Ponderosa Riding Stables

My family spent Christmas 2010 in Gatlinburg TN; during our visit we decided to go horseback riding at the Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa. We absolutely had the best time, our guide was informative and funny. He continue to look back at us to make sure everyone was okay; he was always polite when answering questions and was a people person. He made you feel right at home. He explained about any gratitude was for the guide not the Ponderosa. The petting zoo was also fun; a video was provided for us to watch before riding. I would recommend this place to anyone that enjoys riding horses. Thanks to the employees and guides at the Ponderosa; we'll see ya'll next time. more

This past weekend i took my granddaughter and her friend horseback riding at Big Rock Dude Ranch at Ponderosa. Wow what a great time. It was so clean and neat, the horses where so well maintained they even had fans for the horses. The guide was wonderful, one of the girls got scared and started to cry and the guide was so sweet to her. He claimed her down and lead her horse until she felt comfortable. We also gem mined and fed the animals. You can spend a whole day at this place. I thought it was a great value and a whole lot of fun for my family. When they took out photo even my son was smiling and that in it's self said alot about the experiance. My hat is off to this company. Great customer service... more

this place is awesome!! they have lots to do, and the staff were great. the horses were beautiful, and the facility was top notch. best ride in the smokies!! more

We have ridden here before and it is always a wonderful experience. The trail winds around through the foothills in beautiful scenery. The only sound is of the horses which makes it relaxing. We enjoy seeing the animals on the ranch and the pond area is very serene. The horses seem well-cared for and are enjoyable to ride. more

We visited Big Rock Dude Ranch in August and had a blast !! There were two adults with 3 children - ages 8,6, and 3. The two older ones had never ridden before and the guides were fantastic. The younger one rode with me and we did fine. The wait was a little long so get there early.......... The guides and all of the staff were extremely nice and helpful. Our family had a great time... more

Wonderful trail, well mannered horses, great staff! Very well maintained trails. more

My friend and I went over for horseback riding and also did fishing. I am not sure what some others are talking about, the staff was great and Becky made us feel like she knew us forever. I am a big guy 265lbs and tall and they accommodated my weight, my friend was very afraid of horses and they found her a very gentle horse. We had a great time and we will go back again. more

Everyone at this ranch are always so friendly and helping. The past two times my boyfriend and I went to pigeon forge we went here. Prices are reasonable and it is a great event for families or couples. The ride is just long enough to get your moneys worth, and not too long that you get bored. Would recommend it to anyone!! more

I have nothing but good things to say about this place. I was there April 1, 2011 and was amazed by how nice everyone was. As soon as we walked in we were greeted by a very nice guide. He set us up with some waivers an told us to read over them carefully. He was called away to the stables for a moment and told us to check out the museum. There were a lot of interesting artifacts in there. When we were done, he told us to go by the cafe and view the 4 minute safety video (which is required to ride). After the while we decided to wait a few min and check out the petting zoo. They had Emus, goats, peacocks, and even a miniature horse! We went to the stable and was very impressed. All of the horses looked very healthy and were well taken care of. The stable workers were wonderful to talk to and were able to answer any question we threw at them. I haven't been on a horse in ten year and they set me at ease. I was set up with Apachie, a wonderful tan horse. Our tour guide told us a few basics and tips and we were off. Upon taking off, they take your picture and are available for purchase after the ride. The ride was about three miles and took about an hour. The views we saw were absolutely amazing. The guide told us interesting facts as we went along and stopped often to make sure we were okay. All in all, it was a wonderful experience and I cannot wait to go back! more