Do you enjoy horseback riding and love seeing the horses all around Walt Disney World? Did you know you can horseback ride at Disney? Here are all the details about this enchanting extra.
Walt Disney and his love for horses
Walt Disney had a love for horses, so it’s easy to see how he included his love for horses as he was building the parks. Whether it’s the clomping of the horse that you hear on Main Street U.S.A. or the Headless Horseman’s horse during Halloween, you are sure to see at least one horse at some point while visiting Walt Disney World.
Gaston and Merida have been seen riding on horseback. Sometimes, we even see Cinderella’s beautiful white horses pulling her carriage.
If you have ever stayed at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, you will notice that the resort was inspired by a late 1800s New York retreat famous for its spas and horse racing. No matter where you go, Walt’s love of horses is evident, especially at Tri-Circle D Ranch at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.
Tri-Circle D Ranch
Tri-Circle D Ranch opened after a major refurbishment in the summer of 2020. The new barn features larger stalls for the horses and adds 10 additional stalls! There are also two tack rooms and a wedding harness room that showcases the tack for Cinderella’s horses.
Horses here are the “happiest horses on earth”. Guests here can also see a museum dedicated to the history of the ranch and to Walt Disney’s dream of bringing horses to Walt Disney World. It’s also home to the Dragon Calliope -the horse-drawn musical instrument that Walt Disney purchased for the Mickey Mouse Club Circus Parade at Disneyland Park in the 1950s.
Many different breeds of horses reside here including, Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons and Quarter Horses, plus Shetland Ponies.
When to Visit
If you are thinking of visiting Tri-Circle D Ranch, it is open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. Guests can walk through and visit the horses. Pony rides are available for younger guests. Riders must be at least 2 years of age, under 80 lbs. and no taller than 48 inches.
Pony rides are offered on a walk-in basis only at this time and cost $8 per person.
Horseback Riding
Guests 9 years of age and older can choose to go on trail rides. Trail rides cost $55 per person and last 45 minutes long. Advance reservations are highly recommended, though walk-ins are accepted but dependent on availability. Reservations can be made up to 60 days prior to your visit.
Closed-toe shoes with a back strap are required. Shorts or pants and a comfortable shirt are recommended. Guests must also be over 48 inches tall and under 250 pounds.
My Experience
During a recent trip, I (Maggie) was able to try horseback riding with my family. My husband and two young boys have been fond of horseback riding for several years now. They have gone horseback riding during camp, so they are pretty familiar with riding. While I was planning our trip, I was looking for fun, unique activities to do that we had not done before and horseback riding seemed perfect.
Not having much experience at all with horseback riding myself, I was a little hesitant to participate. Not to worry though! This activity is perfect for beginner and intermediate riders.
No experience is necessary for horseback riding. Riders can be beginner or intermediate!
Horseback riding is offered at the following times:
- Mornings: 8:00 am, 9:30 am and 11:00 am
- Afternoon: 12:30 pm and 2:00 pm
Checking In
Guests must check in at the Tri-Circle D Ranch building located near the front parking lot of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. Do not check in at the back where the pony rides are located if you are planning to go on a trail ride. They are two separate activities.
After we checked in, we each had to sign waivers and also be weighed. Cast Members then gave us helmets to wear which are required for all guests. Complimentary lockers are provided to store your belongings.
After we received our helmets and stored our belongings, we were ready! A guide brought our horse out to each one of us separately. She went over how to make the horse go to the left, right, stop and go. Then we waited until everyone received a horse and we were off to go trail riding.
Trail Ride
Riders will all file out in a single file line with a guide out in front and also in the back. We were instructed to keep a distance between our horse and the horse in front of us. With having really no experience horse back riding before, I admit that I was pretty nervous about the entire experience.
However, my horse, Bandit, walked well and slowly. He kept his distance between my son’s horse in front of me and went to the left and to the right when I needed him to and stopped and walked when he was supposed to. I felt like I had little control over him because it seemed like I was not really doing all that much, but I think that’s just how it is!
During our trail ride, we saw some deer. You might see some ducks, armadillos or rabbits too, but we did not see any during ours. We were often instructed to avoid tall grassy areas, since the horses like to stop and eat the grass.
The ride lasted for 45 minutes. My family loved it! To me, 45 minutes seemed just a tad long for this inexperienced horse rider, and by the end I was more than ready to get off of the horse. Despite being a first time rider, with no experience at all, I did enjoy horseback riding with my family at Disney. It was a unique experience that we had never done before and it was something that we will all remember for years to come.
Have you ever been horse back riding at Disney? Do you think it’s something you would want to try? How was your experience? Tell us about it in the comments below or share your pictures our Facebook page.
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Jack
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
That's a brilliant idea! I met my wife at a horse show. I open jumped and three-dayed. She was into stadium and dressage but also played polo and did barrels and Western gamed as well. I think Disney could really do well with this. An arena and a couple of rings, rent some stalls too. Only thing is the insurance and logistics. I don't know what the local horse climate is like re shows but I'm inclined to think there's at least some around. I'm betting they could fill the place on weekends. Problem is that, as you well know, horses and competitions are a labor intensive hobby. Of course participants do most of the scut work ourselves during shows. Not sure how many rooms they'd fill either because we tend to want to stay with our animals so our two horse has a dressing room and bunks. It wouldn't be like a run. They'd have to be assured of a decent R.O.I. and maybe that's iffy. The horse camping idea is great if they didn't want to do shows, but IMO the area would need to be set up so you could relax on a trail if you wanted to, and not need a cast member along. Once again, insurance rears its ugly head. We live very rural and have thousands of acres we can ride because we have access to a state park that abuts our land and permission to ride it. Kinda mostly do pleasure now. As you well know, the older you get the less well you bounce!
sffd5
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
I get it. I am the only one in the family that jumped, ran steeple chase and actually went on Fox Hunt rides. Now I have switched over to Mounted shooting, roping and driving as I get older. My daughters barrel raced up until the eldest got married and is waiting for the first child to be born. My other daughter is switching to Dressage as she took a bad spill barrel racing and decided that wasn't for her anymore. My wife rides Side Saddle and Australian. Unfortunately, the Ranch is not set-up for equestrians unless you get the right cast member to show you around. It is set-up for the tourist that has never been on a horse or even seen one up close. Which is unfortunate, because I think they are missing a golden opportunity. I get it as for being comfortable. I found the western saddle very uncomfortable when I first switched over to it. Now I have no issues with any saddle style except the side saddle LOL.
sffd5
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
Now what I would like to see at Disney World is some campsites that allow horses, and a practice arena. This way when we travel to shows in Florida and stop by Disney for a few days to unwind and go to the parks and still be able to keep the horses properly fed and practiced up. Possibly Disney would be able to sponsor a horse show or two as well. I think a 2-week Spring Show and Fall show would be great. Possibly a rodeo as well. Of course, the rodeo would require a lot to pull off even as armature only. These could be similar to the RunDisney events in that they have special awards and Proof of participation Disney World/ Fort Wilderness/TriCircle D Ranch themed. I think Disney is missing a whole area of making money. As Horse owners go, we spend a lot of money on things for our horses and for competitions supplies. But first they need to open up an Equestrian camping area first. Think of the possibilities and the fun not to mention that you wouldn't be that far from Ocala either. Get done at an Ocala event stop at Disney and then off to the next show or home.
Jack
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
Yeah. I know. You probably couldn't get one to break the line if you tried. (See my expanded comment elsewhere.) But some of us are experienced, more comfortable English, and like to actually "feel" the horse, even under these circumstances.
Jack
Tuesday 20th of December 2022
Maybe you don't know what an English saddle is? If not, I suggest you look it up. The saddles pictured are Western stock rigs. Great for equestrian beginners, or ranch use. Wife and I have been on and enjoyed this trail ride several times. We also ride at home, have competed in jumping and dressage for decades and have our own horses. The ride is relaxing, allowing one to get some horse contact time. It is not meant to be challenging. It's more a basic Dude Ranch or rental stable trail ride than anything else. As observed in the article, the horses are, as they should be, "bomb proof" and play follow-the-leader, again as they should. Anyway, some of us who do this ride just because, as horse junkies, we love horses, the smells, the contact, and everything about them and need our "fix" even if away for a couple of weeks, are more comfortable on a "pancake" and would like the saddle option.