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A Galloping Good Time: Let your inner cowboy out with a rollickin' ride with Broken Saddle Riding Company
By Liz Napieralski | Photograph by Natalie Brown Baca | Santa Fean, April 2006
Having grown up in the foothills of Cave Creek, in central Arizona, yer darn tootin’ I’m no stranger to riding horses. (I began torturing my parents with the dreaded plea "I want a horse!" at the age of nine.) When seeking out a place to indulge my equine jollies in Northern New Mexico, I predicted I’d encounter the typical plodding trail ride allowed at most dude ranches: nose-to-tail walking and, if lucky, a gentle trot. Not so thrilling for the experienced rider.
So imagine my glee as I passed through the expansive desert panorama of Cerrillos at a canter. On this blustery but sunny day, listening to the syncopated hoofbeats of my mount, a chestnut Tennessee Walker named Watson, I couldn’t stop grinning. Taking in the arroyos and canyons on horseback, and at a pace to my liking, to boot—oh, what a rare and exquisite treat.
At Broken Saddle Riding Company, the expeditions — and the horses — are matched to the rider’s know-how, so beginning or advanced vaqueros can take pleasure in a unique outing tailored to their abilities. Those with experience under their belt buckles can enjoy the scenic highdesert hills at a rolling canter, and some stretches at a gallop. Since all of the horses at Broken Saddle are registered Missouri Fox Trotters or Tennessee Walkers — which is to say, they have the suspension of a Cadillac — visitors walk away smiling instead of bowlegged and saddle-sore.
As if smooth-moving horses and spectacular vistas weren’t enough, the Broken Saddle wranglers offer a brief account of the historic mining town of Cerrillos. After 13 years at the ranch, owner Harrold Grantham knows the history of the land, including factoids about the geological formations in the area, which he points out along the way. For an even more exotic twist to the hoofed escapade, sunset and moonlight rides give a wholly different view of the great outdoors.
Broken Saddle is open year-round, weather permitting, and riders must provide their height, weight, and riding experience at time of booking. (The ranch cannot accommodate folks who weigh more than 210 pounds.) Beginning riders will not be placed on excursions at the intermediate or experienced levels. Be sure to wear long pants, boots or sturdy closed-toed shoes, sunblock, and sunglasses — and prepare to feel the freedom of the open trail.
To get there: From Exit 278A on I-25, take Highway 14 south 16 miles. Turn right onto County Road 57 into the village of Cerrillos. Turn right at the stop sign (First Street). Cross the railroad tracks and continue for a quarter of a mile. Take the right fork in the road, then turn left immediately into a gravel parking area in front of the Broken Saddle corral. Allow 30 to 40 minutes’ travel time from downtown Santa Fe.