Horseback Riding
The Patapsco Valley Heritage Area (PVHA) offers a variety of scenic trails for horseback riding. Riding is allowed in all areas of Patapsco Valley State Park. Keep in mind that the further south you travel, the more likely you are to encounter other visitors, including hikers, cyclists, and runners. Popular southern sections of the park, such as the Avalon and Hilton areas, can experience heavier foot traffic.
Did you know that while horses first evolved in North America, they were first domesticated in the Western Eurasian steppes (i.e. a temperate grassland region encompassing parts of modern Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Romania)? Horses have been admired by, and intertwined with human history for thousands of years. From providing the literal horsepower that transformed agriculture, warfare, and transportation, to becoming recreational companion animals, horses hold a special place in history.
First domesticated roughly 5500 years ago, domesticated horses were brought to the Americas around 1400 CE by Spanish conquistadors. As technology and roads systems expanded and improved throughout the next 500+ years, people began to rely on horses less and less for work and transportation. By the mid-20th century horses became used primarily for sport and recreation instead. Today, athletes and enthusiasts alike continue to ride horses for both competition and leisure.
