Natuurpoort van Loon

After twenty years, I decided to give Van Loon another try, despite a very bad experience in the past. At the time, I rode on a saddle with a broken tree and broke my rein along the way — even then, I felt that the welfare of the horses was not a priority. Because I had heard that things had improved significantly since then, I gave the company a second chance. Unfortunately, that turned out to be a major disappointment. I was assigned a beautiful horse, but the guidance was minimal. Within one minute, I was explained how to brush and saddle, without any further attention or supervision. While brushing, I immediately noticed that the horse was arching its back. When I showed this to an employee, she indicated that many horses are sensitive in that area of ​​their backs. I then showed her that the horse reacted extremely to even light pressure with my fingernail, which clearly indicated pain. However, this was hardly taken seriously or shown any interest. During the ride, my horse started to walk visibly worse. I pointed this out several times, but barely anything was done about it either. And all the while, they kept shouting that I had to join them with my horse, who was actually in too much pain to walk the last stretch. It gave me the strong feeling that signals regarding the horses' welfare are not being taken seriously. My girlfriend was assigned a horse that was far too thin; its ribs were visible. Additionally, the horses were tied up with a rope for a long time, and no attention was paid to their hooves — neither before nor after riding. To me, these are fundamental aspects of good horse care. My conclusion, unfortunately, is that the horses here are treated like products rather than living animals. After this second experience, I will therefore never ride here again.

I have now gone on a trail ride at the Natuurpoort van Loon twice and had a fantastic experience both times. Very friendly guides and lovely horses; I also get the impression that the animals are well cared for. The surroundings are beautiful, which makes the trail ride even more enjoyable. Furthermore, the restaurant at the riding school is highly recommended. Tasty food, good service, absolutely top-notch!

Very nice trail ride in beautiful surroundings with great instructors.

Today, for the 4th time, I went on a wonderful 2-hour ride with my godchild. Enjoyed it immensely again! It is lovely to see how at ease all the horses are during the trail rides! We enjoyed it immensely once again. Today, Eva was our lead rider. And all compliments to her. What a friendly and fun girl! It is so fantastic how she keeps an eye on everyone while simultaneously being so complimentary to, in this case, a 13-year-old girl. By doing so, she managed to win over a lot of confidence, and as a result, all her insecurity disappeared! She sensed it perfectly! Had a wonderful morning. Thanks, Eva!

Friendly welcome, nature reserve access from the parking lot with numerous trails. A marked 3km loop around the site. The room was a bit dated but very clean! In March, the bar and restaurant were closed in the evening.

Small, cute, cozy and centrally located, always a pleasure.

Last weekend, we stayed at the group accommodation with our group of friends. I can only say that it was fantastic. The accommodation is exactly what you need—no luxury, but simply cozy, atmospheric, and practical. Perfect for our large group. The women of the couple brought their horses along; the stalls we rented were fine. For a large horse of 1.76 meters, it was a bit on the cramped side, but for a weekend, that’s perfectly fine. The men of the couple rented both regular and electric mountain bikes. They had a great time too. The breakfast and dinner service was truly perfect; the food was tasty and well organized. The location is also great; with the horses and bikes, you can ride straight into the forest, where you quickly find yourself in the dunes. Tilburg is also nearby, where we had a fun night out. Because we enjoyed it so much, we have already made a reservation for next year.

I wouldn't know, we only parked there.