Solid advice from Frank on horse ownership. Luckily, it sounds like your wife just wants to get some lessons to satisfy her inner cowgirl, so you're good ! Lesson horses at any decent barn are much like the vacation trail horses you mentioned. As someone who has worked at such facilities I can say that with confidence. If her interest ends up going deeper than that, things get complicated. It's a lifestyle more than a hobby,as well as a long term commitment to building a relationship with an animal that will be a part of your life for a very long time. They're awesome animals, and riding is super fun, so I certainly wouldn't discourage anyone from giving it a go.