With equestrian outfitters and guides, equestrian trails, and an equestrian center, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is popular with visiting horse owners and aspiring equestrians seeking horses provided. VisitTemecula.org shares 10 Insights for a Horse Friendly Stay in the casual, picturesque valley.

TEMECULA VALLEY Southern California Wine Country, May 7, 2013 – “For visiting horse owners to aspiring equestrians seeking horses provided,  Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country is horse-friendly with guided rides, picturesque trails, equestrian events (dressage, show jumping, polo), and popular dining, dancing, and accommodations,” shares Kimberly Adams, Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau president and CEO. “Horse friendly stays are especially ideal midweek when equestrian outfitters and guides are less-busy, and trails are less-crowded. Midweek stays also mean appealing, Sunday-through-Thursday (better-than-weekend), hotel-resort nightly room- and group-rates.” Located 1-hour from San Diego, Orange County, and Palm Desert; and 1½ hours from Los Angeles, the popular destination includes Downtown Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino.

From the 1800s until the 1960s, Temecula Valley was predominantly grazing land for cattle. The Vail Ranch spanned more than 87,500 acres and Temecula’s Old West lifestyle flourished. When the Vails sold their ranch, the valley transitioned to a pastoral, master planned community that would incorporate equestrian ranches and agriculture including wine grapes. Today the valley is widely recognized as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country and for its vineyards and wineries producing quality wines. The valley is also noted for its equestrian ranches, equestrian center, and equestrian trails.

1-Gaits In the Grapes Guided Trail Rides

Equestrian trail guides Gaits In the Grapes (GIG) provides the opportunity for visiting horse owners to ride some of Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country’s beautiful, private vineyards as well as the larger Wine Country trails network. Less-busy weekdays are optimum for these rides. GIG strives to ensure safe, quality time “in and out of the saddle.” Guides attend to owners’ horses while visitors enjoy winery tours, wine tasting premium varietals and proprietary blends, and dining in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country restaurants or enjoying a picnic with vineyard views. GIG is also a resource for overnight, horse boarding suggestions.

2-Saddle Up Wine Tours on Horseback

Saddle Up Wine Tours provides gentle horses and guides for rides like the Historical Wine Tour. Guests ride alongside vineyards, ranches, and wineries along the De Portola Wine Trail. En route to wine tastings, riders learn of historical wine country anecdotes. Wine-tasting destinations include wineries such as Oak Mountain with wine tasting in the mountaintop veranda with valley views; Keyways Vineyard & Winery, one of Temecula Valley’s original wine estates with Early California ambiance; and Robert Renzoni Vineyards, recognized for its production of premium, Italian varietals. Saddle Up also offers basic, 1-hour-or-more, trail rides daily with horses provided.

3-Horse Drawn Carriage Rides through The Vineyards

Temecula Carriage Company provides wine tasting tours in Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. In a carriage drawn by elegant horses, passengers travel leisurely along a scenic route through the vineyards. Along the way wineries are visited such as Leoness Cellars, Wilson Creek Winery, Lorimar Vineyards & Winery, and Ponte Family Estate, to taste award-winning wines. Guests also enjoy a gourmet, wine country picnic.

4-Equestrian Trails at the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve

Once part of the vast Vail cattle ranch, the 8,300-acre Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve offers visiting horse owners nearly 7 miles of multi-use trails in the Sylvan Meadows area. Open sunrise to sunset and popular with local equestrians, trails include Sylvan Meadows, Cajalco Trail, Tovashol Trail, Shivela Trail, and Stevenson Canyon. The terrain is open, rolling hills with some oak woodlands and areas of chaparral. Riders-in-the-know get picnic fare to-go in advance (Campini’s just south of Downtown Old Town Temecula; E.A.T. Marketplace in Uptown Temecula), and enjoy dining al fresco under the oaks at the Sylvan Meadows picnic tables.

5-Equestrian Events at Galway Downs Equestrian Center

The 240-acre Galway Downs Equestrian Center is the site of shows like International Horse Trials where attendees enjoy gourmet food and drink, music, and the excitement of as many as 100 riders on horses galloping over imposing cross-country jumps. Throughout the year Galway Downs hosts eventing (“equestrian triathlons” that include dressage, cross-country, and show jumping). Galway Downs is also home to the new Temecula Valley Polo Club showcasing local and internationally renowned players. Companion to polo matches are exclusive charity events where attendees witness the grace of polo at catered luncheons.

6-Steakhouse Dining in Old Town Temecula and Uptown Temecula

In Old Town Temecula, the atmosphere and prime-beef fare at The Gambling Cowboy and Texas Lil’s Mesquite Grill recall Old West glory days when hitching posts lined Old Town streets and cattlemen, ranchers, and cowboys walked the boardwalks. The Gambling Cowboy features an elegant, late-19th century setting, and classic, fine steak and seafood. Texas Lil’s is Temecula Valley’s original ranch-style steakhouse with a menu that includes Angus choice rib eye steaks.

North of Old Town in Uptown Temecula within Temecula Hotel Row is innovative Vail Ranch Steakhouse. With the specialty of dry-aged prime steaks, an on-site dry-age process enhances steaks’ tenderness, moisture, and flavor. The dry aged Angus beef includes New York strip and rib eye.

7-Get Country Western at Temecula Stampede

Adjacent the southern Old Town Temecula gateway arch is the expansive country-western music venue and dance hall, the Temecula Stampede. The music, lyrics, two-step, line dancing, and bull riding make this a popular outpost for equestrian enthusiasts who love to dance.

8-Horseback Trail Rides and Wine Trail Rides at Vail Lake

With a ranch-like setting, ancient oaks and California chaparral, Vail Lake was the eastern boundary of Temecula Valley’s historic Vail Cattle Ranch; the Vail Ranch spanned to the west as far as the Santa Rosa Plateau. Guided horseback trail rides are offered on-site at the 9,000 acre Vail Lake property. The property is just southeast of welcoming and gracious Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country so also offered are Wine Trail Rides that combine scenic lake-view riding and a canyon ride to one of the De Portola Wine Trail’s award-winning wineries. Included are wine tasting, wine country meal, and entertainment. Also to inquire about are moonlight rides.

9-Temecula Equestrians in the 4th of July Parade in Old Town Temecula

With untouched chaparral-covered hills as backdrop to the west, and the Mission-revival style Temecula Civic Center to the east, the Star-Spangled 4th of July Parade along Old Town Front Street is a festive, annual tradition. Among the parade’s most popular entries are the patriotic equestrian riders and horses accessorized in red-white-and-blue.

10-Supplies for Visiting Horse Owners in Temecula

Because Temecula Valley is a burgeoning equestrian area, the valley is also horse-friendly for visiting horse owners to find supplies. Dan’s Feed & Seed, just south of Old Town Temecula, carries horse feed, tack, and other supplies as well as western wear. Nearby Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country and Valle de Los Caballos is Big Horse Feed & Mercantile with a variety of feed, tack, and equestrian-friendly apparel.

*Information is believed accurate but may be subject to change.

ABOUT TEMECULA VALLEY AND THE TEMECULA VALLEY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU

With natural gifts of climate and geography bolstered by Pu’eska Mountain, the Rainbow Gap, and the Santa Margarita Gap, Temecula Valley is most widely recognized for its quality wines and wineries as Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country. The popular boutique destination recently received TripAdvisors’ Travelers Choice “Best U.S. Wine Destination Top 10” award and includes a trio of main attractions: Downtown Old Town Temecula, Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country, and Pechanga Resort & Casino.

The Temecula Valley Convention & Visitors Bureau, the region’s official tourism marketing organization and resource for visitors is online at VisitTemecula.org; “Temecula Valley Southern California Wine Country” on Facebook; and @Visit_Temecula on Twitter. The Temecula Valley Visitors Center in Downtown Old Town Temecula (Third Street and Mercedes, adjacent the free Old Town Temecula Parking Garage) is open 7 days. For visitor information and assistance, call 888/363-2852 or 951/491-6085.