"Horsing" Around In The Parks at Tradewinds Park & Tree Tops Parks November 23, 2008

Two regional parks offer horseback riding and pony rides -- Tradewinds Park and Tree Tops Park. The Tradewinds Park stables are county-operated, while the horses and ponies at Tree Tops are a privately owned business called AAD Horse Adventures.

If you are a horse owner, there are four parks that have designated horse trails within the park. The County has specific rules for those riding horses on the equestrain trails. Please view the rules - (Horse Trail Do's and Don'ts -- PDF -96KB).

Long Key Nature Center
Tradewinds Park
Tree Tops Park
Vista View Park

Horse owners should also register their horses with the County in preparation of any emergency situations or hurricanes. Click here for more information.
http://www.broward.org/parks/largeanimals.htm

Tradewinds Park Stables

Guided Trail Rides are available on Saturdays, Sundays, and designated holidays, with scheduled trail rides beginning at 9:30 a.m. and running until 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Trail rides are one hour long and are on a first-come, first-served basis. Trail ride sales close 30 minutes prior to the scheduled ride time. The cost is $30 per person.

Gift certificates are available for purchase at the Tradewinds Park office. Each gift certificate is redeemable for one guided trail ride within 12 months from the date of issuance and during normal operating hours. Please contact the Tradewinds Park Stables at (954) 968-3875 for information on redeeming gift certificates. Each certificate equals one guided trail ride and costs $30. *Gift certificates are not redeemable for cash and will not be replaced or refunded.

Weight limit is 200 pounds; no double riding permitted. Please honor our Horse Trail Do's and Don'ts (PDF–92 KB). http://www.broward.org/parks/pdf/horsedosanddonts.pdf

Payment for Guided Trail Rides is taken at the General Store. Weekday trail rides are available from October through May by appointment only.

Pony Rides are offered on Saturdays, Sundays, and designated holidays from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. Children must be less than 52 inches tall to ride the ponies. The cost is $2 per ride or $6 for four rides, with payment taken at the General Store.

Public Farm Tours are offered on the third full weekend of each month, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., weather permitting; the cost is $2 per person for the 30-minute tour.

Note: Farm animals are viewable from outside the fence during park operating hours. For direct interaction with the farm animals, Public Farm Tours are offered as indicated above or by scheduling an Educational Farm Tour with Bette Estep.

Tradewinds Park Stables also offers a horse camp during the summer and school breaks. Summer Horse Camp, held at Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, is usually nine one-week sessions held Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (There is no riding on Fridays.) There is no camp scheduled during the week of the Independence Day holiday. Campers must provide their own lunches and refreshments. Long pants and closed shoes are required. Participamts should also bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel.

In addition to receiving instruction on breeds and colors of horses, appropriate riding equipment, and horse care, students will receive riding lessons and the opportunity to participate in other activities. Fees are $300 per child for each session. Call the stables (954) 968-3875 well in advance of any school holidays or summer break to register your child for horse camp.

ADD Horse Adventures at Tree Tops Park

Hours of operation: Saturday, Sunday, and most holidays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last one-hour trail ride leaves at 2 p.m. -- last one-half hour ride leaves at 3:30 p.m., and the last pony ride is at 4 p.m.

Fees: $35 per hour horseback ride; $25 per half-hour horseback ride. Pony rides are $1.50 for once around the circle and $5 for four times around the circle.

Weekday rides are available by appointment. For more information or to make an appointmemnt, call (954) 830-7800.
Map & Directions Tree Top Park
http://www.broward.org/parks/ttmap.htm
Map & Directions Tradewinds Park
http://www.broward.org/parks/twmap.htm

Official Website: http://www.broward.org/parks/horses.htm