 Frequently Asked Questions
Six topics cover the majority of questions people ask of us
at Hidden Valley Stables regarding trail riding, riding lessons, or Western pleasure riding.
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 propertly 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 wranger 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 puting 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."
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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.
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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 rotator 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.
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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.
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Stable Rules
Are there requirements made of customers riding there regardless of skill level?
Yes, see our ten-point set of stable rules:
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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
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