I use to ride alone all the time and enjoyed it. Now where I live I have a wonderful friend that I ride with. Mostly because both of our hubby's don't want us out alone for safety. We will chat for a while and then there are times that we just go along in silence. I have found it nice to have a steady riding partner that you don't have to always talk with. I do like going out in groups, but like stated before only if the other horse/riders are behaved. I like to enjoy myself and don't want to have to be on constant watch.

Here in the desert there are not to many hills but depending on how my horse and I feel we love riding out along the farm fields or going out to the foothills and riding in the desert and through the sandy washes (that can be quite a workout even at a walk)