Escape the Madness: Why Horseback Riding at this Ranch Feels Like Stepping Back in Time

“There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.”

Winston Churchill was on to something when he penned those lines so long ago. There’s nothing as soothing to the soul as the relaxingly rhythmic plodding of a horseback ride in the country. Most visitors to the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area—and residents alike—busy themselves so much with sunning, swimming, sailing, and clubbing, they never dream that the best of the west is only a hoofbeat away—in Davie.

With its weekly rodeos, cowpoke personality, and sprawling palm nurseries, offbeat Davie makes a quirky contrast to the urban sophistication of the surrounding area—a fading reminder of a simpler South Florida of not so long ago. And when in Davie, there’s no better way to experience its leisurely pleasures than riding high in the saddle at the Bar-B-Ranch (3500 Peaceful Ridge Rd., (954) 424-1060).

Why Bar-B-Ranch Stands Out

The Bar-B-Ranch, family-owned and operated for over 30 years, is the largest and most experienced business of its kind in South Florida. With an inventory of approximately 35 horses, it occupies a 25-acre spread along the Davie Trail system, adjacent to Flamingo Gardens Park.

In addition to their hour and hour-and-a-half trail rides, they offer a summer day camp, riding lessons, horse rentals, and an equine therapy program called “Healing Hooves”, run by licensed psychologist Terri Jennings, which provides valuable help to mentally and physically challenged children and adults.

One piece of advice, though: Enjoy it while you can! The rural landscape is rapidly changing as mini-malls and subdivisions invade the area. Ranches like Bar-B are becoming the last of a dying breed.

“Over-development is our greatest threat,” says Jason Hurley, who, with his brother Sam, took the reins from their mother Susan several years ago. “I remember when Flamingo Road was so small, two dump trucks couldn’t pass each other, and now it’s a six-lane highway!”

Fortunately, the Hurley brothers can thank their lucky horseshoes for one thing: their location. Just a short ride away is Robbins Lodge Park, a 160-acre wilderness preserve packed with green fields, meandering trails, and one of the last remaining tropical hardwood forests in South Florida. No matter how far new construction takes over the neighboring pastureland, Robbins Lodge will forever be off limits.

Another threat that once loomed over the horse-riding world was the rising expense of liability insurance. However, in 1993, Florida passed the Equine Activity Statute, which limits the liability of horse owners in case of injury or death caused by their animals. This law kept many such businesses from extinction. (Certain municipalities like North Miami require insurance coverage; Davie does not.) So before you try out any Lone Ranger moves, remember: You do so at your own risk!

Reserving Your Horseback Ride

To arrange your trail ride, simply phone the ranch a day or so ahead and tell them you’d like to set up an appointment. No appointments are needed on weekends. They offer various morning and afternoon excursions. No credit card numbers or deposits are necessary—in fact, no credit cards are accepted. Just give them your name, number, and preferred time.

We opted for the hour-and-a-half morning session, priced at $45 per person. Helmets (optional for riders over 18) are available for rental at an additional $5 each.

Helpful hint: The early bird gets the worm! They tend to fill up during afternoons and weekends. Summers are busy because of the day camp. But when we reserved our spot for 9:30 on a Friday morning, we were the only ones on the schedule—which made for a much more fun and personalized experience. Morning rides are also cooler and help you escape the daily afternoon downpours so common in South Florida during the hotter months.

Directions to Bar-B-Ranch in Davie

The journey from Miami Beach takes about 45 minutes (allow an hour to be safe). From I-95 North, merge onto the Florida Turnpike ($1 toll) for a few miles, then take the Griffin Road exit heading west. (You can also take the Griffin Road exit directly from I-95, but the Turnpike route is shorter.) After a few miles on Griffin Road, turn right onto Flamingo Road for a short while until you see the Flamingo Gardens entrance on your right. Immediately after, take a right on 36th Court, follow it to the end, then make a left onto Peaceful Ridge Road (a glorified cow-path). The ranch is the first driveway on your right.

Saddling Up and Hitting the Trail

Upon arrival, we were asked about our level of riding expertise. I’d ridden extensively as a child, so I listed myself as intermediate. My friend Dave was a greenhorn, so he said beginner. We signed the form and were matched with our horses: I got Red River (nicely mannered with a little spunk), and Dave got Dakota (a gentle mare who enjoyed Zen moments stopping to eat daisies along the trail).

Jason Hurley gave us a brief lesson on the basics, teaching a process called Natural Horsemanship—“the art of working, training, and riding with horses in a manner which works with the horse’s behavior, instincts, and personality in an easy and kind manner.”

Once mounted, we headed out with our guide, Cathy. She shared that she first fell in love with horses as a child, began riding at Bar-B-Ranch as a teen, and had been an employee for about six years. She wouldn’t trade her life in Davie for anything.

“Davie is a perfect place,” she told us as we followed along a canal path, with a dense palm forest behind it and the outer perimeter of Flamingo Gardens to our right. Jesus lizards scurried across the sandy trail.

A few twists and turns later, our path led into a lush tropical forest—a much-needed respite from the summer sun. Palm trees, ferns, ivy-covered oaks, and wild tropical foliage sprang up all around us. Cathy stayed ahead, clearing spiderwebs (the greatest annoyance of early morning rides).

It felt like a South American rainforest. My preconceptions of South Florida as purely swampy and shadeless vanished. The terrain was high and sandy, surrounded by sturdy trees that don’t thrive in marshier conditions.

We crossed a footbridge over a clear canal where fish swam below and coconuts floated like small turtles. (“Are there gators in there?” I asked. Cathy said they’re rare here—the locals make such a fuss that they’re removed within hours.)

Under a blooming Poinciana tree, we emerged into a large pasture bordered by a white fence. Cathy asked if we were comfortable going faster. We agreed, pressed our legs gently, and the horses began to trot. (Leaning back absorbs the bounce; leaning forward signals “faster.”)

We crossed fields, passed longhorn cattle and a braying donkey, and glimpsed a new barn next to distant palm trees—a dissonant but charming mix of Bonanza meets Gilligan’s Island.

Occasionally, fellow riders passed: a woman in a cowboy hat giving lessons to a nervous student. In the distance, suburban housing was popping up where pastures stood just a year before.

Cathy then asked if we’d like to try a canter—faster than a trot but smoother and more relaxing.

All too soon, the ranch came back into view. Time here seemed to slow, yet the ride flew by. We said good-bye to Red River and Dakota, who contentedly returned to the stable.

Thanking our hosts for the wonderful experience, we headed back to the glittery rush of so-called civilization. Dave had a glimmer in his eye: “Next time I’m riding Red River.”

As the ranch grew smaller in the rearview mirror, I knew this would have to become a habit.

Editor’s Note: Originally published September 07, 2007. Updated in 2026 with new photography; Doug Eames' original writing remains unchanged.