Adventure Outdoors Magazine Fall 2016 | Page 94

Guided horseback lessons are most common, especially because a lot of these horses are privately owned and/or rescued from their show or race days. These creatures have not solely existed to give rides to the kiddies in fall season at the pumpkin patch, and they certainly don’t spend their days roaming the countryside like their ancestors did. The horses you’ll ride today usually have quite a backstory, so make sure you find a guide willing to share those moments with you. Once you meet your horse and take them out, you’ll feel much more connected. IF YOU’RE GOING TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS, YOU’LL WANT TO SIGN UP FOR A GUIDED HORSEBACK RIDE THERE. With inexpensive rates and an ample amount of time spent riding, a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will be well worth the wait. You will get to take your horse on park trails and through scenic routes, all at a walking pace, for several hours if you wish. There won’t be any sprinting or trotting paces, as the terrain is meant for leisure, and you’ll want to enjoy your time, rather than racing a horse through the pines. You will, however, get to cross rivers, see waterfalls, and immerse yourself into the flora and fauna of the park. Check out the Smokemont Riding Stable in Cherokee, North Carolina, to plan your trip. There are hundreds of other stables to choose from if you won’t be in the Carolinas, such as Cades Cove in Tennessee. 92 Fall 2016 Adventure Outdoors