What a first ride is like, what to wear, simple tips that make it easier, and what a beginner's riding trip in Patagonia looks like.
Horseback riding for beginners comes down to a few things: a calm horse, a guide who sets the pace, the right clothes, and knowing what to expect after a few hours in the saddle. You don't need lessons before a guided trail ride, and plenty of people take their first real ride on vacation.
We run a small family lodge in the Cholila valley in Argentine Patagonia, and our four-day Gaucho Experience is built so first-time riders can enjoy it. This guide covers what a first ride is like, what to wear, simple things that make it easier, and what a beginner's trip with us looks like.
New to riding?
Our Gaucho Experience is four days on horseback in Los Alerces National Park, and no riding experience is needed. Tell us roughly when you would like to come.
Do you need experience to go horseback riding?
No. On a guided trail ride, the horses know the trails and the guide sets the pace for the whole group. What matters more is telling your guide honestly how much you have ridden, so they can match you with the right horse and keep the pace comfortable.
Most outfitters set a weight limit for riders, for the horse's sake and yours. Ours is 100 kg (220 lb) for new riders and 110 kg (240 lb) for riders who ride regularly.
What your first ride is like
Your guide helps you up, adjusts the stirrups and shows you how to hold the reins. Trail horses tend to follow the horse in front, so on a first ride your main job is to sit comfortably, look where you are going and let the horse do the work.
The first hour usually feels strange. The horse moves more than you expect, and you notice muscles you rarely use. Most beginners relax into it by the second day. Expect some stiffness in your legs and lower back the morning after a long first day.
Simple tips for beginners
Keep your heels down, with the ball of your foot in the stirrup. It keeps you steady and stops your foot from slipping through.
Sit tall and relaxed. Leaning forward or squeezing hard with your legs can tell the horse to speed up, and it tires you out.
Hold the reins lightly. A trail horse responds to small movements, and you rarely need to pull.
Look where you want to go. Your balance tells the horse more than you might think.
Lean slightly forward going uphill and sit back a little going downhill, and let the horse pick its footing.
Tell your guide right away if anything feels wrong, from a loose stirrup to a horse you are not comfortable on.
What to wear horseback riding
Comfortable, practical clothes are all you need for a trail ride.
Long pants without thick inside seams. Thick seams on the inside of the leg rub after a few hours in the saddle.
Boots or sturdy shoes with a heel, so your foot cannot slide through the stirrup. Flat-soled sneakers are best left at home.
A hat and sunglasses. The mountain sun in Patagonia is strong, so bring sunscreen too, even on cloudy days.
Layers. Mornings and evenings are cool even in summer and the weather changes fast, so pack a warm layer and a rain layer or poncho.
Our full packing list for the Gaucho Experience, including a swimsuit for the lake days, is on our riding page.
A beginner's riding trip in Patagonia
Our Gaucho Experience is four days on horseback from the lodge, at the north entrance of Los Alerces National Park. Your guides are baqueanos, local horsemen from the Cholila valley, and Iñaki or Toto, who run the lodge with Tristán, ride out with you. There are never more than 10 riders on any date, and we ride from November to April.
The trip starts gently. You arrive by noon, meet your horse after lunch and take a short first ride up to La Momia viewpoint, with the Carrileufú valley below. That afternoon is your chance to get comfortable in the saddle before the full days.
Over the next three days you ride through native forest to a beach inside the park, cross the Carrileufú on horseback (the horses wade across and you lift your boots) and follow Lago Rivadavia to a gaucho outpost that belongs to our guide's family. The guides choose the last day's route that morning, depending on the weather and the trails. Every evening ends back at the lodge, by the fire, with dinner from Iñaki and Toto.
If you ride often at home, tell us and the guides will take it into account. And if someone in your group would rather not ride, they can stay at the lodge at a lower rate.
For a fuller picture of the riding here, read what a ride from the Cholila valley is like. For the culture behind it, see our post on Argentine gauchos.
Is horseback riding hard for beginners?+
Not on a guided trail ride. The horses are used to the terrain and follow the group, and the guide sets an easy pace. The main thing is getting used to the saddle, which most riders do within a day or two.
What should a beginner wear horseback riding?+
Long pants without thick inside seams, boots or sturdy shoes with a heel, a hat, sunscreen, and layers for changing weather.
Do I need riding lessons before a horseback riding trip?+
Not for a guided trail ride like ours. Tell your guide how much you have ridden, and they will match your horse and the pace to it.
Is there a weight limit for horseback riding?+
Most outfitters have one. Ours is 100 kg (220 lb) for new riders and 110 kg (240 lb) for riders who ride regularly.
Can a beginner do a multi-day horseback riding trip?+
Yes. Ours starts with a short ride on the first afternoon, so you can get comfortable before three full days in the saddle.
What if my partner doesn't want to ride?+
Non-riders are welcome to stay at the lodge at a lower rate. Some guests come with someone who would rather read by the fire or walk along the river.
Your first ride, in Patagonia
Four days on horseback with local baqueanos, from November to April, with never more than 10 riders. Tell us roughly when you would like to come and we will tell you what is still open.