Horseback riding for beginners
Never ridden before? These stables take beginners, per a customer review or their own website. Here is what a first ride or lesson is like, what to wear and what to ask.
Your first time on a horse
Staff will ask how much you have ridden and match you with a calm, steady horse. Say you are new, and mention anything that makes you nervous. They can only match a horse to what they know.
Someone shows you how to mount, usually from a mounting block, how to hold the reins, how to steer and how to stop. Beginners usually start at a walk, on a guided trail ride, a led ride or a lesson in an arena.
Pick the kind of ride that fits what you want. A trail ride is a scenic outing with a guide in charge. A lesson teaches you to ride on your own, a little more each time. If you want to keep riding, lessons are the way in.
A stable is listed here only when a customer review mentions beginners there or the stable's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each stable. What a stable offers can change, so check with it before you go. For 3,036 of them, the proof is the stable's own website.
Map of stables that welcome beginners
Top-rated stables that welcome beginners, in riders' words
Stables whose customers mention beginners in a review. Ranked by Google rating × number of reviews (10 reviews or more). Under each one is what a customer said. Open-now times come from Google; call the stable before you go.
My daughter was nervous at first (first time on a horse), but the guides picked the perfect horse for her and took time to walk her through everything.
The stable's website says so too.
Frank was so gentle and careful with my daughter, which made me feel much more at ease knowing this was her first time riding.
Great customer service, awesome horses and easy even for beginners.
The stable's website says so too.
This is our first time horseback riding on or near the beach and it was such an amazing experience!
The stable's website says so too.
The horses that we rode in was mostly very well trained and as a first time rider, I was trained with ease and they were very patient with us.
As a first-time rider, I was definitely nervous at first, but Jessie, my horseback riding tour instructor, was truly the best.
This was my very first time riding a horse and I rode Scooter, who was an absolute sweetheart and easily one of my favorites!
Great place for beginners who are interested in horse back riding, the staff is great.
The stable's website says so too.
Thank you so much for such an incredible experience for my first time riding!
The stable's website says so too.
We went at a gentle pace and the few people in my group felt we were in good hands, and even the very beginners were put at ease right away.
The workers were so friendly and helped me ease my nervousness a little bit since it was my first time ever riding a horse!
The stable's website says so too.
The trail ride was beautiful, and the guides made sure everyone, from first-time riders to experienced equestrians, felt comfortable and confident throughout the ride.
The stable's website says so too.
Find stables that welcome beginners by state
4,654 stables in 50 states and DC welcome beginners. States with 3 or more have their own page; the rest are listed further down.
- Alabama38
- Alaska9
- Arizona123
- Arkansas33
- California485
- Colorado154
- Connecticut81
- Delaware5
- District of Columbia2
- Florida327
- Georgia166
- Hawaii11
- Idaho38
- Illinois128
- Indiana82
- Iowa31
- Kansas38
- Kentucky60
- Louisiana35
- Maine35
- Maryland90
- Massachusetts125
- Michigan132
- Minnesota74
- Mississippi19
- Missouri69
- Montana39
- Nebraska14
- Nevada22
- New Hampshire47
- New Jersey134
- New Mexico39
- New York241
- North Carolina191
- North Dakota4
- Ohio157
- Oklahoma44
- Oregon85
- Pennsylvania222
- Rhode Island20
- South Carolina74
- South Dakota12
- Tennessee101
- Texas334
- Utah83
- Vermont23
- Virginia121
- Washington115
- West Virginia18
- Wisconsin89
- Wyoming35
States with one or two stables
District of Columbia
- Beginners: per the stable's website
- Beginners: per the stable's website
Questions from beginners
- Can I go horseback riding with no experience?
- Yes, at stables that take beginners, like the ones on this page. Tell the stable you are new when you book. They will match you with a suitable horse and show you the basics.
- Is a trail ride or a lesson better for a first-timer?
- It depends on what you want. A guided trail ride is a relaxed outing with a guide in charge. A lesson teaches you to control the horse yourself. If you plan to keep riding, start with lessons.
- What should a beginner wear horseback riding?
- Long pants, boots or sturdy shoes with a small heel, and a top you can move in. Leave loose scarves and dangling jewelry at home, and ask the stable about helmets.
- Can adults learn to ride as beginners?
- Yes. Many lesson barns teach adult beginners. Ask the instructor how they teach adults and which horses they use.
- Which state has the most stables that welcome beginners?
- California has the most, with 485 stables. In all, 4,654 stables in 50 states and DC welcome beginners in this directory.
- How do you decide which stables are listed here?
- A stable is listed here only when a customer review mentions beginners there or the stable's own website does. That review line, or a note about the website, is shown under each stable. What a stable offers can change, so check with it before you go.
More ways to ride
- Guided trail rides near you2,417
- Horseback riding lessons near you8,901
- Horse boarding near you6,675
- Pony rides near you769
- Horse camps near you2,438
- Therapeutic riding programs1,062
- English riding lessons3,811
- Western riding lessons1,891
- Beach horseback riding122
- Mountain trail rides312
- Sunset horseback rides238