Conquer Mexico on horseback

By: Virginia Imberti Posted: 22/06/2022

Mexico is a great country in the southern portion of North America, where geography inspires great adventures on horseback. Its great landscape variety offers a range of opportunities to every rider who wants to enjoy a horse riding holiday.

In this article, we are going to discover different equestrian options for your next vacation on a Mexican ranch.

The importance of horses in Mexico

When we talk about the history of Mexico, we cannot forget to mention horses.

The first horses arrived in America in 1493 during one of Christopher Columbus' expeditions to the continent. Years later, on April 21, 1519, Hernán Cortés brought along 19 horses to what is now Mexico.

These horses gave rise to the Mexican Criollo, a horse that is very similar to the North American Mustang and the South American Criollo.

In the twentieth century, in 1920, the Quarter horse was brought to Mexico from the United States and it became the most popular breed, leaving Mexico without a horse of its own.

It was in 1969 that Antonio Ariza began to breed the Azteca horse – an authentic Mexican breed.

The Azteca was created from the Andalusian stallion Hilandero, born in Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), and an American Quarter horse. The first Azteca horse was a stallion named Casarejo and today most Azteca horses are related by blood.

Riding holiday operators in Mexico

Mexico offers a great tourist infrastructure that guarantees a comfortable and safe stay. There are many Mexican ranches where you have the possibility to discover this vast land on horseback.

In this article, we will see what three of these ranches have to offer.

Rancho Las Cascadas

Located about 100 km north of Mexico City, high on the mountain plains. They offer limitless guided trails and open-range horseback riding for all abilities.

Majestic mountains, open fields, peaceful lakes, waterfalls, and lush vistas await. No artist could paint a more perfect landscape.

About the Ranch

The owner, Uschi Wiprächtiger, was born in Switzerland. She fell in love with horses when she was a child and enjoyed helping around the local stables.

She had worked in the tourism industry in different countries around the world until one day she found a job in a travel agency in Mexico, where she ended up buying land to build her new home, 20 years ago.

Then she decided to turn it into a guest house where she could offer both horseback rides and a place to enjoy the beautiful landscapes around.

Today, she offers great horseback rides and an incredible variety of ranch services and activities.

What to expect at Rancho Las Cascadas?

Your all-inclusive Horseback Riding Vacation will include everything you need to forget about the rest of the world.

You'll enjoy 3 home-cooked meals a day, afternoon tea, open bar, infinity pool, wellness classes, and much more.

They cook with the finest local ingredients. Their innovative authentic Mexican chefs prepare healthy regional meals. According to ranch tradition the meals are served family style.

And after an exhilarating ride or any other ranch activity, you'll be ready to go to your room for a good night’s sleep.

The rooms at the Ranch combine comfort and class with a genuine local feel. Each room is designed to reflect the vibrancy and colour of Mexican life.

Their riding programs

Because of the vast and varied terrain, all of their rides are guided by wranglers. However there is no nose to tail riding once they see that you are able to handle your horse.

Choose from over 30 different trails, half day and full day open range riding.

Every evening their team arranges with all guests the appropriate riding program for the next day considering riding level and fitness. Maximum 8 riders per wrangler.

Rides cater to all riding levels. Less experienced riders will go out with a separate guide to ensure that everyone gets the best experience. Advanced riders enjoy fast paced riding.

You can ride anywhere from one to six hours and choose a different horse and trail every day if you’d like.

If you prefer more structure on your horseback riding vacation, our guest experience managers can customize an itinerary suited to your riding ability and preferences.

Their horses

They have Criollo, Azteca and Quarter Horses, carefully bred and trained to be the perfect partner on the trail.

The enormous stamina of Criollo horses makes them extremely suitable for long distance riding through rough countryside. They are perfect mounts for exploring the Mexican highland.

Quarter Horses have calm, gentle demeanour and stable temperament. They are perfect for beginners.

Finally, Azteca horses are quick learners, which makes them easy to train, and they need very little guidance from their riders once they understand their job.

In short, if you are looking for a place where you can enjoy spectacular scenery, experience Mexican culture and cuisine, and go horseback riding in a relaxed atmosphere and away from it all, this is the right place for you.

For more information, go to their website: https://es.rancholascascadas.com/

Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures

From Rancho Los Baños, the Tierra Chamahua Eco Adventures team offers the possibility to enjoy great outdoor adventures and active experiences, in a relaxing ranch atmosphere.

This 30,000 acre ranch is located in northeast Sonora, Mexico, just 55 miles south of the city of Douglas. At the foot of the Sierra Madre, the Mexican Rockies.

It is centered at the crossroads of the Sonora and Chihuahua deserts.

The origins of the Rancho

The Valenzuela family, cattle ranching pioneers from the northeast of Sonora dating back to the early 20th century, has owned and operated the ranch continuously since the early 1950's.

Originally from Andalusia (Spain), they emigrated in the mid-1600s to northeast Sonora, where they built the Rancho. The new generation is American raised.

The family's deeply held belief in living with nature and not at its expense has helped preserve this enchanting land much the same way it has been for thousands of years.

Lodging at the Ranch

They have five very well equipped and independent casitas that offer comfort, space and privacy, each with private bath, hot water for showers, solar electricity and an abundance of natural light.

Spacious and comfortable, these casitas are dispersed throughout the main ranch hacienda.

Each of them gives us wonderful views of the surrounding peaks, cliffs and mountains, and have been built nestled within our unique desert ecosystem, thereby incorporating mature mesquite trees and bushes for privacy, shade and true desert wilderness.

Horseback riding at Rancho Los Baños

Here you will find mountains, valleys, cliffs and canyons. Open spaces for you to discover on horseback.

You will discover these remote and rugged landscapes during your riding holidays, and enjoy great adventures in this untouched wilderness.

Riding at Rancho Los Baños is as real as it gets.

Join old and new-school Mexican vaqueros and American wranglers on this unique ranch experience.

You become a vaquero, discovering the land and its majesty, reading the contours of its ruggedness, spotting wildlife or cattle, herding and directing cattle home.

Their horses are extremely surefooted and a dream to ride.

For beginners and experienced riders alike, their 80 miles of dirt roads, and their hundreds of miles of trails, present stunning vistas with challenges and thrills along the way.

Most rides start off in the morning, after breakfast and last for about 5-6 hours, or shorter if you wish. During the course of your ride, you will make stops for breaks, snacks, photo ops, etc.

What kind of riding can we expect on the ranch?

The ranch's 30,000 acres encompass very rugged, rocky, uneven and vertical land. Therefore, the opportunities for galloping or trotting are small to non-existent.

Additionally, the diverse and at times thick desert vegetation makes fast riding difficult. Having said that, however, their trails do take guests on a diverse set of challenges not offered at many ranches.

You will be able to ascend through sierras through narrow passages, or descending ravines and steep trails into box canyons, or of climbing up rocky cliffs.

If you enjoy of circumventing boulders and big rocks, or of evading trees and bushes, and of working in synchronicity with your horse, then this ranch might offer what you seek.

Historical places on their horse riding holidays

At the ranch, you can also ride to numerous historical attractions. For example, a 17th century abandoned Jesuit gold mine (at 6,000 feet of elevation with views that go for miles), by the name of San Jose, where many Native American slaves perished.

Deep inside a scrub oak, canopy-filled canyon at the foot of 7,500 ft. El Pinito Mountain, guests also visit the remains of a 19th century bandit hiding camp where both American and Mexican outlaws went to lay low. After all, the Wild West did not end at the border.

Finally, you can also visit the 2,000 year old pre-Colombian dwellings full of pictographs, deep inside El Cajon Canyon.

Orvisit a 20 mile long lake, and its dam, built during the Great Depression by the architects and engineers that also built Hoover Dam.

If you want to know more about them, their horses or the main characteristics of their tours, go to their web site https://www.tierrachamahuaecoadventures.com/home.html

Rancho El Charro

A family-owned horse ranch in Puerto Vallarta, nestled in the Sierra Madre mountains and just minutes from town.

Pam, its owner, came to Mexico more than fifty years ago as a tourist. She fell in love with Puerto Vallarta and its people, and decided to set up an equestrian center with a couple of horses.

Your guides are experienced wranglers who love to share their knowledge of the historic village, tropical plants and wildlife of the area.

Their horseback riding programs

We offer rides for all ages and for all levels of experience.

These are their horseback riding programs:

• Tropical Forest horseback ride: This horseback ride, lasting 3 hours, is great for those who want to relax and enjoy the sound of the river. Your horse will guide you upstream along the banks of the river, where we eventually find a convenient path into the forest where a small waterfall awaits us among towering trees.
• Mountain Waterfall horseback ride: On this 5 hour ride, your horse will guide you upstream along the banks of the river, where we eventually find a convenient path into the forest where a small waterfall awaits us among towering trees.
• Wild horseback ride: A journey through the mountains for experienced riders, where you’ll gallop and canter through parts before descending the devil’s trail. The duration of this route is 5 hours.

They also organize all-inclusive experiences of up to a week. You can visit an old mining town and the beautiful mountains of the Sierra Madre.

If you want to know more about them, their horses and their rides, visit: https://www.ranchoelcharro.com/

/ Photos: rancholascascadas.com tierrachamahuaecoadventures.com and ranchoelcharro.com /

Thinking about a horse riding holiday but don’t know how to book it?

Download our free eBook "How to plan your next horseback trip" and learn all you need to know when choosing the right holiday and outfitter for your next equestrian adventure.

~

THIS COULD ALSO BE INTERESTING

~

WHAT IS YOUR OPINION? LEAVE A COMMENT