Kos horse riding means a ride with an instructor on the sandy north coast of Kos, from the stables of Marmari and Tigaki to the shore and the Alykes salt lake. It is one of the Greece tours on Greece VIP.
This post covers what a Kos horse riding tour includes, where it starts and the horses that carry it. It then covers the beaches, the salt lake and the special rides. Lessons, limits, safety, weather, the season, history, gear, horse care and common questions come last.
Each section ends with a Kos horse riding tour or a nearby activity that can be booked online.
What does a Kos horse riding tour include?
A Kos horse riding tour includes an instructor, all riding equipment and a short lesson in the basics. One listed ride keeps groups to 6 riders. Hotel pick-up covers Kos town, Tigaki, Kardamena main square and Mastichari.
That ride crosses open country to a sandy beach. There, horses walk in and out of the water’s edge. Riders stop for photos of the sand dunes. The route then loops back to the stable.
Pick-ups for that Kos horse riding tour name 76 hotels and meeting points across the island. A jeep or SUV covers the drive to the Tigaki stable. Food and drinks are not part of the price.
Reviewers describe a family farm with calm, well-kept horses. Two instructors chat about the area as the group walks. Riders who want a canter on the beach can have one, with no pressure on the rest.
One stable between Tigaki and Marmari adds a complimentary drinks bar and full riding outfits. It also books photoshoots with an in-house photographer.
- Rating: The listing scores 4.8 from 467 reviews.
- Language: Instruction runs in English.
- Cancellation: It is free up to 24 hours ahead.
Another Kos horse riding farm in Marmari serves riders at its café, snack bar and playground.
Where does a Kos horse riding tour start?
A Kos horse riding tour starts at stables in Marmari or between Tigaki and Marmari. One stable sits just metres from the beach. Another lies in a private area about 400 m from the sand.
The largest riding facility on Kos has 23 stables in Marmari. A family has run it since 2009. Riders there can also stay in a one-bedroom farmhouse among orange trees.
A second Marmari ranch opened in 2012 as a family business. It keeps parking, dressing rooms, a training area, a saddlery and a horse treatment area. A cafeteria and a playground serve visitors.
Kos counts about six therapeutic and athletic riding centres. The island’s riding club teaches riding from age 6 and archery from age 8.
Kos horse riding by the sea keeps to trails around Marmari and Tigaki beach. The flat north coast also suits ATV tours on Kos, which reach the same salt lake.
- Transfers: The Marmari ranch picks up riders anywhere on Kos.
- Van rule: One farm’s van runs to a fixed schedule.
- Booked riders: Hotel pick-up serves booked riders only.
One stable assesses every booking itself and takes no mass bookings through third parties.
Which horses carry a Kos horse riding tour?
A Kos horse riding tour uses gentle, trained horses and ponies, matched to each rider’s experience and goals. Breeds on Kos include the Friesian, the Pura Raza Española, the KWPN Dutch warmblood and the pinto.
The Friesian comes from Friesland in the northern Netherlands. It stands about 152 to 163 cm at the withers and is traditionally black, with feathered lower legs. Its ancestors carried knights into battle.
By the early 1900s, only three Friesian breeding stallions remained. The breed’s studbook dates from 1879. Today, about 7% of horses in the Netherlands are Friesians.
KWPN stands for the Royal Warmblood Horse Studbook of the Netherlands. Its breeders aim for dressage and show jumping. In 2010, the world breeders’ federation ranked Dutch Warmbloods first in both sports.
A pinto is a coat colour, not a breed: large white patches mix with another colour. Tobiano pintos show rounded markings and white legs. The Pinto Horse Association of America dates from 1956. The Marmari ranch counts pintos in its Kos horse riding herd.
- Mares: KWPN breeding mares stand at least 157 cm.
- Gait: The Friesian moves with a brisk, high-stepping trot.
- Ponies: The youngest riders get ponies.
One Marmari farm also keeps a Friesian for private rides with a photoshoot.
Which beaches does a Kos horse riding tour follow?
A Kos horse riding tour follows the sandy shore between Marmari and Tigaki, on the north coast. Coastal rides let horses walk into the sea. Sunrise, early-morning and sunset rides use the same stretch of beach.
One Marmari ranch runs a relaxed group walk along the Marmari coastline. Its sunset ride walks the same shore as the light drops. A private ride lets a group set its own pace.
Confident riders on that ranch’s experienced ride gallop along the open shore. Certified instructors lead riders along the shore and coastal trails. Each programme adapts to the rider’s age and ability. On a Kos horse riding tour like this, programmes suit absolute beginners and experienced riders alike.
One reviewer rode around the salt lake and galloped along the shoreline. Another called the beach stretch the best part of a Kos horse riding trip.
At sea, sunset cruises from Kos pass the same Marmari and Tigaki shore.
- Sunrise rides: These suit experienced riders only.
- Pace: Extra staff on each ride let riders keep their own pace.
- Afternoon rides: The Marmari farm adds morning and afternoon beach rides.
The salt lake path and the beach form one loop on the Tigaki ride.
What does a Kos horse riding tour see at the Alykes salt lake?
A Kos horse riding tour from Tigaki passes the Alykes salt lake. This Natura 2000 site lies between Tigaki and Marmari. Reedbeds, marshes and salt water ring the lake. Kos horse riding farms include it on their rides.
Pelicans and herons use the lake, beside the flamingos of spring and autumn. The reedbeds and marshes give these migratory birds shelter.
Water turtles and water snakes live in the wetland. Wild canes, rushes and tamarisks grow around it. Plain tiger butterflies and dragonflies fly over the shore.
In summer, the lake dries to a lunar landscape of salt, with scattered feathers and branches. The surface glows at sunset, a favourite time for photos.
A circular walk of about 4 km rounds the lake on an unpaved, sandy track. Parts stay wet and slippery, while others dry out. Walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users can all reach it.
- Birding: The site draws birds all year round.
- Peak birding: Spring and autumn migration lead the year.
- Gear: A telescope helps, since there is no hide.
The lake sits at 36.886° north and 27.171° east, inland from the dunes.
Which special rides does Kos horse riding offer?
Kos horse riding offers full moon rides, sunrise rides, bareback rides with swimming and private family rides. Swimming with horses is kept for experienced riders. One Marmari farm times its full moon rides around each full moon.
This year, its full moon rides ran on set dates from late April to late September. The July set fell from 28 to 30 July, and the August set from 27 to 29 August. These Kos horse riding outings suit experienced riders only.
Bareback riding with swimming takes children from age 12. Children from age 6 ride with staff leading their horse on foot. A family private ride adds a snack and keeps families with younger children away from larger groups.
Private sunrise and sunset rides suit couples and small groups. A private photoshoot with a professional photographer runs at the farm or on the shore.
Swimming with horses at the Marmari ranch means wading and swimming beside the horses in the sea. Special horse snacks wait on site for feeding.
- Pony rides: Children from age 4 ride ponies inside the farm.
- Mini zoo: Llamas, deer, ostriches and geese share the farm.
- Surprises: One stable plans surprises for special occasions.
Pets are welcome at the farmhouse that the Marmari farm rents out.
How does a beginner start Kos horse riding?
A beginner starts Kos horse riding with a short introductory lesson before the ride. Each horse is matched to the rider after a check of past experience and goals. Nervous riders can ask for a staff member to lead their horse.
On the Tigaki ride, an expert first shows the basics with all the gear. The instructor explains horse behaviour and how to talk to a horse through the reins and the body. Riders also learn to read the horse’s body language.
One stable offers one-on-one tuition for beginners and for riders back after a long break. Riders share their experience when booking, so the stable can match a suitable horse. Kos horse riding at that stable welcomes riders of every age and level.
Reviewers say beginners and experienced riders both get individual attention. One rider called the Tigaki ride no problem even for absolute beginners.
The drive to the Tigaki stable runs by jeep or SUV. The same kind of vehicle carries jeep safaris on Kos. The horse part of the outing then follows the shore.
- Rhythm: A walking horse moves the rider’s pelvis as human walking does.
- Balance: Horse movement works on posture, balance and coordination.
- Canter: Faster gaits stay optional for beginners.
The Tigaki instructors also explain the surrounding area as the group rides.
What limits apply to Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding sets age and weight limits for the horses’ sake. The Tigaki ride caps rider weight at 110 kg. The Marmari ranch sets a 95 kg cap and a minimum age of 6.
Drinking alcohol before any ride is forbidden at the Marmari ranch. The Tigaki listing rules out people with back problems.
Endurance riding and eventing make helmets compulsory. American USEF rules ask for ASTM and SEI certified helmets in classes that need them.
American youth helmet laws date from 1999 in New York and 2009 in Florida. Junior hunt seat riders under 18 wear a helmet whenever mounted at American shows.
The Tigaki weight cap protects both riders and horses, its operator says. Riders above it cannot join that Kos horse riding tour.
- ASTM F1163: The main American riding helmet standard.
- AS/NZ 3838: The Australian and New Zealand standard.
- Snell E2001: A further American helmet standard.
For riders used to pounds, the Tigaki weight cap equals about 242 lb.
How safe is Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding at the larger Marmari farm comes with helmets and riding boots when needed. Children also get protective vests. Certified instructors lead rides at the Marmari ranch, where all safety measures are in place.
Horses react fast to movement at the edge of their vision. They first spot movement in the periphery, where sharpness is poor. A sudden movement there can trigger a defensive response, such as running.
Horse colour cones peak at 428 nm, in the blue, and 539 nm, in the yellow. Jump rails in two or more contrasting colours fall less frequently than plain ones.
A band across the retina packs up to 6,100 nerve cells per square millimetre. Horses tilt or raise their heads to set an object in that band. In near-total darkness, they cannot tell shapes apart, though they still move around an enclosure.
Never deal with a horse in anger, Xenophon wrote. Fearful horses need reassurance rather than pain. Kos horse riding staff at Tigaki take great care of every rider, one reviewer wrote.
- Head up: Raising the head widens a horse’s binocular view.
- Close ground: A lowered head brings nearby objects into view.
- Certification: SEI certifies helmets to the American ASTM standard.
On the Tigaki Kos horse riding route, reviewers note that each horse looks well cared for.
How do wind and weather shape Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding meets steady north-west winds in summer. At the Kos station, July wind averaged 20.4 km/h this year, the windiest month so far. August averaged 17.8 km/h and June 13.8 km/h.
September eased to 16.1 km/h. By mid-October, the mean had fallen to 10.8 km/h, with west-north-west winds leading. For Kos horse riding in autumn, the strongest October gust reached 54.7 km/h on 14 October.
Summer gusts reached 54.7 km/h on 23 July and 57.9 km/h on 28 August. July nights stayed warm, with a mean low of 23.9 °C.
Last year, June was windier than July at the station, at 19.1 km/h against 15.4 km/h. West winds led every month from June to September last year. Last July’s mean temperature reached 28.3 °C, warmer than this July.
This January brought 118.6 mm of rain to the station, and last December 176.4 mm. A single day, 22 December, delivered 52.6 mm. March added 46.2 mm, and April 41.4 mm.
- Cool morning: The lowest July reading was 21.8 °C, on 1 July.
- Spring gust: 82.1 km/h hit the station on 1 April.
- Autumn rain: 21.2 mm fell by mid-October.
Last November brought 61.8 mm of rain to the Kos station.
When is the best season for Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding runs through the summer months, the busiest time at the farms. Full moon rides span late April to late September. Kos airport handled 635,458 passengers this August, its busiest month this year.
July brought 602,809 passengers, up 1.0% on last July. September counted 520,088 and June 498,935. The airport handled 4,212 flights in August.
At the Kos station, August averaged 27.8 °C this year and July 27.1 °C. June averaged 25.1 °C, and September 24.6 °C. Mean lows reached 24.4 °C in August, the warmest nights of the year. The last spring month averaged 19.9 °C at the station this year.
Kos horse riding in October still meets a 21.0 °C mean by mid-month. Last October averaged 20.4 °C, with only 17.2 mm of rain.
Sunset rides run into October, when one stable posted sunset outings. September riders can pair the beach with wine tours on Kos, which visit wineries inland.
- Domestic: 44,184 passengers flew domestic routes in August.
- July flights: The airport handled 4,183 flights.
- June flights: 3,633 flights landed or left that month.
One Kos horse riding stable urged riders to book early for summer.
What history lies behind Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding ties into the island’s famous son, Hippocrates of Kos. The earliest recorded mention of riding as therapy appears in the Hippocratic writings. Ancient Greeks used horses to help people with incurable illnesses.
Xenophon wrote On Horsemanship around 355 BC. It covers choosing a horse, stable design, hoof care, feeding and grooming. It also explains mounting, the rider’s seat and training for the canter. Xenophon told buyers to test an older horse’s response to the bit, to mounting and to jumping.
Xenophon twice cites an older treatise by Simon of Athens, now lost except for fragments. A Hittite text by Kikkuli, from about 1360 BC, is older still.
In the 17th century, writers prescribed riding for gout, nerve disorders and low spirits. Scandinavia took up equine therapy in 1946, after a polio outbreak.
Hippotherapy grew in the 1960s in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, alongside physical therapy. Physical, occupational and speech therapists use it today. In Kos horse riding terms, the horse’s rhythmic, three-dimensional movement is the point of the therapy.
- Translations: Richard Berenger put Xenophon into English in 1771.
- Bits: Xenophon paired a mild bit with a harsher one.
- Age check: Buyers judged a horse’s age by its teeth.
Xenophon’s second treatise on horses, the Hipparchicus, covers the command of cavalry.
What do riders wear and bring for Kos horse riding?
Riders wear long trousers and trainers or other closed shoes for Kos horse riding. The Tigaki ride asks only for comfortable shoes. The Marmari ranch requires long pants and sports shoes.
British riding advice prefers strong trousers with no seam on the inside leg. Inside seams can pinch in the saddle. It also suggests a long-sleeved shirt or a fastened jacket that cannot flap.
That advice rates riding boots with a smooth sole and a small heel as the best choice. On Kos, the larger Marmari farm lends riding boots when a rider needs them.
Gloves help new riders avoid blisters from the reins, and riding centres lend them. Body protectors meet the BETA level 3 standard of 2018. Jodhpurs or riding tights feel more comfortable than jeans or tracksuit bottoms.
A first-time rider arrives 15 minutes early for a lesson, one British riding site advises. Closed shoes also serve visitors on island tours of Kos that stop at ruins and villages.
- Hats: Riding schools lend helmets to beginners.
- Bad footwear: Wellies, trainers and heavy treads suit stirrups poorly.
- Fit: Body protectors need a professional fitting.
A correctly fitted hat that meets current standards comes first in every source.
How do Kos horse riding stables care for their horses?
Kos horse riding stables set weight caps to protect their horses. The Marmari ranch keeps a horse treatment area and a saddlery. Reviewers describe the Tigaki horses as well kept, well behaved and loved.
A horse drinks about 38 to 45 litres of water a day. It eats 1.5 to 2.5% of its body weight in feed daily. Small meals spread through the day work best.
A farrier trims or shoes the hooves every 6 to 8 weeks. Teeth get a check at least once a year, and vaccinations come annually. Shade is advised in summer.
Grooming starts with a curry comb to loosen dirt and skin oils. A dandy brush and a body brush follow, and a hoof pick clears the feet. A sweat scraper clears excess water from the coat after a wash.
Friesians carry known health risks, among them dwarfism, aortic rupture and insect bite hypersensitivity. Xenophon saw a horse scattering its food as an early sign of illness.
- Manure: A horse produces about 6.8 kg a day.
- Box stalls: These run from about 3 by 3.7 m to 4.3 by 4.3 m.
- Deworming: Adults get it at least once or twice a year.
Daily hoof cleaning is recommended for horses, with a weekly check on pasture.
What do travelers ask about Kos horse riding?
Kos horse riding at Tigaki scores 4.9 for its instructors, 4.9 for transport and 4.7 for value. A summary of 111 recent reviews praises the family team and the care of the horses.
Can guests ride twice on a Kos horse riding holiday?
Yes. One reviewer rode with the Tigaki family farm twice in a single week. The family’s son speaks good English, and the whole family stays attentive to riders.
What do riders wish for on Kos horse riding at Tigaki?
The review summary names one wish: more time riding along the beach. Otherwise, riders describe a relaxing and worthwhile outing. They also praise the friendly family team and the calm route by the salt lake.
How do riders book Kos horse riding direct?
One stable takes bookings by online form, messaging app or email. The Marmari ranch asks for the hotel name at booking, for its round-trip transfer. One stable’s transfer cost depends on the hotel’s location.
What else lives on a Kos horse riding farm?
Farms on Kos keep chickens, rabbits and frogs alongside deer, llamas and geese. One farm’s playground has slides, swings and climbing frames. Farm sitting areas and snack bars also appear on the island’s tourist site.
Is there Kos horse riding near Kardamena?
Yes. A riding stable trades under the Kardamena name, and one travel vlogger filmed a horse riding excursion there. The Tigaki ride also picks up from Kardamena main square.