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If you know me well, you know that I love trying new things and visiting new places, so I am excited to tell you all about the recent family trail ride we did with Sunshine Riding Trails in Washington County, Florida. They are located just under 45 minutes from Panama City Beach, Florida, making this a great day trip for anyone looking for horseback riding in Panama City Beach or 30A!

Horseback Riding in Panama City Beach, Florida

First of all, no horseback riding is available on the beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. You will need to go to the Cape San Blas area in Gulf County, Florida, for that. But there is an excellent option inland, just a bit. Nestled near Ecofina Creek, amongst the tall pine trees that make up the Ecofina Preserve, you’ll find Sunshine Riding Stables. 

While the stable was new to us, Washington County is not. In fact, we drive through various parts of it every time we go down to the beach. But we just learned a while ago that it offers so many great experiences on its own. 

Their motto, Experience Life Naturally, gives you an idea of what to expect. From beautiful freshwater springs (remember our canoe trip to Cypress Springs) to Florida’s tallest waterfall, there are many ways to enjoy the outdoors with your family!

Washington County, Florida

Located just north of Panama City Beach and south of Interstate 10 in the Florida panhandle, Washington County‘s outdoor recreational activities are surprisingly accessible. Most are just minutes off your route while traveling to the white sand beaches along the Gulf of Mexico or passing through on your way to another destination. And to be honest, it’s a destination on its own! 

You can click here to see all the fun things you can do in Washington County, Florida, but today I want to share specifically about our recent horseback trail ride with Sunshine Riding Trails!

The kids had Fall Break a little over a week ago, and on the way down to the 30A area (near Panama City Beach), we stopped to check something off our bucket list! 

We went horseback trail riding! And it was the first time we had done this as a family, and it had been an exceptionally long time since Matt, and I had been on a horse!  

While it’s hard to please everyone in a family of four, especially as the kids get older, this one did. All of us talked for days about how fun it was, and the kids have been asking to go back again, of course, to trail ride, but also to love on their sweet dogs some more!

Sunshine Riding Trails

Sunshine Riding offers a variety of trail rides that explore the nearly 10,000 acres of land along the Ecofina Creek Water Management Area. You can choose one, two, three, or four-hour rides, and they even offer some overnight trips!  

Beginners are welcome, and they did a great job teaching each of us how to interact with our individual horses and safe riding practices. Their Tennessee Walking Horses offer a smoother ride than other breeds, and the kids (ok, and the adults) enjoyed giving them carrots as rewards along the way.

They make it easy to book your trail ride online. Their website has all the necessary information and answers to frequently asked questions. You can tell that the owners, Kathy and David, love these horses profoundly. I am always very inspired when I see a small business that blends one’s passions with customer service to offer a memorable experience like this!

So, let me tell you a little more about our visit!

A Family Trail Ride in NW Florida

Upon arrival, their staff will match you up with a horse based on your size and experience level.  Matt went first and got to ride Sugarfoot.   This gentle boy is half Quarter Horse and half Tennessee Walker and 100% lovable.

And then Abby was next. This little gal was beaming the whole time. While she was a little nervous initially, we quickly learned she was a natural. Her sweet horse was named Ebony, and they were the perfect pair. I know this won’t be Abby’s last time on a horse!

Sweet Jake was probably the most nervous. We couldn’t remember if he had ever been on a horse. His horse, Belle, was white and so beautiful. They ended up riding right in front of me, and it was so nice to listen to him talk to her and watch him sneak her little carrots!

The picture on the left below was taken after the ride. Look at how smug and confident that little stinker is!

And then I got on last!

I had the camera, so most of the photos you see will be from my point of view. I was second in the lineup at first and quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to get the photos I needed, so they let me jump back to the end, and it worked out perfectly. I am sure other mothers understand how nice it is to see everyone safe and enjoying themselves in front of you!

My beautiful horse was named Thunder.  You can see her ears here in this photo.  She was super sweet!

Experiencing Horseback Riding Near Panama City Beach

After we learned the ropes and saddled up, our ride was one hour long. It was the perfect length for the kids, although we wouldn’t mind trying a 2-hour ride next time. Matt’s already packing his bags for the overnight trip! Haha. The great thing is that because it’s only minutes off our regular route down to the beach, it’s something that we can do again!

As I mentioned above, the trail runs through the water management area along Ecofina Creek.

On another note, paddling Ecofina is also on our Washington County bucket list! Matt did it 25 years ago when he lived down Panama City Beach and promised me it is incredibly beautiful!

Most of our trail ride was along the longleaf pines on nice well-trodden paths and sandhills. We also got out to some open areas and got the horses moving faster.

Our guide, Tammy, was just incredible. She communicated instructions well and talked in a way the kids could understand. I could tell she loves her job and what a treasure it is to find a job doing what you love!

I always like to add a few tips, so here are a few things to consider.

• Use zippers for your phones or leave them back. Matt’s phone kept dropping out of his shirt pocket.
• Each person should bring water. It gets warm under that Florida sun. I had some in my backpack but needed to think about how to pass it along to everyone else.
• Relax, enjoy the ride. These days, moments where you can unplug and enjoy nature like this are few and far between. Take a deep breath. Connect with your horse, your family, and mother nature.

Do you enjoy trail riding, or does this look like something you want to do? Leave me a comment and let me know. And if you can visit Sunshine Riding Trails, let me know which horse you rode! Abby wants you to tell Ebony she says hi, and you must give Belle a carrot for Jake!

Click here to request a FREE Washington County, Florida Visitor’s Guide.  

They also have a great interactive map here where you can check out what kinds of adventures lie along your path!

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