anybody ever go horseback riding?

[airhead]

We're going to be there for 2 weeks and I thought this might be a fun thing to do. Anybody ever go? Are the horses as tame as the write up in Birnbaum's guide book say?

thanks,
airhead

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We let our three sons do this. You have to make a reservation. I think they also made them wear a helmet. The horses were so tame they said it was totally boring. They all had to follow in a line at a slow pace. If the horse got out of line they quickly put it back in. No gallop, trot etc. They were upset when the cm told them they just missed miss teen usa and one of the backstreet boys or some boy band member once. If people in your party really love horses I guess it would be o.k. I dont think we would ever do it again. They were looking for some more exciting adventure then what they had.

 

[Curly Q]

I have never been horseback riding, but I remembered an article from the Passporter newsletter. Here it is, I hope you have fun! http://www.passporter.com/articles/trailride.htm

 

[Joyciemc]

It's a fun trip through the woods, but if you already ride, you'd probably be better off riding at home.
If you don't have riding experience, but want to try it, you'd be better off taking a few lessons at a stable near your home.. it'll be cheaper and you'll get to be an active participant, insted of just going along for the ride.

 

[AngieBelle]

Yeah, for the experienced rider, it's pretty tame, but I always love a trail ride. It's expensive to ride at Disney compared to local places, but an excellent beginners level ride if you've never ridden. For the more advanced rider, there's a place not far from WDW called HorseWorld. I've never gone there myself, but it sounds fun. Look it up on the internet- they have a webpage somewhere.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Gentle is not a word I would use to describe the horses, comatose would be more like it. It is a nice peaceful ride, pretty scenery, very s l o w pace. I have been riding since I was 6 and I am now one day older than dirt, so, for me it was not much of a challenge. But, it is a nice activity.

 

[jordgubben]

I went down with friends after graduating high school and one of the things that we did was go horseback riding. You are really just walking threw the woods on the horse. The thing I remember the most is that when the horses were lining up mine didn't feel like getting in line so I was all the way in the back away from my friends. That turned out for the better though because I was talking with the Cast Member in charge of bringing upt the rear the entire time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Our 'trail ride' story.....my dh, myself (also getting to the older than dirt stage) and dd, 9 1/2. I knew going into this that it was going to be on the slow side. That's fine. Dh hasn't been on a horse in about 35 years and dd has only been on pony rides. I used to ride as a teen-ager but that's so far back that...oh, nevermind. Anyway....we were late getting there. Took a wrong bus. But, got there and were the last three in the line of about 13 horses. Long story short....the skies opened and we were completely soaked about 20 minutes into the ride. Once you got past that, it was pretty funny. The funniest part was when one of the three people running this shindig told us that we were going to head back instead of finishing the ride. We had been out about 30 minutes at this point and the ride was supposed to be 45 mins. You have to get a picture of a bunch of people, who have never been on horse-back, trying to turn their horses around on a path about 6' across!!! Too funny. But the bosses were quite good-natured, as were the horses. The cost for the three of us was $96. When we got back to the kennel area, they gave us towels to dry off with and refunded our money!!! My dd and my dh had a ball. We probably wouldn't do it again but it did give my dd a taste for riding a horse vs. a pony.
So, all in all....very sedate pace, horses followed nose to tail the horse in front of him. Helmets are suggested, but not mandatory. You do sign a waiver if you choose not to wear one. You don't even have a problem mounting. THey have you stand on a raised platform and just swing your leg over. Very easy. I will say that we had more fun at the trail ride than we did at the Luau at the Polynesian!!!

 

[Deb & Bill]

We did it last July and had a ball. Our son was celebrating his 10th birthday and this is what he wanted to do. It takes a while for everyone to get saddled up before they head out. They get one person on a horse at a time. There are three CMs riding with the group, one leading, one at the end and one riding up and down the line helping kids/people get their horses going. My horse just plodded along, same with my husband, but our son's horse kept stopping then trotting up to get back into line. It even galloped a little. He had a wonderful time.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hey Deb....was you ds's horse named Norman?? My dh's horse did this same thing. He was not amused. Norman kept stopping to eat the shrubbery along the way and then quickly caught up to the rest of us!! Too funny.

 

[Rneighh]

With 30 years horse experience, I feel compelled to respond to all horse related posts. As a kid in high school I escorted trail rides. Most people think they can ride much better then they can. I'm am sure that the pace is just fine for most people. Besides the beauty of a trail ride is to enjoy the scenery and wildlife in the area your are in. Smell the smells, feel the movement of the horses, listen to the sound of the hoofs hitting the trail. It is a time to relax and reflect.

We have had a backstage tour of Disney stables and they take great care of their animals. Don't waste your time at Horseworld. We decided to go there a few years back to see what it was like to ride in Florida (you don't see many Palms in northern Illinois). The horses were thin. The place is a disaster and the guides hated their jobs. At the time the cost was $30.00 per person for an hour. (We were only out 50 minutes)

We have never ridden at Disney (we have horses at home that are not ridden). But on our next trip we just may plan it since we are staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Renee

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Rneighh
With 30 years horse experience, I feel compelled to respond to all horse related posts. As a kid in high school I escorted trail rides. Most people think they can ride much better then they can. I'm am sure that the pace is just fine for most people. Besides the beauty of a trail ride is to enjoy the scenery and wildlife in the area your are in. Smell the smells, feel the movement of the horses, listen to the sound of the hoofs hitting the trail. It is a time to relax and reflect.

We have had a backstage tour of Disney stables and they take great care of their animals. Don't waste your time at Horseworld. We decided to go there a few years back to see what it was like to ride in Florida (you don't see many Palms in northern Illinois). The horses were thin. The place is a disaster and the guides hated their jobs. At the time the cost was $30.00 per person for an hour. (We were only out 50 minutes)

We have never ridden at Disney (we have horses at home that are not ridden). But on our next trip we just may plan it since we are staying at Wilderness Lodge.

Renee

I really don't like hack stables mainly because the horses are so ill kept. They are treated as "cash cows" with no regard to their health or happiness. I do like the way Disney cares for their horses, the care is obvious. Like you I have been around horses for years, we showed, trained, bred and actually had a very nice Arabian Horse Farm. It pains me to see animals not well cared for. But, Disney horses are cared for and it is a nice ride.

 

[airhead]

We have never been on a horse! We live in an area where most of our neighbors have horses,so we see them everday and I think we'd love this! It sounds like something we could definitely
handle! And,thanks for mentioning the care that Disney gives its horses. I know if I got to the stables and saw thin,unhealthy
animals it would totally bum me out. I would be so sad!
You have all convinced me---we're going on the trail ride!!!!!


airhead( ...that horse looks like my Doberman!)

 

[goofy4tink]

Renee....easy for you to say I sat back, relaxed, enjoyed the sights and smells (yes, even that wonderful horse smell that my mother hated so much!!). It was a terrific feeling being 'back in the saddle' again. Yeah, sure. Until the next morning when I woke up and found those previously forgotten muscles!!! I must have looked pretty funny, shuffling around the parks that day.

 

[Rneighh]

Just think what those muscles would have felt like with a more "acitve" ride

Renee

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Rneighh
Just think what those muscles would have felt like with a more "acitve" ride

Renee

LOL, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by airhead
We have never been on a horse! We live in an area where most of our neighbors have horses,so we see them everday and I think we'd love this! It sounds like something we could definitely
handle! And,thanks for mentioning the care that Disney gives its horses. I know if I got to the stables and saw thin,unhealthy
animals it would totally bum me out. I would be so sad!
You have all convinced me---we're going on the trail ride!!!!!


airhead( ...that horse looks like my Doberman!)

Well have a GREAT time and wear a helmet. Safety first!!! You simply never know.
BTW, I LOVE DOBIES!!!

 

[kapeppy]

Can anyone tell me if you have to make a reservation in advance for the horseback ride? We are leaving in 11 days and it sounds like something some of us may want to do.

Thanks!

 

[goofy4tink]

Yes, you should make them ahead of time. We had thought it was at 30 days but our DU agent told us it was 14 days. So, this is when it was booked. I believe there are 3 or 4 different ride times during the day. So, call now for your trip. And, yes, wear that helmet. Better safe than sorry.
And about those poor muscles....I thought the exact same thing as I 'rolled' out of bed that next morning. Maybe I should take up riding again!!!