Riding Rules for our advanced/ intermediate Rides:
Advanced/ Intermediate Riders- What does this mean?
All riders please read carefully:
A intermediate/ advanced riders anticipated in regular attended training sessions in equestrian horseback riding, for at least one year/ twice a week somewhere in the past! Advanced riders do know how to, halter, saddle, blanket and so on up a horse, understand completely how to lead a horse, have fundamentals about ground work, body parts, spend hours in the saddle as a trail rider, hunter/ jumper, foxhunting, dressage rider, western rider, polo player and so on.
It is also not enough- in some cases- that you own a horse, which maybe lives in your back yard. You will have to proof, of a solid, stable background riding our challenging trails!
If you do not understand, what all this means which is mentioned in this sentence above, you are NOT an advanced/ intermediate rider. We have guest riders arriving claiming they are intermediate/ advanced, but clearly have no further skills as using the words intermediate/advanced to sneak in, to experience a faced paced ride. This experience will not happen for you, so please be real- Sorry!
What can you expect?
The National Forest challenging terrain contains partially a very steep, mountainous, bushy, rough, and since we are cut off from a busy hiker world, often unmaintained trail situation.
Incline and decline on some rides reach almost 2000 feet and will require you to dress properly. Layers of clothes come here handy. Also in the mountains you’ll find season and climate are changing, down at the ranch the sun is shining warm, but up on the windy mountain ridges, harsh weather condition and temperature drops do not should surprise you.
If you search for an adventure – we are pretty sure you will find it, when enduring one of our sporty rides!
Looping/ Galloping/ Canter: there are some few opportunities to go for some cantering. We reserve galloping for our five and six days trail riding guests. Those trails lead guests in to some safe footing situation, where horses can canter safely on soft and even grounds. One thing to bear in mind is that you are not riding at the beach or in flat country. We are riding the high country on narrow trails, near drop offs in the trees, over sagebrush, where the grounds simply can get loose. When riding unmaintained trails, we keep a watching eye to be very careful for ground squirrels holes or holes made by other burrowing animals, which living in the outback.
We love what we doing! And we doing what we Love!
Your ride required owed to a variety of possible upcoming obstacles a good balance, even better if you want to ride the trails at a faster pace, like a trot- rarely at a canter!
As most likely you’ll head off from the ranch when attending a ride, for guests which choose to participate on our multi days riding journeys, we approaching trail heads hauling the horses to other locations. This keeps not only our equestrians fresh and forward going, but offers rider’s to encounter a variety of the beauty of Southern California’s landscape.
Each Ride required concentration from the horses, and from you- the rider!
Our horses are trained to take care of them self out on the trail. They equipped for long riding hours with comfortable saddles, smooth gaits, and since you’ll find no water in the mountains plenty of condition and endurance. Our horses are pretty surefooted, paired with good manners which results in a fantastic ride, even in wind, rain, snow or other harsh weather conditions.
We welcome happily our beginner riders to experience a charming ride, which is a great challenge/ adventure in Southern California, owed to our extraordinary trail network on our ranch. We allow you to ride on our training’s track, were our endurance performance horses get prepared, for some of the toughest marathon races in the Western United States!
If you are a beginner rider, but claimed advanced/ intermediate equestrian- you will have to pay the full amount, and receive no money back if booked a half-day ride, full day ride, or riding vacation.
Rules for our Cross Country Trail Rides
Due to the steepness of our trails, we ride in English saddles, however some of our guests prefer a western style saddle- we can offer you both.
Our rides are not the typical nose to tail dude ranch family rides, we operate not like a commercial / industrialist business; Our interest is strictly to share remarkable rides in a beautiful nature setting, on our wonderful performance horses, with our guests from all around the world!
All our rides for first time guests, begin in a safe fenced in arena. We match horse and rider carefully together, according to their size and past riding experience. A small rider will be fitted with a horse of his/her size, while a tall person will be fitted with a bigger size mount. A guide demonstrates a short riding presentation and you are welcome to ask question before you mount.
Check your assigned mount with some trotting loops, leading him/her around barrels, riding circles, and so on. Our guest love this concept, since it allows time to bond with the horses before they hit the trail. There is no time pressure in the ring! We leave the arena and ride the miles according to the booked ride- with exception of the Ranch Ride!
So please do not come in a hurry, and bring plenty of time with you!
On each ride you’ll see mileage and hours. Example would be for the “Half Day Ride” 9 miles, 3.5- 5 h. What does this means? Mrs. Smith rides the 9 mile “Half Day Ride” in 3.5 hours- because Mrs. Smith enjoys a faster pace with lots of trotting while Mrs. Pratt enjoys his ride easy going with stops here and there for taking picture, – mostly walking. So he will take the full 5 h ride time.
Once you’ll learned riding in the past, it last for a lifetime. Some people have not ridden for several years, however our horses are cooperative and make it very easy for you to get back in the rhythm pretty fast.
For a fast paced ride please be prepared to demonstrate the following riding ability in our ring:
- ability mount and dismount unassisted
- present controlled rain cues
- posting, or two point position, balanced- while trotting
- cantering or loping in a two point position- out on the trail
- demonstrate confidence and solid control in the saddle
Weight Limit; 190lb
Payment: A down payment must be delivered at time of booking. They are designed to secure your assigned appointment. All down payments are non refundable. Once you booked your riding date they are not exchangeable.
Thank you
