Horse Riding

[sharon78]

Horse World Riding Stables and Grand Cypress Equestrian Centre;Ive read about them in Simons & Susans book and was wondering if anyone has been to any of them,if so what are your experiances?
Im looking for some horse riding that we can all do together DH and my self have ridden (horses) before but DD's havnt.
Were staying at Pop and will have a car.
Thanks

 

[Ware Bears]

We went to Horse World. We chose it because it was nearer to our hotel. The horses were well cared for and the stables were well kept.
I am an experienced rider but it was the first time for DH and DDs so we went on the Nature Trail Ride. It was nice to ride together as a family and see the real Florida, however there is no way this can compete with the scenery on a ride in the British countryside! One thing that did surprise me was that all riders were left to their own devices once on their horse. One person from the stables led the ride and another brought up the rear but in the UK, I have always found beginners are led either by someone on foot or on horseback. That said, all the horses were well-behaved and there weren't any problems. We all enjoyed it.

 

[disneyholic family]

I'm only familiar with the Tri-Circle D riding stables on Disney property (at Fort Wilderness) and the Grand Cypress equestrian center.

The Grand Cypress has both English and Western style (not at the same stables, the English is the main equestrian center, the western is just trail riding on the other side of their property - you can find information about both online).

The Disney riding stables are much more basic than the Grand Cypress (which is an amazing equestrian center). The Disney 'ranch' takes people on trail rides (western saddle). I can't remember if it's an hour or half hour long.

It's a nice little trail ride for beginners and the horses are well behaved and well trained. Again you only have a disney worker at the front and back of the line and the rider is on his own, but these horses are automatons, so there's no problem. You ride through the woods of Fort Wildnerness and there are a few props along the way as i recall.
It's a walking only ride (no trotting, and certainly no cantering).
But it's very nice for what it is. We did this twice with my kids when they were younger and they enjoyed it (as did my husband, who isn't a rider).

The Grand Cypress equestrian center is on a much much much higher level, but i don't know if you need that for a simple holiday experience. However their horses are also highly trained. Probably if we were to ride on holiday now, we would opt for the Grand Cypress, on the more advanced trail riding. But we don't really feel the need to do what we already do at home.
The disney stables on the other hand, though very basic in terms of riding, were cute and more of a disney experience.

 

[sharon78]

Thanks Elaine and Beth for your input.
The Grand Cypress does sound a bit much for what were really looking for.
The Horse World sounds ok,ill also take a look at the Disney one.

 

[Ware Bears]

Oops, forgot about the riding at Disney, we would have picked there if we could have, but their minimum age is 9 and my youngest DD was only 7 at the time.

 

[sharon78]

I think thats why we didnt go ahead with it the last time we went because DD was only 7.So she will be old enough this time,she'll be 9

Just noticed your Countdown Elaine,do our holidays overlap?
When are you going ,where are you staying?

 

[Ware Bears]

Just noticed your Countdown Elaine,do our holidays overlap?
When are you going ,where are you staying?

We're going 22nd March until 12th April, staying at Comfort suites Maingate East. We're also going down to St Pete's for 3 or 4 nights in the middle of our holiday but haven't booked that yet.

 

[SimonV]

We're just back from a day at Forever Florida (south of St Cloud in Osceola County) and had the most wonderful western trail ride first thing in the morning, with truly beautiful weather. Just the three of us, and our guide was a true Florida cracker (fourth generation), and we also saw gators, turtles, wild turkeys, a panther (WAY in the distance!), white-tailed deer, turkey buzzards and a bald eagle. We then went on their signature Swamp Buggy tour, which lasts a full two hours and is a real education (in the company of an Apache grandmother!). Just can't praise this opoeration enough - look up more on www.floridaecosafaris.com.

 

[disneyholic family]

and our guide was a true Florida cracker (fourth generation)

i'd be careful in my use of the term cracker, as it's not considered exactly complimentary....I won't say what the equivalent term is for an African American, but cracker is definitely not a term I would use in describing a white person.
A cracker might possibly use it to describe himself, much in the same way African Americans use certain words when speaking to each other, but cracker isn't a term for non-crackers to use, unless you mean to be disparaging.

the following is from www.thefreedictionary.com
crack·er (krkr)
n.
1. A thin crisp wafer or biscuit, usually made of unsweetened dough.
2. One that cracks, especially:
a. A firecracker.
b. A small cardboard cylinder covered with decorative paper that holds candy or a party favor and pops when a paper strip is pulled at one or both ends and torn.
c. The apparatus used in the cracking of petroleum.
d. One who makes unauthorized use of a computer, especially to tamper with data or programs.
3. Offensive
a. Used as a disparaging term for a poor white person of the rural, especially southeast United States.
b. Used as a disparaging term for a white person.

 

[USA_mad02]

Hi We went to Horse world and loved it. There was four of us so it was a little pricey, but worth it. None of us had any experience and didn't have a problem. The people are nice and it is nice to be away from the busy parks. Although you are in the forest the sun still gets through and there is little shade so don't presume you will be in the shade. After the ride it is really painful I couldn't sit down properly for days! It is good fun would definately recommend it!

 

[disneyholic family]

Although you are in the forest the sun still gets through and there is little shade so don't presume you will be in the shade.

that reminds me why we haven't ridden the last two years....it was so incredibly hot when we were there, even just thinking about putting on jeans and closed shoes and a hat was unbearable.....

so i think it also depends on what time of year you go....

 

[sharon78]

Thanks for the reply and the link Simon,it looks like a really great place,unfortunately our youngest will only be 9,they like their riders to be 12,10 if experienced.


USA_mad 02,Was it the nature trail ride you went on?
I must admit i didnt think about being saddle sore!

 

[Ware Bears]

Wow, Forever Florida looks a great place. My youngest is also going to be too young, she's only going to be 10, but I've bookmarked the link because I also like the look of the Swamp Buggy tour.

 

[SimonV]

Interestingly, our guide introduced himself as 'a fourth generation cracker' and everyone who works there refers to themselves as 'crackers.' Osceola County is full of 'cracker' history, and the original derivation of the word, it seems, is clear enough - 'crackers' were the cow-hunters (not cowboys - now THAT is a term that is considered offensive to genuine crackers!!) who cracked their whips (because lassos were not practical in the Florida scrub) to herd the cattle which were central Florida's original industry (before logging and citrus). It did become a perjorative term in the 1950s and, unfortunately, still has that connotation to some people. But if that's how the people themselves like to be called, that's fine by me (Dee, our Apache tour guide, also called herself an American Indian rather than a Native American, which is another indication of how political correctness of language can trip us up).

And, for those who like to learn a little more about these things, the Cracker history of central Florida is a genuinely fascinating subject, as cow-hunters here pre-dated the cow'boys' of Texas and beyond. So, John Wayne should really have come from Florida!! There were also 'cracker' cattle and 'cracker' horses, and Forever Florida is actively working to bring back these original breeds, which were incredibly hardy animals.

Look up more on Kissimmee's cracker history here: http://www.florida-agriculture.com/livestock/cracker_cattle.htm and here: http://www.floridacattlemen.org/fca/history.htm