Riding in Las Vegas

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JJ1987

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Just wondering if anyone has ever gone on a riding trip in Las Vegas or the Grand Canyon? Trying to find somewhere that will cater for more than just a gentle walk around - would at least like a bit of a blast on the trip! Any help/suggestions would be appreciated
 
Hi, there are few company's there and some will pick you up from the strip. But nearly all of them only take you on walks. Hubby and I went on a two hour one in mammoth lakes which is between Nevada and Yosemite. It was lovely but I would of liked to go faster, hubby sneaked in a cheeky trot but that was it.
The best thing to do is to email them and ask if they will let you do more than a walk. It will be very very hot out in the dessert, when are you planning on going?
 
We did the helicopter from the strip, over the Hoover dam and grand canyon, landed took a horse and cart to a ranch, had lovely Western ride in desert then BBQ complete with old cowboy on guitar then copter back! Was brilliant but no didn't get out of walk! Hope you have as much fun as we did in Vegas! P.s. Book you trip before you go as cheaper that way
 
I've done it twice, first time was a nightmare think seriously neglected horses and "hills have eyes movie" type people and location, and general feeling about it!!!

Second time was a dream! Gorgeous horses, BBQ food, cowboy on guitar etc.... Mostly walk, a bit of (bouncy!) trot and OH (riding retired ex kentucky derby racehorse!) had a good bit of (unplanned!) canter when pony saw home and food and knew it could get there quickly!!!

My advise? Research VERY well the "ranch", take your own hat, water, suncream and mobile phone and worry more about the quality of the trip itself than the speed you'll be going! It's so hot, you might not feel like "a blast" anyway!!!

Ps 2nd trip we had was awesome!!!!! X
 
I did the 3 parks trip with Unicorn Trails a couple of years ago which took in the Grand Canyon and was fantastic - 7 days camping, great horses, hosts and food and made some great friends. Echo above post though it was 120 degrees at Grand Canyon and the wind was so hot like a hair dryer on your face! Definitely the best way to see the parks, on the back of a horse. Quite difficult terrain on some of the tracks, and some of the riders struggled a bit but everyone helped each other through the rough bits so we all had the best time.
 
Thanks for your replies guys! We're going in November, forgot about the heat although I don't know if it will be especially hot that time of year. I'm not suggesting that I want to be galloping everywhere, it just seems that all the companies I've looked at just cater for novice riders - I know this is the safest option for them, less chance of any accidents but just seems like there won't be any life to the trails. Do any of you have any companies you'd recommend?
 
Definitely recommend Unicorn Trails - if you google them they are based in Biggleswade Beds. The info on each holiday states the riding experience required and it is very honest - the 3 parks ride was quite difficult and not for a novice. Lots of chances for a good blow out and after the first day you are expected to tack up your horse and just get on with it although they were very safety conscious and made sure that you were happy and comfortable, you were not nannied. Also recommend In The Saddle - have done an Africa trip with them in 2007 and also very very good, they have trips to the States.
 
Again, didn't get out of walk, but had a lovely ride at Red Rock canyon.
They picked us up at our hotel at 9am and drove us out to the middle of nowhere. We had a look round a tiny museum, some safety warnings (snakes, cactii, etc) and a tour of an old gold mine.
Then we had an hours ride through the desert, including an absolutely terrifying descent down what MUST have been a bloody cliff face, we stopped for a packed lunch (provided by the tour co) and some cowboy stories, then an hours ride back.

We were expecting to be out a couple of hours, but it was 4pm when they dropped us off outside our hotel.

I enjoyed it very much, and my non-horsey OH loved the mine and the museum and the stories. If you have a REALLY horse-phobic OH, they also operate quad-bike tours, so you can go out in the bus together, tour the mine and museum together, then split up for the ride, and meet for lunch etc.

If you've got your own transport over there, you might have better luck trying to find a RS that caters to the locals, rather than a horse-tour co.

One thing about the weather - it depends when you're going. We went in October/November and it wasn't particularly hot. Mostly sweatshirt weather, occasionally just about warm enough for a vest-top, but never blazing hot; It even RAINED twice when we were over there! - certainly cool enough for a good blast.
 
Thanks spinney....I'll check those companies out. My situation is awkward because I will only have a day set aside to go so I think that's where it's more difficult to find someone who will believe that you're not a novice rider (too many people overestimating their ability causes these people to be more suspicious I guess) and let you get on with it
 
Thanks mythical, I'll have a look at that one too. Sounds like a good day, as I say, it's probably not so much the galloping around I want just the feeling that I'm not going to be just plodding around a section of desert so this sounds good as it's a bit challenging. Can I ask who it was you went with?
 
I've been to Vegas many times in November. Usually warm in the day (by our standards!) but chilly at night. Still take water and suncream, it's very different in the desert to on the strip!!!

Ditto the above ^^^ we also did red rock canyon and decended the cliff face from hell! My horse actually did the decent on it's arse as it lost it's footing lol!!!! Just make sure you go with a company with LOADS off good reviews. Again I would focus on that more than the speed of your ride. With the heat, terrain and unfamilar horses, I'd just take the opportunity to enjoy the scenery that do anything at speed! If you want that, I'd find a riding school instead. There's some lovely schools off the strip, and a lovely shop called Desert Equestrian who can point you to them (it's not far from Luxor hotel end of strip) x
 
JJ1987 said:
Thanks mythical, I'll have a look at that one too. Sounds like a good day, as I say, it's probably not so much the galloping around I want just the feeling that I'm not going to be just plodding around a section of desert so this sounds good as it's a bit challenging. Can I ask who it was you went with?
Click to expand...

Apologies, it was El Dorado, not Red Rock. I booked through a company called Awesome Adventures.
I left a review on Tripadvisor, too, if that's any help. :)
Awesome Adventures Reviews
 
http://www.sagebrush-ranch.com/

I went to this one, about 9 years ago though. Had a 2 hour ride in evening so when coming back we could see the whole of Vegas lit up down below. Only walked but my hubby is a novice so suited us. Had a lovely BBQ when we got back. Picked us up from hotel and dropped us back, we really enjoyed it :)
 
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