Disney’s Tri-Circle-D Ranch is home to beautiful Paint Horses
Paints add vibrant hues to 'Wonderful World of Color’ palette

FORT WORTH, TEXAS—In recognition of 35 years of showcasing the beauty
of the American Paint Horse, the Tri-Circle-D Ranch at Walt Disney
World’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground, near Orlando, Fla.,
recently received the American Paint Horse Association’s (APHA’s)
Legendary Achievement Award.

Goofy has a long history of entertaining trail riders at Fort Wilderness. This photo was taken in the 1970s. (Photo courtesy of Tri- Circle-D Ranch). Hirez TIFF (6.36 mb) Hirez JPEG (386 kb) more photos

As part of the award honor, APHA President Carl Parker and World Show
Manager Butch Carse presented a special plaque to Tri-Circle-D
Zoological Manager Robin Walker and Curator Mark Beatty during a
ceremony at the Fort Wilderness Resort.

The APHA award also recognized several hundred Tri-Circle-D
employees, known as “cast members,” for their continuing work in
introducing American Paint Horses to park visitors through daily
trail rides.

“Disney has been recognized with Academy Awards,” Carse said to
hundreds of people gathered for the ceremony. “This award we are
presenting to you is our version of an Academy Award, to recognize
the cast of the Tri-Circle-D Ranch.”

Parker added, “You have played a large role in our success. We
understand from talking with people at Disney World and Fort
Wilderness that Paint Horses have been part of your trail ride
program since 1971. We also learned that tens of thousands of people
have ridden, seen and touched these horses through the years.

“I want to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of
you,” he continued. “On behalf of my colleagues, I commend all of you
for helping the equine industry in general. We are indebted to the
tireless work you do to promote horses in a fun, wholesome, family
environment.”

Besides Paint Horses, other breeds that can be found at the ranch
include Appaloosas, Arabians, Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons,
Quarter Horses, and Shetland and Welsch ponies. The ages of the
horses typically range from 4 to 10 years.

Walker described the horses selected for use on the trail rides as
normally being at least 15 hands tall, quiet, sound and beautiful.

“We love Paint Horses for a variety of reasons,” Tri-Circle-D’s
zoological manager added. “They make our job easy because they fit so
well into what we do here. They are sensible, willing, friendly, and
of course, gorgeous. The guests always comment on them, and they
always remember them if they have ridden them on a past trail ride.”

Gibb Stepp, who has been a trainer with the program since its
inception, said he has always enjoyed working with Paint Horses.

“Some of the best horses we have had out here have been Paint
Horses,” Stepp said. “I really like their mindset.”

In addition to showcasing beautiful and intelligent equines, the Tri-
Circle-D Ranch prides itself on pristine presentation of the horses.
Every day starts out with a meticulous grooming of the horses that
will be seen by the public. The horses are then taken to a special
staging area where they are outfitted with their own personal tack.

When guests arrive for their scheduled rides, they are matched with
the horses. Helmets are provided for riders, who are taught how to
guide and stop the horses.

Tri-Circle-D, home to about 75 horses, offers five rides a day with a
maximum of 12 people on each ride. During the ranch’s busier times,
additional rides are scheduled. Two trail guides accompany each
group, and the rides last about 45 minutes. The riders enjoy the
scenery on the wide trails that traverse the beautiful wooded acreage
of Fort Wilderness, which teams with wildlife such as deer,
armadillos and raccoons.

Besides venturing out on trail rides, guests can also take old-
fashioned carriage and wagon rides around Fort Wilderness, or parents
can lead their children around on pony rides.

More about Tri-Circle-D
To learn more about Tri-Circle-D Ranch and Fort Wilderness, call 407-
W-DISNEY or visit www.disneyworld.com.

More about the American Paint Horse Association
Currently, American Paint Horses are being registered at APHA’s Fort
Worth, Texas, headquarters at a rate of more than 40,000 horses each
year. APHA has registered more than 866,000 horses in 49 nations and
territories since it was founded 44 years ago, and now serves more
than 100,000 active members around the world.