Tanglewood Park Horseback Riding

Tanglewood Park Horseback Riding — operated by Tanglewood Stables — offers one of the most substantial public equestrian programs anywhere in Forsyth County. Located within Tanglewood Park in Clemmons, NC, the stables offer guided trail rides along the park’s dedicated bridle paths, wooded trails, and Yadkin River corridors.

The equestrian program extends the Reynolds family’s original horse-farm identity — William Neal Reynolds originally developed the Tanglewood property as his private estate and horse farm — into today’s public park recreation. Beyond trail rides, the stables also offer riding lessons, pony rides for younger children, hayrides, and carriage rides, making it one of the more versatile equestrian destinations in the greater Winston-Salem region.

Be sure to check out the YouTube video and pictures below to get a feel for Tanglewood Park Horseback Riding before you go — or to relive the visit after.

The Reynolds Estate Horse Farm Heritage

Tanglewood’s equestrian program has a genuinely wonderful heritage anchor. The property was originally developed by William Neal Reynolds — brother of R.J. Reynolds and later president of the R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company — as his private estate and horse farm in the early 1900s. Horses were a central part of the Reynolds family’s Tanglewood identity, and the estate’s original riding trails and stable infrastructure shaped the property’s landscape long before Forsyth County acquired it in 1951.

Today, Tanglewood Stables continues that equestrian heritage as a full-service public riding operation. Rather than treating horses as a novelty amenity added later, the stables extend the estate’s original horse-farm identity into the modern public park era — creating one of the few American public parks where the equestrian program is genuine estate heritage rather than a modern add-on.

The Riding Experience — Trail Rides, Lessons, and Family Options

Guided trail rides anchor Tanglewood Stables’ most popular offering. Rides are suitable for riders aged six and up and last around 45 minutes to just under an hour. Trails wind through the park’s dedicated bridle paths, wooded trails, and along the Yadkin River — offering natural landscape variety alongside occasional wildlife sightings including birds and deer.

The stables’ knowledgeable staff pair each rider with an appropriate horse based on experience level, and helmets are available for safety. Reservations are strongly recommended, particularly on weekends and during peak visiting seasons. Payment is accepted only by cash or check — a practical detail worth planning around before arriving.

There are separate fees for entering Tanglewood Park and for the various stable rides and programs, and rates are subject to change over time. Check with Tanglewood Park and Tanglewood Stables directly before your visit to confirm current pricing, hours, and reservation details.

Beyond trail rides, Tanglewood Stables offers a range of additional programs. Riding lessons cater to visitors interested in developing their equestrian skills over time. Pony rides provide an accessible entry point for younger children who aren’t yet old enough for the standard trail rides. Hayrides and carriage rides round out the offerings, giving families and groups additional ways to experience the park’s equestrian heritage.

Good to Know

• Location: Within Tanglewood Park, Clemmons, NC — 4061 Clemmons Road
• Operator: Tanglewood Stables
• Parent attraction: Part of the larger 1,100-acre Tanglewood Park (former Reynolds family estate acquired by Forsyth County in 1951)
• Historical heritage: Extends William Neal Reynolds’s original horse-farm identity — the Tanglewood property was developed by the Reynolds family in the early 1900s as their private estate and horse farm
• Trail rides:
• Guided rides for riders aged 6 and up
• Approximately 45 minutes to just under an hour per ride
• Optional helmets provided
• Trail types: Dedicated bridle paths, wooded trails, and along the Yadkin River — with occasional wildlife sightings, including birds and deer
• Additional programs: Riding lessons; pony rides for younger children; hayrides; carriage rides
• Park entrance: A fee applies to enter the larger Tanglewood Park (separate from stable ride fees)
• Stable ride pricing: Fees apply for all trail rides, lessons, pony rides, hayrides, and carriage rides; check with Tanglewood Park and Tanglewood Stables directly before your visit to confirm current rates
• Payment: Cash or check only (no credit cards)
• Reservations: Strongly recommended, especially on weekends and peak season
• Hours: Check the Tanglewood Stables website for current stable hours (typically seasonal)
• Best for: Families with children (thanks to the age-6 trail-ride minimum and pony ride options), beginner and intermediate riders looking for guided trail experiences, equestrian enthusiasts wanting to explore the Reynolds family estate’s horse-farm heritage, and visitors curious about the equestrian side of one of NC’s most substantial public parks
• Pair with: The broader Tanglewood Park experience including the 1859 Manor House, the Robert Trent Jones Sr.–designed Championship Course, and Mallard Lake; the Tanglewood Park Arboretum for the park’s dedicated garden experience; the Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Reynolda Gardens in Winston-Salem for the complementary R.J. Reynolds family estate heritage; or a broader Forsyth County day exploring the Reynolds and tobacco industry heritage that shaped the region

A Clemmons Highlight

Tanglewood Park Horseback Riding is the kind of stop that stays with you for the sheer authenticity of its estate-heritage connection. Standing on land that was developed as William Neal Reynolds’s private horse farm in the early 1900s — and riding on trails that have hosted equestrian activity across the property’s entire history — gives visitors a genuinely different equestrian experience than most public-park riding programs offer.

The full range of programming rounds out the appeal. Between the guided trail rides for riders aged 6 and up, riding lessons for developing equestrian enthusiasts, pony rides for younger children, hayrides, and carriage rides, Tanglewood Stables serves as a genuine multi-generational equestrian destination — anchoring one of the more distinctive corners of the greater Winston-Salem region’s outdoor recreation infrastructure.

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Resources

Forsyth County Parks and Recreation – Tanglewood Park

Tanglewood Stables

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