Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with horsebackriding

Horseback riding for big kids

Meifa — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:43:32 -0800

I want to take horseback riding lessons. I'm 24 years old. Oxymoronic? Details follow. Way back when I was... Oh, I don't know, 8 or 9 or something, I took English riding lessons. It went on for awhile, probably closer to two years than not. I'm not sure why I stopped; my mother says I got spooked from falling while learning to jump. I beg to differ, but who am I to say?

A few days ago, for whatever reason, I thought "Man, I wish I could take horseback riding lessons again." Soon thereafter, however, doubts came a-knockin':

1) I would be starting pretty much from scratch. It's been ages since I've been on a horse. 2) I live in suburban south Florida, so there aren't a lot of stables around (there are some "horsey areas," but they're a bit posh); cutting to the chase, while adult group lessons seem really attractive to me, I don't think there are many around here. So it looks like if I follow through on this, I would be going for private lessons.

My sticking points: Is 24 too old to learn how to ride seriously? Am I going to stick out like a sore thumb, an adult among children? And something I haven't mentioned: I'm not in any great shape. Can I hack it?

Drawing me on are a few big pluses, though. One, I really want to do it. What's more, I really need to develop new hobbies and meet new people. I think this might help me there.

Any tips, suggestions, advice? Help me get over my horse fright!

Why does this riding stable give me the creeps?

Joleta — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:55:14 -0800

Am I right to have a bad feeling about the horseback riding stable where I'm taking lessons? I signed up for horseback riding lessons through the park district, held at a local stable. I don't have much experience with horses, other than a few tourist trail rides. I've had a few lessons, but the stable depresses me. I realize that it's a stable, but it seems dark, cramped, and not terribly clean (piles of horse dung in the walkways, cobwebs all over the stalls).

Most of the horses have box stalls, but these stalls only open to an interior walkway, not to the outside. A few horses are in stalls too small for them to turn around in. There is no outside paddock area; the horses don't get to run around outside, although some of them are turned out in the inside ring at night.

The people who run the stable seem to be nice, caring people. The horses don't look abused or neglected. We're learning how to brush and care for the horses, not just how to ride them. Am I being too sensitive? Do horses not need to go outside regularly? (Full disclosure: I have two indoor cats and would never think of letting them roam around outside, so call me a hypocrite if you want.)

If this stable situation is unacceptable, what should I do?

Looks like I made a wrong turn at Albuquerque...

backseatpilot — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 07:11:00 -0800

Vacation in Albuquerque, and I'm looking to do a few specific things... other suggested activities also welcome. So I've decided to take a wrong turn at Albuquerque. I'm thinking of spending a week in the area, probably arriving the last weekend of the balloon festival (around October 10 or so). Planning on about a week in the area. I've found some information about things do to in the city proper, but I'd also like to get out into nature.

I'd like some suggestions for two activities in particular. First, some day hiking. I'm used to hiking in the woods and up hills in New England, so a change of scenery would be nice - something in the desert (are there any other options?), some heavy climbing is totally fine.

Second - a horseback trip. I have never ridden before, so I imagine a guided trip would be best, but preferably not something that's too touristy. Are there places that will do overnight trips? I don't mind joining up with a random group of strangers.

Any other suggestions for do-not-miss destinations or events? I'm not wedded to staying in the city for the entire time, so hopping around cities in the area (or day trips out of the city) is ok by me. Suggestions for places to stay (cheap B&Bs or quirky hotels)?

Which brings me to... can I do this without renting a car? I expect I'd need one to get to hiking/riding destinations, but inside the city? Or traveling to nearby cities? Could I get away with renting a car just for the days I'd actually be outside of the city limits?

Where should we go in Kentucky/Tennessee?

Quidam — Tue, 25 Dec 2007 22:06:38 -0800

Within 5 days, where should we take a roadtrip in Kentucky/Tennessee/other close-ish areas? So. A very good friend of mine lives in Texas, and I live in Cincinnati, OH. We have not been able to see each other since she moved to Texas two and a half years ago. This year, for Christmas, my mom and her dad got in cahoots back in October and secretly arranged, for both of our Christmas presents, to plan a trip for us to go on together in June of 2008. Her parents are flying her in and out of Lexington, KY, and we'll have 5 days 4 nights in the time that she's here.

Now, they picked Nashville, TN as a tenative place for us to go, but also left this mostly unplanned so we can pick what we want to do. At least one day should be spent in Nashville, but 5 days is a lot to spend in Nashville, so we're interested in a mini-road trip around the Kentucky/Tennesee area or anywhere else within, say, a 4 hour radius or so.

Of interest: hiking, horseback riding, whitewater rafting (we REALLY REALLY want to do this. where's the best place? West Virginia? is that feasible?), general exploring, the mountains, pretty scenery, other adventures, maybe a museum or two, etc. Not necessarily of interest: sporting events/things, pricey restaurants or hotels. We've got some time to save some money, but we're also both college students, so cheaper is defientely better.

Where are your favorite places in this neck of the woods? If it were you, what would you go and see? We're both female and will both be 21 at that time (though, I should add, neither of us drink much).

Thanks in advance!

Barns near Chicago?

fancypants — Tue, 04 Oct 2005 13:33:30 -0800

AskMe riders, saddle up! I'm looking for a good place to go horseback riding in Chicago. This may be a bit a of a longshot here... I recently relocated to Chicago from the Washington DC area and I'm looking for a good place to go horseback riding. I don't know anyone who rides out here and the internet has proved less than helpful so far. I'm an adult intermediate huntseat (english) rider and I live in the city proper. I'd like not to drive further than 20 miles or so or pay more than $40 for a group lesson, but I'm flexible.