Horseback Riding at Cades Cove

Monday morning we were anxious to leave our cabin and head for the great outdoors. We drove into the Great Smoky Mountain National Park and made our way to Cades Cove hoping to hike to the Abrams Falls… But the road led us to this gorgeous view and a ‘closed for winter’ sign. Apparently spring break is still winter. So instead we decided to spontaneously opt for horse back riding through the mountain. Grandma J volunteered to watch the kids under 6 (thank you!!) and the rest of us ‘saddled up’ for a great ride.

The kids were SOOOOO excited. Ryan, Katie and Emily took horseback riding lessons for six months last year and have been begging to ride horses ever since.

Emily’s horse was named ‘Yuk’. Emily giggled when he got tied to the post, immediately pooped and everyone yelled, ‘Yuck, Yuk!’ Yuk was quite stubborn. Emily kept trying to kick him to get him going faster but he just did whatever he wanted. Look, you can just tell he has an attitude!

Katie just loves being on the back of a horse, and she just looks so good riding too. An hour was definitely not long enough for Katie. Ryan loved it too.

I don’t think I’ve ridden a horse since before Ryan was born so I was excited for the ride. My horse, Juliet, liked lagging behind a little so that she could then trot quickly back into place. It was fun but boy did my butt get sore quick. Yikes, I’m no cowgirl.