Trail Rides
Gentle horses. Expert guides and wranglers. Great scenery. They add up to Trail Ride, a great way for amateur (even never-ever) horsemen to enjoy being a cowboy in the great outdoors.
In the Black Hills and Badlands, there are about 15 trail ride outfits that offer horseback excursions. You can choose from rides that last one-half-hour, one hour, two hours, half-day or full day. A one-hour ride is generally plenty for a greenhorn with a tender butt, and you can expect to pay $20 to $25 for your hour-long adventure. All riding skill levels are welcome. and you'll get a quick briefing and instructions on how to start, stop and steer your mount.
You can expect to be introduced to a gentle and sure-footed horse scaled to your own size. Your trail guide will be a genuine South Dakota cowboy or cowgirl who understands horses, and knows the territory. Because many riders are children or dudes, you'll go at a walk or a trot.
A trail ride is two experiences in one. Your horseback experience will include making friends with your mount, the smell of saddle leather and trail dust, the clip-clop and snuffling sounds of your pony, and the feel of a powerful rocking gait of an animal transporting you through place and time.
A trail ride is also an outdoor experience that might include forests and meadows, lofty overlooks with spectacular views, splashy water crossings, glimpses of wildlife, and the corny jokes of your wrangler. Some outfits combine morning rides with an outdoor breakfast, or p.m. riders with chuckwagon supper. Be sure to bring your camera.
Links to Consider:
Horse Trails and Camps
Horseback Riding
