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Photos


Sinatra, a rescue horse housed at Ausable Chasm, takes a nap while Equine Center manager Travis deValinger gives a brief introduction on horse riding and handling safety.


Dakota (from left to right), Sinatra, and Dean Martin munch contentedly on hay after a trail ride through the Ausable Chasm Campgrounds.


A hiking trail overlooks the natural beauty of Ausable Chasm.


A steady flow of water cascades down Rainbow Falls at Ausable Chasm. Along with the many attraction the Chasm already has to offer, trail rides by horseback are a new family friendly activity being offered.


Travis deValinger adjusts a hackamore on Willy Nelson, a gelding used for trail rides at the Equine Center at Ausable Chasm.



Published August 09, 2008 10:16 pm - The Equine Center at AuSable Chasm opened in late June. Rides are available for all ages and abilities on an extensive trail network near the AuSable Chasm campground.

Horseback rides now available at AuSable Chasm


Staff Writer

Popular North Country attraction can now been seen from horseback.

By DAN HEATH

AUSABLE CHASM -- The Equine Center at AuSable Chasm is the newest attraction at one of the region's most popular destinations.

Equine Center Manager Travis deValinger said the center, located just behind the AuSable Chasm Campground, opened the last weekend of Junew.

"Tim (AuSable Chasm General Manager Tim Bresett) wanted us to open right away. We are concentrating on getting the word out," he said.

Bresett said the goal was to create additional recreational activities for visitors and guests.

"We want to turn this into a destination type of place rather than a roadside attraction," he said. "They seem to know what they're doing."

There are about 25 kilometers of trails on more than 500 acres, although not all are used for horseback riding yet. They are the old Nordic ski trails, which AuSable Chasm no longer uses for that purpose.

"It's a good piece of property that was under utilized," Bresett said.

The center has 10 horses, two miniature horses for short children's rides and eight larger ones for older youths and adults. deValinger said the horses are hand selected, trained and handled to exacting standards of gentleness.

"We go through our dealer to make sure they meet our criteria. We don't have any nippers or pickers," he said.

The center will soon have two Belgian draft mixes, so the center will be able to accommodate people of all sizes. deValinger plans to acquire 10 more horses, to make sure none are worked too hard.

"If we find they are working too hard, we'll add to that," he said. "We're in this for the love of the animal.

To that end, the horses have access to plenty of food, water and shade all day.

Each ride starts with a 10-minute orientation lesson on horseback riding basics. deValinger said each rider uses a stool to mount the horse. That is done from the left side, because long ago people wore their swords on their left hip.

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