Hi Deborah! My daughter and I really enjoyed
horseback riding at the Tri-Circle D Ranch at Fort Wilderness during our Disney vacation this summer. The ride is a slow walk on trails through the woods at Fort Wilderness. Two guides on horses accompany riders in groups of 12 or so, although on the day my daughter and I rode, we happened to be the only two in our group. We really enjoyed talking with the guides, spotting wildlife in the woods, and soaking in the quiet peacefulness of Fort Wilderness. Neither my daughter or I had any prior horseback riding experience, so the ride was quite exciting for us. However, the horses walk quite slowly and are familiar with the trail, so we really had to do very little. If you're an experienced rider who likes to proceed at a fast pace, you might not find the ride exciting. However, if your daughter loves horses, she would probably appreciate this ride. It's very interesting to talk to the guides about the horses -- we enjoyed hearing about how they came to live at Disney, how the castmembers care for them, and the jobs the horses perform in the parks. The horse I rode that day also serves as Jasmine's horse in the parades, and my daughter's horse had sometimes ridden with the Headless Horseman that precedes the Boo to You parade at Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party!
Hope you have a magical vacation! Come visit us again at the Moms Panel if you have more questions! We'd love to help!