Ranch Stays in Louisiana

Riding in Louisiana means cypress shade, pine straw underfoot, and a culture that shows up in the saddle. The state runs from bayou country in the south to rolling pine forest in the north, and the guest ranches, trail stables, and riding academies scattered between them each take their flavor from the ground they sit on. Trails pass historic plantations near Baton Rouge, cross the open prairies of Acadiana, and disappear into Kisatchie National Forest, the state's only national forest and its biggest block of riding country.

The disciplines sort themselves by geography. Around Lake Charles and Lafayette in Southwest Louisiana, Western riding and rodeo culture run the show: barrel racing, reining, cutting. Head north toward Shreveport and Monroe and the balance tips toward dressage and show jumping, backed by established boarding and training barns. Between the two you can find nearly any specialty, from a child's first lesson to serious competitive prep.