Low Cost Guided Horseback Riding in the mountains / piedmont of NC?
March 9th, 2010
My family and I are having trouble finding guided horseback riding trails and things of that nature. I was wondering if someone knew of a low cost riding trail, preferably thirty dollars or less. I most definitely do not want a program just wanting to make money. I want something that is reputable and that wants to make people happy and provide them a good service that teaches them and lets them enjoy their time. I live in Gaston County, NC and I would prefer something that wasn’t very far away, perhaps an hour and a half at the most.
I will be taking my thirteen year old cousin and it is hard to keep him entertained however he loves animals so I think this is a good idea.
Anyone with stories pertaining to horesback riding are also free to answer my question – thanks for your input!
If you have any suggestions for horseback riding for me and my family, please provide them as well as a website I can access to look them up if applicable!
Thanks!
I don’t know of any places, but I can give you a bit of advice. My family used to go to Oklahoma and stay near lake Texoma every year. One year we decided not to stick to the lake, so we drove around and ended up finding a small stable that offered horseback riding around the lake. We talked to the owner for over an hour and decided to come out the next morning. We went early, while the weather was still cool, and since it was early we were the first ride of the day and the only ones in our group. The owner remembered our names and let us pick out the horses we wanted to ride, and then took us out on the trails, telling us a lot about the area, and incorporating some great cowboy jokes and tall tales that weren’t corny and really made the ride enjoyable other than the great scenery. After the ride the owner talked with us some more. The next year we went back and the guy remembered us and talked with us and you could tell it was a really personal experience. I enjoyed going on trail rides each year just because of the owner, even though the scenery was pretty. I also liked that the horses knew what they were supposed to do, but they were smart and would let us go faster and followed your commands.
In contrast, I went riding on the beach one time, and they took you out in groups of 20-30, making you wait til there were that many people. The guides didn’t say anything, and just made sure you turned around when you were supposed to. The horses were like robots, they walked no matter how hard you pushed them, turned around at the point they were supposed to, and hurried as quick as you let them back to the stable. Not a good experience at all and no matter how great it is to ride on the beach, I won’t be doing it at that stable again. I have a friend who had a similar experience, but she tested her horse and made a comment to one of the people that her horse was very smart and knew a lot, and the guy told her they were going to get rid of it then and made a comment that they’d shoot it for glue.
So there are a couple of contrasting experiences…My advice would be to just explore if you have the time, or ask around with the locals. Scout out the place before you go for a ride, and try to talk to the owner or some of the people who have already ridden there. Go for the smaller places, they will be more personal and willing to share knowledge with you.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:42 pm
I don’t know of any places, but I can give you a bit of advice. My family used to go to Oklahoma and stay near lake Texoma every year. One year we decided not to stick to the lake, so we drove around and ended up finding a small stable that offered horseback riding around the lake. We talked to the owner for over an hour and decided to come out the next morning. We went early, while the weather was still cool, and since it was early we were the first ride of the day and the only ones in our group. The owner remembered our names and let us pick out the horses we wanted to ride, and then took us out on the trails, telling us a lot about the area, and incorporating some great cowboy jokes and tall tales that weren’t corny and really made the ride enjoyable other than the great scenery. After the ride the owner talked with us some more. The next year we went back and the guy remembered us and talked with us and you could tell it was a really personal experience. I enjoyed going on trail rides each year just because of the owner, even though the scenery was pretty. I also liked that the horses knew what they were supposed to do, but they were smart and would let us go faster and followed your commands.
In contrast, I went riding on the beach one time, and they took you out in groups of 20-30, making you wait til there were that many people. The guides didn’t say anything, and just made sure you turned around when you were supposed to. The horses were like robots, they walked no matter how hard you pushed them, turned around at the point they were supposed to, and hurried as quick as you let them back to the stable. Not a good experience at all and no matter how great it is to ride on the beach, I won’t be doing it at that stable again. I have a friend who had a similar experience, but she tested her horse and made a comment to one of the people that her horse was very smart and knew a lot, and the guy told her they were going to get rid of it then and made a comment that they’d shoot it for glue.
So there are a couple of contrasting experiences…My advice would be to just explore if you have the time, or ask around with the locals. Scout out the place before you go for a ride, and try to talk to the owner or some of the people who have already ridden there. Go for the smaller places, they will be more personal and willing to share knowledge with you.
References :
March 9th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
you can google the web site and it will tell you of the riding areas around you and the cost etc of everything you need to know pertaining to the place you find.
References :