.

An optional extra is to finish your unique day with afternoon tea in Hinchliffe’s award winning Farm Restaurant.

  • Bespoke Packages Available
  • Discounts Available for Groups and Parties
  • Special Educational Options

Full Day Heavy Horse Experience Special Offer

  • £250.00 for Two People
  • £400.00 for Group of Four
Exercise Cart Experience

Half-Day Heavy Horse Experience (Morning)

£99 per person, includes the following:

  • Welcome Breakfast Roll – Tea/Coffee On arrival in Hichliffe’s Restaurant – 9.15am
  • Meet your Groom and Hosts for your Special Heavy Horse Experience.
  • Complete the paperwork – it only takes a few minutes.
  • Enjoy a light informal chat about the Heavy Horse and the important role they played in our country’s history.
  • Meet the chosen hoses for the day, selected from Major, Ted & William
  • Help skip out the stables, water and net the hay
  • Check shoes and hooves preparing for the day ahead
  • Enjoy a magical bonding experience, petting and grooming our Gentle Giants firsthand.
  • Help select and fit the right harness for a long reigning demonstration.
  • Learn how the horses are long reigned around simple obstacles, using voice commands and authentic ploughman’s lines.
  • Return to stables and help harness and hitch-up a pair of horses to the Oaktrail wagonette.
  • Sit back relax and enjoy your carriage ride through some of our local beautiful countryside.
  • Return to the stable, remove the harnessing and give the horses a final brush down.
  • Sad farewells and an opportunity to take some memorable photo-graphs.
  • The morning experience finishes at 12.30 You are the free to roam around the public areas of the open farm, visit the award winning shop or enjoy lunch at Hinchliffe’s Restaurant.

Heavy Horse Experience Half Day (Afternoon)

£99 per person, includes the following:

  • Meet your Groom and Hosts for your Special Heavy Horse Experience at 1pm
  • Complete the paperwork – it only takes a few minutes.
  • Enjoy a light informal chat about the Heavy Horse and the important role they played in our country’s history.
  • Meet the chosen horses for the day, selected from Major, Ted & William
  • Help skip out the stables, water and net the hay
  • Check shoes and hooves preparing for the day ahead
  • Enjoy a magical bonding experience, petting and grooming our gentle giants firsthand.
  • Help select and fit the right harness for a long reigning demonstration.
  • Learn how the horses are long reigned around simple obstacles, using voice commands and authentic ploughwman’s lines.
  • Return to stables and help harness and hitch-up a pair of horses to the Oaktrail Wagonette.
  • Sit back relax and enjoy your carriage ride through some of our local beautiful countryside.
  • Return to the stable, remove the harnessing and give the horses a final brush down.
  • Sad farewells and an opportunity to take some memorable photographs.
  • Finish of with a tasty cream tea in the restaurant
  • The afternoon experience finishes around 4.00pm, You are then free to roam around the open farm, visit the award winning shop or enjoy a longer stay in Hinchliffe’s Restaurant

Two Hours Heavy Horse Petting and Grooming Session

£35 per person

Guidance

  • Minimum age – 16 due to health and safety reasons, unless accompanied by an adult.
  • Fitness/ Health – Participants should be in reasonable health and able to lift and carry.
  • Dress code – Comfortable hard wearing outdoor clothing suitable for the time of year. Waterproofs if necessary. Wear sensible sturdy boots.
  • Please advise any dietary restrictions prior to your visit, vegetarians can be catered for.
  • Available all year around on a pre-booked basis, limited availability on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

More information

For more information or to make a reservation, please call call or e-mail  holmevalleyheavyhorses@gmail.com.

Horse Experience Ddining-at Hinchliffes