Horse enthusiasts? (Fountain, Black Forest, Woodland Park: for sale, how much, camping)

[arzoo4250]

For those of you who have horses on your property, I'm wondering how much riding you get in during the winter-time? Also, are there any good trainers around that you know of that would be willing to come to one's property for lessons? If not, are there facilities which provide lessons in the area?

We are considering Black Forest as our #1 option so far if we do relocate. So far we've only boarded-out our horses, but if we DO relocate to the COS area, we plan to have them on our property. As far as discipline, my DH is mainly into English-- Jumping, Dressage, Eventing. We also REALLY enjoy trail riding.....are there many horse-friendly trails around?

THANKS!

[lalahartma]

Unfortunately, C-D does not have a large equestrian community. I'll give you my expereinces as a boarder, I've boarded in the Black Forest area for several years.

To be honest, an indoor arena is pretty necessary for a full winter riding season, depending on how hardy you are. Depending on where you are in Black Forest, the wind can be brutal, and it does get more snow than some of the other CoS areas.

If you have a trailer there are loads of places to ride, and if you event, there are cross-country course you can train on. For easy access to trails, I'd head up to Woodland Park/Divide for National and State Forests. For Black Forest there is dirt road riding, depending on your location.

As far as BF parks: El Paso County, Colorado - Parks

Douglas County has some nice Open Spaces close to BF: Douglas County, Colorado | Open Space | Map and Properties


Most of the bigger name/advanced trainers do not travel to private barns.

[froggin4colorado]

I noticed that there is a group down in Metcalf Park at the arena several nights a week riding and barrel racing. Even in the winter time because Fountain winters aren't as bad as Black Forest. I know of a couple trail riding areas. I frequently see horses riding down through Fountain and on the Sante Fe Trail. I also see horses (groups of people) riding up in Park County of County Rd. 31, by Terryall. Unfortunately, there are a lot of atvers too. This past weekend I went camping down in Saguache Park and there was only one other group there with their horses. It was postcard perfect scenery with the rolling hills of green prairies, snow capped mountains, Saguache Creek and the numerous fishing spots, pines and aspens, and miles and miles trails. You could ride to Creed, Saguache, Gunnison, Dome Lakes, Lake City, or Del Norte. It was so beautiful, peaceful, and untouched by man. It was worth the drive to spend a couple days in pure Colorado before we move.

[Falconlady]

Check out the Latigo Equestrian Center. It's in the Falcon/Black Forest area and has an indoor riding area.

[treedonkey]

Originally Posted by lalahartma

As far as BF parks: El Paso County, Colorado - Parks

Just know that the El Paso County trail rules state that equestrians must scrape their horse dung piles to the side of the trail so that others don't have to leap over them or ride through them.

El Paso County, Colorado - Parks
"It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal over which he or she is responsible for to defecate upon any park property without such excrement being removed and disposed of by the person in control of such animal. Equestrians shall scatter horse manure off parking and/or trail areas." [See C.R.S. 18-4-
511; C.R.S. 33-10-102(10); C.R.S. 25-13-105(1)(L)]

[froggin4colorado]

I also love our rule about having horses on property...one acre per horse. With that being said, I have often seen property for sale that have .5 an acre, .3 of an acre, 1.5 acres and it is accompanied with "bring your horses!". You could only have half or a third of a horse on your land!! I thought it was funny...