Yeehaw!
Yesterday’s horseback riding adventure was a lot of fun!
During our time on horseback I realized that horses make me a little nervous. I have a very healthy respect for them, that’s for sure.
The last time I went horseback riding was many years ago with my family and friends. I was assigned a horse that “didn’t get along” with my friend Paige’s horse on the ride, and I was instructed to keep my horse away from her horse.
It ended up being the goal of our two horses to mess with each other and nip at each other. It was incredibly nerve-wracking and at the end of the ride, my horse even went up on its hind legs at one point which totally freaked me out. Since then, I’ve realized just how vulnerable I am when I’m riding a horse. They are big, powerful animals!
We arrived at Cactus Jack’s Trail Rides around 1:30 p.m. for a 90-minute ride with a small group of four people.
After filling out some paperwork, Ryan and I were assigned to our horses.
Meet my horse, Ducky!
Ducky is an ex-polo horse that was injured and nursed back to health and is now one heck of a well-behaved trail horse. He was responsive to my commands and after 20 minutes on his back, I began to trust him and relax a bit.
Ryan’s was assigned to Dollar, a horse that loved to eat!
Our trail ride went through the forest and some open fields.
We passed tons and tons of blackberry bushes. I wished they were taller so I could pluck some berries off to eat on the ride.
For most of the ride, our horses simply walked along but we did get a chance to trot a few times. I was happy I took your advice and wore jeans because the 92-degree weather wasn’t too awful in the woods since there was a pretty steady breeze. I didn’t slide around on the saddle at all.
Speaking of jeans, I wore my thinnest pair and used these awesome velcro strap things (Hollywood Boot Straps) that I got in my Christmas stocking to keep my jeans tucked into my boots.
They worked perfectly and kept the denim off my ankles so my feet could breathe a bit. I always struggle with jamming my jeans into my boots, so these straps were great!
When we got off our horses, we walked funny for a little while and had a good time laughing at each other as we adjusted back to life off of a horse.
Hope your weekend is going well! 
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LOL at the horse that loves to eat, that would probably be the horse I’d get! Those boot strap thingers are…quite interesting!
I love riding horses. I used to ride, and I’ve fallen of too many times to count. Thankfully they were all forward falls from me leaning too far when the horse was trotting!
What you describe about your past experience is exactly why I find horses a little scary! They’re just so big & powerful; it freaks me out a bit. It looks like you & Ryan had two nice, tame ones though!
And I need to get those jean strap things!
Every time I go horseback riding I always gets the horse that wants to stop and eat every clump of grass on the trail.
One of my friends has two horses and being around them has erased any fears I had about horses. They just act like big puppy dogs.
Love those velcro straps! I’ve never heard of those and might have to look into getting some. I always have issues when I try to put skinny jeans in boots, especially if the boots are a bit on the short side.
This looks like so much fun! I can’t actually remember the last time I went horseback riding- it was probably back when I was a kid and my class went on a fieldtrip! I would have been pretty freaked out if the horse went back on its hind legs as well. Enjoy the rest of your weekend Julie!
That looks like a fun ride! I always get ‘bad’ horses when I go riding–they kick other horses, run to the front of the group, lay down (w/me still on)…good thing i grew up at a daycare that had horses so I am at least comfortable around them.
Where did you get your tank top??? I love it because its so long.
thank you! i got it at a little local shop in st. pete called “the shop.”
how fun!! i feel the same way about horses… they are definitely powerful animals that i have developed a lot of respect for throughout my experiences with them. i need to get some of those boot straps!
That looks like fun! Your outfit was cute!
I am not a huge horse fan, bad experiences from summer camp as a kid with old, stubborn horses! haha
Those boot straps are genius! I will have to look for some here, never knew they existed.
Looks like fun! I haven’t ridden a horse since I was a little kid. It’d be fun to ride again.
I love horseback riding 🙂 And I always have that problem with jeans and boots – looking those jean things up right now!
Looks like a lot of fun. I have only been on a horse once and since I live in Ocala, the horse capital of the world, I feel I should be more experienced! lol Glad you had a good time!
I had a terrible experience with horseback riding! I went on a “romantic” ride in the mountains with a boyfriend in college and my horse, Reba, tried to knock me off of her back by leaning against trees and going of the trails where there were low trees. And the entire time the guide and my boyfriend were way ahead of me. It was awful. The only way I would ride again is on a treeless beach!
I think the trail ride looks like fun! I don’t live too far from Ocala, but have never been. I’d like to go horse back riding, but the one time my husband and I did, he was in terrible pain… if you get my drift. lol 😉 So how did Ryan fare? Hope it wasn’t too bad for him!
The horses are beautiful, but I agree, they’re so powerful and make me a bit nervous. Feel so out of control on there. Glad you had a good one! Oh, and those boot straps rock! I need to get me some of those!
ha!! ryan was a-okay1 🙂
Glad to hear you had a better experience this time around, Julie! I can TOTALLY relate to your first experience. I once went horseback riding with my family and got the “wild pony.” He was so restless and tried to throw me off too, by going on his hind legs. NOT fun.
Just bought my Hollywood Boot Straps on Amazon! Thanks for the tip, Julie! 🙂
Oh geez, when you mentioned the horse going up on it’s hind legs, it remind me of when I was 8 or so and we were horseback riding in Tennessee and my horse got spooked and started backing up off a cliff..one of the scariest moments for me. If I ever ride again, it’ll be where there aren’t mountains – just flat, level ground for me please.
looks like fun! Just wondering where you got your sunglasses?
they’re kenneth cole and i think i got them at tjmaxx or marshalls a few years ago.
I feel the same way about riding horses… they scare me a bit! And where did you get that strap?! What a great idea!
I’m so glad you enjoyed your ride! 🙂 Pleased, also, that you went with the jeans and didn’t regret it. I love those velcro straps, I’ll have to look for some when I get back into riding again (sooner rather than later, hopefully!) as scrunched jeans in boots or half-chaps is never much fun and can definitely rub the wrong way on a long ride.
I’ve never heard of those velcro things before! I’m going to have to look into those- I know I’ve struggled in the past before with jeans + boots!
I feel like that about horses when I ride after not doing it for a while. I feel so high up whenever I first get on, but then I’m cool after a minute. It’s one of my favorite things to do and my ultimate stress reliever!
I was riding a horse in costa rica that tried to go on a highway on front of cars! So scary!
How fun! I love horseback riding. 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it! I LOVE horses and would love to live near them someday and have a chance to ride a lot!
I am petrified of horses. I don’t like things bigger than me that I can’t control, they make me so nervous, so I udnerstand!
I used to ride horses for years, and can’t believe how the stables let you all go without helmets! It is a cheap life insurance when on a horse, and frankly seems a little bit irresponsible of them to my eyes. Glad you were safe and enjoyed your ride!
I have those boot straps 🙂 I got them from Jo Ann’s and I love them. Also, this post makes we want to go riding. We have a ton of stables in Wisconsin, so I should check it out.
Looks like a good time. Thank you for posting the link to the boot straps – I am forever trying to figure out how to keep my jeans tucked into my boots without having them bunch at the knees.
I love horseback riding!! Its so fun!! I have those boot straps, they are fabulous! Such a good idea.
Gotta look into those straps! I’m short, so most of my jeans need to be files up a little.o don’t mind t too much unless I’m wearing boots, because there’s a ton of fabric bunched around my ankles! Yep.. Gotta get me some boot straps!
Oops, folded*, not filed.. Haha 🙂
I’m a little afraid of horses – they are beautiful animals, but I think I would rather just look at them than ride them 🙂 I have never heard of those boot straps, but what a great idea! I will def be investing in some!
Wow – kudos to you for having that crazy experience with your first horse encounter and then getting BACK in the saddle. I don’t know if I would have been so brave!
I’m an absolute horse lover and spent a lot of time around them growing up. I used to have my own and my best friend had a couple she showed. They are beautiful, intelligent and for the most part gentle. They can sense when your not at ease and then sometimes they will try to have their way with you. I’m glad you felt comfortable and enjoyed your trail ride.
I want to do this!!! Ocala trip???
I am not sure, but judging from the picture, they look a lot like the wider boot bands I use for my uniform to blouse my pants over combat boots. I always found the narrow ones would cut into my calves (so nice to be blessed with a good farmer girl’s legs, lol). Glad to hear you had such a nice ride, the last time I did a trail ride has to be about 10 years ago, I think it’s time to go again!
Ha, a healthy respect for horses- me too! I have a friend who owns a few horses. She took me riding once. I was so scared. I kept thinking “I’m going to fall off this thing!”.
Your jean straps look so funny but what a marvelous invention. I need to get me some of those! Way better than my method of tucking, pulling and putting the boot on as quickly as possible 🙂
So much fun! We have an outfitters group just up the street from us and I keep wanting to go. We just need to sign up and do it – stop talking about it all the time.
Those little jean straps are so clever!
You look great! I love horse riding, it’s such a great feeling and contact with the horse!
Julie, I LOVE your boots! I would buy some now but its already 95 degrees in TX. I probably wouldn’t get a chance to wear them 🙂