We say it all the time, and it’s worth reiterating once
more: The Stables are one of those underrated experiences at French Lick Resort
that you might be overlooking.
So how ‘bout a taste of the most in-depth encounter you can
get with our equine friends? Our Horse Sense Class is offered every Monday
through Thursday through the end of October, and here’s 6 things to know about
this horse course — along with 4 other experiences that you can get up at The
Stables.
It’s a personalized
experience: With no more than 6 people in a class, you pretty much get
one-on-one time with the guide. When it comes to brushing the animals and
mounting your horse for the trail ride at the end of the 30-minute barn tour,
you don’t have to wait on a whole crowd. And the guides love questions, so ask
away.
Each class is a little different: If you’ve done the Horse Sense class once, you could do it again and get a whole different experience. Each of our trail guides has a style all their own. But they’ll all start the Horse Sense class by giving you a basic overview of what each day entails at The Stables — everything from daily care of the animals, to saddling a horse, to the chores of the day like putting out hay or clearing the trails. You might catch the horses on bath day for their regular scrub-down.
No experience necessary: About 75 percent of our guest who do Horse Sense have never been on a horse before. (Or it’s been years and years since their last ride.) Even if you do have a little more know-how with horses, your guide will tailor the class to your experience level.
In good hands with
the guide: After you’ve been through the 30-minute stables tour, it’s time
for the fun part: a 45-minute trail ride. All trail rides are guided, and
they’ll make sure you’re comfortable on your horse. For those still feeling a
little nervous or unsure, an extra guide can go along as a backup if needed.
You’ll get matched with the best horse for you: Little more experienced on a horse? You might get put with Bert or Tinkerbell, who are perfect for more veteran riders. First time? Dooley and Polly are especially calm, and they give a gentle ride for younger kids or older riders. Our guides match you to the horse that’s the best fit for you — and all 27 of our horses are given two years of training, so they’ve all got customer service down to a T.
You’re never too old
to try: You have to be at least 8 years old for this ride. But beyond that,
there’s no limits. We’ve had 80-year-old guests go out and ride before. If
you’ve never been on a horseback ride, an easy, guided ride like this is the
ideal way to finally get your feet wet. It’s never too late to saddle up and
cross this one off your bucket list.
Beyond Horse Sense, there’s a couple other ways to
experience The Stables as well:
Traditional Horse and
Pony Rides: Choose from guided horseback rides of 45 or 90 minutes, and
kids under 8 can take a 10-minute guided pony ride. Mom and Dad are welcome to
walk with them on the pony rides, or hang out back at the barn and enjoy a
little chill time back at the barn.
Carriage Rides:
This final stretch of summer and early portion of fall are prime time for
taking a horse-drawn carriage ride. Now that the back drive at West Baden
Springs Hotel has reopened, the traditional carriage ride route has resumed
around the West Baden grounds. (If you’re a guest at French Lick Springs Hotel,
you can always take a complimentary shuttle over to West Baden for a carriage
ride.)
Stables Tour: If
you’re looking to fill a few free minutes, drop in any time from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. for a quick tour behind the scenes of the horse barn.
Fall hayrides: Every
Thursday and Saturday in October, hop aboard for a hayride up to The Stables,
toast some s’mores and pick a pumpkin to take home. The Stables are one of the
best backdrops to enjoy the simple pleasures of fall.