Horse Riding in Bouskoura Forest

Bouskoura Forest is a large planted woodland about 15 km south of Casablanca in Morocco's Casablanca-Settat region, known for its eucalyptus, pine and cork oak trees and for the riding stables on its edge. The activity is guided horse riding on forest tracks, offered by stables near the Route de Bouskoura that can be booked on site or through a hotel desk. No previous experience is needed for a basic ride, as horses used for visitors are usually calm and a groom or guide leads or accompanies the group, but riders should be comfortable around large animals and able to sit upright for an hour or more. Weight and age limits are set by each stable, and young children are often limited to short led rides. Visitors should wear long trousers and closed shoes with a heel, and should ask the stable to provide a helmet, since not every yard supplies one automatically. Riding equipment such as saddle and bridle is included in the price. A typical safety briefing covers mounting, controlling the horse and staying behind the guide, and the guide usually carries a phone to call for help if a rider falls or a horse is injured. Because stable standards vary, visitors should look at the animals' condition and the quality of the tack before committing, and should expect little formal certification. Rides last one to two hours and cost around MAD 200-400 per hour. The forest can be ridden all year, but the most pleasant windows are March to June and September to November, when temperatures are mild and the ground is firm. Midsummer afternoons can be hot, and heavy rain in winter makes tracks muddy and slippery, so rides are best avoided then. The forest is about 30 minutes from the centre by taxi, and a return taxi should be arranged since few vehicles wait nearby.