English saddle horse trail riding stables?

Question

Is there any english saddle horse trail riding stables in Ellicottville, New York

Answer 1

Most barns use Western saddles because they are easier for amateurs to ride in, as well as more comfortable for amateurs.  You can always call beforehand if they have a horse that rides English and if so, if you could ride it (preferably with English tack).  

You live kind of near me - here are two great trail riding places:

Double DAB - I don't know if they have English horses, but you can ask. The staff are great (as in, well trained and knowledgable about horses) and the horses are happy and healthy.  Lovely scenery too.  

http://www.doubledabridingstables.pangai...

Woolcott Farms - More expensive, but you can ride through Letchworth State Park.  Again, happy and healthy horses and knowledgable staff.

http://www.wolcottfarms.com/

But do not...repeat, DO NOT...go to Sparks Trading Post on Grand Island.  PLEASE.  That place is a h**l on earth for horses. They have had at least one EIA outbreak, the horses are unsound, unhealthy and grossly underfed,...I could go on for ages about that place.  I have unfortunately been in contact with it since I was a kid and was even employed there as a child (illegally, of course).  No English horses there, and the staff likely has no idea what "English" means anyway.

These are not my photos and I have no clue who these people are (I found the photos via a Google search) but taking a look at these horses' feet will give you some idea of the care the horses get at Sparks:  

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/56043...

This is one of their horses, at a weight that is typical for most of the horses they own:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/23310...

More:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/21585...

Nice, huh?  They use big Western saddle pads which will (sometimes) conceal the horse's hipbones.

Sorry for the rant, but NY horsepeople have been attempting to shut this place down for 15 years at LEAST.  Anything I can do to spread the word.

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Incidentally, if anyone out there has any ideas as to how to help convince authorities that places like this ought to cease to exist, despite the fact that the place is a money maker and known tourist attraction for a small town, please for heaven's sakes let me know via e-mail.

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EDIT:  How convenient!  Fugly Horse of the Day (to whom I appealed for help) has posted an EXCELLENT article on being a responsible rider at a trail riding barn.  Check it out:

http://fuglyhorseoftheday.blogspot.com/2...

Answer 2

first, any horse can be ridden any type of saddle, and any one can go out on trail on any saddle.  so any stables that have trails would be good in that area to go to if you want to trail ride.