Doug Cregger of Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures has been at it for a long time. He’s ridden Pine Mountain for more than 50 years. I came away from my experience convinced that he is a true horse whisperer and a genuinely nice guy! Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures allows guests an incredible opportunity to explore the beautiful scenery of Mt. Rogers and Pine Mountain of Western Grayson County. He and his experienced guides currently take riders on unique adventures that show breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains and opportunities to see various wildlife along the trails including the wild ponies and longhorn cattle after May. In the spring you will be overwhelmed by the flora in full bloom. Rhododendron bloom in May and wild azaleas in June. The fall foliage can’t be viewed from a car like Doug can show you from a horse! People come from all over the world come to ride with Doug Cregger; he’s even had guests from England, Australia, and lots of places in between. Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures offers the only guided riding experience in Grayson County in and around the state’s most visited park, Grayson Highlands. It’s the experience of a lifetime!
Appalachian Horseback Riding Adventures has horses for riders of all experience levels, from beginner to advanced. The schedule is adaptable to your needs; there are no “hours of operation”. Six different packages are available depending on the amount of time you have to ride. I’m not an extremely experienced horseback rider, but I enjoyed my experience immensely. Don’t think you have to be a practiced horseman to go on this adventure. It’s perfect for experienced horseback riders who have come from far away without their own animals, or for those like me who live in the area and enjoy an occasional ride.
I’ve included lots of pictures in this blog because words just don’t do it justice!
We began our adventure on a chilly day in mid June. Yes, you read that right. It was chilly, and it was June! It was downright cold when we got to the top of Pine Mountain, so be prepared when you ride. The temperatures always fluctuate in this part of the country. It will always be much cooler and windier when you climb to our higher elevations. My horse was named Trinity, and I fell in love with her! She was sweet, smart, and opinionated! A beautiful chestnut mare, she knew her way around and took good care of me. She insisted on being our group’s leader; I laughed when she bit Doug’s horse on the butt so he’d move over and let her take the lead. He didn’t care a bit, and did as he was told! Doug’s horses are absolutely beautiful. Each has a distinctive personality, and he knows each one. He can talk to you for a few minutes and know exactly which of his herd is best suited for you.
We met Doug at the old stables on Fairwood Road where the Forestry Service has some abandoned office buildings and a nice barn. There are acres of green fields for the horses to enjoy while they’re not being ridden. After we saddled up, Doug pulled Trinity over to a step-up so I could get on her, (She’s way taller than my 5’2″), and we were off! We crossed a beautiful creek with gently rolling water falls and began our climb up the Virginia Horse Trail to the top of Pine Mountain Scales. A long time ago, ranchers would weigh their cattle here because they would lose so much weight being driven down the mountain. Along the trail, we enjoyed the cool deciduous forests with their moss covered rocks and tall, straight popular, oak, and birch trees. It had rained a lot the previous weekend so the streams were rushing. Many times we were riding through stream beds that were full of water but dry out when there is a drought. Although the wild azaleas had been in full bloom the previous week, we still got to see some of the beautiful orange blooms, and I spotted a few rhododendron that were late bloomers as well. Wild flowers abound in these woods in all colors and varieties. We didn’t meet up with much wildlife; I’m sure they heard us coming and shied away.
