Black Butte Stables offer horseback view of Sisters Country

Summer has finally arrived, and what better way to experience the splendor of the High Desert than from atop a Western saddle. Black Butte Stables at Black Butte Ranch is geared up and ready to hit the trail with calm, experienced horses for riders of all levels. A fixture in the community for over 18 years, the outfit's wranglers will lead your party out into the green meadows, aspen groves and quiet wooded paths of our National Forest. 

Owners Cody Koch and Kristi Prosser encourage everyone to come out for a refreshing morning or afternoon ride and enjoy the best of Central Oregon from the back of a trusty horse. They feature a wide variety of interesting trips and travels, depending on your time-frame and endurance.

The Little Loop Ride is an easy two-mile jaunt taking a little over 30 minutes.

It's a beginner ride with instruction for more novice riders.

It provides basic horsemanship lessons and skills through shady aspen groves and ponderosa pines.

For the more adventurous, the Big Loop Ride covers 3.3 miles in about an hour at an easygoing pace.

If you're brave, this ride allows for some limited trotting across wider portions of the trails along Indian Ford Creek, with views of a beaver pond.

Gobblers Knob rides out at 5.5 miles and offers amazing vistas across Glaze Meadow and snow-capped Broken Top peak in the distance.

Also visible are Three Sisters peaks and Mt. Washington, peeking through the high treetops.

For young children, Black Butte Stables schedules daily, parent-powered Lil Buckaroo rides throughout the summer for $15 that can accommodate most anyone. Parents or guardians lead children on calm, seasoned horses fitted with pony saddles inside the arena.

One-day Black Butte Posse rides take place in the Deschutes National Forest or Three Sisters Wilderness. This rugged ride is built to the individual expectations and experiences of the participants, with stunning views and water crossings.

Koch and Prosser have owned the stables since April, 2010, when they purchased the entire outfit and USFS use-permit required to operate.

Black Butte Ranch Stables is open to the public and can tailor custom rides for parties and any special occasion. 

"We really want locals to come out and enjoy some time in the wilderness and spend time with our horses," said Prosser. "We have 52 horses in our string right now and a lot of them are ... horses out of Canada that make really nice, rideable trail horses."

To encourage more locals, Black Butte Stables is offering a Central Oregon Locals' Coupon in this issue of The Nugget. They ask residents to bring the coupon and simply show their Oregon driver's license to get their discount on any ride.

Black Butte Stables is located at the front of the Ranch, just southeast of the entrance at 13892 Bishop's Cap, behind the General Store.

For more information call 541-595-2061 or 541-410-8908 or visit them at http://www.blackbuttestables.com.