| back riding vactions are a time of the year that | | | | One of the most awesome places in the world is in |
| horse lovers look forward to, whether its with the | | | | the Grand Canyon located in Utah and Arizona. Grand |
| whole family with kids included or just the two of | | | | Canyon Winter Pastures is one of the few stables |
| you. Here we will talk about a few vacation spots to | | | | that allows you to ride your horse down in to the |
| take your horses to, or if thats not possible rent the | | | | canyon all saddled up with pack horses. This trip is |
| horse, saddle and tack right there. Either way you will | | | | not to be confused with infamously tedious donkey |
| have a great western riding experience. | | | | rides. This is a rigorous horse pack trip into some of |
| Walden Creek Stables in the Smokey Mountains of | | | | the canyon's least frequented drainages. Often riders |
| East Tennessee is our first stop. This riding stable has | | | | need to dismount in order to lead their horses |
| five hundred acres with one-hundred horses and fifty | | | | throught hazardous spots. Checking your saddle and |
| riding cowboys to keep the action going for seven | | | | tack often is the norm on this trip to make sure all is |
| days a week, and that includes Christmas Day. So | | | | secure. The groups are small and everyone must be |
| you can pretty much plan a trip here all hear round | | | | willing to pitch in around camp. The scenery alone is |
| complete with saddle and tack. This Stable has | | | | worth the trip. |
| horses for every level of horsemanship so there are | | | | Now we find ourselves in California at the Redwood |
| no worries there. Not only do they have several trails | | | | Coast Ride stable. This ride goes everywhere from |
| to choose from but on special nights there is a Wild | | | | sandy beaches of the Pacific to the majestic |
| West Show with live entertainment. | | | | redwood forests in northern California. Your riding |
| Now lets jump on over to Wyoming where jumping | | | | guide has twenty-five years experience as a riding |
| in the saddle all tacked up and riding horses is just | | | | instructor. I would say a beginning rider might want |
| about second nature. Bitterroot Cattle Roundup is a | | | | to take a few lessons before trying this ride, |
| great place to learn to ride in some of the most | | | | although it is certainly more tame than the Grand |
| beautiful country you'll ever see. The Bitterroot cattle | | | | Canyon adventure above. |
| graze on the adjacent national forest land from July | | | | So far we haven't talked that much about beginner |
| to October. Guests who ride well enough can help | | | | riders or lessons. At Medicine Hat Trail Ride in |
| the cowboys with the work of herding the cows into | | | | Carthage, MO, you can find a place to do both. You |
| the mountains the first week of July and rounding | | | | start off by learn how to groom and prep a horse |
| them up again in the last week of September, known | | | | for riding to putting on all the tack, then on to the |
| as the "roundup". The cattle are spread out over | | | | trail for an hour long lesson that is relaxing and |
| fifty square miles of high mountains, forests, clearings | | | | educational. While riding, you learn all the little signs of |
| and river valleys. When you return to your log cabin | | | | reading a horses disposition with the position of his |
| each evening, you'll have a nice cozy bed waiting for | | | | ears and a swish of his tail. Great for kids and adults |
| you. | | | | alike. |