Safety Plan &
Trail Riding Guidelines
Echo River Ranch believes that safety is number one. And we attempt to make riding as safe as possible by supplying well mannered horses.
We have created the Safety Plan & Trail Riding Guidelines to help our riders have both a safe and an enjoyable ride with us.
We reserve the right to refuse service.
Safety Plan & Trail Riding Guidelines
Riders
- riders under the age of 6 must ride with a paying adult, otherwise the
parent must lead the horse along the trail;
- young riders and insecure riders can have their horses lead down the
trail if they or parents so request;
- all riders must be able to climb onto their horses, a mounting block
is available for assistance and parents are welcome to lift their own children into the saddle;
- we do not have a rider weight limit, but we appreciate it if riders
weighing over 250 pounds tell us before arriving at the ranch, this helps in both horse and
saddle selection; and
- if a rider has physical limits such as fears of height or difficulting
leaning forward or back, we appreciate knowing this information as it can make a difference in
trail recommendation and route selection.
Attire
- dress in layers as preparation for any weather, we ride rain or shine;
- wear loose fitting / comfortable clothing; and
- choose solid footwear, preferably boots or shoes with a heal; tennis shoes are OK,
open toed shoes, sandals, and flip flops are not recommended.
Riding Helmets
- your trail guide will always wear a riding helmet;
- riding helmets are required for all riders under the age of 18, we have loaner
helmets available;
- loaner helmets are available for adults (persons over 18) who wish to wear them;
and
- personal bicycle helmets work great and will probably fit better than our loaner
helmets.
Horses
- all ranch horses are well mannered;
- all riding is done at a walk, absolutely no running;
- we will attempt to match riders with horses equivalent to their skill level; and
- if a rider wishes to ride a specific horse, we will give consideration to the riders
wishes provided the horse is sound and not previously reserved by another rider.
Trail
- riders must follow and ride with the trail guide;
- riders who abuse the horse will be warned and if the abuse continues, they will be
asked to dismount from the horse and will not be allowed to continue riding;
- riders who ignore instructions from the trail guide will be warned and if the
instructions are not followed, they will be asked to dismount from the horse and will not be
allowed to continue riding;
- when riding up a hill, lean forward and when riding down a hill, lean back;
- there may be thorny plants and low hanging limbs along the trails, this is why
helmets are required for persons under 18 and recommended for all adults;
- try not to allow the horse to eat brush and grass along the trail route unless
the trail guide has stopped the group to allow all of the horses to eat;
- if a horse attempts to splash water or lay down to roll (in either water or sand),
DO NOT allow the horse to do this by pulling hard on the reins and kicking the horse sharply
to get it moving forward;
- if a horse should get a leg stuck in a hole or log, remain calm and wait for assistance
from the trail guide (screaming will panic the horse);
- if a horse should spook and run, DO NOT FOLLOW by stopping your horse and waiting for
instructions from the trail guide; and
- if your horse is the one that is running, pull back on the reins to stop it and
return to the group.