Where’s The Best Place to Ride Horses in Pierce County? Read Advice From a Local Equestrian Expert!
Have you always dreamed of learning how to ride horses? Did your kids just watch Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron for the first time, and now all they can talk about is learning how to ride a horse? Whether you live in the city or the suburbs in Pierce County, you’re in luck—opportunities for riding horses are all within reach! We talked to Equestrian Property Specialist Linda Solheim to get her pro tips on riding horses in Pierce County, and she shared her expert advice with us.
“A lot of people want to try riding horses—some people have fond childhood memories of riding horses. Maybe they had fun renting them at the ocean, or even went on a family vacation at a dude ranch,” Linda shares. “It’s easy to start thinking you’d like to ‘swing your leg’ back over a horse and go for a ride, but unless you have a friend who has a horse who will let you ride it, it can be tricky to find a place to ride.”
Due to the liability that goes along with letting someone ride their horse, many horse owners are hesitant to take on the risk. The rider or horse could get injured on or off the owner’s property, the horse could damage someone else’s property, and the list goes on.
“My recommendation is to find a stable, like High Point Equestrian Center in the Waller-Summit area of Pierce County,” advises Linda. “Here, you can take a riding lesson and get some guidance in a controlled setting.”
Jeff and Vanessa Kuhlman own the High Point Equestrian Center in Summit (near Parkland) and their facilities include a large indoor arena, outdoor arena, 2 round pens, indoor stalls, and outdoor paddocks. Whether you want basic riding lessons or want to learn Western or English-style riding, you can find it all here!
High Point also offers direct access to 160+ acres of trails, known as Orange Gate Park. These trails offer riders with the unique opportunity to practice riding in a natural area without cars interfering. High Point also puts on events throughout the year, including clinics and kids day camps. Check out their events schedule for updates!
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“Another option for trail riding is E Z Times Guided Trail Rides in Elbe, about an hour from Tacoma,” says Linda. “Jeff Celski is the owner, and I recommend checking out their website for hours of operation and a menu of rides that they offer year around.”
Nestled in a remote setting near Mt. Rainier, E Z Times offers a choice of 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour horse rides around the gorgeous forested areas of Elbe. You can choose from trail rides, river rides along the Nisqually River, or sunset rides.
“You could also check with your local feed store, like King Feed on 304th and Mountain Hwy (also known as Johnson's Corner) to see if there are any postings on their bulletin board for riding lessons or trail riding in the Pierce County area.” Thanks for the great tip, Linda!
Linda has some more great advice for when you do decide on a place to go riding: “Once you locate the place you would like to ride, there’s some gear you may need, and having the right gear will help make your ride more comfortable and safe.”
Here’s Linda’s riding gear must-have list:
- Closed-toe boots with a defined heel (so your foot doesn't slip through the stirrup)
- Long pants (jeans work best)
- Long sleeve shirt
- Helmet (may be required, depending on where you decide to ride)
Want to learn more about equestrian properties? You can learn more about Linda and contact her here. Happy trails to you!