A Horseback Riding Vacation

Diane Sears | 3/1/2008

Horseback riding at Amelia Island Plantation costs $80 per person for one hour.

Equestrians love this time of the year in Florida. The weather is good, and the equestrian winter show circuit is wrapping up. Riders of all skill levels can find something to do around the state. The latest in equestrian vacations:

» At the Florida Carriage Museum and Resort just south of Ocala, a “bed and barn” formerly known as the Austin Horse Park checks in both humans and horses. The grounds include a museum of more than 150 carriages, as well as horse trails, tennis courts, a swimming pool and a putting green.

» More people are combining horseback riding and golf. And resorts all over the state are cashing in: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Walt Disney World’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Westgate River Ranch south of Orlando, Amelia Island Plantation and Ponte Vedra Inn & Club near Jacksonville. Prices for guided trail rides or lessons on horseback range from $30 to $100 for 30 minutes to an hour.

The Grand Cypress Equestrian Center in Orlando.

» In western states, equestrian vacations have long been a staple, along with destination spa getaways. The Talking Horse Ranch in Arizona, which opened this year, combines the two, touting spa getaways for human and horse. Offerings include holistic healing, massage, homeopathy, acupressure, aromatherapy, nutrition, yoga, tai chi, meditation and hot tubs.

» New York company Cross Country International specializes in riding/golf vacations in international locales: Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Costa Rica and the Greek Isles. With the company’s inn-to-inn trips, one spouse can set off on a new trail ride every morning while the other plays a different course, and they meet up at a lodge for the evening, where a van has transported their luggage.

Tags: Dining & Travel