Giddy-up: A guide to horse-riding spots, whether you're a beginner or an old pro

When it comes to horseback riding, Southeast Missouri, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois provide some of the best trail riding and camping for horseback riders in the Midwest. Rates and age requirements vary from place to place, so we've put together a list of locations for you or your family to get away from it all and enjoy the outdoors on horseback.

__The Huzzah Valley Resort in Steeleville, Missouri,__ offers guided trail rides from April through mid-October. One-hour rides are $30.88 per person, and two-hour rides are $48.98 per person. There are kiddie rides available for $8.52 per child. They can accommodate six riders per hour with a minimum of two riders. Children must be 8 or older to go on a trail ride. The one-hour ride goes through a wooded area, and the two-hour ride takes trail riders across the Huzzah River, says Valley Becker, who helps people saddle up and hit the trails.

__Rocking U Stables at the Land Between the Lakes State Park,__ which stretches from Kentucky to Tennessee, offers 100 miles of trails on which to enjoy a guided trail ride. Trail rides begin at 9 a.m. and start on the hour, with the exception of noon to 1 p.m. The cost for a 45-minute ride is $18, and a 90-minute ride is $30. Must be 6 or older to ride.

__Giant City Stables, located in Giant City State Park,__ about 20 miles from Carbondale, Illinois, has 12 miles of equestrian trails and operates from April to October. The park also contains a campground area especially for horseback riders. A 3.2-mile guided walking ride, lasting just under an hour, is $45 per person, with a discount for groups of four or more. Hand-led pony rides, which last about 10 minutes, are $10, are available for children 12 and younger. Must be 7 or older to ride the trails. "The trails are through woods in the park, so it's really beautiful, and it's fun," says Ramona Twellman, owner. The stables operate six days a week and are closed on Tuesday.

__Trail of Tears Lodge and Resort, located in the southernmost Illinois Ozarks,__ about 15 miles from Cape Girardeau, is a family-owned facility with a bed-and-breakfast. The lodge itself is a renovated barn, built in 1920, and contains seven bedrooms. Surrounded by the Shawnee National Forest, there are 12 miles of trail rides, and six horses are available for rental, by reservation only. A one-hour ride is $30 per hour. Horses are available year-round, weather permitting. Guests are welcome to bring their own horses. Owners Deb and Ron Charles say guests have told them they have the best gaiting trails in the country.

__Coldwater Ranch in Eminence, Missouri,__ is a rustic ranch for horseback riders and hunters, and boasts one of the largest open riding areas in the Midwest. Open year-round, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the property has more than 250 miles of trails and 45 stalls for rent. While it is geared mostly for those who bring their own mounts, there are a couple rental horses available for folks who don't have their own horses and tag along with others, or whose horses come up lame during their stay. Rental for the horses is $40 an hour, or $200 per day. There are six cabins and a campground area for horseback riders. A campsite with two stalls is $57 per night. Guests who stay four nights get the fifth night free. "The terrain is rocky, hilly and very scenic, with lots of creek and river crossings," says owner Kathy Phillips.

__Hay Hollows Stables, also in Eminence,__ offers eight horses for rental on a 500-acre property. Reservations are required. One and two-hour rides are $35 per hour during the week, or $40 per hour on the weekend. A three-hour ride is $90 during the week, $100 on the weekend. The stables operate year-round, roughly from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but hours also depend on daylight, with shorter hours during the winter. Outdoor temperature is also a consideration. Trail rides are held when the temperature is between 50 and 90 degrees. Reservations are required. There's no set minimum age for riders, but owner Christina Stephens says younger children, 3- and -4-year olds, usually ride with parents, and while some 5-year-olds may ride alone, ability to ride alone is determined on a case-by-case basis, and is dependent upon the child's size and experience with horses. "It's peaceful and quiet with beautiful scenery," she says. "There's no better place to sit than on a horse."