Hoofing It

Saddle up and experience America’s natural beauty on horseback. By Jillianne Pierce

Cowboy Trail Rides

ADVENTURE TRAIL RIDES
Blue Ridge, Ga. (1 hour, 40 minutes from Atlanta)
This ranch in the beautiful Cashes Valley offers three distinctive trails through Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, named for the bluish haze that often covers the peaks. Each of Adventure Trail Rides’ three trails is awarded a “bum level,” allowing you to predict how sore your behind will be the day after you dismount. Choose your ride wisely. adventuretrailrides.com

COWBOY TRAIL RIDES
Las Vegas
Spectacular views can be found along any of the guided trail rides at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. Especially exciting is the five-hour “WOW Ride,” a steep upward climb with a title that refers to the reaction that the ride elicits from riders when they reach the top of the ridge. The Vegas Strip, Lake Mead and the Grand Canyon are visible off in the distance. cowboytrail rides.com

MIWOK LIVERY STABLES
San Francisco
Located just over the Golden Gate Bridge in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this stable boasts trail rides with breathtaking views of redwood-laden Mount Tamalpais, the Pacific Ocean, San Francisco and the Bay. On a clear day, riders are also treated to a view of the Farallon and Angel Islands. Each ride begins with a half-hour lesson.
www.miwokstables.com

HOMESTRETCHES

Prepare your muscles before a ride to lessen strain and head off next-day soreness.

Trail riding is serious business, so get your body prepared. According to Cathy Ruprecht, a physical therapist, fitness instructor and horse enthusiast from Marquette, Mich., who has developed a series of stretches aimed at riders (see barnstretch.com), you should target muscles in your lower back, hips, calves, pectorals, quadriceps and torso. “Stretching after riding can help decrease post-riding stiffness, so be sure to stretch after you dismount as well,” she says. Here, she provides two simple stretches that will get you ready for your next ride.

SIDE STRETCH: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and reach your right arm up, gently pressing your hand toward the ceiling. Support your body weight on the opposite hip with your left arm, holding the stretch for about 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat on the other side. Remember to breathe comfortably.

CALF STRETCH: With your hands resting on a wall for balance, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot forward and one behind. Keep your back heel on the ground with all your toes facing forward. For the forward foot, align your knee over your ankle. Feel a comfortable stretch up the back of your calf. Hold the stretch for 15 to 20 seconds. Repeat with the other leg.