Saddle Up for Spring Break!
Published by GHC • Mar 2nd, 2009 • Category: Odds & Endsby Allison, age 13
Spring break is coming soon! Do you have anywhere to go? Check some of these horsey destinations to add to your vacation plans!
National Parks: No matter where you live or where you are going, there is probably a national park near you. Many parks allow horses to ride some of their trails. You and your horse could go on a day-long trail ride and experience new and challenging terrain from deserts to mountain paths. This is also an option with a less experienced rider. You might not want to tackle the mountain, but who says you can’t have fun riding through the beautiful fields and plains our country has to offer?! To learn more about horseback riding in the national parks, visit nps.gov.
Assateague Island: My idea of the best vacation ever! This national park is every horse lover’s dream! Many of you may of read the book Misty of Chincoteague. Well, this is what the book is all about. On Assateague Island, you can find the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge where many of the island’s wild horses are allowed to graze. While you might not be able to ride much (due to the spread of diseases this time of the year), you will be able to enjoy watching the wild horses. More information about this can also be found at the National Park Service’s website.
Trail Rides: I know a lot of you are saying, “Hold on, I think I am a little too experienced with horses to go on a slow trail ride.” Have you ever heard of unguided trail rides? If you don’t have your own horse, this is a great way for you experienced riders to ride at your level. You rent a horse and ride him for a set period of time on the land of the ranch that offers unguided trail rides. For the less experienced rider, guided trail rides can be fun. Be sure to ask about the horses’ gait on the trail, BEFORE you sign up. Some riders may not feel comfortable at a trot and would not enjoy a trail ride where they had to trot. Other riders may not enjoy staying at a slow walk the entire trail ride and will want to sign up for a trail ride where you trot.
Dude Ranch: All of you English riders can experience horses in a different way. When you stay at a dude ranch, you can have fun trying out a “cowboy’s life” and a Western saddle. Many dude ranches offer overnight trail rides, which can be lots of fun. Some even include a cowboy breakfast. Yee-haw!
I hope these ideas help you think about vacations you can take with horses! Please feel free to comment about other ideas any of you have. I’m looking forward to seeing some great ideas!
Allison: I also encourage people to visit Corolla, North Carolina! Wild horses are there, too!
Here is their website if you want tocheck it out:
corollawildhorses.com
I think that going to Assateague island would be great! I love those stories!
LeadMare, can I be off topic for a second on my own blog? I have great news!
Narnian Rose: I am SO glad you decided to stay (you did didn’t you?)!!!!! I looked up the website about the wild horses in Corolla, and I thought that it would be perfect for a horse girl vacation! Wild horses are just so beautiful. After all, there are more things to do than ride when it comes to horsey vacations. I just can’t wait for LeadMare to comment!! I might be able to start riding lessons!!!!!!! I told you around Christmas time about it, but thing hadn’t worked out until now!! It’s not definite yet, but we are pretty sure things are going to work out. More word later!!!! I’m so excited!
Allison, that’s fantastic!!! We’ll keep our finger’s crossed that everything works out and look forward to hearing all about the experience.
Also wanted to say this is a perfect example of going off the topic of your blog while keeping true to what we’re about (horses, that is). Thanks for being such a great role model.
YOU HAVE NOT LEFT NARNIAN ROSE? whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Allison: I did decide to stay!!! Keep up the great work on your blogs!
Thanks,
Narnian Rose
If y’all ever vist Ohio… check out Hocking Hills. It is a beautiful reservation with trail rides and parks. No wild horses there but I assure you.. it is not dissapointing.
Peanut: I have decided to stay, girl!!!
Allison: If you do get to have riding lessons be sure to let us know!!! We want to celebrate with you!!!
P.S. I heard the gymnastics star Shawn Johnson is going to be on Dancing with the Stars!!!
LOL! Whenevr my parents talk about a family vacation I mention a horse trip. Of course my brothers glare at me and exclaim ‘that’s somehting for YOU not for the whold family!’ what they don’t understand is that horses CAN be for the whole family! If they just ride ONE time they will LOVE horses forever!……(think I am typing the beginnings of a new blog idea……)
Ooooh! I want to go to Assateague so bad! I’m obsessed with the Misty books and have always wanted to go. (And get a pony!) :)
Allison THANK YOOU a million times! besides this being a awsome post, well, I was supposed to be on the computer doing a report for assateugue island and I couldent find very good sites your link gave me a site
YOU’RE WELCOME a million times, Ginger! My family says the same thing, Violet Inkpen. They have ridden before, but they just don’t like horses! I know, I’m shocked, too. Just don’t get your hopes up that your family will fall in love with horses right away. But anything’s possible, right?!
Girls: I have a lil’ brother.He, at least, is cooperative about the vacation thing. My parents are normally willing to let me do what I want to do on vacations. When we went to Corolla they even let me go see the wild horses!
Assateague Island would probably be my choice. I would love to see wild horses (or ponies..) running around, or even grazing.
Someday I hope I could get one for myself at an auction… :)
Great blog, Allison!
-mustangmane
Narnian Rose- I knew you wouldn’t go! It’s great to have you back.