Another day, another Groupon. The Groupon that led to this blog post was snatched up swiftly, as it involved an activity I had never done before, but had always wanted to try; horseback riding.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to the Red Fox Stables’ website to make our appointment. Since the Groupon was to expire before our riding time, I called to confirm that we would still be able to use it. This was my first interaction with the incredibly friendly staff at the RF Stables. The woman I spoke with assured me that the expiration date was not a problem and that she looked forward to seeing us on the 25th. This is the second time I’ve had a business owner accept an expired Groupon. If you’re holding an expired Groupon, call up the business and see if they’ll honor it. They want your business as much as you want to use your coupon.

It’s about an hour and 15 minute drive from St. Petersburg to Lithia. The stables are in the country, but very easy to find. Although we didn’t stop at any, there are several farmer’s markets on the way. Save some time before your ride or visit them after, as their product looked delicious.

Down a dirt road, we came across the Red Fox Stables.

Near that sign was a ceramic version of the stables’ animal namesake.

Also greeting guests are two wooden silhouette figures; a cowboy and cowgirl, respectively.

We got there almost 40 minutes before our 12:30pm ride time. A horse was being washed by an employee in the nearby stable, so we decided to head in a little early. We were greeted by a pot belly pig snuffling near the wire fence.

This was just the first of the many animal encounters to be had at these stables. We were greeted warmly by the girl washing the horse. She invited us to visit with not only the horses, but any animal we encountered while in the stables. We began with what we came to see; the horses. I would guess that around 15 horses call the Red Fox Stables home. Each stall had a nameplate with the horse’s name printed on it, along with an appropriate picture.

This stable also had many feline residents.

These were some of the friendliest cats I have ever met. When one was being pet, two more came over, clamoring for my attention. This gray kitty was my favorite.

The girl who worked there asked if we minded dogs. There isn’t an animal I like much more than a dog, so out came three dogs; a golden retriever, a big black dog, and a small white dog who loved belly rubs. If only I had three arms, I could have pet all of them at once.

Also hanging around the stables was a goat resting comfortably on a wooden bench.

This individual time with the animals was a great experience; one I didn’t expect to have. If you can, arrive at the stables a little early, and hopefully you, too, can interact with these friendly animals!

At about 12:30pm, our trail guide arrived and we filled out waivers, which are required of all riders. Two people who also came to ride arrived during this time, too. After that, we were ready to mount our horses. It was interesting to hear the experts discuss which horses should come and where they should be placed.

Since half of the riders had never ridden a horse before, our trail guide gave us a demonstration on how to mount the horse, how to use the reins to “steer” your horse, and how to dismount from the animal.

That’s actually the horse I rode, named Lucky. Lucky is a 15-year-old mare and a sweetheart. Since she was used during the demonstration, I was the first to mount a horse out of the group. Surprisingly, it went pretty well.

Soon enough, everyone was on their horse and ready to roll. Lucky was assigned to the back of the pack, while Tango, Bryce’s horse, was right in front of me. Our trail guide advised me that I should leave my camera behind, so Bryce took care of most of the pictures in this blog. Thank God for cell phone cameras!

Getting Lucky to do what I wanted her to was a little tricky at first. At the beginning of the ride, she stopped and I couldn’t get her to walk again. But, with a few clicks, we were on our way again. All of the horses on the trail couldn’t get enough grass. It was startling the first time Lucky jerked her head down to munch on some grass. Eventually, though, I got used to how Lucky moved and just enjoyed the ride.

The trail we rode on was in a county preserve. We passed through fun areas including muddy marshes and a little creek. The horses loved to trot down and back up the creek. This was the best part of the ride. As we passed by a wide open field, I had the urge to let my inner cowgirl out and ride Lucky at full speed across it. I saved myself some embarrassment and resisted that urge.

I wasn’t expecting to be impressed by the scenery, but it was traditional Florida beauty. Sometimes the sound of silence can be the greatest sound of all.

Here’s a glimpse at our trail-mates and how close the horses are comfortable walking to each other. This freaked me out a bit. OK, I was a little nervous the entire ride!

Unfortunately, this is the only picture Bryce and I got together riding Tango and Lucky, but at least we got one.

Once our circle around the preserve was complete, we made our way back to the stable. While mounting was child’s play, the dismount was difficult…for me at least. Our trail guide offered to get the step stool out for those that needed assistance, but before I could request it, everyone else was already off of their horse. I needed to get off unassisted. Somehow I was able to get my right leg over the horse, lean over the saddle, and, very ungracefully, land back on the ground. There’s a video of this circus act, which may or may not be posted in the future.

To finish the afternoon off, we all got to lead our horses into the stable.

I gave Lucky a few last pats and continued on into the stable. Although it was only an hour trail ride, it was sad parting ways with Lucky. Our trail guide continued the outstanding hospitality by offering water for the drive home.

From the minute we arrived, we were greeted with cheerfulness and information about the animals they house. You’ll learn a lot about the animals you’ve come to ride. Trust me, the hour won’t be long enough and you’ll want to make another reservation on the spot. Although this is the only facility I’ve been horseback riding at, I can’t imagine one better.

Find out more information about the Red Fox Stables here: http://www.redfoxstables.com/