Originally posted by rae519
I'm going to take my 8 year old son riding. Can you tell us about the ride - where did you go? Easy trails? Able to gallop in the water? ETC! Anything to whet the appetite!
Rae
The ride was approx. 90 minutes long... mostly on the beach... about 15 minutes went on path (wide like a road). On the path it gets a bit warm (no breeze), but on the beach it is breathtakingly beautiful. The beach is, for the most part, deserted. I think we saw two people during the entire ride.
Penny and her husband (cannot remember his name) were wonderful. Friendly and very entertaining. They were great with my DD (8). The possibility of galloping is based on the riders experience. You must discuss this with them when arriving and let them know of your wishes.
Depending on the month in which you will be riding... the morning ride is the best choice. Due to the Magic leaving the island so early, the sunset ride is not available. Penny offers the afternoon ride in it's place, only because of the demand. She would rather not have the horses on rides in the heat of the day.
The horses are great... friendly and calm. They will match the riders with the horses based on ability and such. We had a great experience! My DD is not experienced at all, she will start riding lessons this spring when the weather warms up. She rode with Penny on the back... however DD held the reins the entire time. Following the ride, Penny said that DD could have certainly handled the ride on her own, her "personality exhibits great control"
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We had a hilarious experience... DH's horse loves the water. Penny's husband told him as a young horse his previous owners used to take him into the water and he would just lay down in it. Well, DH led his horse into the water on the way back... and the horse laid down with him on his back! DH pulled up on the reins and UP the horse came and DH didn't fall off. It was hysterical. It all happened so fast that we didn't even get a picture... but we will laugh about it for some time to come.
I hope I have answered some of your questions... we would surely do it again!