Horseback Riding at Lajitas Resort

The Equestrian Center at Lajitas is a state-of-the-art facility located adjacent to Lajitas 'town center' and providing professional equestrian services to both guests of Lajitas and any other local visitors to the area.

The Lajitas Equestrian Center is run by two National Cutting Horse Association Professional Trainers, O.K. (Kim) Estes, and Katherine Hoadley.

Kim Estes has been showing cutting horses for 4 decades and is a past NCHA judge. Miss Hoadley has been showing cutting horses and assisted in training for 8 years and has over 7 years of experience as a veterinary assistant.

The Lajitas Equestrian Center can provide guests to the Lajitas area with Horseback Rides, Boarding Facilities, Cutting Horse Lessons & Clinics and Stargazer Dinner which includes a horseback ride through the Texas desert at sunset and dinner next to the campfire under the sparkling Texas stars.

Horseback Rides

Half-Day Ride (Three Hours) Lajitas can create a tailor-made half-day ride for you, allowing you to explore the area, and learn fascinating geological and historical facts about the area from your guide. You can even visit an ancient burial site located in a cliff wall.

All Day Ride Looking for a little more adventure? Join the Lajitas Equestrian team for a full-day ride to the Buena Suerte Mine and Ghost Town in the real tradition of the Old West. This trip rides out of Lajitas early in the morning and takes you on a three-hour ride to Buena Suerte, where you will pause for a hearty lunch and some time to explore the area before you return back to Lajitas. This trip is not for the faint of heart; it is the pure rugged cowboy with outhouses and cooking by the fire, so be prepared for the ‘real experience’. This ride includes lunch. Four-person minimum

Buena Suerte Ghost Town Camp-Out. If you really want to experience an authentic "old-west" experience, join the Lajitas Equestrian team for an overnight ride and camp out to the Buena Suerte Mine and Ghost Town. This trip leaves Lajitas stables in the afternoon and includes a campfire dinner at the Buena Suerte site prepared by a Lajitas Chef. You will spend the night with the rest of your group around the campfire or inside the old general store and wake up toa cowboy-style breakfast the next morning before your ride back to Lajitas.

Star Gazer MesaSunrise Breakfast at Star Gazer Mesa. Ride horseback to Star Gazer Mesa at sunrise and enjoy a delicious breakfast prepared for you around the campfire. Cowboy coffee, biscuits, and gravy, eggs made to order, sausage, bacon, and juice round out this authentic cowboy breakfast as you watch the sun rise over Lajitas. There is a four person minimum and a six-person max on this trip.

Cookout at Stargazer Mesa Ride your trusty steed to Stargazer Mesa where you'll be greeted by our creative culinary team for an unforgettable cowboy dinner. Red Rock Outfitters has a full menu of entree, sides and dessert selections and will help you customize your menu for the evening. After dinner, you will be transported back to the resort. Four-person minimum

Cutting Horse Lessons and Clinics

Cutting Horse lessons are 2-3 hours depending on the rider’s current abilities. Cutting lessons at Lajitas are not designed to make you a proficient rider overnight, but rather to provide a quick overview of riding the cutting horse. Your lesson will teach you how to work your horse on a mechanical cow which is controlled by your instructor. Once you are proficient at working with the mechanical cow, you can start working on a single cow, and eventually graduate to separating a single cow away from the herd.

Cutting Horse Clinics will be 3-day clinics. Clinics can be on a group or individual basis, with or without your horse.

Cowboy Action ShootCowboy Action Shooting

Take a step back in history and learn how to shoot the guns that won the West, from qualified instructors. Shoot a single action pistol, side-by-side shotgun, and a lever action rifle. Then have a competition to see who's the fastest. Proper western attire is mandatory--chaps and a ten-gallon hat are preferred.

Five Stand (Skeet Shooting)

Test your aim at Lajitas Five Stand Skeet Shooting arena. Choose from a variety of guns and learn from our expert marksmen as you take aim at our sporting clays.

The Lajitas Skeet Shooting course utilizes eight automatic traps to simulate game birds such as dove, quail and pheasant and even a bolting rabbit across the ground. One round consists of 25 shots with groups of shots being taken from each shooting stand.

Services: All horses are cared for by a staff of professionals!

Note: Riders must be 7 years of age or older; under 18 must be accompanied by a parent. Riders must weigh less than 240 pounds. The Lajitas Equestrian Center does not allow riders to run the horses. Ride times may change due to sunrise and sunset. Cancellation policy: before 24 hours no charge; after 24 hours rider is charged ½ price; after horses are saddled, the rider is charged full price. Gratuity is not included!