Yellowstone Horses at Eagle Ridge Ranch

People often have lots of questions for our secretarial staff when making reservations.  We have listed, and answered many of them here.  We would appreciate it if you would glance through these questions and answers  before you make your reservations call.  If, after looking these questions and answers over, you still have not found the answer to your question please call (208) 624-7777

Finally, to make RESERVATIONS: (208) 558-7077

We think that Yellowstone Horses Outfitters is among the top family oriented horseback riding businesses in the world!

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Reservations

1. Is there a weight limit for riders?

•  Guests must be under 275 pounds and have the ability to mount their horse without assistance.

2. How old do you have to be to ride your own horse

• We ask that the children be 5 years of age (or close to it) and able to follow directions.

3. Do you accept checks?

• No. Sorry about that; after 24 years of accepting checks we now only accept cash, and most credit cards. Even if you plan to pay with cash, when you make your reservation, as a guarantee that you will honor the reservation, we will ask for your credit card number. This card information will only be used if  you fail to show for your reserved ride.  

4. Chuckwagon Supper.

• Enjoy a beautiful evening ride followed by a mouth-watering Dutch oven meal with all of the works. Call for availability and more details.      

5. What if we have never ridden before?

• 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.

6. What about the weather?

• We are located just 2 miles from the Continental Divide; the weather can change very suddenly.  A clear sunny sky can be replaced with a rainstorm in less than 30 minutes--and vice versa.  Because of extreme situations, we do have several "loaner" jackets and "Yes" we do ride in the rain and snow! If you have coat and gloves, bring  them, you can always leave  them in the car.

7. Can we take snacks on the Half Day Rides?

• Yes, on the warmer days we encourage you to bring a drink, with a string attached, and tie it to your saddle horn.  However, we ask that you not leave any residue on the forest floor. Our motto: "Leave no Tracks"!

8. If a child is old enough to have their own horse, but are afraid to ride by themselves, can they ride with an adult?  

• There have been occasions, at the last minute, when a child who earlier planned to ride has become reluctant.  Rather than spend a lot of time telling the youngster, "You're not afraid!", or "There is nothing to be afraid of!” our wranglers and guides will simply mount everyone else, paying little attention to the child with the anxiety.  The guides will also quietly ask the rest of the group to brush off the child’s negative responses and allow the youngster to assume that they surely will be left behind. (they won't be) After the group is mounted and lined up to leave the corral, the child's saddled horse will be placed in line right behind the adult that the child is "begging" to ride with. Nearly always, as the group starts to leave, a child's fear switches from "having to ride a horse" to "getting left behind"! At this point, in most cases, the child will cautiously allow the guide to boost them onto their horse and invariably, for the rest of the ride, the child will be in Seventh Heaven! If, at this point, the child is expecting an adult to stay behind with them, the child’s horse will remain in line, right behind the adult’s, and before the group has went 50 yards, the child will come running to get on.  It's guaranteed to work; in 34 years, there has never been a child choose to stay by themselves!

• After the horses have been reserved, that means the ranch cannot not give  the reserved horses to someone else; therefore, even though someone with reservations chooses to "back out", they will still be expected to pay for the ride. 

9. Can individuals ride double?

• No!

10. Can children old enough to ride by themselves, go the ride without an adult?

• No, they must be accompanied, and have a release form signed, by someone who is 18 years of age or older.

11. What time should we be there?

• There are things to look at and things to do like roping a dummy steer or visiting with others who are here to ride.  Although not required, it won't hurt to be a half hour early! After all, people have been known to miss a turn-off and have to back-track a ways
  

12. What about gratuities?

• Tipping, although much appreciated, is not mandatory; the price of the ride does not include gratuities, but you can add a gratuity to your credit card payment.  Your guide will strive to give you a great experience.

13. Do you have memento photos?

• We have lots of genuine cowboy hats, chaps, and lariats.  For those who request it, we have the facilities to professionally photograph you while dressed in this genuine cowboy attire, posing or standing beside your horses.

14.  How much time do we spend in the saddle?

• This all depends on the group.  Some groups take longer to mount than others, some groups want to travel faster and further than others, and some groups want to take short cuts and reduce the amount of time in the saddle.
•  Remember, we do not charge by the hour; we're just trying to make this a great experience for you! The time it takes to participate in the horsemanship demonstration, mount the horses, and adjust each rider's stirrups is included in the overall time frame. 

15. May we stop and take pictures?

• Yes, by all means!  In this day and age of digital cameras, we expect riders to take lots of casual pictures as we travel. However, horses do not like to be left out and if they think they are being left behind, they will become very nervous. Therefore, if you are in a situation, or an area, in which you would like to stop to take a picture just let your guide know and he will be happy to stop; in fact, if you wish, he will eagerly take pictures for you, with you in them.  This can be done over and over; don't hesitate to ask. (we are not running in a time frame)
• Trying to stop by yourself to take a picture is bad for two reasons; 1) Your horse will "dance and prance" trying to get back with the group and consequently your photo will not be the quality you want. 2) You might get hurt as your horse strives to rejoin the group!

16. Do we need to send our payment ahead of time?

• No. Over the years we have found the equestrian public to be very responsible people.  We know things come up at the last minute and plans need to be changed, especially where family groups are concerned.  We ask, as a courtesy, that you notify us as soon as possible if your plans change so we can give your horse to someone else, or find extra horses if you have a few additional riders.

17. Are we allowed to ride where ever we want to?

• Yes. After leaving the corral area, your 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 who is trying to pass)

18. May we run our horses?

• No!  Our horses are not the sleepy, fat horses that are frequently found in commercial type riding situations.  Most of our horses are either ranch horses, or semi-retired professional horses.  Many of these horses have been previously owned by professional calf ropers, team ropers, steer wrestlers, and barrel racers.  We have found that these horses, after slowing just a little, and no longer winning in professional competition, are still valuable trail horses; these horses are still competitive and far superior to ordinary saddle horses. Although our professional rodeo horses are now working in a slower environment, their speed and agility is still there; they are used in the mountains every day and their physical condition is similar to that of a race horse being used on the track! With these factors in mind, 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, wolverines, and badgers; they burrow in the soil leaving holes that running horses could step in and break legs! If you want to run your horse, go to one of the  businesses that have the fat, sleepy, horses; you'll actually have to work to make them trot!

19. Is there a time that the ranch gates will be locked?

• No.

 20. Do we sign release forms?

• Yes, release forms will be signed by everyone.  Anyone who pays for someone else besides themselves will sign a release form as the responsible party but the riders who are being paid for will also sign the back of the same release form. Yellowstone Horses and The Eagle Ridge Ranch are two separate entities.  Yellowstone Horses  purchases a yearly season pass for their guests to take advantage of the Eagle Ridge Ranch's numerous activities.  For this reason, a separate release form  covering the Eagle Ridge Ranch must also be filled out and signed.

21. What is the appropriate clothing?

• This completely depends on the individual.  Ideally you should have leather soled cowboy boots, a long sleeved shirt, denim jeans, chaps, broad brimmed hat and light leather gloves; of course this is not practical!  Nearly everyone will be wearing their "tenny runners", and that's fine; just don't jam them into your stirrups! We insist that you only insert your shoes far enough in the stirrup to allow you to step out without catching  your shoe.
• Some people will wear shorts, which is all right as long as you are prepared to receive a scratch or two as you travel along the trails. You probably won't need a hat, except for looks;  but it still wouldn't hurt to rub on some sun-tan lotion.
•  If the weather is questionable, a jacket or rain coat is always recommended. Weather in the mountains next to the Continental Divide can change within a very short period of time.

22. How fast a pace will we be traveling?

• That is the group's choice.  Because we want our rides to be safe and pleasant, even for elderly people, we encourage the groups to choose a slower pace. Fluctuation in the travel rate can take place at any time, but we try to proceed at a casual, constant pace. (we don't want to excite the surrounding livestock or start a horse race)

22. Can we fish or ride boats after the ride?

There are many things to do at the ranch before and after the scheduled ride including fishing, boating, swimming and jumping on the aquatic trampoline, swinging on the swing-line, playing volleyball, cooking in outdoor barbecue pits, and for the children, catching frogs! Plan on spending the day here!