Horseback riding?

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
6,457
6
81
The only local place I've found so far to offer horseback riding wants you to sign up for classes. I just wanted to take a ride. Do I need tons of classes? I mean I see drunk housewives from orange county do it. I should be able to right?

SO my question is can anyone with no experience find a plce and go horseback riding?
what should I look or ask for?

thanks!
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,599
1,001
126
Originally posted by: mcveigh
The only local place I've found so far to offer horseback riding wants you to sign up for classes. I just wanted to take a ride. Do I need tons of classes? I mean I see drunk housewives from orange county do it. I should be able to right?

SO my question is can anyone with no experience find a plce and go horseback riding?
what should I look or ask for?

thanks!

Where do you see drunk housewives from orange county riding horseback? :confused: TV doesn't count. ;)

I haven't ridden a horse in years but with a few minutes of instruction and a docile animal you could be riding in very little time at all. You'll probably be sore tomorrow though. :p
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,413
19,791
136
I think I got about three minutes of instruction before riding my sister-in-law's horse.
 

mcveigh

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2000
6,457
6
81
but would commercial place give a few minutes of instructions and let the kids ride?
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,998
126
When I was little my mom took my sister and I trail riding. You got about 5 minutes of instruction, climbed about and took off. It's not rocket science, I can't see why you'd need to take classes first. There were a lot of 1st-timers riding in our group and nobody had any problems.
 

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,998
126
This is sort of what we did when I was a kid. Different place, but looks almost exactly the same concept.

Text

Do a search for horseback trail rides or horseback trail riding for your state, you should be able to find something similar. It's a perfect way to introduce kids to horses.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
From what my friend tells me (She's big on riding. Works in stables, etc...), Florida has a decent equestrian scene. I would think that you shouldn't have too hard a time finding a place to ride. When I was a kid in Michigan, there was a place near my grandfather's we used to go to every time we visited. They certainly had no problems letting us hop on and riding at full gallup. Very minimal instruction required.
 
Jun 4, 2005
19,723
1
0
Yeah, I jumped up on a horse on my own when I was younger. We walked around the bull pen for a little while, which was okay. Then we went on a trail through trees and shit. Probably the most boring thing I've ever done. I wanted some high speed fucking horse racing, but instead I got horses that walked slower than I do, stopping to take a shit and sniff each others asses every 5-10 minutes.

But overall it was a decent experience.

Fuck.
 

Gooberlx2

Lifer
May 4, 2001
15,381
6
91
Originally posted by: LoKe
Yeah, I jumped up on a horse on my own when I was younger. We walked around the bull pen for a little while, which was okay. Then we went on a trail through trees and shit. Probably the most boring thing I've ever done. I wanted some high speed fucking horse racing, but instead I got horses that walked slower than I do, stopping to take a shit and sniff each others asses every 5-10 minutes.

But overall it was a decent experience.

Fuck.

I think a lot of places aren't even allowing you to trot, much less gallop anymore due to liability crap. Kinda sucks. At least I got my trail riding experiences in as a kid before all that. I remember riding out in Wyoming. I felt like a real fucking cowboy....of course I was 7 or 8 at the time.
 
Jun 4, 2005
19,723
1
0
Originally posted by: Gooberlx2
I think a lot of places aren't even allowing you to trot, much less gallop anymore due to liability crap. Kinda sucks. At least I got my trail riding experiences in as a kid before all that. I remember riding out in Wyoming. I felt like a real fucking cowboy....of course I was 7 or 8 at the time.

I signed a waiver saying I wouldn't sue their balls off, and yet I didn't even get a simple trot. Slowest horses I've ever seen.
 

KillerCharlie

Diamond Member
Aug 21, 2005
3,691
68
91
That's what horses do - they walk. They only trot/canter/gallop for short distances. Galloping is uncomfortable (especially if you're a guy) if you're not extremely experienced, and anything faster isn't a good idea if you don't have some experience.
 

sdifox

No Lifer
Sep 30, 2005
101,078
18,169
126
Isn't there a fair near you? I am sure you can get a pony ride in a fair, or animal farm. My kid loves mini horse ride and camel ride in the Zoo.
 

sierrita

Senior member
Mar 24, 2002
929
0
0
Originally posted by: KillerCharlie
Galloping is uncomfortable (especially if you're a guy) if you're not extremely experienced, and anything faster isn't a good idea if you don't have some experience.



I think you meant "trotting"...what is faster than a gallop; does your horse have an afterburner?

 

xanis

Lifer
Sep 11, 2005
17,571
8
0
I can ask my friend when I see her next (she goes horseback riding every Thursday). I'm pretty sure that you can just get some lessons and jump right in.
 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
Originally posted by: GagHalfrunt
This is sort of what we did when I was a kid. Different place, but looks almost exactly the same concept.

Text

Do a search for horseback trail rides or horseback trail riding for your state, you should be able to find something similar. It's a perfect way to introduce kids to horses.

Hardly perfect. Trail horse know stupid riders and don't obey.

Perfect is taking lessons one on one...outside that the horses learn to defy the rider.

 

alkemyst

No Lifer
Feb 13, 2001
83,769
19
81
one of the scariest things a rider can experience is a horse doing a full gallop next to a fence trying to scrub them off.