Advanced & Intermediate Riders

Advanced and Intermediate Riders

Horseback riders in open Wyoming country

The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is foremost a riding and horsemanship destination. We do offer other quality activities but most of our guests come to indulge in riding horses, hacking in breathtaking country, horsemanship clinics, team penning and gathering cattle on horseback. Out of respect for our horses and given the elevations and country we ride, we have a strict weight limit of 230 lbs. fully dressed to ride.

Wyoming horseback riding vacations at The Hideout are exciting and crafted around our guests’ riding skill, stamina and personal goals.

Two riders crossing an open Wyoming hillside

Be realistic in rating your riding level

When you are booking your vacation at our ranch, we will mail you a guest questionnaire to prepare for your vacation at The Hideout. Among other things like weight, age, height, dietary restrictions, physical fitness, medical issues, etc. we ask you to rate your riding level. Some riders overrate their riding level and experience, some are more realistic and some are underrating their capabilities.

We urge you to be realistic in rating your level. Please read our page on this website “Riding at The Hideout”.

Advanced and Intermediate riders will find quality and safe guest ranch horses that are accustomed to the terrain we ride on. We have different levels of horses for different levels of riders.

Riders overlooking a Wyoming mountain valley

Horseback riders beneath a red-rock cliff

Riders crossing sagebrush country beneath the mountains

Consistent handling of horses

Consistency in handling and riding is part of respect and keeping horses calm, connected, and responsive. It is challenging to keep horses consistent when they are being ridden every week by different riders.

At The Hideout, using AH Horsemanship, we try very hard to accomplish this. Aside from safety this is one of the reasons we do our Monday morning riding orientation for new guests.

When matching horses with riders and riders with horses, we keep in mind that our horses need to remain quality mounts throughout the season.

There is more to matching horses and riders than just looking at riding levels. It is equally important that the character and temperament of horse and rider also align.

Your seat, balance, your fitness, the way you keep your hands, softness are all part of this equation.

“It is one of those places you cannot stop talking about, but you secretly hope others don’t to find out about out fear it would get too popular”. – Hideout Guest

Riding Expectations

When riding out we consider the different levels of riders and their expectations. If you are an advanced rider and some members of your family, friends or partner are beginners or novice riders; we will make sure they all have a great time. When riding together we will always adapt the level of riding to the least experienced rider to keep the ride safe and enjoyable. More experienced riders can always join riding groups that are more advanced.

On your advanced and intermediate horseback riding vacation at The Hideout in Wyoming, you’ll explore a variety of terrain:

Towering pine forests and shaded creek crossings during our summer and fall season
Wide-open prairies with endless horizons
Scenic alpine vistas and rugged foothills
Desert and sagebrush country, rugged foothills and craggy canyons

Things to remember on the high-country trails and trails in general:

Look out for holes and other hazards while riding
There are little flat areas, and the riding is not always in open country, sometimes it’s narrow trails, through sagebrush, rimrock, crossing creeks
Higher elevations can mean shorter lopes for our horses’ health and safety

Being balanced and able to control your horse in every gait and having good physical fitness are key to getting the most out of your riding vacation in this breathtaking environment.

“The riding is so amazing and diverse, the terrain so varied that one never tires of the hundred-mile, big sky views!” – Hideout Guest

Riders crossing open country beneath red-rock ridges

Trotting and Loping…

To cover distance, trotting is the preferred gait at the ranch given this is the gait horses prefer, and it is the most efficient use of energy over long distances. Trotting is also safer given the terrain we ride in.

Being able to trot and control your horse while trotting is key prior to loping or cantering. We do lope during intermediate and advanced rides. Keep in mind that we are not riding at the beach or in flat country, but in high country on narrow trails, in the trees, through sagebrush and creeks.

When riding the open prairies, one needs to be very careful of prairie dog holes or holes made by other burrowing animals.

Bear in mind that the lowest elevation we ride is 4,200 feet in the valley. During the full day rides in summer and fall, we operate at elevations between 6,800 and 10,500 feet. Even the best horse will not lope very long at these elevations.

During full day rides your mount needs to last 5 to 6 hours and needs to remain sound, happy and healthy throughout the season.

For advanced and intermediate riders, where possible we offer controlled loping opportunities to add thrill and challenge to your adventures across sweeping terrain.

The main thing we are looking for is that the rider has his/her horse under control at all gaits and rides with balance.

Having said that, our wranglers do know where there are safe areas to lope or go faster.

Load up the ponies and trailer out – You will seldom see the same trail twice!

“One day it’s red-rock canyons, the next it’s riding through creeks surrounded by steep cliffs in lush green canyons, the next it’s alpine meadows and mountain lakes. You never ride the same trail twice and you never stop being amazed about the quality of these horses, how surefooted they are. Not to mention the professionalism and caring culture of the wranglers and guides, owners and the entire crew. I understand why so many travelers from around the world return year after year.” – Hideout Guest