Why you should experience Cascade Stables at Audubon Park in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Cascade Stables at Audubon Park is a distinguished equestrian center where Audubon's parkland heritage, horsemanship, sporting tradition, and generations of riding instruction preserve one of New Orleans' longest-standing horseback riding institutions.
Set along East Drive near Magazine Street and just steps from Audubon Zoo, this professionally operated riding facility welcomes riders into a tranquil corner of Audubon Park framed by centuries-old live oaks, shaded bridle paths, open paddocks, modern barns, and carefully maintained training arenas. American Saddlebreds, Morgans, and Hackney Ponies continue a longstanding equestrian tradition as experienced instructors guide everyone from first-time riders to national-level competitors. The surrounding landscape reflects John Charles Olmsted's celebrated park design while preserving an atmosphere where recreation, education, and the enduring partnership between horse and rider remain central to the experience. The result is an equestrian destination defined by sporting excellence, educational leadership, and one of New Orleans' most enduring riding traditions.
What you should know about Cascade Stables at Audubon Park.
Cascade Stables at Audubon Park is best known for providing continuous equestrian instruction in greater New Orleans since 1981 before opening its state-of-the-art riding facility within Audubon Park in September 2006, establishing a United States Equestrian Federation Elite Training Center that has produced World and National Champions while developing riders selected for the U.S. Saddle Seat World Cup Team. Owner and trainer Barbe Smith began riding at the original Audubon Stables in 1963 before assuming leadership of the operation after the passing of longtime instructors Nona Rutland and Kit Pillow, preserving an equestrian legacy that had introduced generations of New Orleanians to horseback riding while expanding the program into one of the Gulf South's premier Saddleseat academies. Smith later earned induction into the Helen Crabtree Instructor Hall of Fame, served on the United Professional Horsemen's Association board of directors, became a USEF licensed judge, and helped position Cascade as a nationally respected center for American Saddlebreds, Morgans, Hackney Ponies, competitive instruction, horse boarding, and professional training. Riders from across the United States and internationally have trained and competed through the program while the facility has hosted prestigious equestrian events and continued strengthening New Orleans' longstanding connection to organized horseback sport.
National-caliber instruction, meticulously maintained horses, shaded riding trails, professional training programs, and decades of competitive achievement demonstrate how the stable continues balancing recreational riding with elite equestrian development. The combination of historic continuity, accomplished coaching, and Audubon Park's pastoral landscape creates an experience where sporting tradition, horsemanship, and educational excellence continue thriving beneath one of New Orleans' most celebrated urban tree canopies.
How to fold Cascade Stables at Audubon Park into your trip.
Cascade Stables at Audubon Park works as part of an exploration through Audubon Park's celebrated recreational landscapes and natural attractions.
Begin at Audubon Zoo, where internationally acclaimed wildlife exhibits establish the park's longstanding commitment to conservation before continuing to Cascade Stables at Audubon Park for one of New Orleans' finest horseback riding experiences. Continue to Tree of Life, whose sprawling live oak canopy represents one of the park's most cherished natural features while showcasing the extraordinary landscape that surrounds the riding trails. Conclude at The Fly, where expansive Mississippi River views provide a memorable finale celebrating the unique relationship between Audubon Park, recreation, and the riverfront. The progression moves naturally from wildlife conservation to equestrian tradition before concluding beside one of the city's most beloved riverfront gathering places, revealing why Cascade Stables remains an enduring part of Audubon Park's recreational identity.
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