Horseback Riding
If exploring by horseback sounds wonderful to you, we’ve got great equine options and miles of trails for riders of all skill levels.
Cross Keys Equine Therapy
6711 Stoney Lick Road, Mt. Crawford, Virginia 22841 | 540.607.6910
Cross Keys Equine Therapy is dedicated to providing quality equine assisted therapy and equine assisted learning activities to individuals, couples, families and groups.
Horizons Horseback Equestrian Center
3586 Horizons Way, Harrisonburg, VA 22802 | 540-896-7600
Horizons Horseback invites you to take a break from life’s hectic pace and experience the beauty of the Shenandoah Valley from a completely different vantage point. Enjoy the center’s Shenandoah trail rides in the foothills of the Massanutten Mountains and savor the spectacular mountain scenery in the company of your equine tour guides – their gentle, well behaved horses.
Mountaintop Ranch
1030 Mountaintop Ranch Road, Elkton, VA 22827 | 540- 298-8909
Enjoy the close-up view of the rugged mountains and pastoral landscapes. Mountaintop Ranch literally stands above the rest, high atop the Blue Ridge Mountains and adjacent to Shenandoah National Park.
Woodstone Meadows Stable & Petting Farm
2560 Ag Center Drive, McGaheysville, VA 22840 | 540-289-6152
Valley residents and visitors will enjoy the experience of a leisurely guided trail ride in the beautiful Massanutten Mountains. All of our horses are trail-wise and gentle, so even if you’ve never sat astride a horse, you will feel completely at ease.
Horse Riding General Information
Horse Riding is Allowed on:
1. Open forest roads.
2. On many forest roads that are gated to prevent motor vehicle travel.
3. On more than 1,290 miles of trails on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
Many trails are open to multiple non-motorized uses; meaning the trails are shared by hikers, horse riders, and bicyclists. Information on allowed trail uses is available on trailhead signs and the National Geographic-Trails Illustrated map for the area, or by contacting the nearest Ranger District office.
Trail Etiquette:
Trail etiquette for multiple use trails calls for horses to have the right-of-way. Hikers should yield to horses. Bicyclists should yield to horses and hikers. Horse riders are responsible for the control of their horse at all times.
Riders are Responsible for:
1. Ensuring that their horse has been tested for Equine Infectious Anemia.
nbsp; 2. Carrying current written proof of a negative Coggins Test result.
3. Providing proof of negative Coggins Test upon request.
There are several developed horse campgrounds on the forests. Horses are not permitted in developed areas (campgrounds and picnic areas) unless specifically stated.