Q. How Early Should I Arrive for My Ride?
We ask guests to arrive 20 minutes prior to a scheduled reservation. This allows time to sign release forms and use the restrooms before the ride. It also gives extra time allowance in case guests take a wrong turn somewhere. Late guests may be turned away without a refund.
Q. Is there a weight limit to ride horses?
Yes, all guests must be under 275 lbs. to participate. Keep in mind that though we allow persons up to 275 lbs. to ride, some persons who meet this requirement may not be physically fit enough to ride horses. Each person is the best judge of his or her abilities to ride and stay balanced in the saddle. The guest must also have the ability to mount their horse without assistance (step stools are provided).
Q. What Should I Bring?
The following are recommendations of what to bring when visiting the ranch. These are only suggestions, they are not necessary.
Water and snacks
Insect repellant
Swimsuit and Towel
Long pants for the ride
Close-toed shoes
Picnic lunch (to eat before or after the ride)
Cash for snacks and/or gratuity
Sunscreen and/or baseball cap
Camera
--DRESS ACCORDING TO THE WEATHER!
Q. Can parents ride double with young kids on the same horse?
Unfortunately, no. For the safety of our horses and guests, we do not allow double riding. Our goal is to provide an enjoyable and safe experience for everyone. Children ages 5 and older can ride on the trails with us; they will ride their own horse. If you have children ages 2-4 who cannot ride on the trail with us we can offer them a short 10-minute corral ride while the rest of their group is riding. The horse will be led by a staff member, but a responsible adult will need to walk alongside the child. While the rest of the group is riding, there are plenty of things for the adult and young child in your group to do to keep occupied. The cost for non-riders is $10 per person. Release forms must be signed by everyone on the ranch whether they are horseback riding or not.
Q. What is the age limit to ride?
Q. What is the cancellation policy:
Q. What if it turns out to be poor weather on the day of our reservation?
We have a firm 24-hour cancellation policy, and refunds cannot be made after this time. Most of our rides book full, and we will likely have turned other guests away to save the number of horses you reserved. It is very normal for a child (and the occasional adult) to feel afraid, even a child that prior to arriving at the ranch was very excited to ride a horse! The best thing to do for a nervous child is to wait until almost everyone in the group is on their horse and ready to go, and then mount the youngster on his or her horse close to last. The scariest part of the horseback ride is usually the very beginning while waiting for everyone else to be mounted on their horse. Once the child is on the trail and sees how easy going it is, they typically settle down very quickly. The best thing to do is to encourage them to ride!
Q. If we have guests in our party not doing the horseback ride, how much do you charge them to be at the ranch?
The price for non-riders (including children ages 2+) is $10 per person to be at the ranch. You will receive a wristband which gives you access to the other activities at the ranch such as canoeing and fishing. Even if you don’t plan to do these things, we still need to charge you to be on the ranch. Yellowstone Horses gives this $10 payment directly to Eagle Ridge Ranch (we do not benefit from this payment). If you are a horseback rider, we will cover the $10 cost for you so that all you pay for is the ride! Please keep in mind that ALL persons must sign a release form upon arrival (babies need to be listed on release forms too).
Q. Do I need a fishing license to fish at the ranch?
No, the ranch is private property, so no fishing license is required!
Q. Can we enjoy free fishing and other activities with any of the rides, or just the afternoon family special?
Any of our horseback riding guests are welcome to fish, swim, boat, canoe, catch frogs, etc. at no additional charge.
Q. Can we keep the fish we catch?
Preferably, no. If you really want to, there is a $5 charge for every fish you want to keep.
Q. Do you have fishing equipment we can use? What about bait?
Q. What are the differences between the three daily rides offered?
Q. What should I wear?
Though we do occasionally have guests ride in shorts, it is generally not recommended. Long pants and close-toed shoes are best for horseback riding. If you didn’t pack the appropriate clothing for your trip, don’t fret. You can still join us, though you might not be as comfortable.
Q. Can we bring water and snacks? Is there food to purchase at the ranch?
Yes, you can bring food with you, or purchase snacks and soda at the ranch! Just remember to bring all trash back out with you so we can keep our trails and ranch clean. We have small saddle horn bags on every saddle that are just the right size for a small water bottle. Some guests prefer to bring backpacks, and you are welcome to do so, but just keep in mind that sometimes it is hard to access them while riding. Backpacks taken off during the ride can also spook the horses. We strongly encourage you to bring the minimum necessities and leave the backpack behind. You can also ask for a saddle bag if you have medical items you don’t want to leave behind.
Q. How long will it take to drive from West Yellowstone?
Approximately 35 minutes, and it is a beautiful drive!
Q. What if we have never ridden a horse before?
That’s not a problem! Before every ride, our wranglers and guides teach a basic horsemanship and safety course. At this time we try to determine a guest’s level of ability. Using this determination, we then match our guests with the appropriate horses.
Q. Are we allowed to ride where we want to?
Yes, after leaving the corral area the guide will stop and allow riders to change their locations. This can be done as often as you want during the entire ride; you do not have “assigned seats”. However, for safety purposes, we ask you not to break away from the group, or attempt to pass another horse while traveling. (Horses have a “pecking order” and might kick at, or run from another horse while trying to pass).
Q. Grandma and Grandpa feel like they are past the age to ride horses, but they’d like to join us for the Western Cowboy Cookout. Is this an option? What is the cost?
Sure, that’s not a problem. We want to keep your family all together, so if you have members that can’t ride a horse for whatever reason, they can still participate in the cookout with everyone else. The cost for a non-rider per adult is $30 and $20 for children five to eleven. If these guests will also be doing the other activities at the ranch there is an additional $10 non-rider fee to participate.
Q. We don’t want to ride horses, can we just pay to play at the ranch and fish?
Q. Can we ride horses on one day and then return to the ranch on a different day to do the water activities and fishing?
Q. Can we bring our dog to the ranch?
Q. Are we allowed to run our horses?
No! Our horses are not the sleepy, lazy, fat horses that are frequently found in commercial type riding situations. Most of our horses are either ranch horses or semi-retired professional horses. These horses are used in the mountains every day and their physical condition is great. Running horses side-by-side can turn them into racehorses very fast! Running our horses can be dangerous, not only for the person who is allowing their horse to run but for the person who is riding another horse that instinctively wants to compete with the running horse. Our meadows are home to many burrowing animals such as rock chucks and badgers. They burrow in the ground leaving holes that running horses could step in and break legs!
Q. Is there lodging offered at the ranch?
Yes, there are several cabins of various sizes available to rent at the ranch. The cabins are very well kept, and comfortable! However, Yellowstone Horses deals strictly with horseback riding and has no connection with cabin reservations, so we can’t tell you prices or availability. For more information about cabins, visit https://eagleridgeranch.com/ or call 208-558-0900