Adventure Has No Age Limit: Why Mature Women Love Riding Holidays

When you think about travel, it’s easy to believe that it’s a glamorous world almost exclusively inhabited by 20-something influencers with perfect skin and all their own teeth, but new research suggests that’s no longer the case.

Sure, that demographic is Instagramming their way around popular hotspots and photographable landmarks, but experts say it’s the over-50s that are exerting the most influence. As Intrepid Travel’s President of the Americas, Leigh Barnes puts it, “The future of travel is undeniably going to be shaped by women aged 50 and above.”

The Rise of the Ageless Adventuress

To an extent, horseback tourism has long been dominated by mature women travelling solo, but these days they seem to be getting increasingly adventurous and increasingly capable of extreme physical challenges.

According to Carolyn Ray of JourneyWoman, “Women over 50 are living longer, healthier and more active lives, integrating travel into their lifestyles to learn, build connections, and expand their worldview.”

While many women are searching for adventure and new horizons, not all of them want to embark on that journey solo.

The Freedom of Travelling Solo Without Being Alone

Carola Weymouth joined Wild Coast Horses for a working riding holiday earlier this year and said, “Trail riding holidays simply ticked all the right boxes for me. I lost my husband to cancer 8 years ago, and although I’m in a new relationship, I have decided that I'd like to have some trips on my own. But not solo travelling as I prefer company. A trail riding holiday is simply perfect as you are not on your own, but your contact with the other participants can be limited – if this is what you want.”

Staying with us for a couple of weeks rather than just a few days enabled Carola to tick even more boxes. She could travel solo without being alone and learn new skills while being in a safe and structured environment.

How to Make the Leap from Fear to Freedom

This is a critical factor for many women travellers who are keen to explore but unwilling to compromise their personal safety. Melissa Pipe joined us for a working riding holiday in January this year, and said that, while it was something she’d wanted to do “for many, many years”, she lacked the courage and confidence to embark on an international trip alone.

“Even though I’ve ridden horses all my life,” she said, “It was a very daunting prospect to fly all the way to South Africa from the UK on my own.”

When she did manage to summon up the courage, however, it was generously rewarded. Not only did Melissa experience warm, South African hospitality and some unforgettable riding experiences, but the adventure also gave her “the confidence I didn’t think I had.” In fact, she loved it so much that she’s already planning to come back and do it all again.

When Doubt Meets Adventure: A Story of Growth and Connection

Eleonora from Austria shares a similar story about her trip to Wild Coast Horses. Before she could embark on her trip, she first had to vanquish a series of doubts. “Were my riding skills good enough? Would it matter that I had little experience with horsemanship? Would four weeks be too long—or worse, boring? Would I even fit in, given that the volunteers on the website all looked fresh out of high school?”

But soon after arriving in South Africa, Eleonora knew she’d made the right choice. “The program exceeded every expectation,” she explains. “I had not anticipated riding every day, nor had I imagined how breathtaking the trails and landscapes would be.”

And, although she was a solo traveller, Eleonora soon discovered she wasn’t alone. “With the support of the other volunteers, interns, and staff, I gradually found my rhythm. I never felt uncomfortable asking for help—everyone was encouraging and kind.”

From Tupperware To Takeoff: Redefining Midlife Adventures

For all these women, a short journey into the unknown proved life-changing. For Eleonora, it gave her “the confidence to try something new—to step into unfamiliar territory and embrace the unknown.”

For Melissa, it reignited a long-held dream and reminded her of what she was capable of, both in and out of the saddle. While for Carola, it offered the perfect balance of independence and companionship—space to reflect, ride, and recharge, while still feeling supported and part of a like-minded community.

Melissa, Eleonora and Carola are just a small part of a much bigger demographic that’s getting out there and making travel a “must-have” experience. Gone are the days when you spent your 50s organising Tupperware cupboards and your 60s knitting winter woollies for ungrateful grandchildren.

Today’s midlife woman is more likely to be booking flights than baking pies—swapping routine for riding holidays and wanderlust over wallpaper samples.

The Age of the Ageless Adventuress: Thriving in Travel and Beyond

Women like Melissa and Carola aren’t just looking to nip to Wales for a long weekend either — they’re after adventure! Recent studies show older women are leaning towards the more exotic and unexpected, “with 56% of respondents preferring lesser-known destinations, 60% taking up to three trips a year, and 65% opting for slower, longer travel experiences.”

While our popular horse trails enable you to dip into a different lifestyle, get a taste of a new culture, and even top up your tan, committing to several weeks with Wild Coast Horses promises something deeper. It’s a chance to reconnect with nature, with horses, and most importantly, with yourself.

As women over 50 continue to redefine what it means to age, they’re also reshaping the travel industry. They’re not just embracing solo adventures—they’re thriving in them, trading predictability for purpose, and proving that it’s never too late to saddle up for something extraordinary.

Whether it's chasing long-held dreams, finding freedom in unfamiliar places, or simply rewriting the rules of what midlife looks like, one thing is clear: the age of the ageless adventuress is here—and she's not going anywhere but forward.