About the rides
What happens on the day of my ride?
Quick summary: We get your horse from the pasture, brush and saddle it shortly before your arrival. When you arrive at the ranch, drive to the ranch house. We will greet you there and you will have to pay and sign a waiver. Afterward, walk to the barn where your horse and guide are waiting for you. When going for a ride on the ranch property, you get on your horse and we explain some riding basics before we take off.
What is the procedure with trail rides in Riding Mountain National Park?
When you arrive, your first step is to do the paperwork in the ranch house. We then trailer the horses and drive all together to the park entrance. Depending on the group size, you may need to follow us to the park entrance in your own vehicle. Upon arrival in the national park, you get on your horse and we explain some riding basics before we take off.
In what pace are your rides?
Our rides are only walking pace (which means going slow). As we cannot check on the rider’s abilities beforehand, this is the safer version. Apart from that, our horses’ speed varies when they go faster than walking, which makes it hard to keep the group together.
Preparation for the rides
What clothes do you recommend for riding?
We definitely (!!!) recommend wearing long pants. Bare skin rubbing on leather is not enjoyable at all – so please NO skirts, dresses, or shorts. Depending on the season, you might also be exposed to the sun and a bunch of mosquitoes for hours at a time. So, we also would go with a long-sleeve shirt, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. As shoes, choose sturdy shoes (sneakers or hiking boots are fine, sandals not). Please do not take backpacks along on your ride. We have saddlebags if needed (tell us beforehand!).
Tip for international travelers: Buy Canadian mosquito spray! We have the impression that most other sprays rather attract than deter … 😉
About the riders
Do I need riding experience to go for trail rides?
No riding experience required! Our horses are used to absolute beginners. Some rides are more suitable for less experienced riders (like our Homebound, Buckaroo & Jumpstart). For longer rides (especially Full Day Ride & Overnight Rides), a good fitness level can be helpful when you lack riding experience. Our Half Day Ride – Tilson Lake is for experienced riders only. If you are unsure which ride is the best choice, just ask us and we are happy to recommend a ride!
Are (young) kids allowed to go on trail rides?
Yes! Families and kids are welcome. We do not have a certain age requirement. But – your kid needs in any case to be able to sit on a (regular-sized!) horse on its own and it will not be placed on a horse with you. You know best if your kid is able and comfortable to do so. Out of experience, we cannot recommend taking kids younger than around 6/7 years along. For safety reasons, we usually tie smaller kids’ horses to the guide’s horse (depending on the guide’s capacity). The decision whether your kid is allowed to ride without being ‘pulled’ is always up to our guide’s discretion.
Are there weight restrictions?
We do not have a general weight limit. Please note that we ask about your weight and height to ensure we choose the right horse for you. A weight restriction of ~250 lbs applies to Half Day Ride – Tilson Lake, Full Day Ride and our Overnight Rides.
About booking and schedule
Is there a certain schedule when you go for which ride?
No! We schedule our rides based on guests’ inquiries. For longer rides (Half Day and Full Day ride in the park), we usually start around 10 am, while we are more flexible with shorter rides. Have a look at our calendar to see already scheduled rides with open spots – maybe one fits and you want to ride along? You are welcome to inquire about any date and time, and we will try our best to make it work.
Is there a minimum group size required for booking?
Two riders are required for booking. We still offer all rides (except overnight rides) for “solo riders”; please note that there will be an extra charge. We accommodate groups of up to 6 people for park rides. Regarding rides at home, we are more flexible and can take (most times) 8 to 10 riders in one group. If you are a bigger group, we also try to make that work (e.g., splitting your group).
Are you merging groups together?
Yes, we do mix groups together if it fits time-wise. Have a look at our calendar to see already scheduled rides with open spots that you could join – great for single riders to avoid the extra fee. From experience, we can say that most of the time, your ride will be with only your riding companions. If you want a guaranteed private ride, you need to inquire with us.
About the horses
What kind of horses do you have?
We have around 11 guest horses. Most are purebred Tennessee Walking Horses and are born, raised, and trained on the ranch. Our horses are super friendly, reliable, and laid-back. They know their job and are usually doing great – an unplanned break for a quick snack is usually the most disobedient thing they have in mind. Our horses are well trained for what we want them to be – being reliable companions for trail rides – please do not expect fancy broke Western show horses. If you want to get to know them in advance, we have published our horses’ profiles on our Social Media accounts!
Can I help with preparing the horses?
Usually, we will have your horse ready to go for you when you arrive at the ranch. If you want, we can (most of the time) arrange for you to help us. As this usually takes longer, we charge a little more to cover the extra time we have to invest. Please talk with us about this well before your ride!
And a few other questions …
Are there packages for riding and staying at the ranch?
Yes, we have Stay & Ride Packages prepared for you. They range from one night to a week’s stay. You can choose between the pampered and the economic version. If you have something else in mind, let us know and we will see what we can do for you. We have two cabins available, which can be booked independently as well.
Can I take photos while riding?
Yes, you can take your camera along. We just recommend asking your guide for a short stop if you want to snap a picture. However, when posting pictures on your social media accounts, we would be super happy if you tag (and hopefully recommend) us! You can find us on Instagram and Facebook.
I am not sure if I am comfortable with riding on my own – what now?
If you are a bit scared, just let us know in advance. We make sure to prepare the most reliable horse for you and help you decide which ride fits best. In the “worst case”, we can most of the time take your horse on a leash and tie it to the guide’s horse (depending on our guides’ capacities).
Can I take my dog along?
No dogs are allowed on any of our trail rides, sorry.
Did we forget something important & special inquiries?
I have a special idea regarding a trail ride – what now?
You want to discover a certain spot in the park on horseback? Have riding experience and want to go for a more challenging ride? You want to do a multi-day trip ride? Do you want to bring your own horse and just need us as guides? Whatever you have in mind, let us know, and we’ll try our best to make it happen.
Or do you have further questions? Contact us! 🙂
