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Allow me reveal how a morning Thanksgiving horseback ride through autumn trails became my perfect holiday tradition, bringing unexpected peace and gratitude before family festivities begin. I am not a morning person. But there is something about waking up at dawn on Thanksgiving morning that feels different. The house is quiet, the air is crisp, and I know that instead of immediately diving into kitchen chaos, I will be spending a few precious hours on horseback.
This tradition started five years ago when my sister suggested we try something different before the big family dinner. She said let us go trail riding Thanksgiving morning, I thought she was crazy. Who adds another activity to an already busy holiday ? Turns out, she was onto something that will bring fun.
Autumn Trail Riding: A Feast for the Senses
The fall horseback riding experience cannot be matched. The sound of leaves crunching beneath hooves, the smell of earth preparing for winter, and the way the morning light filters through nearly bare branches it creates this perfect sensory experience that I find myself craving year-round.
Last Thanksgiving, my trusty quarter horse Maple and I discovered a new trail that winds through a small valley not far from our stable. The ground was covered in frost that morning, making each step sound like we were walking on delicate crystal. Maple seemed extra spirited, perhaps sensing my own excitement or maybe just enjoying the cool air on her coat.
Have you ever noticed how horses seem more alive in autumn? There is this energy they carry when the temperature drops. Their breaths create little clouds in the cold air, and they appear more alert, more connected to their wild ancestors.
Escaping Holiday Stress Through Equestrian Therapy
Family Thanksgiving gatherings are wonderful, do not get me wrong. But they also bring a certain level of stress. There are expectations to meet, conversations to navigate, and an almost overwhelming sense of nostalgia that can sometimes feel heavy.
Horseback riding before all that begins has become my secret weapon against holiday anxiety. The feeling of about being in the saddle that forces you to be present. You cannot worry about whether your pumpkin pie will turn out while guiding a thousand-pound animal through narrow forest paths. The holiday horseback trail ride demands your full attention, and in giving it, you find this unexpected mental clarity.
My brother-in-law James joined me last year. He had never been on a horse before, and I could see the nervous tension in his shoulders as we started out. By the end of our two-hour Thanksgiving morning ride, that tension had melted away. he said as we untacked the horses.
Gratitude Comes Easier from the Saddle
Perhaps the most unexpected benefit of this Thanksgiving horseback riding tradition has been how it puts me in the perfect mindset for a holiday centered around gratitude. This will always humble you about partnering with an animal that could easily choose not to cooperate with you.
When Racheal and I reached the lookout point last year, I stopped to take in the view of our small town below. The morning mist was still clinging to the valley, church steeples poking through like islands. I found myself feeling thankful not just for obvious things like family and health, but for simple pleasures the weight of reins in my hands, the steady rhythm of Maple’s breathing, the temporary escape from digital notifications.
Why do we often need physical distance from our regular lives to see them clearly? The Thanksgiving horseback trail provides exactly that perspective.
Returning Home with a Refreshed Spirit
By the time I return home from these Thanksgiving morning rides, the house is typically awake and bustling. The kitchen smells of coffee and cinnamon, and relatives are arriving one by one. But I am different than I would have been without those hours on horseback. I am calmer, more patient, more ready to embrace the beautiful chaos of holiday gatherings.
The tradition has caught on, too. What started as just my sister and me has grown to include cousins, friends, and anyone brave enough to rise early on Thanksgiving day. Our fall equestrian adventure has become as essential to our holiday as turkey and cranberry sauce.
So this year, if you find yourself overwhelmed by Thanksgiving preparations or family dynamics, consider finding your own version of a horseback escape. It need not be literal horseback riding though I highly recommend it if you have access to horses and autumn trails. The important thing is finding that activity that brings you back to yourself before diving into the collective experience of Thanksgiving.
Reference
Anderson, M. K., & Friend, T. H. (2023). Psychological benefits of equine-assisted activities during seasonal transitions: A longitudinal study. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 118, Article 104095. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104095
Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. (2024). Recreational horseback riding on public lands: Fall and winter trail safety guidelines. https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/horseback-riding
Davis, C., & Maurstad, A. (2022). Human-horse relations and emotional well-being: The therapeutic value of seasonal riding patterns. Society & Animals, 30(5), 489–508. https://doi.org/10.1163/15685306-12341632