Horseback wildlife parks

Arizona Docent

Arizona Docent

Well-Known Member
15+ year member
Just wondering, are there any wildlife parks where visitors can ride through on horseback? It seems to me this would be an ideal way to view hoofstock in a large park. The animals would likely be more comfortable among their own kind (horses) than among cars or trams.

I don't know of any myself. San Diego Wild Animal Park just started mule rides into the undeveloped back portions of the park, but not into the animal fields. Surely some park somewhere has thought of this?
 
I would of thought it would be too limiting comercially with only appealing/available to horse riders.
 
Well riding maybe a camel or a pony chart through some hoofstock paddock would be great thrill, I suppose!
 
I don't believe it has been done but horse drawn carts (as I believe you and I have discussed in another form) have. It does sound like a good idea. Maybe if you charged a higher price and have it as an alternative to riding in a car, safari jeep, or horse drawn wagon. A camel ride through an exhibit would be an interesting experince. Before I knew of the actual factors and debate in riding elephants, when I was younger I made an exhibit on paper where guests rode elephants and saw numerous Asian animals in large habitats. This would be a neat idea too if you didn't have the other factors.
 
I think the lawyers wouldn't like that. Traveling the horses THROUGH the hoofed animal paddocks immediately increases the inherent risks associated with the endeavor.
 
Ituri said:
I think the lawyers wouldn't like that. Traveling the horses THROUGH the hoofed animal paddocks immediately increases the inherent risks associated with the endeavor.
Click to expand...

True this might be an issue and the reason why it hasn't been used yet. But a bombproof horse can deal with most things and if the horse is used to it I don't see a problem. However when you add animals like Sable, Zebra, Nilgai and some of the other more aggressive animals I see how it could get dangerous.
 
As I was thinking about this, I remembered that Fossil Rim Wildlife Ranch in Texas used to offer horseback safaris. I am 90% certain of this. However, when I looked at all the special tours on their website this is not listed, so I guess they stopped doing it.

One thing they do offer, however, which is pretty cool, is mountainbike tours. Here's the link: Welcome to Fossil Rim Wildlife Center :: Ride The Rim
 
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