For any experience chosen, we will accommodate a broad range of riders at highly reasonable, family-friendly rates. We also board horses using principles for the stabled horse at an equally reasonable rate. Payment by cash or check only at this time.
Horseback riding lessons
What makes learning to ride with wranglers bringing back the Old West so special?
Our lead wrangler has to get up at 4:00 a.m. to care for roughly 20 horses; so we'd like students to appreciate the importance of integrating understanding of the body, mind, and management of the stabled horse along with 9 steps to property prepare and ride a horse. A student will never arrive at the start of a lesson with a saddle already placed on the back of a horse. He/she will have to do it himself/herself with the guidance of a wrangler as needed. The process starts with cleaning the hooves, brushing the horse, and checking the saddle pad to ensure it is free of any debris to ensure the horse won't feel discomfort or pain with the additional weight of a rider on its back. We give equal attention to the comfort and safety of the rider as we give to our horses; so we teach our students to avoid most tacking-up problems by putting on and pulling off saddle, bridle and bit gently not to hurt the horse's ear and teeth. Learning to actually ride is really a matter of knowing how to give signals to the horse to establish the rider as the "team leader."
Riding Age
I have a wide range of ages in my family, including a grandmother who's 90, and a 3 year-old son, and I want everyone to go on a trail ride with me. Could you get someone real senior to ride on a horse, or give a hay ride or something similar to a very young child?
Everyone will easily be accommodated for an enjoyable time. We have placed seniors as old as a 90 year-old man on a gentle horse with all of them finishing their ride as intended from the start. The minimum trail ride age is 6 years old for placement on a horse. We do not offer hay rides. However, we do provide free pony rides for those under 6 years old. Our wrangler will look after them after they're placed on our pony to ride around the pasture while the rest of the family are riding out on the trail.
Disabilities
Can people with physical disabilities or limitations still ride at the stables?
We have a certified instructor, who administers equine assisted psychotherapy and has seen a close relationship between natural horsemanship and psychosomatic medicine. Horse riding is therapeutic; it's helped people feel as if they've overcome what they felt were physical constraints. People, who have ridden with us either for trail rides or riding lessons, have either always wanted to ride or else loved to ride. We have a female student, who wanted to prove to herself she could still become a better rider not long after she had invasive surgery to repair her right shoulder rotatory cuff and move painful bone spurs. She compensated well with her legs and left arm to mount the horse and steer it, and now rides with equal strength and movement of both arms. Another young lady with Spinal Bifida and braces on both legs, finished a trail ride her grandmother said she will talk about for a very long time. For the same amount of time and cost as a trail ride, we'll let people ride in our pasture until they feel confident to return for a trail ride at a later time.
Riding with Meals Included
What are general details and pricing for a breakfast or dinner ride for a party of several adults and a couple of kids?
We give group rates and family-friendly rates depending on how long a ride and what food you'd like to eat in the way of a hamburger or steak meal.
What if members of my party included children below 6 years old, not qualified to join the others on a trail ride?
Everyone will have an enjoyable time riding in some fashion. The children could meet up at the breakfast/dinner part of the ride when everyone gathers together for the cookout at the end of the trail ride. Children under 6 will get to ride the pony back at the stables in our pasture until everyone returns.
Stable Rules
Are there requirements made of customers riding there regardless of skill level?
Trail riding in the Desert
What should we wear or bring with us when we go out riding?
The desert environment is harsh, often riding under clear, sunny skies with temperatures becoming very warm or hot before noon past the fall and winter seasons.
What to Wear
- Layer your clothing
- Wear light colored loose fitting clothing
- Long-sleeved shirt to protect arms from thorny tree limbs
- Comfortable boots
- Hat with a wide brim and with chin or neck tie
- Sunglasses
- Long pants (no shorts) to protect your legs from the brush
- Sunscreen
What to Pack
- One or two plastic bags
- Water bottles (Hidden Valley Stables provides)
- Healthy snacks (for a 3 hour or longer ride before lunch)
- Chap stick