One of the best parts of horse ownership is the many ways you can enjoy horses with your family. While few things beat spending a day at the barn with your horse, you might be surprised by the number of equine options that involve your entire family—be it with your own horse or others. Here are seven ideas you can consider when looking for family horse activities to enjoy with your loved ones.
1. Volunteer at a nonprofit.
Nonprofits operate on tight budgets and rely on volunteers to help care for the horses, offer services, and complete big projects. Search for horse rescues, therapeutic riding centers, trail riding clubs, and others in your area. They’ll be grateful for an extra hand regardless of whether you can pitch in for one day or help out regularly.
2. Attend an equine expo.
Annual equine expos, such as Equine Affaire and Horse World Expo, are great places to learn about horse ownership, horsemanship, and training from top professionals. In addition to attending educational sessions, you can usually browse hundreds of vendors and shop for all your tack and barn supplies in one place. Chances are you’ll also find exciting giveaways and might get exclusive discounts on the items you buy.
3. Ride in a clinic.
Clinics are fun, affordable ways to learn from well-known trainers of any discipline in a one- or two-day format. They can also make fun family horse activities if you bring your loved ones along for a weekend getaway. Clinics offer opportunities for you to improve your horsemanship and riding skills. You can also learn from watching other clinic attendees during their sessions. You can audit most clinics, meaning you can attend to watch and learn from the rail.
4. Go on a horseback riding vacation (or find a ride while you’re on vacation).
Explore a new destination by horseback! Best of all, you can customize the experience to your family’s interests and riding levels. For example, dude ranches allow you to experience what it’s like on a working ranch, beach rides give you the chance to ride along the surf, and other guided rides take you to historic sites like castles and ruins.
Many riding options worldwide give you the option to choose how much time your family wants to spend in the saddle, from an hour to full-day rides to weeklong excursions.
5. Visit a horse-related museum.
A fun rainy day family activity might include a visit to a horse-centric museum. You might be surprised by what a Google search turns up in your area based on the local horse history and culture. Examples include the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and the American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame and Museum in Amarillo, Texas.
6. Participate in a farm tour.
In many areas, cooperative extensions and agricultural societies coordinate daylong farm tours during which a group of stables agrees to welcome the public for the day. These casual events are typically self-guided and offer a behind-the-scenes look at barns and disciplines you might not otherwise get to see.
7. Attend an Old-Fashioned Day.
Before fuel-driven horsepower, farmers relied on four-legged horsepower to prepare fields for crops and drag logs from the woods. Some draft horse owners still use horses in this way and love to share their steeds with others during spring Old Fashioned Days across the country. These events typically feature field demonstrations of how the horses were (and still are) used for a variety of farm chores.
When it comes to planning family horse activities, get creative! One of my most memorable horse experiences was riding horses during school finals week. My dad carried my gigantic social studies book on the saddle, and we’d stop every so often so he could randomly quiz me on the contents of different chapters.
Katie Navarra Bradley is a writer and author who covers horses, agriculture, and sustainability. She also partners with horses to deliver equine-assisted business and leadership coaching.
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