The best thing is that this dusty Wild West glamour can be yours, even if you've never so much as looked at a saddle before. Area stables will take beginners, as well as skilled equestrians, on rides along the many trails that trickle through the hills and canyons from the coast to the San Gabriel Valley and beyond. Fortunately, that's not always the case.
Some stables take pride in having horses that are well cared for and lively.
So whether you are in the mood for an hour-long excursion on the paths overlooking Hollywood, a romantic champagne picnic ride for two or an equine journey under the full moon in Malibu, we'll hitch you up to some stables worth checking out. Tennis shoes will do in a pinch. Bring along a sweatshirt, but don't expect to carry anything extra on your journey. Even a small backpack or camera can become a bouncing, painful nuisance when worn atop a trotting horse. Located in the Santa Monica Mountains, Adventures On Horseback operates out of Saddlerock Ranch, a 1,200-acre spread in an idyllic area of Malibu, surrounded by stands of oak trees, avocado groves and a rolling landscape.