Best Spots For Horseback Riding In Austin For Adults & Kids

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Whether you are looking to saddle up for a scenic trail ride through the Texas Hill Country or searching for structured equestrian lessons for yourself or your children, the Greater Austin area offers world-class ranches and stables.

From English hunter/jumper programs to relaxed Western trail rides, there is a riding experience tailored to every skill level.

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Also, check out our articles on the Best Hiking Trails & Spots for Hiking in Austin, Best Things to Do with Kids in Austin, and Things to Do in Austin this Summer!

Best Spots for Horseback Riding in Austin

Maverick Horseback Riding

Image credit: Maverick Horseback Riding

If you’ve ever wanted to actually understand horses rather than just sit on one, Maverick Horseback Riding is the place to go.

Every session is built around real horsemanship, so you’ll learn how horses think, how to read their cues, and how to guide them through the reins rather than just hold on for the ride.

Out on the trail where you’ll spend around 1.5 to 2 hours on horseback, expect water crossings, hilly Central Texas pastures, and the occasional buffalo roaming along the road.

One thing to know before you head out: the Balcones Drive address is a mailing address only. Once you book, you’ll receive the actual location, which is currently out in Lockhart, about 35 minutes southeast of downtown Austin. Private rides at Austin-area ranches and parks are also available.

When: Daily: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm except Wednesdays | Wednesday: CLOSED
Where: 5766 Balcones Dr, Austin, TX 78731 (mailing address ONLY)
How much: Public rides start at $95 | Private rides start at $150 | Private lessons start at $100 | Adult classes start at $19.95 | Kids classes start at $49.95

Southern Trail Rides

Fifteen minutes from downtown Austin, Southern Trail Rides gives you 120 acres of open pastures, oak-shaded trails, creek crossings, and the kind of wide-open Texas sky that makes you forget the city exists.

Did you know? The property even served as a filming location for the Western classic Lonesome Dove.

Ranch Rides run 60 minutes and they have programs designed for families with children 10 and under. This later one includes brushing, arena time, and a trail ride.

All rides are guided and open to all experience levels, so no experience is needed to show up and enjoy the trail. But reservations are required, so make sure to book ahead.

When: Daily: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
Where: 15701 Decker Lake Rd, Manor, TX 78653
How much: Rides start at $95

Texas Trail Rides

Image credit: Soul Survivor Outdoor 501c3 texas trail rides

Texas Trail Rides operates right at Lone Star Ranch on Bluff Springs Road in South Austin, just minutes from downtown.

Guides will lead you across 400 open acres through forested trails, wildflower meadows, and across a creek that cuts through the property. And you choose your pace: a 45-minute ride or a more leisurely 90-minute ride.

No experience needed, but riders must be at least 7 years old, and the weight limit is 250 lbs. All safety gear is provided. Just wear closed-toe shoes and long pants.

And if one activity isn’t enough for your group, the ranch also has ATV tours, skeet shooting, archery, axe throwing, and fishing on offer. Plan to arrive 30 minutes before your ride for orientation, and book ahead to lock in your spot.

When: Daily: 8:30 am – 5:00 pm
Where: 8601 Bluff Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78744
How much: Riding lessons on the trails start at $125

Tri-Star Farm

Tri-Star Farm on Spicewood Springs Road has been in the Austin equestrian scene since 2003, and it’s earned its reputation through genuinely thoughtful instruction.

Owner and trainer Kathy Ellerbeck teaches riders to communicate with horses rather than command them, a feel-based approach that builds real horsemanship rather than just mechanical technique.

Private, semi-private, and group lessons are available in Hunter, Jumper, Dressage, and English and Western Pleasure for all skill levels, at both the Austin and Coupland locations.

Take note, the Spicewood Springs Road location in Austin doesn’t offer trail rides. If that’s what you’re after, their Coupland location, about 40 minutes northeast of downtown, sits on over 100 acres of wooded Hill Country trails and is worth the drive.

When: Daily: 7:00 am – 7:00 pm
Where: 6648 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759 and 3325 FM 1466, Coupland, TX 78615
How much: Riding lessons start at $325 monthly per person | Trail rides start at $95

Horseback Riding Lessons in Austin for Adults & Beginners

Spicewood Farms

Spicewood Farms sits right off Loop 360 near the Arboretum in Northwest Austin, and for riders who already have some basics down, it’s a well-run, no-fuss place to build real skills.

Lessons run weekly on a scheduled basis in both English and Western disciplines, tailored to each rider’s level and goals, not a one-size-fits-all curriculum. Group lessons are an hour while private lessons run 45 minutes.

One important note: Spicewood Farms requires riders to have basic walk/trot skills before joining. Riders must also be at least 10 years old and under 150 lbs. If you’re starting from scratch, build a little foundation first and then come here to take it further.

No trail rides or horse rentals are offered, just solid, focused instruction in a well-kept facility.

When: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Where: 6607 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759
How much: Please contact Spicewood Farms for more info

Riding Club of Austin

Image credit: Riding Club of Austin

Riding Club of Austin is a women-owned equestrian facility in Southwest Austin that goes deeper than just teaching you to post a trot.

Lessons here are built around body mechanics and mind-body awareness, so you can understand how your movement affects your horse, not just how to steer.

The facility offers English Hunter Jumper and Pleasure lessons, along with training, seasonal camps, horse shows, and clinics, and uses a trauma-informed teaching approach that makes the environment genuinely welcoming for riders from all walks of life.

Lessons run by scheduled appointment, Tuesday through Sunday.

When: Daily: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: 14425 RM 1826, Austin, TX 78737
How much: Camp day passes start at $120 | Private lessons start at $90

Rio Vista Farm

Rio Vista Farm has been running since 1995, and its longevity says a lot about the quality of instruction there.

Now settled on 86 acres in Dripping Springs, about 15 miles from the Y in Oak Hill, it’s one of the few dedicated show barns in the Austin area that also opens its doors to riders who don’t own horses, making it accessible to beginners and competitive riders alike.

The facility has a large covered arena with modern all-weather footing, multiple outdoor rings, and a tack shop right on site. English hunter/jumper lessons run Monday through Saturday in both morning and evening slots, with monthly group packages starting at $400/month and private lessons at $110.

For younger riders, day camps run during summer, spring, and winter breaks for kids ages 7 to 16, no prior experience required. Here, kids ride, care for horses, and finish each week with a horse show of their own.

When: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 7:00 pm | Saturday: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Where: 1225 Creek Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
How much: Private lessons start at $110 per lesson | Group lessons start at $400 monthly (once a week lessons)

Highland Park Riding School

Highland Park Riding School is a women’s-only Hunter/Jumper riding program and social community built exclusively for women 30 and older. And it only accepts beginners or women returning to the saddle after years away.

Instruction draws on training methods passed down from Olympic-level coaches, and the environment is intentionally small, private, and supportive.

Located on Sam Bass Road in Round Rock, about 30 minutes north of downtown Austin, the full address is shared only after you book, keeping the setting quiet and private. Lessons run by appointment.

When: Monday – Thursday: 9:00 am – 9:00 pm | Sunday: 8:30 am – 8:30 pm
Where: 64 Evangeline Ln, Hutto, TX 78634
How much: Lessons start at $75

Kid-Friendly Horseback Riding in Austin & Summer Camps

Bee Cave Riding Center

Image Credit: Bee Cave Riding Center

Set on scenic Hill Country acreage along Hamilton Pool Road, west of Austin between Lakeway and Dripping Springs, the facility offers Hunter/Jumper, Dressage, and Western instruction for children and adults at all levels, beginners very much included.

Instructors match each rider carefully to a horse or pony suited to their experience, and the school horse program runs from first-timers all the way up to students jumping 3-foot hunter fences.

The summer camp program is a highlight for families. It’s open to kids ages 6 to 16, it runs Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with riding instruction, horse science classes, pottery, swimming, and a horse show at the end of each week.

When: Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: 15740 Hamilton Pool Rd, Austin, TX 78738
How much: Lessons start at $75 | Private lessons start at $300/ month

Switch Willo Stables

Switch Willo Stables has been turning out Central Texas’s best riders since 1963. That’s over 60 years of history on 21 wooded acres, just 15 minutes north of downtown Austin.

More riders from Switch Willo have earned full NCAA equestrian scholarships than from any other Austin-area stable, and many of Central Texas’s top professionals trace their very first lesson back to this barn.

Camp Switch Willo has also been voted Best Equestrian Camp by Austin Family Magazine every year from 2009 to 2025.

This hunter/jumper program has four lighted arenas, 50 stalls, and a staff that largely lives on site, but it’s also warmly welcoming to riders of all ages and skill levels, so don’t let the pedigree intimidate you.

The camp runs for kids ages 6 to 12 from late May through mid-August, covering daily riding, horsemanship, arts and crafts, and swimming, with a Friday horse show to close out each week. Spots fill fast, so book early.

When: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm | Saturday – Sunday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Where: 4829 Switch Willo, Austin, TX 78727
How much: Full pricing appears in the Lesson Contract

Weddle Training Stables

If your child has a thing for Arabian horses, this is one of the best places in the Austin area to ride one.

The stable specializes in Arabian and Half-Arabian horses and offers U.S. National-level show training across English, Hunter, Western, Show Hack, Halter, and Driving disciplines.

Riders ages 7 and up are welcome, with lessons covering riding fundamentals alongside proper grooming, equipment fitting, and horse communication. Summer horse camps are also offered for younger riders.

When: Not stated
Where: 12416 Farm to Market Rd 1826, Austin, TX 78737
How much: Please call 512-657-8612 for pricing and scheduling

Lone Star Stables

Nestled in the Westlake neighborhood at 6400 Liveoak Drive, about 20 minutes from downtown Austin, Lone Star Stables is a hunter/jumper barn that has been open since 2007.

The facility has a 22-stall barn, a covered riding arena, a round pen, and tree-shaded turnout paddocks that make for a beautiful setting to learn in.

Lessons are structured in monthly packs and available as private, semi-private, or small group sessions for riders of all ages and skill levels.

Summer camps run for six weeks and are a great entry point for kids who are new to horses as well as those who want to sharpen what they already know. The program is English-only, with no Western instruction, so keep that in mind when deciding if it’s the right fit.

When: Monday – Friday: 8:00 am – 8:00 pm
Where: 6400 Liveoak Dr, Austin, TX 78746
How much: Private lessons start at $150 | Package lessons start at $450/ month (one lesson per week) + $450 deposit

Know Before You Go: Riding in the Greater Austin Area

While several prominent equestrian facilities are located within Austin proper (such as along Spicewood Springs Road or in South Austin), many top-tier trail riding ranches and lesson stables are spread across surrounding Hill Country communities like Bee Cave, Dripping Springs, Manor, and Westlake.

Most venues require closed-toe boots and long pants regardless of weather, and weight limits (typically 180–220 lbs depending on horse size) may apply.

Always reserve your session in advance, as guided trail rides and weekend lesson slots fill quickly.

Common Questions about Horseback Riding in Austin

How much does horseback riding cost in Austin, Texas?

Guided trail rides in the Austin area generally range from $65 to $125 per hour depending on the duration and location. Private or group equestrian lessons typically cost between $65 and $110 per single session, with discounted monthly packages available at most stables.

What is the 20% rule in horseback riding?

The 20% rule is a standard guideline in equine care stating that a rider (plus saddle and tack) should generally weigh no more than 20% of the horse’s total body weight. This ensures the safety, comfort, and physical health of the animal during rides.

What should I wear for horseback riding in Austin?

Riders should wear long pants (such as jeans or riding breeches) and closed-toe shoes or boots with a small heel. Avoid loose clothing, shorts, or sandals. Most stables supply riding helmets, which are mandatory for minors and strongly encouraged for all adults.

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