RIDING AT LATIGO DUDE RANCH
Most people who come to Latigo come to ride horses, and they want to know what the riding is like. Superb! But of course, you want the details. We divide the rides according to rider ability and interest.
TYPE OF RIDES
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Walk-only rides
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Walk-trot
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Walk-trot-lope (canter)
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Walk, work on trot
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Walk-trot, work on lope
For further details, also check out our description of Cattle Team-Penning, Ute Scouts Overnight and the High Meadows Packtrip.
EXPERIENCE
We have had riders to Latigo who have never touched a horse before, and we have had riders who have been world champions in various riding disciplines. A lot of our guests are horse owners who want to ride in the open spaces of the West, and some are even ranch owners who want their family to learn more about riding. Sometimes people tell us they are fearful of horses or do not want to ride, but by the end of the week they have often become addicted to the pleasures of riding.
FAMILIES
Although most rides will be with riders of similar experience, we do designate a couple of rides each week specifically for families. For safety, those rides go at the level of the least experienced member in the family. The teens usually ride together, as do the 6-7 year olds, but if you prefer to ride together more often as a family, that is what you will do.
TRAILS
Trail conditions determine how fast a ride can go, but we have a huge diversity of trail types - flat open meadows, sagebrush country, climbs to high vistas, meandering streams, pine forests, aspen groves. Take a look at the photo gallery and you will see what we mean.
LESSONS
We emphasize improving your horsemanship, so we give instruction both in the arena and on the trail. Learning to control your horse is important and our wranglers will help you accomplish that. Kids especially, but also adults, will find that organized games on horseback make learning fun and quicker. Our goal is that by the end of the week every rider should be able to lope. But if you are not interested in doing that, don’t worry, you will never be pressured or shamed for riding within your comfort limits.
TIMES
Rides go out twice a day most days and last for one to three hours each, depending upon rider interest. If you want a short 20 minute ride or if you want to stop frequently for photography, we are glad to do that. The packtrips, of course, are longer but do not involve loping, because of all of the gear we are packing.
SIZE OF THE RIDES
Unless extended families want to ride together as a larger group, we normally do not take more than 6 riders in one group with a wrangler.
RIDER WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS
Horses come in varying sizes, as do riders. A horse can reasonably carry only a limited weight without becoming injured. Your athletic ability and riding experience will influence not only the stress you place on a horse as you ride, but especially your safety. Being able to safely mount and dismount from the horse are very important considerations.
We can sometime accommodate a rider weighing as much as 250 lbs., but that will depend upon how many people over 230 lbs. are here in a given week.
If you weigh more than 230 lbs., you will not be able to trot or lope on horseback. Your riding will be limited to walk only rides, your rides will be shorter in duration, and you will be riding a draft horse. It may also limit the number of times you can ride in a day.
Be sure to call us and talk with us if you are over 230 lbs. so that we can help you understand what to expect.
HELMETS
Wearing helmets while riding is not obligatory at Latigo Ranch. However, many of our riders choose to do so. The use of helmets in all sorts of athletic activities has become commonplace. For a helmet to provide the expected protection it is important to have it properly fitted to your head. Therefore, if you wish to wear a helmet while riding, we recommend that you bring your own.
DRA HORSE SAFETY & FIRST AID
As a Dude Ranchers' Association member, Latigo participates in the DRA's Horse Safety and First Aid for the Trail program. |
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BREED OF HORSES & HORSE HERD
Our horse herd usually numbers around 75 to 80 head. We have Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Arabians, Thoroughbreds, and Clydesdales in our herd, but mostly our horses are of mixed breeding – “grade” horses. We find that cross-bred horses have the soundness and stamina for the mountainous terrain in which we ride. We have some horses who started their lives wild on the open range – often referred to as Mustangs. They've been adopted from the U.S. government and trained for our guests to use. As you might imagine, our horses are of many different colors – black, white, gray, buckskin, paint, sorrel, roan, spotted, palomino, pinto, etc. We own 70+ horses , but we will occasionally lease a few horses to meet our needs as the population of the herd changes.
