🗓️ Last Updated: Spring 2025

Horseback Riding in Dallas, TX

Dallas has three genuinely good horseback riding options within 45 minutes of the city, and one of them is on the actual filming location of the TV show Dallas. None of them are what people expect when they think about DFW.

If you’re searching for horseback riding near you while you’re in Dallas, the market splits across three zones. Southfork Ranch in Parker is 30 minutes northeast, famous as the Ewing estate from the television series, open seven days a week with five daily ride times. Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas is 25 minutes north, consistently the highest-rated trail ride in the DFW metro with a personality-matched horse pairing process that reviewers call the best in the area. And Chisholm Trail Rides in Quinlan is 45 minutes east by Lake Tawakoni, with 1,000 private acres, True Pleasure Horses trained to bond individually with their riders, and sunset and bonfire add-ons. All three book directly with the operator.

See the Top-Rated Dallas Horseback Rides ›

This page covers three featured horseback riding operators accessible from Dallas, spanning three geographic zones and three very different experiences. Southfork Ranch offers a pop-culture landmark trail ride on the rolling terrain of the Ewing estate. Broken Bow Ranch runs personality-matched Quarter Horse rides on scenic Dallas County hills. And Chisholm Trail Rides provides private lakeside rides on True Pleasure Horses near Quinlan and Lake Tawakoni. If you want to see more options in the area, browse more horseback riding listings in Dallas.

Why Go Horseback Riding Near Dallas

Dallas is a sprawling, urban metro and most visitors don’t associate it with accessible trail riding. But the DFW suburbs dissolve into rolling Texas ranch country pretty quickly once you get north and east of the city, and the three operators on this page sit in genuinely different pockets of that landscape. Southfork Ranch in Parker gives you wide-open rolling terrain on one of the most famous privately held estates in Texas. Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas puts you through emerald-green hill country with wildflower fields and wooded trails within 25 minutes of downtown. Chisholm Trail Rides near Lake Tawakoni is the furthest but operates on 1,000 private acres of sandy loam preserve land where the sandy soil, the lake proximity, and the sheer amount of private land create a riding environment that feels completely removed from the DFW metro.

The operators in this market each bring something the others don’t. Southfork Ranch’s TV show history is exclusive to this market and impossible to replicate anywhere else in Texas — riding on the actual filming location of Dallas is a specific experience that pulls a completely different audience from standard trail riding. Broken Bow Ranch’s personality-matched horse pairing is the differentiator that earns its consistent five-star reviews — the owner, a 30-year equestrian veteran, selects each horse based on the individual rider’s temperament and experience rather than just assigning whoever’s next in the rotation. Chisholm Trail Rides’ True Pleasure Horses are specifically trained to bond with and respond to their individual riders, which produces a noticeably different riding experience from a standard follow-the-leader trail horse.

The logistics for all three operators are self-directed. Southfork Ranch is the most accessible for visitors staying in central Dallas or Plano, with five daily departure times making it easy to slot into an existing itinerary. Broken Bow Ranch requires reservations but runs Monday through Saturday. Chisholm Trail Rides is the furthest drive but customizes ride length for your party and is specifically set up for private bookings, so the trip feels worth the 45 minutes in a way that a shorter drive to a larger commercial operation might not.

Best Places to Go Horseback Riding Near Dallas, TX

Southfork Ranch in Parker is the most recognizable riding venue in the Dallas market, and the TV show connection is real rather than incidental. The estate served as the filming location for the Dallas television series, and the Ewing Mansion, the landscape, and the memorabilia on-site are all verifiable aspects of that history. The trail ride covers the ranch’s rolling terrain, and families who book the ride often pair it with a guided mansion tour and the Dallas memorabilia exhibits for a full day on the property. That combination makes Southfork one of the few horseback riding destinations in the country where the non-riding context adds genuine substance rather than just background scenery. Five departure times daily means scheduling flexibility that most DFW ranches don’t offer.

Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas, on Dallas County’s north end, operates on terrain that’s different from what most people expect 25 minutes outside a major city: emerald-green hills, wildflower fields, and wooded trails with the kind of visual variety that comes from the rolling transition zone between North Texas flat country and the Hill Country edge. Chisholm Trail Rides near Quinlan and Lake Tawakoni is the most remote option on this page and the most specifically romantic — 1,000 acres of private sandy loam preserve adjacent to the lake, with side-by-side riding for couples, a sunset ride option, bonfire add-ons, and photography and video packages that multiple reviewers have used to document engagements. The lake proximity and the sheer size of the property give it a scale that the closer-to-Dallas operations can’t match.

Riding by Experience Level Near Dallas

All three operators on this page welcome beginners, but the approach to first-timers varies enough to be worth knowing about. Southfork Ranch’s guides are praised in reviews for being patient and knowledgeable with first-timers and nervous young riders, and the wide-open rolling terrain there is forgiving for beginners who need a predictable environment. Broken Bow Ranch’s personality-matching process is specifically valuable for first-timers because the horse selection is calibrated to the rider’s comfort level rather than just to their size and weight. In my experience, the operations where the horse selection accounts for the rider’s temperament — not just their height and weight — produce the most consistent positive outcomes for people who arrive uncertain about the whole thing. Chisholm Trail Rides’ True Pleasure Horses, trained to bond with and listen to individual riders rather than just follow the horse in front, are also genuinely beginner-friendly because the horse’s responsiveness to its rider creates a sense of communication that standard trail horses on a follow-the-leader setup don’t offer.

The age minimums and weight limits differ by operator. Southfork Ranch lists a minimum age of 8 and a 240-pound weight limit. Broken Bow Ranch and Chisholm Trail Rides requirements should be confirmed directly with each operator when you book. If your group has younger children or anyone near typical weight limits, check with the specific operator before arriving at the ranch.

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Featured Horseback Riding Providers Near Dallas

Not sure which ride is right for you? Here’s the short version:

Best for families who want a famous Texas landmark plus a real trail ride: Southfork Ranch in Parker — 1-hour trail rides on the Ewing estate filming location from the Dallas TV series, seven days a week with five daily departure times, ages 8+, pairable with a mansion tour for a full day out.
Best for families and first-timers who want the highest-rated DFW trail ride: Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas — consistently 5-star rated on Google and Facebook with a personality-matched horse pairing process that reviewers call the best in the Dallas metro, operated by a 30-year equestrian veteran, Mon–Sat by reservation.
Best for couples and romantic occasions: Chisholm Trail Rides in Quinlan — private rides on True Pleasure Horses across 1,000 acres of sandy loam preserve adjacent to Lake Tawakoni, with sunset rides, bonfire add-ons, and photography packages; 45 minutes east of Dallas.

Family Primary⭐ 4.6/5200+ ReviewsAges 8+7 Days a Week5 Daily Departures

Southfork Ranch — Trail Rides on the Ewing Estate

Operator: Trail Rides USA / Southfork Ranch | Parker, TX — approximately 30 minutes northeast of Dallas | Direct booking via trailridesusa.com or southforkranch.com

Best for: Families and Dallas visitors who want to combine a genuine Texas trail ride with the most famous ranch estate in the state, including kids ages 8 and older and anyone for whom the Dallas TV series is a specific draw.

Southfork Ranch in Parker is the filming location for the Dallas television series, and the Ewing Mansion estate is the reason most people know the name Southfork at all. The trail rides operate across the ranch’s rolling terrain, and the combination of pop culture history and genuine Texas ranch riding is specific to this location. No other horseback operation in the DFW metro can offer it, which is what makes Southfork the most distinctive editorial hook in the Dallas horseback market — you’re riding on the actual estate, past the actual structures, in a landscape that the television series made famous over decades.

The trail itself covers wide-open rolling terrain that’s well-suited to beginners and families with kids who may be nervous about their first time on a horse. The guides are consistently described in reviews as knowledgeable, friendly, and patient with first-timers and younger riders, which is the specific quality that makes a family trail ride land well rather than just pass. The ride runs one hour. Minimum age is 8, and the weight limit is 240 pounds — confirm your specific group’s details with the ranch when you book.

The scheduling flexibility here is worth naming as a practical feature. Rides depart at 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4 PM, seven days a week. That’s five options in a single day, which makes Southfork one of the most logistically flexible horseback operations in the entire DFW market. For families visiting Dallas who want to add a trail ride without building the day entirely around it, the multiple departure times solve that problem in a way that ranches with a single daily departure can’t.

Families who want to make a full day of it can pair the trail ride with a guided mansion tour and the Dallas memorabilia exhibits on-site. The TV show memorabilia and the Ewing Mansion are the things that give the ranch its name recognition, and seeing them alongside the trail ride gives the day a complete arc rather than a single activity. For families with older kids or adults who grew up watching the show, the combination of the ride and the mansion tour is exactly the kind of full-day Texas experience that holds up against the other DFW options on the calendar.

At a 4.6/5 across 200+ reviews on Google and TripAdvisor, Southfork delivers on the combination of the famous setting and the actual trail ride quality. The reviews from families describe the guides, the terrain, and the Southfork atmosphere in specific positive terms, which is the signal that the location’s reputation isn’t carrying the reviews alone.

Duration: 1 hour
Minimum age: 8+
Weight limit: 240 lbs
Experience required: None — guides are patient and knowledgeable with first-timers
Schedule: 7 days a week; departures at 10 AM, 11:30 AM, 1 PM, 2:30 PM, and 4 PM
Setting: Southfork Ranch — filming location of the Dallas TV series, Parker, TX (~30 min from Dallas)
Add-on: Guided Ewing Mansion tour and Dallas memorabilia exhibits available to pair with the ride
Booking: Direct via trailridesusa.com or southforkranch.com

(Based on 200+ reviews across Google and TripAdvisor, rated 4.6/5)

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Family Secondary⭐ 4.9/5Consistently 5-StarPersonality Matching30-Year OperatorMon–Sat

Broken Bow Ranch — Personality-Matched Quarter Horse Trail Rides

Operator: Broken Bow Ranch | Lucas, TX — approximately 25 minutes north of Dallas in Dallas County | Direct booking via brokenbowranch.net, reservations required

Best for: Families and first-timers who want the highest-rated trail ride experience in the DFW metro, with a horse-matching process based on rider personality and temperament rather than just size, operated by a 30-year equestrian veteran who runs an educational ride rather than a tourist circuit.

Broken Bow Ranch has a 4.9/5 and is consistently five-star rated on Google and Facebook across its entire review history, which puts it at the top of the DFW market on those platforms. That rating comes from one specific thing that reviewers name over and over: the horse-matching process. Gay Leigh Bingham, who has been training and working with horses for over 30 years, selects each horse based on the rider’s personality and temperament, not just their size. If a rider is nervous, they get a calm and patient horse. If a rider is confident and energetic, they get a horse with more personality. That matching process is what separates Broken Bow from every other DFW stable in the reviews — it’s not a casual observation, it’s the consistent theme across the feedback.

The terrain at Broken Bow Ranch is genuinely scenic for a North Dallas suburb. Emerald-green hills, wildflower fields, and wooded trail sections — the kind of landscape that surprises people who expect flat Texas plain within 25 minutes of a major city. The Dallas County location puts it in a natural transition zone where the rolling terrain is real rather than engineered. The ride covers one hour, and add-on archery and fishing are available for families who want to extend the ranch day into an afternoon.

The educational dimension of Broken Bow’s rides is worth calling out separately because it’s a genuine differentiator. Gay Leigh runs a ride where riders learn meaningful horsemanship throughout — not “here are the reins, now follow the horse in front of you,” but actual instruction about how to communicate with the horse, how to read the animal’s body language, and what the horse is doing and why at different points in the trail. In my experience, the rides that give beginners actual knowledge about horses rather than just a guided tour tend to produce the most enthusiastic reviews from people who had never been on a horse before. Broken Bow’s consistent five-star feedback reflects that pattern clearly.

The ranch operates Monday through Saturday and requires reservations. That’s the standard trade-off for an intimate, high-quality operation run by a single expert rather than a commercial facility with rotating staff. Book ahead rather than showing up, and plan for the 25-minute drive north from Dallas on a weekday or Saturday morning to avoid weekend traffic on the northern suburbs.

Duration: 1 hour
Experience required: None — the personality-matched horse selection handles the beginner experience from the start
Horse matching: Each horse selected based on rider’s personality, temperament, and experience — not just size
Guides: Operated by Gay Leigh Bingham, 30+ year equestrian veteran; educational ride format
Terrain: Emerald-green hills, wildflower fields, wooded trails in Dallas County, Lucas, TX (~25 min north)
Add-ons: Archery and fishing available
Schedule: Monday through Saturday, reservations required
Booking: Direct via brokenbowranch.net

(Consistently 5-star rated on Google and Facebook, 4.9/5 overall)

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Couple / Romantic⭐ 4.9/5Private RidesTrue Pleasure Horses1,000 AcresSunset Option

Chisholm Trail Rides — Private Sunset Ride on 1,000-Acre Ranch

Operator: Chisholm Trail Rides | Quinlan, TX — near Rockwall and Lake Tawakoni, approximately 45 minutes east of Dallas | Direct booking via chisholmtrailrides.com

Best for: Couples, anniversary and honeymoon travelers, and anyone planning a proposal who wants a private ride across 1,000 acres of Lake Tawakoni preserve land on True Pleasure Horses, with sunset timing, bonfire add-ons, and photography packages available.

Chisholm Trail Rides operates on 1,000 private acres of sandy loam preserve land adjacent to Lake Tawakoni, and the scale of that access is the first thing that makes it different from the other Dallas-area operations. Most DFW trail rides take you through 20 to 50 acres. A thousand acres means you can actually ride somewhere rather than circling a route, and the sandy loam soil makes for a different kind of footing than the clay and rock of North Texas. The trails wind through the preserve with the lake accessible from parts of the route, and the private land means no foot traffic, no other riders from different groups, and a sense of distance from the DFW metro that 45 minutes of highway driving doesn’t usually deliver.

The True Pleasure Horses at Chisholm Trail Rides are specifically trained to bond with and respond to their individual riders rather than just following the horse in front. That’s a different training philosophy from the standard trail horse, and it produces a different riding experience. When the horse is listening to you rather than just tracking the horse ahead, the interaction feels more like a conversation and less like a passenger ride. For couples doing this together, that responsiveness means both riders are having their own experience rather than a shared one mediated by the same trail formation. In my experience, the rides where the horse is genuinely attuned to its rider generate the most specific and enthusiastic descriptions in reviews — and Chisholm Trail Rides’ feedback reflects that.

The operator has specifically positioned around romantic and special occasion riding, and the add-ons reflect that intent. Sunset rides time the route to bring riders to a scenic overlook or open section of the preserve as the light drops. Bonfire add-ons extend the evening after the ride into campfire time on the ranch. Photography and video packages cover the ride itself, the sunset, and any proposal or special moment built into the itinerary. Multiple TripAdvisor reviewers describe Chisholm Trail Rides as the best horseback riding experience of their Texas visit. Gift certificates are available for anniversaries and birthdays, which tells you something about the occasions people are buying this for.

The 45-minute drive from Dallas is the most honest thing to say upfront. Quinlan is east of Dallas near Rockwall and Royse City, and the drive takes you out of the DFW suburban corridor into the lake country east of the metro. That drive is part of the transition that makes the destination feel like somewhere. For couples who want the distance to be part of the experience, it works. For couples who want to stay closer to the city, Chisholm Trail Rides isn’t the right option. But for anyone who wants a genuinely private, lakeside ranch sunset ride on horses trained to respond to them specifically, there’s nothing comparable within 45 minutes of Dallas.

Duration: Customized private rides, typically 1 to 2 hours
Format: Private — your party and a guide; side-by-side riding for couples
Horses: True Pleasure Horses — trained to bond with and respond to individual riders
Setting: 1,000-acre sandy loam preserve adjacent to Lake Tawakoni, Quinlan, TX (~45 min east)
Experience required: None — True Pleasure Horses are beginner-friendly by training
Add-ons: Sunset rides, bonfire packages, photography and video packages, gift certificates
Popular occasions: Anniversaries, honeymoons, proposals, birthdays
Booking: Direct via chisholmtrailrides.com

(4.9/5 across multiple review platforms; multiple TripAdvisor reviewers describe it as the best horseback riding experience of their Texas visit)

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Who Should Go Horseback Riding Near Dallas

Families who want a famous Texas landmark with a real trail ride attached

Southfork Ranch is the clear answer here. The Ewing estate and the Dallas TV series connection are exclusive to this location, and the five daily departure times make it the most flexible horseback option in the entire DFW market for families managing a full Dallas itinerary. For families with older kids or adults who have any connection to the show, the combination of the guided mansion tour and the Dallas memorabilia exhibits with a trail ride makes it a complete day rather than a single activity. The guides’ patience with younger riders and first-timers is consistent across the reviews, and the wide-open rolling terrain at the ranch is forgiving for beginners. Minimum age of 8 and a 240-pound weight limit are the planning variables to confirm before you book.

Families and first-timers who want the best-reviewed trail ride near Dallas

Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas is the right call for families who prioritize the review record and the quality of the riding experience over the famous setting. The consistently five-star rating on Google and Facebook, the personality-matched horse pairing, and the educational ride format run by Gay Leigh Bingham add up to the most substantively equestrian experience in this market. For first-timers specifically, the horse selection based on the rider’s temperament is the thing that makes Broken Bow different — your horse is chosen for you, not assigned to you, and the difference in how that feels on the trail is why the reviews are as consistent as they are. The 25-minute drive north of Dallas to Lucas is the easiest logistics of the three options on this page.

Couples, anniversary travelers, and anyone planning a proposal

Chisholm Trail Rides in Quinlan is the only Dallas-area operator specifically built around romantic and private experiences, and the 4.9/5 rating across multiple platforms confirms it delivers. The 1,000-acre preserve, the True Pleasure Horses, the sunset rides, the bonfire add-ons, and the photography packages are all designed around two people having an experience that belongs to them. In my experience, the proposal settings that work best are the ones where the environment does the work — a private sunset ride on horses that respond to their riders, across a thousand-acre lake preserve, with a bonfire waiting at the end, is a setting that holds up. Contact the ranch directly to discuss what they can arrange for your specific occasion.

First-time riders

All three operators are appropriate for people who have never been on a horse before, but the kind of support varies enough to matter. Southfork Ranch is the best fit for first-timers who want a short, well-supervised ride with minimal commitment and multiple departure times so they can pick the slot that fits. Broken Bow Ranch is the best fit for first-timers who want the most personalized horse selection and the most educational ride content. Chisholm Trail Rides’ True Pleasure Horses are the most responsive to their riders, which can make the experience more intuitive for first-timers who want to feel like they’re communicating with the horse rather than just along for the ride. Any of the three works — the decision depends on which additional features matter most to your group.

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What to Know Before You Book Horseback Riding in Dallas

Dallas is a day-trip horseback market

None of the three operators on this page are in Dallas proper. Southfork Ranch is 30 minutes northeast in Parker. Broken Bow Ranch is 25 minutes north in Lucas. Chisholm Trail Rides is 45 minutes east in Quinlan near Lake Tawakoni. Plan horseback riding as a dedicated half-day or full-day trip rather than a quick urban add-on, and factor DFW traffic into your departure timing.

Age and weight requirements

Southfork Ranch lists a minimum age of 8 and a 240-pound weight limit. Broken Bow Ranch and Chisholm Trail Rides requirements should be confirmed directly with each operator when you book. Weight limits are standard across Texas trail operations, and confirming before arrival avoids a disappointing situation on the day of the ride.

Experience level

No prior riding experience is required at any of the three operators on this page. Southfork Ranch guides are praised for their patience with beginners. Broken Bow Ranch’s personality-matched horse selection accounts for rider experience as part of the matching process. Chisholm Trail Rides’ True Pleasure Horses are trained specifically to respond to and bond with their riders, which makes them more beginner-friendly than standard trail horses.

What to wear

Closed-toe shoes or boots are required at all three operations. Long pants protect your legs in the saddle. Texas sun is intense year-round, so sunscreen and a hat are worth bringing regardless of season. For the Chisholm Trail Rides sunset and bonfire package, bring a light layer for after dark — temperatures east of Dallas drop faster at night than in the city, particularly in fall and spring.

Book ahead

Southfork Ranch’s five daily departure times provide flexibility, but weekend slots fill ahead of time, especially during spring and fall when DFW tourism peaks. Broken Bow Ranch requires reservations and operates Monday through Saturday — no walk-ins. Chisholm Trail Rides runs private rides with limited daily capacity, so book ahead especially for weekend and evening sunset slots. Don’t assume day-of availability at any of the three operators on a Texas spring or fall weekend.

Transportation to the ranches

Hotel or accommodation pickup is not specified in the available details for any of the three operators. All three require driving to the ranch. Southfork Ranch in Parker and Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas are the easiest drives from central Dallas and the northern suburbs. Chisholm Trail Rides in Quinlan is best reached via I-30 East toward Rockwall — confirm the current address and directions with the ranch when you book.

Weather and seasonal timing

Dallas horseback riding is available year-round. Spring (March through May) and fall (September through November) are the most comfortable riding seasons, with moderate temperatures and the best trail conditions across all three locations. Summer in Texas is hot and humid, and morning departures are significantly more comfortable than afternoon ones from June through August. Southfork Ranch’s 10 AM departure is the best summer choice for families. Winter rides are possible on clear days, and the rolling terrain at all three ranches stays accessible in normal Texas winters.

Cancellation policies

All three operators book directly and set their own cancellation terms. Review each operator’s current policy on their website before completing your reservation. For Chisholm Trail Rides private sunset and bonfire packages, cancellation terms are particularly worth understanding given the event-style planning involved.

Horseback Riding in Dallas: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there horseback riding in Dallas itself?

Not in the city proper. The Dallas horseback riding market is made up of operations in the surrounding suburbs and eastern lake country, ranging from 25 to 45 minutes from downtown. Broken Bow Ranch in Lucas and Southfork Ranch in Parker are the closest options, both within 30 minutes. Chisholm Trail Rides near Lake Tawakoni is about 45 minutes east. All three require driving, and all three are worth the trip for what they offer.

Can you really ride horses at the Southfork Ranch from the Dallas TV show?

Yes. Southfork Ranch in Parker, Texas is the filming location for the Dallas television series and the Ewing Mansion estate that appeared throughout the show. Trail Rides USA operates guided horseback rides on the ranch’s rolling terrain seven days a week, with five daily departure times. Families can pair the trail ride with a guided mansion tour and the Dallas memorabilia exhibits on-site for a full day at the estate. The ranch is approximately 30 minutes northeast of downtown Dallas.

Do I need horseback riding experience to book one of these tours?

No. All three operators on this page welcome first-time riders. Southfork Ranch guides are patient and knowledgeable with beginners. Broken Bow Ranch’s personality-matched horse selection specifically accounts for rider experience when choosing which horse goes with which person. Chisholm Trail Rides’ True Pleasure Horses are trained to bond with and respond to their riders rather than just following the horse in front, which creates a more intuitive experience for someone who has never ridden before. No prior experience is required at any of the three.

What age do kids need to be to go horseback riding near Dallas?

Southfork Ranch lists a minimum age of 8. Broken Bow Ranch and Chisholm Trail Rides age requirements should be confirmed directly with each operator before booking. Southfork Ranch also has a 240-pound weight limit — confirm this for any party member who may be near that limit before arriving. For families with children under 8, contact Broken Bow Ranch and Chisholm Trail Rides directly to understand current options before booking.

What’s the best time of year for horseback riding near Dallas?

Spring and fall are the most comfortable riding seasons in the Dallas area. March through May and September through November offer the best temperatures and trail conditions at all three operators. Summer (June through August) is manageable with morning departures, but Texas heat and humidity make afternoon summer rides significantly less comfortable. Southfork Ranch’s 10 AM departure is the smart summer choice. Winter riding is available year-round at these operators and can be genuinely pleasant on clear Texas winter days, though morning temperatures in January and February can be cold before the day warms up.

Is there a romantic or private horseback riding option near Dallas for couples or proposals?

Yes. Chisholm Trail Rides in Quinlan is the only Dallas-area operator specifically positioned around private and romantic horseback experiences. The rides cover 1,000 private acres of sandy loam preserve adjacent to Lake Tawakoni, on True Pleasure Horses trained to bond with their riders. Sunset rides, bonfire add-ons, and photography and video packages are all available. Gift certificates are offered for anniversaries, birthdays, and proposals. Multiple reviewers describe it as the best horseback riding experience of their Texas trip. Contact Chisholm Trail Rides directly through their website to discuss availability and any special occasion arrangements for your specific dates.

What makes Broken Bow Ranch different from other Dallas trail rides?

The personality-matched horse pairing is the thing that reviewers consistently name as what sets Broken Bow Ranch apart from every other DFW stable. Gay Leigh Bingham, who has worked with horses for over 30 years, selects each rider’s horse based on their personality, temperament, and experience level — not just their size. A nervous first-timer gets a calm, patient horse. A confident rider gets something with more character. The educational dimension of the ride is also specific to Broken Bow: riders learn real horsemanship throughout rather than just following the horse in front. The consistently five-star rating on Google and Facebook across the operation’s entire review history is the direct result of those two things.

Can I book a Dallas horseback ride last minute?

For Southfork Ranch, the five daily departure times give more last-minute flexibility than most DFW operators, but weekend slots fill ahead of time, especially in spring and fall. For Broken Bow Ranch, reservations are required and the operation runs Monday through Saturday — no walk-in bookings. For Chisholm Trail Rides, private rides have limited daily capacity and the sunset and bonfire packages require advance planning. For any of the three operators on a spring or fall weekend, book at least a few days ahead rather than hoping for same-day availability.

Ready to Book Horseback Riding Near Dallas?

Three operators, three very different Dallas experiences. Southfork Ranch puts you on the actual Ewing estate from the Dallas TV series with five daily rides seven days a week. Broken Bow Ranch runs the highest-rated trail ride in the DFW market with a personality-matched horse pairing that earns consistent five-star reviews. And Chisholm Trail Rides takes private parties across 1,000 acres of Lake Tawakoni preserve on True Pleasure Horses, with sunset, bonfire, and photography options built for couples and special occasions.

All three book directly through the operator links below. Book ahead for weekends and fall — these fill up faster than most Dallas visitors expect.

Southfork Ranch — Ewing Estate Rides
Broken Bow Ranch — Lucas
Chisholm Trail Rides — Lake Tawakoni

LocalHorsebackRiding.com covers horseback riding destinations across all 50 states, with listings and guides for every kind of rider. If you want to explore more options in the Dallas area or compare rides in other Texas destinations, there’s more to dig into below.