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Advanced and Intermediate Riders
The Hideout Lodge & Guest Ranch is foremost a riding ranch. We do offer other quality activities but 95% of our guests come to indulge in riding, horses and cattle work.
Advanced and Intermediate riders will find a high level of guest ranch horses that are accustomed to the terrain of this region. We have different levels of horses for different levels of riders. While it is hard to keep horses fine-tuned that are ridden every week by different riders at The Hideout using AH Horsemanship we try very hard to accomplish this.
When matching horses with riders and riders with horses, we keep in mind that our horses need to remain quality mounts throughout the season. Matching horses and riders is more than looking at just riding levels. It is equally important that the characters and temperament of horse and rider also align.
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 is a beginner or novice rider; we will make sure they 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. However the advanced or intermediate riders can always sign up individually for more challenging rides. Often we will ride the same trails but the riding speed and type of horses will be different.
Loping…
We do lope during the intermediate and advanced rides.
Riders can choose to participate or not. One thing to bear in mind is that you are not riding at the beach or in flat country. We are riding the high country on narrow trails, in the trees, over sagebrush and through creeks and rivers. When riding the open prairies, one needs to be very careful for prairie dog holes or holes made by other burrowing animals.
The local cowboys seldom lope their horses in these areas because it is considered dangerous for both horse and rider. Their preferred gate is a fast trot to cover long distances in a safe manner.
In addition to this it is important to 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 11,000 feet. Even the best horse will not lope very long at these elevations. During full day rides your mount needs to last 6 to 8 hours and furthermore, needs to remain sound and healthy throughout the season.
Having said that, our wranglers do know where there are safe areas to lope or go faster.
The main thing the wranglers will be looking for is if the rider has his/her horse under control.