Saddle Up!
Ride a horse on the coast or in the mountains
by Camilla Mortensen
For those of you who have ever dreamed of ambling across the mountains on the back of a surefooted horse (think John Wayne or Brokeback Mountain) or wading through the surf on a long-legged steed as the sun sets over the beach (remember The Black Stallion?), you can get your chance this summer.
 |
Within an hour’s drive of Eugene, there are a couple of places you can saddle up and go for a horseback adventure — even if you don’t have a horse of your own.
Billy Outlaw of C&M Stables in Florence says you can have your pick of guided rides if you want to experience the salty spray of the ocean or wander through the coastal pines on the back of a horse. There’s a “laid back” scenic ride along the dunes of the coast, or you can go for a beach ride and try a little trotting (Warning: Butt-tenderness is a not-uncommon side effect for novice riders after bumping along at the trot).
If you’re a looking for a little romance, C&M offers sunset rides every evening, and if you’re feeling tough enough for long hours in the saddle, there’s the half-day dune and beach ride.
No worries if the closest you’ve been to a horse is a ride on a merry-go-round. Just follow the first rule of riding: Keep the horse between you and the ground. Outlaw says, “We can accommodate all riders,” so inexperience is not a problem. In fact, the dune ride allows children as young as six, and the beach ride allows 8-year-olds. Riders under the age of 18 are required to wear helmets, which C&M can supply.
If you do have some horsie know-how, then the morning adventure ride is the one for you. This group is for advanced riders and will let you walk, trot and canter down the beach.
The C&M horses come in every size, shape and variety, suitable for wanna-be cowboys and girls from beginners to advanced. You might find yourself on a mustang, quarter horse or a spotted appaloosa. “Ain’t too many breeds we don’t have,” says Outlaw.
Wear long pants, preferably not sweatpants, which are “kinda slick in the saddle,” according to Outlaw, and bring a sweatshirt for the cool wind on the beach. You may even want to bring along some gloves to keep your hands warm on the reins. Summer days on the coast in Oregon can be chilly! Shoes should have a “grippy sole,” he says. You don’t have to have boots, but slides and slip-ons are not OK.
If you want to experience your equine adventure a little closer to home, check out Triangle 5 Ranch, just outside Walterville on Hwy 126. The ranch’s rides go through flat fields, forested slopes and oak groves in the McKenzie River Valley. So give it your best “Yippie-yi-yo-ki-yay,” saddle up and hit the trails!
For more information, prices and information, contact C&M Stables at www.oregonhorsebackriding.com or (541) 997-7540, and Triangle 5 at www.triangle5.com or (541) 747-7039.
A Note From the Publisher
Dear Readers,
The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.
That’s because of you!
Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.
Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.
We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.
And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.
None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.
As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.
Thank you for standing with us!
Publisher
Eugene Weekly
P.S. If you’d like to talk about supporting EW, I’d love to hear from you!
jody@eugeneweekly.com
(541) 484-0519