By Audrey Pavia

Hold on there, pardner. You can’t just take a horse and ride off into the sunset on your own. There’s a little more to it than that. You’ll need to sign up with an outfitter who will not only supply your horse and the tack your mount needs, but will plan your route, provide all your food and necessities, and guide you on your journey.

Major Destinations
Luckily some of the best places to visit by horseback are in the American West--especially the Rocky and Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Pacific Northwest--where harsh, remote terrain can best be seen from the saddle. Western Europe is also wonderful by horseback because of the profound sense of history and horsemanship in that part of the world. And if you’re saddled up, you’ll find such exotic destinations as Mongolia and Tibet a little more accessible--and perhaps even more enjoyable.

Trail Ride
If you are serious about taking an extended holiday on horseback and want to see wilder, more remote corners where access by car is either difficult or impossible, you’ll want to sign up with an outfitter specializing in equine tours. They can provide detailed itineraries for both local and international horseback treks that usually include camping or overnight stays along the way.

Dude/Guest Ranch
One-day trail rides generally use a resort or dude ranch as home base and offer a day of trail riding, riding lessons in an arena, and other non-horse-related activities. If you’re an inexperienced rider looking for an introduction to horses, or if you have travel companions who don’t want to ride, a resort or dude ranch vacation is a good choice.

Working Ranch
For those with an affinity for the Wild West, working ranch vacations afford the option of putting your equestrian skills to work. Chasing livestock across the plains gives you the chance to polish up on newfound roping skills. Activities vary from ranch to ranch and season to season, but will typically offer a balance of working and pleasure riding.

Audrey Pavia is the author of Horses for Dummies.