Horseback Riding...where to start

[vicious]

My wife, kids, and I would like to get into horseback riding, and are looking for some insight. Right now, we have a good piece of land, and even a horse farm across the street, but we don't have any knowledge in caring for a horse.

Does anyone know of a place where we can go to learn to ride? Any awesome guided trail rides? How about pointers for someone who was raised in the city?

Assuming all goes well and we really do take a shine to it, our ultimate goal would be to buy a couple of horses.This is really an attempt to ensure our enjoyment of riding coupled with the effort to maintain happy and healthy horses is something we want to undertake.

We probably won't pursue anything until after the holidays, if that matters. So, any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[Old Fart]

We had horses on the farm when I was a kid.
I hate horses. But that's just me.
Spent way to much time behind them.

I think a couple of the state parks have horse rides.
Might be a good place to start.

 

[TerryMiller]

First of all, you will need a barrel of money (not a bucket), because horses are very expensive to maintain. Not only the daily feed, but also the vet bills. You'll need a very good fence around your property. The horses need to have room for running to stay in good physical shape.

As for a facility for learning to ride, I don't know what may or may not be close to you, but see if you can get in touch with some local participants in Future Farmers of America or 4-H. Perhaps you can find someone willing to allow your family to be involved with the care and feeding of their horses. In that line, you could ask for riding lessons for your efforts.

In addition, you would be getting first hand knowledge of what it takes to care and maintain the facilities and the horses. It is a daily, usually twice daily, ritual of caring for the feeding of the horses in addition to watching for signs of injury or illness.

One of the biggest problems is to get into a situation where your family may tire of being involved, but still want the horses around, and the horses begin to become difficult to control because they aren't being worked enough.

I'm not trying to discourage you in your desires because my wife and I both absolutely love horses, but we have learned first hand what it takes to take care of them. In spite of our love of horses, we will never have another. Keep in mind that should you need to take a vacation (without horses), you need to also find someone capable to care for them in your absense.

Good luck.
.

 

[stewartglock]

Check out Roman Nose, we used to go up there as a kid and ride horses on the trails. They will do guided tours where they provide the horses also.

 

[davek]

If you want to obtain a horse or horses you probably don't even have to pay for one. There are a lot of nice horses out there that can probably had for free to a good home.

 

[Super Dave]

Get two for sure. They get lonely.

 

[JTA]

A place I have gone, and enjoyed riding, was Thunderbird Stables. The trails are nice, the horses tame, and it would provide a nice introduction to see if you really like riding. Personally, horses have always been something fun to ride on occasion, but not in any way worth the hassle and expense of keeping full time.

 

[oknavy]

Taking the family for a few guided rides is a good start.

If you've still got the itch, explore leasing. Some horse owners will lease their horses for weekday or weekend riding. Keeps the horse exercised, and also provides some income to the owner, especially if they don't have time to ride the horse. The owner usually provides the board and feed, and the person leasing is simply paying a fair share of those costs.

The advantage of leasing is it allows you to get up close and personal with the rest of the story; grooming, mucking stalls, feeding, watering, cleaning hooves, etc.. If you discover your family isn't really enjoying the experience, you can get out relatively easily.

There are horse trails at Duncan Lake, and plenty of horses and owners there on weekends. Head out there and start asking questions.

 

[tntrex]

If you have kids. Don't get stud or mare, they can get goofy. Go with a gelding or 2. If your big butt wants on, get em 15 hands high or more. You can find some hurt/slight lame wore out tripping horses or header/heelers for cheap that has been worked more hours than a catapillar diesel and he will love you riding him casually but you cant ride hard. Geldings (usually) wont get wild when a mare is around, studs do.

They aint expensive if you have enough acres and a well. You dont even need them shod if you aint rodeo., just trimmed. Trimming you can do yourself. If you want shoes, they're around 80 bucks around here and thats every 6-8 weeks. They come to you. Vet is a bill depending on the horse shots needed. Don't know if you have a barn for shelter so that costs if not.

And always put your hand on his rear and keep it there as you walk around the back of him...

 

[338Shooter]

Get a horse.