Heading south for some trail riding - Recommendations?

[ElfMaian]

Winter is upon us here in Montana! I have a three week vacation starting on January 1st. I desperately want to go get some sun and some riding in. Although I know the likelihood of finding another person to go with me is slim, I am hesitantly doing some planning. I feel the need for sun, soul searching, and new experiences. Armed with an extra large three horse gooseneck and a truck, all I want to do is start driving south!

I have a few questions:

Is there an area I can go where I won’t have to clip my thin skinned TB mare? Ideally I don’t want to head far enough south that it is much above 60 degrees.

Where do I want to go? I love the really neat geologic formations I see in pictures that are in New Mexico and Arizona. Where can I go to see some of those? What about those really neat rock formations seen in old west movies?

Where is a good place to stay? Does anyone have a campground that they just love? I am in hopes of finding someplace quiet with little light pollution.

Any advice would be appreciated. I am a former Hunter/Jumper/Eventer that has just had enough with showing. The mountains are calling to me now. My lovely mare and I spent a few days riding in Glacier Park this past summer and now I never want to go back to the ring!

Thanks in advance!

[Wellspotted]

I wish I could ride the Great Smokies with you! I know they are a very long way from Montana, though, and not warm this time of year (they’re not called the Great SMOKIES for nothing!). And anyway I don’t have a horse. And I probably couldn’t keep up with you riding. But if I could, I would love to take 3 weeks (have plenty of those!) to go horseback soul searching with a fellow horseperson!

And the only geological formation anywhere around here is Stone Mountain – and you can’t ride a horse up it and wouldn’t want to if you could.

[tinah]

Does Zion national park in Utah allow horses? I’ve wanted to go for ages.

[katyb]

I would post this on the Horse Trails Across America board on Facebook. You’ll get a lot of knowledgeable responses.

TN is nice! It was 45 and raining today, but I rode anyway.

[AKB]

Ocala, Florida has wonderful parks and trails. We drove down there last winter and had so much fun. I plan to go back for 2 weeks at the end of January.

[Simbalism]

Sounds like fun! Wish I could go with you. I have been thinking that I would like to do something like that although being in Va, would probably head to Fla for a few weeks. Maybe you can pick up an issue of the Trail Rider magazine. It always has articles about places people have gone camping with their horses. There is also an index in the back where they list riding/camping areas by state.

[Plumcreek]

There are many RV campgrounds on ranches with horse facilities in Arlzona. Most are centered around team roping, but you might google and fine one that is near a national forest or BLM land and mentions great trail riding.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

My brother is an endurance trainer in Moab, UT. His Red Rock Ranch is often host to guests and their horses who want to experience the incredible country there. He’ll be happy to customize your rides to your preferences. He and his SO are really great people.
www.redrockranchmoab.com

[Justmyluck]

[QUOTE=AKB;7892560]
Ocala, Florida has wonderful parks and trails. We drove down there last winter and had so much fun. I plan to go back for 2 weeks at the end of January.[/QUOTE]

Ocala really doesn’t fit that no higher than 60* circumstance. =)

[AKB]

Justmyluck, you are right about the Ocala weather. The daytime high in January averages 71, and the low averages 44. I did not clip my Irish Draught before bringing him to Ocala for our 2 week vacation last year, and he was fine. I suspect the OP’s horse would be fine without clipping there, as Ocala is often breezy in the winter. We were never hot.

The OP’s issue is the travel. Montana is an awfully long drive from Ocala.

[ElfMaian]

Exactly, AKB. I think FL would be great fun, but I’m more of a West Coast type of gal.

katyb, thanks for the advice on the FB place. I’m have a wonderful time looking through photos and making a bucket list!

Is Moab warm enough? It looks gorgeous, but I am planning on camping out of the horse trailer and I don’t want any snow!

[NoSuchPerson]

I snuck away from a business trip to Salt Lake City several years ago to spend a day at Antelope Island State Park ( http://stateparks.utah.gov/park/antelope-island-state-park). I saw some folks trail riding there and from a distance (I was up a hill on the road) the trails looked beautiful - wide and well maintained. The scenery was nice, too, although while hiking I came around a bend and ran smack into some buffalo and it scared the crap out of me. :lol:

Anyway, I know absolutely nothing about the winter weather (I was there in April) or camping (with or without horses) but thought I would mention it as I really enjoyed my day there.

[Melissa.Van_Doren]

[QUOTE=ElfMaian;7895786]

Is Moab warm enough? It looks gorgeous, but I am planning on camping out of the horse trailer and I don’t want any snow![/QUOTE]

January temps in Moab are typically 40s day and 30s night. LOTS of sunshine.