Salt spray flew high as the horses galloped along the beach in shallow water. Teenage girls on horseback grinned ear-to-ear as their hair blew back and water splashed their faces.
Horseback riding can be more fun than a barrel of monkeys, and we have opportunities around Santa Barbara.
I had an acquaintance who wanted to do something special for her daughter’s 17th birthday. She Googled up some horseback riding opportunities and made some calls to find out what is offered.
Turns out we have good opportunities for putting you atop a horse. Some include Los Padres Outfitters, Captain Jack’s, Horseplay, and Santa Barbara Beach Horseback Rides.
Choices include individual or group rides with a guide. There is a great selection of scenic rides, from canyon trails to mountain vistas to beach rides. The choice is so tough it makes sense to plan more than one outing.
On this trip, the guide took care to understand everyone’s riding ability, then match horses and plans accordingly. The ride began in a canyon environment where wildlife viewing was good.
Interestingly, critters aren’t as wary of people on horseback as they are of people on foot. The group saw rabbits, squirrels and birds.
They were awed by the majestic presence of a red tail hawk perched on a dead limb and watching the riders pass. It seemed that bird was the master of everything within its domain.
While riding along a bluff overlooking the beach, the scenery was breathtaking. The mountains stood on one side and the sea lapped at the shore on the other.
Across the dazzling Santa Barbara Channel rose the enchanting Channel Isles, holding the promise of a different sort of great adventure on another day.
The ride continued down onto the beach, where more wildlife was spotted. There were dolphins swimming in the waves, shorebirds running up and down as waves washed up and rolled back, butterflies from the nearby monarch butterfly preserve, and the ever-present seagulls and pelicans.
A dying sea lion served as a reminder of the realities of nature where survival is never easy.
A wild gallop along the beach got adrenaline glands pumping strong. After dismounting, sincere thank-yous were exchanged, and the guide was pleased to receive a generous tip.
Reflecting on the adventure, my friend shared this thought:
“The gift of interaction with nature is a perfect gift for my daughter’s birthday. Bringing her close friends along made it that much more meaningful and gives them some great memories to share together. Me — I had a blast, too. I want to do it again.”
