We LOVE horseback riding! Our family has horsemanship in our blood, and we love carrying on the tradition. While our rodeo days are finished, taking a ride through the mountains is one of our family favorites. We have two places we have used for Horseback Riding near Breckenridge.
Remember… horses work for grain. Wranglers work for tips!
What type of horseback riding are you looking for?
Basic Trailride
My group wants a nice quiet ride and/or we have some new riders.
Generally we can be described as:
- Someone in my group is under 8 years old
- We don’t have much experience with horses and are a little nervous
- We do not have a car, so need to be able to walk to the stable
- We don’t want to have to actively manage our horse… we just want to sit and relax
Free Range Ride
My group of horseback riders is ready for a little more excitement.
Generally we can be described as:
- We want to explore a little, not just ride nose-to-tail
- Everyone in our group is at least 8 years old
- We have a car and can drive outside of Breckenridge
- We may have some horseback riding experience, and want some challenge
Breckenridge Stables
Breckenridge Stables is perfect for a basic ride around Peak 9 in Breckenridge. The horses are docile and rarely have a spirit that would frighten anyone. As an added bonus, riders of any age can generally participate. Our 6 year old daughter was able to handle her own horse at Breckenridge Stables with no problem at all.
The Good
- Walkable from the condo
- Gentle horses
- Open to everyone
- Beautiful scenery
The Bad
- Nose-to-tail trail riding
- Same path every ride
- Horses are a little “dead-head”
- Inexperienced wranglers
Ultimately we give Breckenridge Stables a 3.5 star rating. The wranglers at Breckenridge Stables are not as experienced. The trail never offers a significant challenge. However, the location and proximity to the condo cannot be beat. For experienced horseback riders or people up for a little excitement, Breckenridge Stables will leave you wanting more.
American Safari Ranch
As mentioned above, we are experienced horseback riders. We’ve grown up on trail rides and excursions, so the nose-to-tail horseback riding offered in town is a little dull for us. Thankfully a short – and beautiful – drive takes us to American Safari Ranch. Just a few miles north of Fairplay, ASR sits on private acreage with access to thousands of acres of Bureau of Land Management land. ASR allows side-by-side riding and offers the ability to explore the hills more than Breckenridge can offer.
The Good
- Side-by-side, free range riding
- Excellent professional wranglers
- A history lesson on local lore
- Beautiful scenery
The Bad
- Must be at least 8 years old to ride
- Horses can be spirited (tell your wrangler if you are a novice rider!)
- You must have a car to get there
American Safari Ranch is our 5-star source for horseback riding near Breckenridge. Our last wrangler was actually a cowboy (we saw him at the county fair rodeo the week before). Roam the foothills, traverse woods and water, and learn the local history of Summit and Park counties. For those interested, ASR also offers ATV/UTV rides.
Note: There are other horseback riding outfitters around Breckenridge. For various reasons, we have not used them and therefore can’t recommend them.
