I was very excited for this experience. I love horses and have had the opportunity to ride in the past, so I was really looking forward to this. However, the staff seemed quickly frustrated with both the horses and humans during the entire experience.
Iām concerned about everyone involved.
Iām concerned the staff may not be either getting the resources they need to lessen frustration, or if they need a shift in expectations.
Iām concerned for the horses too. Iām not going to claim Iām some horse expert. However, one horse actually fell to its knees during the ride! Another horse almost reared up on the rider three timesā once when guided to face the mountains, twice when the rider tried to keep him from eating during the ride (as instructed). If thatās normal, or even just normal for that particular horse, I feel like the staff probably should have either said so or taught us what to do.
We were* told to not let them eat and if they tried to to firmly lift up on the reigns and give the horse a firm kick, or that the horses would be ābratsā.
Also, what kind of person who loves horses names one horse Troll because they think heās ugly? Not unethical of course, but kind of sad..