Duration

7 hours

About

Horses have always played a huge part in Colorado’s history, so why not add in that experience when you come to visit? Among the many adventure vacations that KODI offers, one of the most iconic is the horseback riding tour.

Join Mt. Princeton Riding Stables just beyond Buena vista, CO at 8:00 am for a 2 hour morning horseback ride followed by a 12:45 Rafting tour through Brown's Canyon National Monument!

Why Horseback Riding?
There’s something horseback riding teaches riders about Colorado that’s unique from river rafts. Like what it feels like to move across the open plains or navigate trails surrounded by the woods of aspen, tall pines, and sagebrush, and beautiful wildlife is something you and your family will always remember fondly.

KODI offers the best guided horse riding for kids and adults in Buena Vista, CO, and partners with the very best outfitters in the business. Before you go, make sure you check out some of our trip tips below!

Tips For Horseback Riding Trips

1. Find the correct horse for your skill level
   It can be tempting to seek out the most aggressive and wildest horse you can find on your first-time horse riding for adults. But don’t fool yourself; part of horseback riding is relinquishing full control and affording mutual respect to your animal. Never get on a horse that exceeds your skill level.

Your guides will always help you choose the right horse based on your skill level, and it’s important to trust their recommendations to have an ideal horseback riding adventure.

2. Inexperienced riders should never go alone
   Horses are majestic, powerful, but potentially dangerous animals. You should not attempt horse riding without the proper experience, and the best way to ride a horse with no experience is to hire a guide to accompany you and take you to known areas.

3. Keep your distance
   Although well-trained, horses can still be unpredictable, and they don’t understand how powerful their legs really are compared to humans. When horses get agitated or frightened during horseback riding adventures, they’ll sometimes kick their back legs toward the object or direction of their distress. You do not want to be too close when a horse kicks, so make sure you maintain your distance from the horse in front of you, especially during horse riding for beginners!

4. Learn how to dismount quickly
   There may be situations where riders need to perform an emergency dismount if horses are scared or agitated during their ride. Never attempt to diffuse the situation while mounted, as that can lead to injury. Instead, learn how to quickly dismount and de-escalate the situation from the ground.

5. Ride slowly
   Just like picking the most powerful horse, it can be tempting for new horseback riders to test their limits by riding aggressively and fast. This is not recommended, and riders should always remain in control and ride their horses at a safe, comfortable pace.

What to bring

Prepare for both activities – rafting is first in the morning, with the horseback ride in the afternoon.

For Rafting: Avoid cotton, jeans & long pants if possible. Comfortable, quick-drying clothing is best. Any outdoor gear, such as neoprene, polypropylene, wool, or fleece is best. KODI rents wetsuits, booties and splash tops if you would like some extra protection. You’ll also want to bring hats, sunscreen, sunglasses and tennis shoes (that you don’t mind getting wet) or rubber-soled attachable (no flip-flops or Croc's) sport sandals.

For Horseback Riding: We suggest wearing long pants and closed toed shoes (tennis shoes are fine). You are welcome to bring water. Also, if you enjoyed your trail ride, please feel free to provide a tip for our hard-working guides.