My wife and I have been together for 24 years. In that time we've gone horseback riding 3 times, two of which have been here in Pigeon Forge. Our most recent excursion @ Goldrush Stables and the other @ Big Rock Dude Ranch. Naturally, I can't help making comparisons between the two. Simply put, after this experience we've come to the conclusion we really don't like riding horses, even though we love them! It's just not for us, but we are so glad for all the opportunities. . [ THE RIDE ] We arrived 15 minutes early as requested by the stables to sign waivers and prep for the ride. Our trail guides were saddling several horses as we watched from outside the fence. Once ready, we were summoned to the mounting platform, which makes it much easier for beginners like us. Because COVID-19 has given me a little extra girth, I was given one of the larger horses named Blondie, while my wife rode Fanny. It was Blondie's first ride in weeks (they tend to rest their horses for long periods), so she proved to be rather eager on the trail. Fanny, as my wife soon discovered, doesn't like to get her feet wet. Once all the riders were mounted & instructed, we walked across a wooden bridge to a field and began our ride. Normally the ride would begin by walking the horses through the creek, but rain from the night before had water levels up, so we bypassed it via the bridge. We also bypassed another creek walk further down the trail, which was disappointing since it was one of the main reasons we chose this stable over Big Rock. It was one of the best selling points. We then arrived at a smaller, more narrow creek crossing that both Blondie and Fanny decided to jump, startling both me & my wife. Immediately after the creek the terrain goes uphill, which my horse decided to run. She headed straight into some low-lying branches, almost knocking me off. Her eagerness caused her to not listen very well when pulling back on her reigns and my inexperience handling her didn't help. My wife's horse ran her knee into a tree just after jumping the small creek, so clearly we were having a few issues! LOL Our guides yelled out after my wife's accident "steer your horses", but even after 3-minutes of instruction it's hard to do that properly when the horse seems to have other plans. At this point the trail follows a path into the woods and up and down a fairly good-sized hill. On a dry day I think this would have been a very pleasant ride, but because the trail was muddy, my particular horse kept sliding... BADLY, like something you'd see in a cartoon! It was very nerve racking and made it difficult to relax and enjoy the experience. In truth, I felt sorry for my horse. She was seriously soaked in sweat by mid ride and seemed to walk under every low branch along the way! I believe she was intentionally trying to get me off her back, fo'realz... hahaha! Poor thing. My wife remained frazzled most of the ride as she wrestled with her own fears of not feeling in control. At midpoint the trail loops back into itself and we follow the same path back to the beginning. . [ THE VERDICT ] We learned something about ourselves that I suppose we've always known. Some of the experiences we've had were greatly enhanced because of the joy we felt showing our children how to live life. We did so many things in the name of giving them great memories and now we must reprogram to pursue our own like as a couple, not just as parents. We thought we would enjoy the more open fields & smaller slopes @ Goldrush versus the mountainous trail @ Big Rock, and probably would have if not for the muddy conditions. That being said, the ride time was far shorter and there is little else to do here. Overall we felt like Big Rock was the better value. So why 4 stars you ask? Well, for one I believe most of our dislikes for this ride were either OPERATOR ERROR or just conditions that couldn't be helped. It's just the luck of the draw when dealing with nature. Secondly, I think despite the shortness of the trail, it is perfect for beginners and families with children old enough to ride on their own. [ NOTE TO OWNERS ] I would like to suggest regularly trimming low lying branches along the trail, adding colorful signage reminding riders to watch their knees in at least TWO critical areas and/or add a guide rail to deter the horses from walking so close. Most of us city folk just don't know how to handle a horse!!! Also, since the trail is short and most people these days love photo opportunities, why not build a second mounting/dismounting platform at the top of the hill where riders can have a chance to pause & take pics on or beside their horses. I personally think this would go a long way in improving the experience. TIP WHEN PLANNING A VISIT: Currently they do not allow doubles, so smaller children or kids fearful of riding alone cannot ride (unlike Big Rock which allows small children to ride with parents). ENJOY 2020 / 71 read more

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This place was great! We wanted to do something different in this vacation and horse back riding was something we never have done before! It was cool to get to go up hills and see the beautiful views from riding the horses! I rode rebel and he was great! He wanted to lead the whole time but we stayed in the second spot. Highly recommend trying this place out! read more

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This stable was quick, and able to get us a ride with just a quick walk up, however, upon arrival, they quickly pointed out that there's a fee for people over a certain weight range, and instead of weighing all members of the party, they singled specific people off and made them step on the scale. The price, and the horses were good, but the trail ride itself seemed like we were almost an after thought. The guides kept speaking with each other, often leaving us out of the conversation. I would go back, however, I would definitely request different guides. read more

Absolutely SICKENING how they treat their animals. There is an employee there who tied a horse to a pole, continuously drew his arm back and would whip the horse full force. The horse was scared, hurting, and trying to run away. the video has been posted in these reviews, but i will also attach it. I contacted the stables to see if anything was done about it, and the lady blamed "pot heads" for the circulation of the video , rather than than their employee, the abuser. She seemed angry that they had gotten caught, rather than remorseful for the horses, and those who had to witness. Law enforcement was contacted and supposedly gave them a "warning to correct their behavior," but nothing was done about it. For now. read more

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I almost don't want to write this review because I don't want to give up this hidden gem. We come to the smoky mountains every year and always make a family horseback riding day. The place that we typically go to closed forcing us to look for a new one. Low and behold this hidden gem fell in our laps. The owner is really something special with her outgoing and friendly personality. She makes you feel welcome as soon as you walk through the door. The building is small and doesn't look like much but the employees and horses really make up for it! Everyone that we dealt with was friendly and you could tell they loved the animals and their jobs. Our tour guides were great! We couldn't have asked for anything more. The horses were all very healthy and well behaved. The ride itself was beautiful. We passed through a few creeks and rode all through the smoky mountains. We had a group of 4, ages 15-43 and everyone enjoyed the ride. Just shy of an hour ride. We can't wait to come back next year! read more

We had a family of 13 and they accommodated us with smiles! The horses are well taken care of and very friendly. They also helped our smallest rider for her to feel comfortable and encouraged her to continue by leading her horse through the ride. read more

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Was a great time riding, office people and guides were great, horses were very well mannered. Highly recommend this stable read more

Goldrush Stables & Stage Lines - Horseback Riding Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

They need to be consistent about the weight restrictions. Yelp says one thing and the website says another. Hard to plan a visit when you're unsure if you'll be served or not. read more

The wait in line was crazy long (over and hour) but we had a great time and the food was really good! read more

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Gold Rush was recommended to me by a larger stable because I was over their height/weight limit. Gold Rush was able to provide a horse for me to ride. Although the place doesn't look like much when you arrive, once you are riding along the trails you are surrounded by beautiful scenery. For a reasonable price, you get a ride that lasts an hour. The experience includes several creek crossings, travel through many wooded areas, and riding up and down hills. The guide was very friendly, informative, and had a great personality. Between him and my wonderful horse Jazzy, I felt like I was a seasoned horse rider. Even my mom, who has many physical limitations, had a fun and successful experience. I would highly recommend giving Gold Rush a try if you are in the area. I will definitely be back in the future. read more

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I have been wanting to horseback ride for a very long time, so when I found out we were vacationing at Tennessee I knew it had to happen. After looking around a couple stables, we came across Goldrush which took reservations so we didn't have to wait an hour plus for a horse that's available. When we first showed up we had to wait a bit so that the horses could rest from the previous group (less then 10 min) and we finally were able to get on the horses and learn the basics. The guides were super sweet to us and made us laugh through out the trail. If you are new to horseback riding and want a great experience, I would totally recommend this stable!! (love you Carrie!) read more

As a Horseman, these folks are mistreating these horses. There policies for horse care are not standard, or usual and customary with Horse management. These horses have to many rides in a day. The shoes are left on to long, not to mention the standing and wait quarters are deplorable. The fee is high at $54.99 per person including kids, so money is not the reason for the poor standard of care. It is my opinion, they just hate animals. I believe PETA should be called, even though I am not a supporter of PETA. There policies changed from moment to moment in order to accommodate MONEY, not the horses. They pushed Tips, not once, twice, or even three times, but Everytime you speak to an employee. The weight limit changed depending on the complainer and the amount of money you were willing to pay. It has rained for 5 straight days and the conditions were hazardous for the horses but away they went....all in the name of TIPS! I urge you NOT TO GO TO THIS RIDING STATION. There are others that care and take care of their animals. I only hope others will not go and put this place out of business. I would given lower than on star if I could have. Again go somewhere else... read more

Great, friendly staff. I went with my 9 year old daughter who is a bit of a peanut. The staff took extra care to pair her with the right horse and kept checking to make sure she was okay throughout our ride (as my horse didn't want to stay in the middle of the pack and nudged his way up front). We called ahead and showed up 15 Minutes before our ride was to begin. Once on our horses, we listened to a few simple instructions and were on our way - no waiting! The path was pleasant with a few hills but definitely manageable for the novice rider. Our ride was probably 35-40 minutes long which was perfect. read more

Outstanding. I had gone on one of these rides with a different company and this one was way better. We had three guides for the six of us. Such sweet ladies! They told us exactly what to do and when to do it. Beautiful scenery. Highly recommend. read more

We had such a great time! Our tour guides were extremely friendly and patient. We felt safe the entire time. Special shoutouts to Boone, Gypsy and David. Boone and Gypsy were our horses and David was one of the guides and had us laughing the whole time. Would recommend to anyone and everyone. Even gave us a good recommendation, Delicious! Looking forward to coming back. read more

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Me and my boyfriend went today, and it was his first time and he really got the feel of riding. he loved it so much. We went through rivers and up/down mountains. we definitely got our money worth. We had such a great experience. Our guide Marquese was great! Definitely coming back here next time we come out here. read more

Made appointment for a 'fun run' for the family. Miss Topanga(great rider and clearly taught her apprentice Sidney)and Sidney(great attitude) and will took us out riding. My daughter wanted to do a real horse ride and kinda go fast. We had a great time. Miss Peggy is the owner. A great little off the beaten path secret. Great time. read more

We were in the area and had wanted to do some trail riding while in Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area so we booked our visit with Goldrush Stables. The guides were friendly. Plentiful amount of horses. Beautiful hillside trails for riding. Enjoyed walks through the hills, woods, field and the shallow creek. Very relaxed visit. Thank you for offering this service. read more

Rides are a little over an hour, employees are extremely friendly!!! All my kids and my self loved it.

A great trail through some water and up a little mountain. A very nice ride with informative leaders who do an awesome job. I rode Gypsy and she was very easy to handle. It was a good time. read more

Very fun adventure for the whole family. And not that expensive either. I figured the riding was not gonna be a lot but to my surprise it actually was we were riding for an hour. read more

This was a great experience! Riding through the streams and hills added to the excitement. It was a long 1 1/2 hour ride so we felt we got our monies worth. read more

Goldrush stables was the best part of our vacation. Gatlinburg is a great place to go and has so much to do, but everything is crowded and rushed. Then you go to Pigeon Forge to Goldrush Stables to ride horses and suddenly you meet with the staff. Everything becomes personal and you feel like you have known these people your whole life! It's like you're visiting family you haven't seen in awhile. My husband and I will definitely go back. Thank you for making us comfortable and taking the time to make sure everyone was taken care of. Chad & Cindy Quick, Evansville, Indiana! read more

They were great. The trail was beautiful not too hard but some challenging parts made it fun. A great guide and beautiful horses. We will do it again next time we are in town. Thanks Peggy and team! read more

Goldrush Stables & Stage Lines - Horseback Riding Near Me - Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

Such a great place, kind friendly staff means everything. Enjoyed our ride! Fun for us who haven't ridden much and kids who love horses, the path had enough ups and downs, twists and turns to be fun for all of us. read more

We wanted to take our kids (14&5yrs) on a horseback riding adventure in the mountains. My little boy turned 5 yes old 2 days ago, when we arrived the front desk checked his height and said he could go on his own horse. When we got to the stable I think my son got scared because they had some big beautiful horses & didn't want to go alone. I advised the ranch hand, Eddie, of the situation & he said nope he'll be fine& chose him a horse & told him to hop on but little boy was frozen in fear. I said no sir he's scared can he please go with my husband or myself but he stood his ground and refused. He was very rude& and inconsiderate of a child's feelings/fears. I said if he can't ride with an adult please just let my entire family off their horses as well. I was so upset on how he handled the situation. We went back to the office and the lady said they don't offer refunds but she'll check with the owner what can be done. The owner came in asked me what happened and gave us the ok to allow him to ride with daddy. (My husband is on the smaller size and my kid only weighs 35lbs.) We were very happy because that's all we really wanted to begin with. It turned out to be a great day. Around the mountain side all the horses keep in a single file line with one guide, Efrain, was amazing. He made sure everyone was safe and comfortable. The trail ride was about an hour long and we probably waited about the same to get a horse. It gets pretty busy so get there early. There are other things to do while you wait like a small playground, feed the farm animals like ponies, ducks, lamas, goats, sheep, ostrich, and a peacock. Package one was a basic riding and feed the animals. #2 would include gem mining. #3 package option included all the above with a 3 day fishing pass. All prices on their site was up to date. Over all a good experience and would recommend to families. Just know if you have a small one you might not get him/her on a horse with you, it would all depend on the size of the child. read more

Everyone was super friendly and the prices were great! They had reservations available which made things so much easier since we didn't have to wait in line. The horses were beautiful as well as the trail. Definitely recommend! read more

Wanted a little trail riding for visiting out of state family. This was perfect. We were a party of 6 and the guides were friendly and patient. The horses were tame and well mannered. I thought the price was reasonable and the personnel were very professional. read more

Awesome place to go horseback riding! The tour guides are great and the horses are a lot of fun. We come back every year, highly recommend!

VISITORS BEWARE!! DO NOT GIVE YOUR CC # TO THESE PEOPLE FOR A RESERVATION!! We were charged 3 days after we called and cancelled!! We cancelled less than 10 min after we made a reservation, due to a personal issue that came up. We had to leave a message, because after 5 tries, we could not get through to them!! After we were charged, we called and the lady said " I do not check my messages" "I held 2 horses for you all day". ( TORO POO POO). We reported them to our bank as a fraud and a scam, and after they looked into the situation, we were refunded. BEWARE OF THIS PLACE!!!!! read more

Had so much fun , super reasonable price for an amazing experience. Both guides were awesome. Will do again when I come back ! Thank you

We arrived 10 minutes early and pretty soon after we went into the office we were taken outside to the mounting deck to get ready to ride. They checked everyone to make sure they were comfortable, taught people the basics of riding, and then asked if anyone had questions. Then we crossed a wooden bridge to leave the mounting area and start the trail. All the staff was nice and the two guides were funny and talked to anyone who wanted to chat. We went through plenty of water, over two bridges, and up/down mountain sides. I rated this 4/5 stars because of two things. 1- the views are okay, but not great. It's a muddy place and most of the trails were through the woods. It was nice and going through the water was fun. I'm just saying there wasn't an amazing mountain top view or anything like that. 2- it is marketed for beginners and I read other reviews that said they brought children, but personally, I wouldn't bring children or seniors. We went up and down multiple steep mountain sides on rocky or muddy paths. If you bring someone that is too young to understand the basics of riding, someone that will easily be scared to boss the horses around, or someone that isn't in great physical condition... I don't imagine the ride will be as smooth as it could be. We had two older people in our group and one of them had a horse that liked to go a bit faster- instead of pulling back like we were all instructed, she screamed and freaked out. The other lady got off her horse on our last trip down (I think she said her hips hurt) and our guide had to dismount with her and both of them walked down the mountain. So I wouldn't bring someone that is scared to be bossy towards a horse, isn't physically able to handle the rough ride, or won't follow instructions. I had a great time though and I would recommend it. Great price too. read more

Awesome stables. Went with whole family. Trail ride through the creek and up hills, see Pigeon Forge atop a mountain. Staff was wonderful and friendly. Only thing you you need to tip them. They apparently don't get a wage. Come prepared. read more

This was an amazing experience!!! Great guides who were patient with kids. The horses are well trained and the trail is great, through water, dirt trails, and pastures. I rode Tex with my daughter he was great, my 9 year old song ride gypsy and my wife was on sally. I recommend a stop by this place if your in town. read more