Horsepower in Detroit is typically found under the hood, unless you’re looking for the four-legged version.
Real horses are still around, but chances to ride one in metro Detroit are harder to come by now. Blame rising costs of everything from a bale of hay to rider’s insurance.
But for folks who want to saddle up and enjoy the scenery on horseback, it can be done. Horseback riding is historic. It’s fun. There’s even research showing that riding can be therapeutic for people who’ve experienced trauma.
Here are five places in metro Detroit to ride:
Maybury Stables
20303 N. Beck Road, Northville Township: The stables are located inside Maybury State Park at the southwest corner of Eight Mile Road and Beck Road. The park offers miles of trails winding through almost 1,000 acres of woods and meadows. Hour-long guided trail rides for single riders or groups of up to 10 are available Wednesday through Sunday, stable owner Trisha Roeske said. First-time riders are welcome and all riders receive instructions on how to stop, start and steer. Riders under 18 must wear helmets, which the stable provides. Reservations and payments are done online. Cost is $80 per rider.
Brighton Riding Stable
6660 Chilson Road, Howell: The stable is on the property of the Brighton Recreation Area, about 4 miles southwest of downtown Brighton in Livingston County. The park is almost 5,000 acres of rolling hills, woods and water. Riders splash through a creek as part of their hour-long guided ride, said owner Amy Carlson. The stable offers instruction and has a mounting step to help beginners ease into the saddle. It also offers hand-led rides for children under 8. The maximum weight for all riders is 220 pounds. The stable is open seven days a week during the summer and rides continue until the snow flies. Fall rides through the changing colors are popular as well, Carlson said. Reservations are taken by phone: 810-534-5063. Cost is $60 per rider.
Pine River Stables
1200 Stein Road, St. Clair: The stable has been family-owned for more than 50 years. It sits on 100 acres of wooded gulley land that runs along the Pine River and a nearby creek. The hour-long ventures take riders across a bridge and they can stop and let the horses get a drink, said manager Julie Boden. First-time riders are welcome and the stable offers s’more rides that finish with roasted marshmallows around a campfire and glow in the dark rides under the stars. The stable is closed Wednesdays and open from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on all other days. Reservations can be made by phone at 586-894-2756 or online. Cost is $73 per rider.
High Vibe Trail Rides
2471 Meadowood Lane, Milford: The stable opened in 2016 and its two-hour guided trail rides cover the northern loop of Kensington Metro Park, which includes wooded trails, open fields and, weather permitting, a walk through the Huron River. The stable has carved out a niche with themed rides that include full moons, ice cream stops, charcuterie breaks, meditation and even wedding proposal rides where a photographer can be hidden in the woods to capture the moment, said owner Lucie Ptasznik. The stable can accommodate private rides for one or two people and groups as large as 16. Riders of all experience levels are welcome. Weight limit for riders is 250 pounds. Reservations can be made online or by calling or texting 248-270-8520. Costs begin at $110 per person with additional charges for extras.
Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Association
8886 Lahser Road, Detroit: The century-old stable is the former home of the Detroit Mounted Police. It’s located inside 1,200 acre Rouge Park on Detroit’s west side. Because the park has no trails, the stable can’t offer trail rides, but it does give city children the chance to ride inside a corral. “We call our horses, horses in the ‘hood,” said Vice President Vernon Smith. In addition to riding around the corral, kids can feed and care for the animals and learn the history of the Buffalo Soldiers, African American infantry soldiers in the late 1800s comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War veterans. The corral is open daily from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. April through October, weather permitting. Call first to confirm availability at 313-270-2939. Cost is $7 for one ride around the corral and $10 for two.
Contact John Wisely: jwisely@freepress.com. On X: @jwisely.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 5 places to ride horses in metro Detroit
Reporting by John Wisely, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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