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Horseback Riding Pricing, Policies, etc... Guided horseback trial riding is available April 1st through November 1st (after May 1st to access the Kickapoo Valley Reserve.) We are open each and every day of the week and on the weekend. We require reservations for all trail riding. Now with many of our cabin guests heading off on extended rides, our time available for the general public is more limited than ever before. There may be days or even weeks that our cabin guests are taking up all of our riding time. We want to make your outing a pleasant and memorable experience and therefore need some help from you! Absolutely no riders will be allowed to ride in shorts or sandals. We strongly suggest that all riders wear shoes or boots with a slight heel and flat sole; even tennis shoes or heavily lugged soled hiking boots aren't the best for trail riding. Every rider will be required to provide identification before riding and will need to fill out our rental agreement & liability waiver. We offer every rider protective headgear. All riders need to arrive 30 minutes before their ride to allow for check-in. We can only offer our guided trail riding experience to those 12 years old and older. All riders under the age of 18 must have our waiver signed by a parent or legal guardian and will be required to wear protective headgear. Riding Limitations- You must be physically able to mount your horse unassisted. Mounting blocks are used at the Ranch, for the comfort of our horses, but you must be able to mount your horses without this assistance. We do have a strict guest weight limit of 215 pounds, give or take 25 pounds due to your physical condition, level of fitness, height-weight ratio, etc. The decision to deviate from the 215 pound rider weight limit will be determined by the staff of the Kickapoo Valley Ranch, not by guests. Every rider's weight will be verified before riding. Weight restrictions are for guest & horse safety, not as a means to cause embarrassment, discomfort or ill-will. Pregnant women will not be permitted to ride. Guests will never be allowed to ride on their own without a wrangler. For additional rules, regulations and/or stipulations, contact Cowboy Joe. Additional Policies... Guided horseback trail riding is available seven days a week, weather permitting, April through November. Extended riding is available from May 1st through November 1st into the Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Our schedule is, most often, dependent on arrangements made in advance of a day’s riding. This schedule can vary due to shoeing schedules, vet or dental appointments, equine illness, etc. It can also vary depending on the amount of guests wanting to get on horseback. We have had many requests for longer trail rides from our returning guests here at the Ranch. Because it is not always possible on busy weekends to accommodate longer rides we have put together a list of extraordinary trail opportunities for Monday through Friday that range from 3 to 7 hours in the saddle. (Click here for the list.) This is a real chance to "Cowboy Up" and see some of the most beautiful countryside you could ever imagine on one of our amazing horses - picked exclusively for you with only you in mind. Trail riding through the Kickapoo Valley Reserve can best be described as challenging at times for both your horse and for you the rider. To ensure that all who head out on the trail with us have the best trail ride possible it is important for guests to be very candid and honest about their riding experience, abilities and their stature. A rider's physical limitations can be incredibly dangerous for our horses, for you the rider, as well as your riding companions. Information collected you make a reservation will be confirmed upon your arrival. And since we are held to a strict standard that no horse carry more than 20% of their body weight, including your tack and your weight in clothing, EVERY rider will "weigh in." We also adhere to the Body Mass Index Table as a gauge for a rider's "potential" level of fitness and capacity to ride our horses on this more rugged terrain. Generally, a rider's BMI must be below 32 to ride with us here at the Ranch. Click here for the BMI Table. (If you have question, contact Cowboy Joe.) First time cabin guests are required to take a short skill's assessment ride before being permitted on an extended ride. Skills need to be assessed before heading out into the more rugged terrain on the extended trails. This could result in a shorter ride than requested, based on the rider's individual ability to safely control and handle their horse. For your safety not all guests will be permitted on long rides. Rides will progress based on the capacities of the weakest rider within your personal group. Kickapoo Valley Ranch wranglers are authorized to make decisions en route to continue or terminate a ride based on any difficulties or problems that arise as a result of a rider's inability to control/handle their horse and/or follow directions and instructions. A decision for a shortened ride would be based on the Ranch staff total dedication to all guests' utmost safety. If a guest is at all unsure about their ability to venture out on a "longer" ride, the Ranch recommends that the guest schedule one of the 2 or 3 hour rides for their first time out. Reservations made for a 3, 4, 5 or 7 hour trail ride will accepted based on the information given to the Ranch (rider's experience, abilities, stature.) Should this information be inaccurate resulting in a shortened ride, the amount "lost" for ALL guests on the ride will become the financial responsibility of the rider or riders in question. Proper footgear is a must for all rides and for extended rides only boots with a proper heel will be permitted. Hiking boots, lug soled work boots and "Harley"-type cycling boots will never be considered allowable footgear for any ride, no matter how short the ride is. Carry-on's and extra "stuff" in pockets can be a huge problem for safety's and comfort's sake. What not to bring (won't be allowed): Cameras, wallets, car keys, cabin keys, water bottles, snacks, bug spray, sun tan lotion, hairspray, etc... etc... etc... Simply put, you may think you're going to need or want it on your ride, but you won't, so you can't. Exceptions: If you've noted on our Liability Release Form that you have a medical condition (Diabetes, Epi-Pen for bee stings, etc...) we will absolutely accommodate. Also, for those heading out on extended rides, picnic lunch materials should be packed in proper containers. Absolutely no glass, no shopping bags, no knives. Plastic utensils are acceptable if needed. Saddle bags will be provided. Trail riding is strictly limited to those cabin guests over 14 years of age, regardless of past experience. Guests of a smaller than average stature and very little or no riding experience may not be able to ride until the age of 16. Proof of a child's age is required for all children under the age of 16 & parents or legal guardians should be prepared with proper documentation. Contact Cowboy Joe for details. Generally, only adults age 18 and older are permitted on rides for three hours or more (herein, often referred to as long rides or extended rides.) The decision to deviate from this age restriction will be determined by the owners, management & staff of the Kickapoo Valley Ranch, not by guests. See Cowboy Joe for details. There is often a large volume of riding that takes place here at the Ranch and alot of work that goes into preparing your horse for a ride. If you change your plans for a particular day and anyone in your party will not be riding, please inform Cowboy Joe before 8:30am. Missed rides will be charged to guests at a rate of $45.00 for each horse that is saddled & not used. Alcohol and horseback riding absolutely don’t mix. We are entrusting you with our precious horses. If you plan to go riding, do not “drink before you drive!” No guest will ever be permitted to ride if it is determined that they are under the influence of alcohol or drugs... Horse behavior is highly influenced by interaction with humans and by food. Because of this, never feed the horses and never approach them (even if they are on the other side of a fence) unless staff is present. We will make every effort to provide each guest with a riding opportunity at the Kickapoo Valley Ranch as long as the activity falls within our safety and insurance parameters. These policies are not meant to discriminate against any individual, only to provide the safest possible riding experience for all participants. Because of the importance of every detail in preparing horses for trail riding, we cannot involve guests in the saddling/grooming of the horses. For additional questions, comments, or concerns contact Cowboy Joe. |
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