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C Ponies Beach Horseback Rides

C Ponies Beach Horseback Rides

C Ponies Beach Horseback Rides
5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
This is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure that lets you experience horseback riding in Bradenton, FL. Begin your excursion by meeting our beautiful, amazing horses. 95% of these horses are rescues! Within minutes you’ll fall in love with this rare breed. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as it’s common to see manatees, stingrays, and dolphins swimming by. Palma Sola Bay is a natural breeding ground for our manatees! Enjoy the beautiful bay views as you ride with your gentle companion. Ask your guide about your horse’s story. You may even shed a tear when you hear some of the horrible conditions our horses came from. After a brief swimming lesson, our horses will swim while you ride them. The horses are never forced to swim; this is actually their favorite part! So grab hold of their manes and hang on tight! This almost feels like you’re flying through the air. There is no hard impact or bouncing as the horses’ feet do not touch the ground while they swim
Duration: 1-2 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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  • Jamie S
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Anniversary Gift
    This experience was beyond my wildest dreams. It was a gift from my husband for our anniversary. The horses were well behaved, gentle and loving. Our guide Misty did a fantastic job telling us about our horses. The ride in the warm waters of FL was so amazing, I want to do it again. A must for any rider young or old! Thank you Bahama and the C Ponies - Jamie S
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 3, 2023
  • Stacy A
    West Haven, Connecticut5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Memorable
    Our first time riding/swimming with horses. If this is on your bucket list CPonies is a must! I have been around and riding horses nearly my whole life and their horses are by far the most beautiful, well trained, loved and healthy horses I have seen! Our guide Miah was the sweetest and very knowledgeable! We have crossed this off our bucket list but will definitely be back! Thank you all for an amazing time! Stacy & Keith
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 6, 2023
  • Kelley B
    4 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great for the horses and great for your soul!
    Can't express enough how truly magical this adventure was for both my husband and myself. So glad we went for it! Loved how gentle they were and the handlers took very good care of them all. Explained in detail how each one got to where they are today. So glad they were able to give help when previous owners did not.
    Visited September 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 6, 2023
  • Nina W
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    First time on a horse….. Best time error
    Had a GREAT time today. We went at 9am on 10/06/2023. It was my first time on a horse and I had a wonderful experience. The instructors are very knowledgeable and very safe. They continuously check on you, and you feel really safe. They also took many pictures. Oh yeah, we also so some Manatees in the water. We will definitely do it again.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 6, 2023
  • Shari B
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Fantastic ride in the bay!
    Outstanding Experience riding the horses in the water. Guide Missy 2 makes the ride even more enjoyable with her sweet humor and knowledge of the horses. Was so relaxing and definitely want to book their sunset ride!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 7, 2023
  • Maritz O
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!
    This was an amazing experience. My husband booked for our 29th anniversary and it was truly amazinf misty 2 was just as amazing as well. We truly enjoyed everything. The staff does an amazing job explaining everything and making you feel comfortable and have a great time
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 8, 2023
  • Debbie C
    Boston, Massachusetts7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Once in a lifetime
    This is my 3rd time riding with them. I can’t say enough good things & this is a once in a lifetime ride you won’t forget!! All the employees are wonderful & Myah is the best guide around she’s so personable & friendly 😊
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Karen D
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Exciting adventure
    Went on our bucket list ride on Tuesday the 17th. We had Raina as our guide and she made our ride wonderful. Our horses were Uni and Bahama. They were just a thrill to get to ride! This is an experience I would recommend to anyone who wants to enjoy riding a horse in the ocean!
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 18, 2023
  • Ian H
    Preston, United Kingdom25 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Must Do Experience, do not miss
    Amazing experience from start to finish. We were welcomed by Misty and Rachel who introduced us to the horses and what would happen in the ride. As people with no riding experience this helped to settle any nerves. We then met our individual horses and had the opportunity to feed them some treats (bribe them to like us) The ride began led by Rachel who was brilliant with very clear instructions of how to ride each individual horse, what to expect from each individual horse and this was constant throughout the experience which made the experience even better. The horses actually swimming was a fantastic experience that has to be tried to understand. We even saw dolphins. Rachel also took time to give a detailed history of each horse and how the c-ponies program had rescued them and rehabilitated them which was both interesting and moving. I cannot use enough words to describe what a wonderful experience this was and what that we will definitely repeat when we visit the area from England again next year. This really is a MUST DO when visiting AMI and big thanks to Rachel and all at C-Ponies for a wonderful experience.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written October 22, 2023
  • Jennifer G
    84 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Just book it
    This was a great experience for the entire family. We are beginner riders and that was no problem. Myah the guide was great and matched us well with our horses. You can tell the ranch takes great care of these animals. Dolphins swam by us in the beginning too which made our day. We did this for my nieces 10th and it’s an experience she will never forget.
    Visited October 2023
    Traveled with family
    Written October 26, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

5.0
5.0 of 5 bubbles864 reviews
Excellent
844
Very good
10
Average
3
Poor
2
Terrible
5

Alana Toporowski
Sioux Falls, SD2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Solo
Jen and Misty did a great job making our excursion fun, exciting, funny, and informative! The horses were gorgeous, very well mannered, and it seemed like they genuinely enjoyed our swim! Jen and Misty explained to us their individual stories of how they became "C ponies" which was amazing to hear. They care very much for their horses well-being and the horses seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs. This was an amazing experience that I would highly recommend for any family, couple, or solo rider!
Written January 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a wonderful review. Thank you so much
Written January 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Tiffini J
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2023 • Family
We drove 3 hours there (and back!) for this experience, and it was totally worth every minute. From start to finish, the care given to the horses, and the love for them, is obvious. The guides voluntarily give 5% of their tips to help with the vet costs, which speaks not only to their love of the horses but their respect for Carmen, who owns the business.

We came with my 16 yo daughter and my sister for my birthday experience and the horses couldn’t have been a better pick. We rode Coral, Snooki and Pearl. Watching the horses blow bubbles was so fun, and the swim was truly magical, especially at sunset. Our guide, Lori, was upbeat and positive the entire time and really worked hard to keep everyone safe and happy while also taking great pictures (The picture package was $25 for 2 pp, $5 extra for each additional person and, within an hour of leaving, the pictures were downloaded to my phone: about 50 pictures of our group were captured!)

This is an experience you won’t forget.

Thank you!!!
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Alifcihc
10 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2021
We loved our time with C Ponies! Hearing the stories of each horse's rescue, learning about their personalities, and riding on a swimming horse were all amazing. The staff was great at matching horses with riders' abilities and sizes. Our group of 7 (two families) were matched with C-Queen, her daughters Coral and Snookie, Moana (the most amazing swimmer in our group!), Minnow, Nemo, and Gypsy. The picture package was well worth the cost and we highly recommend this for families! You will get wet :)
Written August 1, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lois M
Sun City Center, FL1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2020
I took my daughter, my girlfriend and her son and this was absolutely an amazing experience. The kids loved it, this will be an event that they will always talk about. The team was very experienced, Mercedes took very good care of us, she was very friendly and accommodating and ensure our safety all while having fun. The horses were very mild and well mannered. This is a must do, I will highly recommend doing it with C Ponies because this can turn out to be a bad experience with the wrong people. I will definitely do this again in the future.
Written June 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thank you so much! Yes, this is why we are ranked #1 by trip advisor
Written July 3, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

KimP
Medina, MN19 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
My daughter and I rode with Jen and two other riders. Jen was exceptional with directions, encouragement, photo taking and interesting tidbits of the wildlife we might see. She knows each horse and is able to guide you as you ride so that you enjoy the experience and work well with your horse. We absolutely loved learning about these amazing horses and the important work that C Ponies is doing to save as many as they can from extremely unfortunate pasts. We are grateful for the experience and will hold it as #1 in our hearts and minds forever. Thank you Jen and Kim for making it all happen.
Written January 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Awwww, thank you so much for helping us rescue another horse! We couldn't do it without all of you!!!!
Written January 30, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

bjenkins287
Gurnee, IL4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020 • Couples
It was the most special experience and exceeded all of our expectations. The Gypsy Vanner and Drum horses are healthy, gentle giants with beautiful markings and long flowing manes. The entire ride is in water! You start by walking in the bay which would have been fun by itself but you quickly move to riding in the bay while the horses SWIM. You let go of the reins, grab their manes and off they go! Some sing, some blow bubbles, some put their faces in the water, some porpoise. Our group included my husband and my self who have a little riding experience, a fun young couple which included a brand new beginner, and a very experience equestrian. The ride works for everyone! As the horses were swimming, which feels like you’re flying, I looked around and everyone was smiling or laughing or had looks of awe and wonder. Our guide Nikki was warm, friendly, making everyone feel welcome and comfortable. She seemed to enjoy it as much as we did and that made the ride that much better. Thank you Nikki! Hugs to our beautiful horses Dreama and Flounder. This experience is all we talked about the rest of our vacation. The experience will stay with me forever!
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a great review. Thank you so much for supporting our horses!
Written March 7, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Jeanette
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2019
The fact that these horses are rescue horses says a lot about the company. C Ponies made sure we were safe and comfortable before, during and after our ride. Nicole, our guide was easy to talk to and very personable and shared some stories of the rescued horses. They are doing good for the horses and for people who want to experience the joy of riding. I would highly recommend a C Ponies excursion!
Written January 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jamie H
38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2021
Seven of us participated in the C Ponies horseback ride. We had two senior citizens in their 70's, 2 grown ups, two teenagers and an 11 year old in our party. All but the 11 year old were novice riders and we were all able to successfully complete the ride. We were concerned about the older participants in our group, but C Ponies staff gave them special attention to ensure they had obedient horses, helped them mount/dismount and they rode very safely.

Mya was our guide and she was upbeat, positive, informative and enjoyable for our party to be with (thank you Mya). What is unique about this experience is that the horses are submerged up to their shoulder blades in the water and at certain points they actually "swim" in the water. That is right, they leave the bottom of the bay and swim through the water with you on their backs. This is a very exciting and amazing experience. Expect to get wet up to your waist and wear appropriate footwear.

The ride is not a long distance touring type ride, you stay within about 1/3 of the bay for an hour or so. The true experience at C Ponies is riding swimming horses submerged in water.

Overall, C Ponies is very professional to work with. The ponies are all rescue animals and each have their own story which Mya shared with us. It is evident that these animals are cared for very well and they seem to enjoy giving water rides to people. If you are considering taking a ride with C Ponies, I suggest you take the plunge.
Written January 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jason and Erica W
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
We live in the Lakeland area which is a little over an hour drive. This was COMPLETELY worth the drive and an awesome adventure! Neither my wife or I had been on a horse in years and it was so easy! The horses were ABSOLUTELY beautiful and we wanted to take Uni and Dory home with us! Our guide was awesome and took a ton of pictures for the picture package which is totally worth the price! We will do it again and all of our friends have been asking where to go. We have referred about 30 other couples to do this ride with CPonies!

Thank you so much for a wonderful day!!!
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

RLMVirginia
Richmond, VA65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Overall, it was a neat experience. We loved the actual swimming part-it just seemed to be a small percentage of the time on the horse. Most of the time was spent sitting on the horse in one place while the guide was taking pictures for the picture package. It would have been better if they had had two guides in the water rather than just one, for a couple of reasons. One could have been taking pictures while the other was leading us in doing something besides sitting there. Also we had another woman in our group who was taking medication that made her dizzy and she fell off her horse. I will give our guide credit-she was at her side in a second and had her in a lifeguard hold and directed the horse to shallow water. The woman said she wanted to continue, but she really shouldn't have. If there were two guides, one could have led her back to shore while the rest of us continued. There was a group there from another company that seemed like they were doing more fun things in the water, so do your research. Would like to do more riding/swimming and less picture taking.
Written May 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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C Ponies Beach Horseback Rides - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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