Cades Cove riders have new restrictions

chantalle@theheraldnewspapers.com Cades Cove Riding Stables, located in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, has reopened after they agreed to enforce new horseback riding safety requirements. The stables were closed for a week, while they worked to obtain new liability insurance coverage. The new liability insurance company requires several new safety restrictions. Helmets are recommended for each rider but all children under 18 years of age must where a helmet. Adults may opt out of wearing one, but they must sign a waiver. Riding double is not allowed right now. Children must be at lest six years old to ride alone on a horse. Younger children, with adults, are allowed to take carriage rides and hayrides along wooded trails. The stables will take out smaller groups of six with a single guide. “These horses are really easy going, but some of the customers are very novice. So we need to make sure everyone is safe,” says Rick Meyers, part owner of the Cades Cove Riding Stables. The Cades Cove Stables have been owned and operated by the Hugh-Myers family for over 40 years. They are located at the entrance to the 11mile loop in Cades Cove. They currently have about 45 horses they rent out to the public for $20 an hour. The stables are open 9a.m. to 5p.m. everyday from the middle of March to the first week in November.