Flame Azalea Trail
Enjoy Majestic Long-range Views
What to Expect
Ride on horseback through the Flame Azalea Trail into a hardwood forest of enchanting white pines and blooming azaleas. Your approximate 60-minute guided tour starts with a 30-45 minute safety briefing and training at the Arrowmont Stables, located just 10 miles north of Cashiers, NC. Choose from a variety of departure times.
Meet your guide at Arrowmont Stables and Cabins on the northwest end of Lake Glenville about a mile from the lake. It's only a 20 minute drive from Cashiers, NC. At this 200-acre (80-hectare) working horse farm you’ll get acquainted with equine behavior and riding tips during a 30-45 minute safety program via training video or live demonstration.
After the safety demonstration, you’re matched with a suitable horse, you put on your helmet (under 18 helments are mandatory), are mounted and the guide adjusts your stirrups, and then you try your horse out in the ring before setting off on the Flame Azalea Trail.
Follow your guide through a hardwood and white pine forest flanked by azaleas before you emerge into an open meadow. Reaching 4,200 feet in elevation, you’re treated to sweeping 30 mile views out to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Be on the lookout for wildlife, including raptors soaring above.
On the descent, travel past the Old Fort Lodge area — a former youth camp established in 1960 — before ending your tour back at the stables of the 200-acre (80-hectare) working horse farm.
ABOUT
Come to enjoy an amazing adventure on a 200 acre horse farm in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina.
WHAT TO BRING
Shoes: Please wear closed toed shoes with as smooth a sole as possible.
No flip-flops, hiking boots or bare feet. Obviously, riding boots are best but tennis shoes with a smooth sole could work. Smooth sole shoes with a heel are best.
Please do Not wear hiking boots. Their sole is very rough and may get your foot stuck in the stirrup.
Pants: Long pants are best. Then shorts that come down to your knees. This is so your legs won't rub on the saddle and get sore.
Rain: Trails go rain or shine. We do provide ponchos and raincoats. Bring an extra T-Shirt and towel if it looks like rain.
THINGS THAT GET LOST ON THE TRAIL
Sunglasses that aren't being worn
Cameras that aren't on a tether around your neck
Cell phones
Wallets
Keys
Please leave these things in your car or at the Stables. Rarely do we find them.
Includes
INCLUSIONS:
Safety orientation
Horseback Ride (based on option selected)
Use of all equipment (horse, tack and helmet)
Use of helmet mandatory for everyone
Ponchos or Rain coats provided for inclement weather
Majestic Trails with a variety in terrain from 4200 feet elevation at the top down to 3400 feet in the valley
A Guide for safety and direction as well as to provide some local history and color.
Plus, Great Horses! Trail length times are approximate. The rate is based on the trail and not time. Please understand, it's hard to "push button" a horse to be exact.
Restrictions
AGE TO RIDE, WEIGHT, ETC INFO
AGE TO RIDE: Six year old children have successfully ridden on all the trails. Sometimes there's a precocious five year old who may ride.
What we look for are:
Does the child have good balance on the horse?
Does he understand he needs to remain on the horse for the entire trail?
Does he still take naps? He may fall asleep due to the rocking motion of the horse.
Is he afraid of horses?
The oldest rider we've had was 92 years young. She was a Great Grandmother who wanted to go riding with her grand-children. She was a great sport and it was easy to see why her "kids" wanted her along!
DOUBLE RIDING:
We are sorry but "Double Riding" is not permitted. It's been proven to be less safe than if each person/child were on their own horse.
WEIGHT LIMIT:
Weight limit for walking trails is 250lb. The weight needs to be proper for your height. For example, a person who is 5 feet tall weighing 250lbs would not be able to go riding.
I'm sorry but they simply wouldn't be able to properly hold on with their legs. It is primarily your legs that keep you securely "fastened" to your horse. Your proper balance is also important.
To help you understand the weight restrictions…
A horse can comfortably carry 20% of his body weight. So to carry someone who weighs 250 lbs, you need a horse that weighs at least 1250 lbs. That is a huge horse and the top of his back is usually at or near 5 feet 6 inches or more. If you are a short person who needs a large horse to ride, that's a long way to fall if you can't gripe well with your legs. Plus, if you needed to get back on in the forest, if would be almost impossible.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ALLERGIES
Allergy Information
If you suspect you or someone in your group has allergy problems and still want to reserve a horse for them, PLEASE do not expect to get a refund when, in fact, an allergic reaction occurs and you or the person(s) in your group are unable to ride their horse(s).
I'm sorry but we have to turn away too many people who are not allergic to be able to refund for an allergic incident that may or may not occur. Please Be Aware.
Address
Arrowmont Stables
Pricing
| Adult | $91.50 |
| Child | $91.50 |
Cancellation Policy
CANCELLATION POLICY
If you make a reservation using this Gift Card and need to change the dates, please follow these time frames for your changes to take effect without the Cancellation Fees.
HORSE CAMP CANCELLATION NOTICE IS 2 WEEKS
The cancellation fee for Horseback Camp is CAMP COST PER STUDENT CANCELLED.
WEIGHT LIMIT
We have some horses who can carry up to 250 lbs on a walking trail. For the Walk-Trot-Canter, a 220 lb weight limit is required.
One other point, weight should be proportional to height. For instance, a five-foot-high person who weighs 250 lbs would have very short legs. But the horse needed would be a large horse with a large girth. This person's legs would be too short to appropriately grip the horse's girth for safety. Therefore, making it unsafe for this person to ride. We are so sorry about this but safety has to come first.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING ALLERGIES
Allergy Information
If you suspect you or someone in your group has allergy problems and still want to reserve a horse for them, PLEASE do not expect to get a refund when, in fact, an allergic reaction occurs and you or the person(s) in your group are unable to ride their horse(s).
I'm sorry but we have to turn away too many people who are not allergic to be able to refund for an allergic incident that may or may not occur. PLEASE BE AWARE.
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