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Horseback Rides |
A&A Historical Trails is a Colorado Horseback Riding Stable
A&A Historical Trails is different and unique among many Colorado stables. Don't be limited by restrictions and age limits commonly imposed by the other large, "mass market" Colorado Stables.
Learn to ride a horse and you can have one of the most thrilling experiences of your life.
The best in Colorado Trail rides and horseback rides.
We offer Rocky Mountain trail horse riding with a number of unique guided trail rides to old 1800's cemeteries, gold mines, rides to Colorado Casinos, and much more...
First Time Riders
If you have never ridden a horse, no problem, as your professional guide is also the owner with years of experience in teaching first timers to ride. First time riders and youths should start with the one hour ride as new riders will exercise muscles that are not used to riding.
What to expect
Your ride will start with your check in at the pink tack shack where you will sign a waiver. Once the paperwork is set, saddles adjusted for each persons height, then it is time to hit the trail. The trails are a mix of historical mining roads and some single track. Your ride will weave through Aspen groves, beds of rocky mountain wildflowers and climb up to old historic Gold Mines. Keep a sharp look-out as there is gold on the trails! After stopping at one of the old Gold Mines and a couple of pictures, its time to mount up and continue up the mountain to vistas of the Rocky Mountains. You will see 14,000 foot peaks with their snow clad tops and if you do the 2 hour ride, one of Colorado's Glaciers. Eventually your trail will loop around and head down to the stables. With your big grin on your face, do not forget to get a picture with your new buddy, your horse.
About A&A Historical Trails
Riding Stable in Colorado
Hi, my name is Ginger DeRay and I am the owner and operator of A&A Historical Trails Stables.
I was born on a cold stormy Feb.day in Grand Lake Co. in 1955 where my parents operated a lodge and a pony ring by the lake. My parents eventually lost the lodge because of "paperwork". Penniless, they moved to Aurora (east denver) with a pony ring to start "Saddle Lane Stables".
I don't remember when I first rode a horse. I do remember, however, helping my mom make ribbons from scratch... ribbons that were given away every Sunday to participants in the weekly gymkanas my parents offered.
When I was 14 I left my parents, my 3 sisters, my 2 bothers, and my home in order to find my "destiny". 6 months later I realized what my "destiny" was... it was that which I had left! So homeward bound I went with a new outlook on life and a new respect for my parents and environment.
My father raised Appaloosas and at that time had 450 head of horses, catered camps, leased hunting horses, and raised about 75 colts a year. I started breaking and green training in the winter.. it was cold and I didn't really like it.
The next summer my father dropped me off with 16 head of horses, grain, hay, and tack at a Jewish camp near Mt. Evans. He told me one thing... "go the camp director and find out what he wants!!" I was scared to death... 15 years old and the youngest counselor and non jewish person at the camp.
Although I ate 3 meals a day and received quite an education by participating in the Jewish ceremonies with the rest of the counselors, I chose not to stay with them in their quarters... instead, I slept on the hay stack in the barn.
The horses spent the nights free on the "open range". Every day started at 5am as I rode out to gather the horses and prepare for the full sunrise ride, a 1 hour and a 2 hour ride after breakfast, and a 2 hour ride after lunch. Once a week we had a sunset ride.
Not much of a school girl, I wanted to quit High School and do "the horse thing" full time. My dad enticed me to finish school by offering me my pick of 2 of his colts. But by the time the 3 years to graduation passed, my father's stallion, Sundance, had been hit by a car and killed... so I didn't get my colts! Instead, I got $500 for a down payment on a '73 Volkswagen Bug.
At 18 I ran a stable for 2 years which was 3 miles outside of Cripple Creek, Co. I lived in the camp ground. Again the Horses were "open-ranged". Not being very busy, I started doing bead work while I waited for customers. At this time my dad had 7 stables in Colorado one of which was in Central City. I had been spending winters in a "summer" cabin there and there I met the father of 3 of my kids, Wonder Vail, TruLane Allen, and NuPree Déi. I thought he was my "One True Love" for this life but as time went on, I realized life is R-E-A-L long! My father, being old fashioned, believed that you "stay with your man"... so I got married at 20, had three kids, grew all my own food, raised all our own meat, and was a domestic goddess for 8 years before my marriage broke up. Back again to my true destiny!
Not wanting to leave my kids at a sitter and knowing only one occupation, I begged my dad to let me go back to work with the horses. "No, give it one more year", he said. I did... and the marriage didn't work out. My dad and I then started A&A Historical Trails Stables in Idaho Springs which I ran for 14 years at the Argo mine.
Chamay, my youngest child, was born in 1991 and went on her 1st Moonlight ride when she was three months old. Chamay continues to be quite the horsewoman.
In 1999 I moved A&A Historical Trails to Russell Gultch, an historical ghost town located between Idaho Springs and Central City.
Because I have come to enjoy the intimacy of personalized service and small groups, I have downsized my herd to 10 head. I operate the stables myself and I take out all the rides. No question about it, these are the best trails I have ever ridden! I am so thankful for being able to "Ride the Rockies" on a daily basis and am thankful for my beautiful children, and my 6 grand children.
I hope you can come to the magnificent Colorado Rocky Mountains and ride with me sometime... it will be a time you'll never forget!
Thanks for "Listening"...
Ginger DeRay
| Horseback Rides |
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Fee per horse |
Children 0-5* |
| One Hour Ride |
$40.00 |
$10.00 |
| Two Hour Ride |
$70.00 |
Min. age 5* |
* No minimum age on one hour rides, children 5 and under must fit in the saddle with their paying parent.
* Minimum age for our two hour ride is 5 if the child can ride on their own and is a big 5 year old and strong enough for the ride.
* Maximum number of riders at the same time is 10. If your group is more than 10, we take care of your group if we can stagger your ride.
To see dates for any of these trips, choose a trip
from the option box and press the submit button above. Once you are
registered, you will get a confirmation email from A&A Historical Trail Stables
for your trip.
You can search all the trips that we offer:
What to Bring:
Please dress in layers as these trail rides are in the Rocky Mountains, weather can move in quickly and our rides go up in elevation, so dress in layers to stay warm. Jeans are best and if possible boots with a large heel. You are welcome to bring your own riding helmet or if you like, we can provide one for your ride. Helmets are not required. A windbreaker or light rain coat is also a good idea to bring along. Do not forget to apply sunscreen before your ride, drink lots of water so that you are hydrated and if necessary, eat a snack so that you will not get hungry on your ride. Sunglasses with eyeglass cord is a good idea to have along and do not forget the camera.
Meeting Place & Time
Rides run from 9am to 5pm every day and actual times vary based on riders requests and weather permitting. We will contact regarding setting up a good time for your trail ride. Depending on the time of year, morning trails can be the best time of day to ride.
Please see our directions and driving times in the upper right hand corner to get directions.
Centrally located in the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies, A&A Historical Trails Stables is a short, pleasant, scenic drive about an hour's drive from both Boulder and Denver. You can open our hand drawn map: A&A Historical Trail Stables as another option for directions. Please pay attention to one of these maps as the turns near the stables can be a touch tricky.
Refund Policy
Trail Rides may be rescheduled up to 48 hours or more in advance of the ride (subject to availability) without penalty. Within 48 hours of the scheduled start time, funds are committed and your ride is non-refundable. Trail rides that are canceled due to weather will be rescheduled. Trail rides are refundable only if weather forces your ride to be canceled and you are unable to reschedule.
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More Trip Information
For directions and driving time from where you are to where the AA Stables Trail Rides is located/meets at, enter your starting point as:
City, State or Zip Code or Airport and click on our button.
****Directions: Please note that from I-70, drive up on the Central City Parkway to Central City. If you know how to use Googlemaps, move your route to this highway. Do not use the dirt roads out out of Idaho Springs or Fall River Road.
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Trip Type: Horseback Trail Rides
Trip Length: 1 or 2 hours
Custom trips are available, please call.
Difficulty: Easy and Moderate
Idaho Springs area places to stay
Miners Pick Bed and Breakfast
1639 Colorado Boulevard, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
866-394-7425
Rose Street Bed and Breakfast
200 Rose St, Georgetown, CO 80444
303-569-2222
Mad Creek Bed & Breakfast
167 Park Avenue (US40), Empire, CO 80438
303-569-2003
A&A Historical Trail Stables
PO Box 374
Idaho Springs, Colorado 80452
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Questions?
Please call the BOC at:
303-444-8420
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