Frequent Flyer McGuires: Horseback Riding at Guney Binicilik

Saturday, we rounded up some friends and went horseback riding. I had read about this place recently and we wanted to check it out.

Guney Binicilik (South Horse Riding) is located about 25 minutes from our home, down a long, dusty road that runs parallel to one of the many canals in Adana. We drove through fields of cotton to get there--I never even realized they grew cotton here--and arrived at the ranch just in time for lunch. This place recently opened within the last year, and for a decent price, it offers lunch with a view of the horses, stables and riding area. We got to pet the horses when we first arrived.

E was loving this guy--Light was his name.

Then we ate a pleasant meal, which was quite enjoyable with a warm breeze and ice cold lemonades. This was our view from our table.

The adults in our group could have sat there and chatted for hours, but the kids were growing restless, so after lunch we promptly headed out to ride. For 10TL (about $5) the kids got to ride a pony around three times, and the adults got to ride a horse. Not all of the adults rode, but all the kids did.

First, we tried to get E on the pony. He was so excited and absolutely wanted to go first. Oh yes he did! And this is what happened when we tried to put the riding helmet on his head.

Then we thought, "okay, just put him on the horse then put the helmet on." But this is what happened when we tried that.

Clearly, in all his excitement to ride a pony, he didn't quite think out the reality of it. It was high up, it was scary and he was not. riding. a. pony. Nope. Not gonna do it. So, we let the other kids go instead.

Of course, after seeing his friends out there riding like pros, E decided he wanted to try again. And again, there were tears and screaming. I was trying to push him in the nicest and most nurturing way possible, but he wasn't listening to mommy. And juuuust as we were about to call it a day, our friend swooped in with this little gem, "Hey E, if you ride that pony, you get to go back to school on Monday and brag to all your friends about it." And that, dear readers, was enough to end the drama and get that kid to ride. Here is that moment, captured below.

Our friend in the green shirt, and a smile starting to creep across E's face.

E loves to tell stories, so I'm sure the idea of going back to tell his friends all about his pony ride pretty much eliminated his fear. So, up he got and off he rode. With daddy by his side, of course.

Look at that wave!

Of course, in an effort to show E that there was nothing to be scared of, I had purchased a ticket to ride the horse. I was hoping he would forget once our friend calmed him down and he was happily riding, but nope. "Mommy, come ride with me!" he cried out. So, I did what I had to do. Despite my obviously inappropriate riding attire (shorts and sandals, hello), I mounted the horse and rode off behind E. It was quite fun though, and I'm glad I did it.