A horse? Of course!

Ride ‘em, family!

Oh, think not? Think that only jockeys, rodeo circuit riders, farmers, ranchers and the aristocracy go horseback riding? Well, a good ride is no farther away than the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in the Griffith Park area. And, yes, both children and adults can have a great time on the first ride over the trails through the chaparral-covered hills.

It requires no prior knowledge of riding or horses; it doesn’t even require a great deal of balance or nerve. Just grab a pair of sturdy shoes and head for the Equestrian Center and Griffith Park Horse Rentals, or another horse rental center around the region.

The , Equestrian Center, whose entrance is on Riverside Drive in Burbank, is a huge complex that regularly plays host to equestrian shows and rodeos. It’s also home to the Traditional Riding School. Both the riding school and rental stable are open to the public.

“It’s a family-friendly experience,” says Griffith Park Horse Rentals owner Lydia Doherty. “It’s safe for all levels of rider, from beginners to the experienced rider.” Doherty and a crew of trained guides take riders who are at least 4 feet tall and 6 years old on trails that wind through the park.

Guide Ricardo Mora has been riding since he was 8. Later on, he “rode the bulls in the rodeo, until I was gored.” These days, he loves introducing young people to horseback riding. “When they come, some are a little afraid, but I tell them: ‘Don’t worry,’ ” Mora says. “And I show them the horse is calm. It’s not going to run.”

Mora smiles and looks out over the string of 24 horses. “Horses are very smart, you know. They feel it -- if there is a child on their back, they will be very gentle.”

“I love it. I’ve been riding since I was 4,” says 9-year-old Natasha Zabolotskaia, a frequent visitor. Natasha’s mother, Anastasia, is just as enthusiastic. “It’s good for the kids; they’re outdoors and they learn how to control this powerful animal.”

Mora saddles a mount for Natasha, who steps up onto the children’s mounting platform. This is the only stable in the area that allows children to ride, so it is outfitted with small saddles, and the guides adjust the stirrups for children.

As he adjusts the saddle for Natasha, Mora details the safety rules: “There is no galloping. No sandals. And riders under 18 must wear a helmet.”

Natasha can barely contain her enthusiasm as she shares what she’s learned about horses: “The saddles weigh more than 100 pounds,” she warns. “So if you lean over like this” -- she tilts sideways -- “that adds 30 pounds to the weight the horse has to carry.”

Natasha’s smile breaks into giggles as she takes the reins and follows her guide onto the trail. The stable regular turns back to add, “I like riding Shenandoah.” Like many riders, she has become attached to a particular horse.

Guides like Mora know every horse’s name, age and background. Mora points out the animals in one of the corrals. “There’s Cisco, Austin, Star, Slick, White Cloud....”

The stable is open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., year-round. There are no reservations, except for group events, so it’s first-come, first-served.

Maybe, someplace along the path, even a tenderfoot can imagine that the family is riding the very trails where some of films’ earliest stars -- movie cowboys -- rode off into Hollywood western history. *

Where to saddle up

Bar S Stables, (818) 242-8443.

Griffith Park Horse Rentals, (818) 840-8401.

Los Angeles Children’s Riding Center, (818) 768-5450.

Ray Schabarum Park Equestrian Center, (626) 810-4229.

Sunset Ranch Hollywood Stables, (323) 469-5460.

Traditional Equestrian School, (818) 569-3666.