Our family of four (including an 11 & 15 year old) is traveling to Paris in early April. I'm looking for a day trip idea that incorporates horseback riding. I've read about some options in the Loire Valley but wondered if anyone might suggest something closer? I'm envisioning provincial vistas with castles but perhaps the Loire Valley is the best option for that? Haven't yet traveled outside of Paris so I'm trying to do my homework. Many thanks!

I have no personal experience, but here are some in & near the city:
http://www.horseinthecity.fr/en/horse-riding.html

https://www.bubble-globe.com/experie...u-de-vincennes

Sounds neat and right in Paris in the vast Bois de Vincennes.

If you found something you like in the Loire, that sounds good. Because what you are seeking is fairly hard to find. most places that rent horses, you are just doing trail rides, say in a forest or park or something, you aren't galloping across vistas.

I note that both of the suggestions above are 200-300 euro per person, and the second doesn't allow anyone under age 15, so that won't work. Just renting a horse for an hour at a stable should be more like 25 euro per hour. I haven't done that in Paris, but have elsewhere, and know that finding a place where you can rent a horse and gallop is not easy.

Here is a place at Chantilly, which if you don't know, is famous for horses and has stables and a horse museum. They charge 25 euro for one hour, and don't have any requirements regarding abilities but say you have to buy insurance or sign a waiver, of course. A lot of the places I used to rent horses by the hour won't any more due to insurance/liability issues, actually.
http://www.balade-cheval-chantilly.c...-chantilly.php

That's just trail riding in a forest, though. HEre's another one in Chantilly
http://www.acheval-enpromenade.fr/balades/

I think in Paris, there are mostly private clubs and you have to have a permit and paid insurance. I don't think there is a place to just rent a horse by the hour in Paris, I think the tour above is what you can get in Paris proper. I looked into that before, and that's what I recall.

If you're level of French is up to it google "equitation ile de france" (Ile-de-France is the region that includes Paris and adjacent départements). This will yield loads of results. Variations of this phrase such as "balade a cheval", "promenade a cheval", "excursion a cheval" etc.

https://www.lebonbon.fr/paris/les-to...itation-paris/

Thank you all!!