Back to Basics - Equestrian Escapes

Spending any length of time in the city can make you feel like the concrete jungle is starting to close in on you. Do you yearn for wide open spaces with plenty of room to run? Join me on a journey that will take us across rolling hills and grassy plains in search of the simple life - cowboy life - an equestrian escape.

Equitours - Texas Hill Country

Hidden among the juniper and oak trees in the Texas Hill Country, a quaint little dude ranch owned by Equitours sits on 6,000 sprawling acres, alive with all sorts of wildlife and native vegetation such as yucca and wild persimmon. You can observe deer and wild turkey as well as several specials of birds that call the Hill Country home. The headquarters of the dude ranch is housed in the main house of a historic South Texas cattle ranch dating back one hundred years.

Equitours riding packages are seven day/six night itineraries that include five days of riding. Each of those two days, Equitours offers two hours of trail riding and an additional, optional two hours of clinics. The clinics are limited to four riders and focus on good horsemanship and the connection between the horse and rider. You may even learn a trick or two.

There are other features of the Equitour's ranch to enjoy aside from horseback riding. The ranch offers hiking and biking trails and there are water sports, such as kayaking, located nearby. The ranch also boasts a jacuzzi for ranch guests and optional spa services are available for additional fees. There is night life to be found in nearby Bandera, Texas as well as quaint shops and restaurants.

Guest accommodations are recently constructed cabins built with a rugged style. They offer many amenities such as central air and heat as well as full kitchens. Guests will dine with their host in the main house in a friendly, casual atmosphere. The ranch books riders year round, but prefers Sunday arrivals. For more information, log on to www.equitours.com or contact Roz Abel at 1-800-545-0019.

Hidden Trails Tour Company- Nevada/California

The Sierra Mountains of Nevada and California hold a centuries old secret. A secret so well kept that it seems frozen in time. Herds of mustangs - wild mustangs - galloping through the foothills and valleys of the Inyo National Forrest. The Hidden Trails Touring Company offers four day excursions through the Sierra and White Mountains while tracking the wild herds through their natural habitat. This tour is for the true adventurer at heart because there are no modern conveniences. It's truly done the cowboy way - complete with sleeping under the stars and having meals prepared on a campfire. During the trip, your experienced guide will teach you about the native flora and fauna surrounding you as well as the history and saga of the mustangs.
This adventure is only available for select dates in May - June each year so book early. Prices are all inclusive (including tent) and all you need to bring is your personal gear such as a sleeping pad and bug spray. For more information, you can log on to www.hiddentrails.com or call 1-888-9-TRAILS (1-888-987-2457)

French Broad Ranch - Del Rio Tennessee

French Broad Ranch is sequestered high in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. French Broad Ranch has everything you'll find in the dude ranches and horseback riding companies in the west, but it's centrally located in the east. Save on plane fare by taking a day's drive to the Ranch. It's located four hours from Atlanta, Nashville, and Charlotte and five hours from Cincinnati. French Broad Ranch has a family atmosphere with activities for every age.

The all inclusive "American Plan" package gets you in on every last second of fun that the ranch has to offer. The horseback riding program saddles you with a purebred Arabian horse, which you'll ride and learn to care for the length of your stay. You can take your mount down a wildflower trail or show off your riding skills during one of the team penning events on a cattle drive.

Experience the thrill of white water rafting with two scheduled rafting trips included in the package and then calm your nerves by drifting down French Broad River on a lonesome tube. You can participate in as many or as few activities as you wish. It's all up to you. French Broad Ranch also offers a children's program for the younguns. Some of the highlights of the children's program are horse painting, arts and crafts, treasure hunts, and water sports - all planned with them in mind.

The fun doesn't stop when the sun goes down. In the evening hours, the ranch offers pioneer games, hoe downs, sing a longs, bon fires, and even a square dance mixed in once in a while.

French Broad Ranch offers various sizes of accommodations by way of cabins. Built in 2001, these cabins feature all the amenities of home and boast central air and heat. For more information, log on to www.frenchbroadriver.com or call 1-800-995-7678.

There are several horseback touring companies offering trips and tours in the United States and Canada. Some companies are soley for beginning horsemen while others are almost competitive in nature for the advanced rider. Slow paced or high energy, these ranches have lots to offer. Whatever your level of adventure, you're sure to find an equestrian escape to suit your needs.