Saddle Up: City Pilots Guided Horse Rides In Golden Gate And McLaren ParksPhoto: jezet/Flickr
Shane Downing
Published on March 28, 2017

Hold your horses, San Francisco: this news will likely stirrup some excitement.

Beginning today, SF Rec and Park is offering horseback rides to the public in Golden Gate Park. The department is exploring the feasibility of guided horse rides in two city parks, and is seeking to gauge public interest.

For two months, the same professional wranglers who provide horseback rides at Camp Mather will offer guided rides in Golden Gate Park and McLaren Park. At Golden Gate Park’s Bercut Equitation Field, 15 horses will be available for trail rides—and soon, 10 steeds will be ready at McLaren’s Police Horse Stables.

Starting at $40 for 30 minutes, rides (which include human guides) will be offered seven days a week from 8am-7pm (weather permitting); equestrian enthusiasts should call ahead of time to check availability (1-844-967-4653).

Rides will be offered in 30-, 60- and 90-minute increments, and there’s a 25 percent discount for San Francisco residents. Helmets are required (and provided), and no children under five years old will be permitted to ride, according to Rec and Park's informational page about the pilot. 

Ready to hop astride? There’s no need to chomp at the bit: the trial period lasts until May 20th, so there's plenty of time to saddle up