Horse Travel Blog

i had to choose between riding to see the riviera maya and loma bonita.  i ended up choosing the second one because it had ‘pretty’ in the name.  what i based decisions on as a kid, ha!  anyways, it proved to be a good decision.  you got two hours of guided horseback riding complete with food and drink.

there were tons of beautiful horses to choose from.  just one group of them pictured above.  we rode on beaches, through jungles, around lakes and into mangroves.  we got to eat fruit off the trees and learn about mexican culture in the process.

this proved to be a very educational ride.  if you want to go have as much fun as i did, you need to make sure you make a reservation at least 48-hours ahead of time.  that minor effort is worth it when you realize how much fun you would have missed out on had you not made the call.

when i went to the big island of hawaii, i went horseback riding at the top of waipio. the trails we rode over looked the great valley of waipio and the view was just gorgeous. i got paired with the most awesome horse as well, which made the ride that much more enjoyable.

trail rides can last anywhere from 2 to 6 hours. you can make the ride completely dry, or you can opt to go look for hidden waterfalls. the most expensive and longest ride is $165. For a days worth of entertainment, that isn’t bad. the pictures from that day are just amazing, and come in such a wide variety.

you can get sun or shade, whichever you prefer. you can stop for a luxurious picnic lunch. even take a swim if you’d like. riding is kona is definitely a day i will remember for such a rich ride!

one summer my parents decided they wanted me to go away to camp.  i said i would agree if it was horseback riding camp.  so they did a little research and me and a friend were off to silver bit & spur farm.

located in the town of whitehouse station, this farm is known for the quality of it’s stallion breeding capabilities.  we were educated both on and off the horse.  the camp also provided other good for the body and brain activities to fill the 7-week time slot.

by the time camp was over, i was sad to leave.  my parents got a lot of bang for their buck.  i was taught valuable things all summer and it was cheaper then a sitter!  the above picture shows one of my favorite trail rides at camp.

i went to ocean city just to get out of town for a week and lay on the beach in the sun. well after about two days, i was bored so i decided to check into some activities. i found that horseback riding is very big in maryland.

there are many state parks and forests that are great for riding. there are professional equestrian centers, well trained horses, trail rides, carriages, etc. all providing many options for riding with a small or large group.

i choose to ride at morgan run because it provided the most trails for riding and was close to other places i was visiting in maryland. what i really liked was that i could combine my love for riding with one of my other passions, fishing. i was able to tie up my horse for a bit and be able to participate in some catch and release fishing! the picture above is of the beautiful horse i got to ride.

vacationing in the outer banks provided to good riding stables to choose from. we tested them both out and they both left us with an unforgettable memory of riding in NC. one is located in kitty hawk and the other in frisco.

equine adventures took us on a scenic trail ride through the woods of buxton. the owner sylvia was super friendly and really cares about her customers. we got a very educational tour!

back country outfitters and guides took us on a peaceful ride along the beach. here we got to see a different aspect of the island and focus on the ocean and the many lighthouses that are on it. the most famous, hatteras lighthouse.

cozumel offers riding from either your resort or if you happened to be on a cruise, you could also arrange to go to a ranch from there. the view from horseback is quite the opposite that you see from the hotel or cruise ship. you can venture into the forests / jungles of cozumel that make the island seem that much more tropical.

we happened to be coming off a cruise ship and they worked our tour around our arrival/departure time. they being palmitas ranch which is on the southern part of the island. the excursion allowed you to get off the beaten path and enjoy nature in a new way. sunset riding on the beach was also offered for an additional fee.

one other thing that was different about riding in cozumel is that there were lots of spots to stop on the beach and tie the horses for a bit so you could stretch and wander. we saw lots of fun things like lizards, tropical birds and butterflies. and then the tour got a little more educational when we checked out the mayan ruins. got a little history lesson there.

it was absolutely amazing riding in cabo. not only b/c mexico is one of my favorite countries to travel to, but because of the beauty you get to explore. while they’re are some parts of mexico that aren’t so pretty, the ranches i have found provide the exact opposite.

i went riding at cuadra san francisco, which was is a ranch one of my friends happened to come across in doing research to plan our trip. the picture above is of the friends i went with. this ranch too, like most, offered riding excursions for both beginner and expert level riders. we had a mix in our group, and they worked with us to make every happy.

hawaii is definitely one of my favorite places to visit…and not just because of the horseback riding. i’ve actually only gone riding twice while there, on the island of oahu. one time, i went to waimea falls and took a tour of that state park by horseback. tours are offered by the hour and i would say this is a must do to add to your list while vacationing there.

waimea falls is located on the north shore of hawaii, just slightly inland. i remember going to sunset beach which was across the street from waimea falls park, so not that far inland! this is also where parts of jurassic park were filmed. so it’s not only a scenic ride, but also informative.

if you want to save some money, or are just on a budget, you don’t have to go to the park to ride. you can enjoy views of the waimea valley from a private ranch as well. there’s one called happy trails that offers small group tours, which are really good for beginners who require extra attention.

when i visited the island of DR, i stayed on the north side of the island. that just so happened to be where one of the nicest ranches i’ve ever been to is located. i went riding at the luxury caribbean villa resort, which is home to the sea horse ranch equestrian center.

this center provided one of the greatest tours i have been on in central america. this is probably due to the fact that it is one of the finest equestrian centers in the caribbean. they even offer boarding if you bring your own horse (for people who spend winters down south). they have veterinary, grooming and showing services all right there. real classy place, that offers overall great care for horses.

they offer both wilderness or beach rides. being such the big fan of sun that i am, i opted for the beach ride. i got to take in picturesque views of both the coastline and the countryside. i was able to see natural wonders up close and really enjoy those naturally breathtaking sites!

there are lots of ranches in jamaica that offer riding tours. the topography of the island allows adventurous visitors to check out all the exotic locations. i definitely enjoyed the marvelous view of seeing the island on horseback.

i went riding at braco stables. from here you are offered a variety of options. face challenging sand dunes to desert plains. you can ride your horse right into the calm seas. it feels so refreshing on those hot jamaican days.

one of the neat things about riding in jamaica was the food you were able to see and eat/buy along the ride. there were pumpkins, sugarcane, bananas, carrots, okra and much much more. you also learn a lot of history as you are shown around the island.