[FrogInABlender]

...I'm also thinking that many of our state parks have good riding trails..

Weeell, they WOULD be good riding trails, but you can't ride horses in Alabama State Parks, that I know of, and you can only ride horses on designated horse trails in the National Forests (like Bankhead and Talladega NF). We aren't exactly the most horse-friendly state I've ever heard of. :o(

There's quite a few privately owned horse camps around here though.

[cowboyway]

I ain't never rode gaited. Mostly just Quarter Horses, so if you know of any Quarter Horse breeders around let me know.

[Jemian]

but you can't ride horses in Alabama State Parks, that I know of,

Oh? I thought I had seen some trail riders in Bucks Pocket. But now that I'm thinking about it, perhaps it was on the trail (which is not part of the park) that runs next to the creek as it makes its way over to Lake Guntersville.

This is not quite the first time I'm erred in my information.

[Delmont]

Some groups have tried getting horses banned from trails in our state. Our group, Backcountry Horsemen of America- has lobbiests in state and federal government and so whenever a threat appears, we rally but it is kind of silly when you think of it.
The trails were built with the tools the "stock" carried up there.
My biggest complaint is hikers who leave toilet paper 2' from the trail and their own human waste but complain about a little horse poop on the trail. Seems they always complain until they get lost or injured and we do our best to save their yuppy butts.