Riding at The Hideout

“The riding is so amazing and diverse, the terrain so varied, the horses so well cared for and sure-footed and one never tires of the hundred-mile, big sky views!” – Hideout Guest

• Each day, guests ride deep in Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin and during Summer and early Fall in The Big Horn mountains, Big Horn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness.
• The combination of AH Horsemanship and access to hundreds of thousands of acres in a seldom seen diversity of country with altitudes ranging from 4,200 to well above 10,000 feet (1200 to 3000+ meters) makes horseback riding at The Hideout an exceptional and depending on the rides, physically demanding experience.
• From high desert valleys and winding canyons to pine-scented alpine meadows and mountain lakes, our trail reveals the American West at its most expansive, raw and quietly breathtaking.

This is one of the reasons we have 90+ horses for 25 riders, and we have a strict weight limit of 230 lbs. fully dressed to ride.

Small riding groups

• You will enjoy small groups, experienced, fun and interesting wranglers and thoughtfully matched horses – every ride is designed to feel immersive, unrushed and deeply connected with the land and your horse.
• We offer our guests a variety of riding options each day. This can be from 2.5 hours in the saddle up to and over 5/6 hours in the saddle. The Hideout is an ideal guest ranch for riders from novice level up to professional horsemen and women.
• Riders need to be in good physical shape relative to their age. Riders also need to realize that some rides may be too challenging and trust our professionalism and experience to make that decision. Older riders need to consider that although they were great riders or equestrians at a young age, age takes its toll and they need to manage their expectations and respect their limitations.

Setting you up for a great riding experience.

At The Hideout we really care deeply that you have a great riding vacation. Being transparent is key to managing expectations and setting you up for success.

• Your safety and well-being, as well as the safety and well-being of the other riders, our staff and horses are key to an enjoyable riding vacation.
• Given the rugged terrain and high altitudes which we ride in, and out of respect for our horses, we have a firm limit of 230 pounds (fully dressed) for all riders.
• Most our Barn crew and wranglers is female, as horses and hospitality attract mostly female wranglers. Most of our wranglers are experienced in both English and Western Riding style, which is very helpful given many of our travelers’ ride English or have an English riding background. Our wranglers are great “translators”, helping guests transition from English to Western riding.
• For our guests to realistically determine their riding level, we send each guest a Guest Questionnaire. The questions that are asked are height, weight, age, previous riding experience, and any health issues, allergies you may have. Please be realistic and honest. Based on this questionnaire we will decide on the horse you will start riding on Monday. During your stay at The Hideout, you will ride different horses. And no two rides are the same – routes shift with seasons, weather and interests of each group. Add to this the rarely seen diversity of scenery and elevations which makes The Hideout a unique horseback riding destination.
• Our Guest Questionnaire is designed to get the best information possible to safely assign each rider a suitable horse and a well-fitting and comfortable saddle.

• All new guests and riders who have not visited us for a while need to attend the Monday morning riding orientation in which we explain the way we ride our horses. After this all riders mount their horse in the big arena so we can see you riding and determine if we have selected the right horse for you.
• It is challenging for horses in general to have different riders every week. We want our horses to stay fit and alert, which is why we try to be as consistent as possible in the way people ride them. It is important to see if we got the right horse for you based on your riding assessment in the questionnaire.

• We expect you to determine whether you are fit and healthy enough to enjoy an active riding-centered vacation. When determining riding ability, we advise that you error on the conservative side and be honest and realistic.

• Honestly judging riding ability is extremely important as we have horses that are suitable for beginners all the way up to horses which are ridden by our wranglers and very advanced guests. If a person overestimates his / her riding ability it becomes a safety issue not only for you, but for all the other riders, our staff and our horses.

• There is very little flat terrain where we ride. The trails we ride in the foothills and up into the Big Horn Mountains and Cloud Peak Wilderness are mostly in hilly, and sometimes very challenging and steep terrain. The perception of challenging and intimidating is different for every rider.

• A riding vacation at The Hideout is not about just hopping on a horse. We treat our horses like employees. We take extremely good care of them, and we consider them part of our team. Horses are not motorcycles, 4-wheelers or machines. They are very sensitive animals with different temperaments and personalities just like people. The most satisfying accomplishment for us is to find that special horse that matches the rider’s personality and riding level.
• We strive for that perfect harmony and unique, enjoyable and safe bonding experience. That is magic. That is the very foundation of a fun, safe and memorable riding vacation. It is the reason we have 90+ horses for only 25 riders each week.
• Our string of quarter horses and mustangs are surefooted and well suited for the environment we ride in.

• We want guests to have a fun, safe and memorable riding vacation. We also want our guests to gain knowledge and learn more about riding and horsemanship during their visit.

What to expect on the trails?

• Two-to-five hours in the saddle, some days might be shorter, some longer
• Half-day and full-days rides
• Routes tailored to rider experience, fitness and conditions
• Natural pacing at higher elevations for horse wellbeing
• Loping only where terrain and safety allow, guided by your wrangler

• Many of our guests take riding vacations around the world to enjoy different horse cultures and riding styles, and many of our guests are horse owners, compete or have their own riding stables and boarding facilities.
• Fast beach rides, riding with wildlife in Africa, riding in the arena, reining, barrel racing, dressage, jumping or riding endurance races in Mongolia are very different from riding in this environment. We do go on faster rides with riders who are in control. However, our rides are not about racing horses and only going fast. Our rides are longer, often in challenging terrain and at a variety of altitudes.
• We lope and trot, but we never run our horses flat-out.

• We operate mostly on public land owned by The Federal Government, where specific rules apply in terms of safety, liability and respect for the environment and other public land users.
• We also ride in remote locations that are not always easy to access with motorized vehicles in case something happens. For our guests to enjoy a safe and unique riding vacation, our riding and safety orientation is very detailed for guests to learn how we handle and ride our horses. This ensures consistency and respect for our horses.

• Ride with excellent wranglers

• Our minimum age for wranglers is 25 to allow them to operate our vehicles.
• Most of our wranglers are female. Many have worked and traveled overseas, and our guests love to listen to their life stories.
• More than guides, they are experienced horse folk, storyteller, stewards and attentive hosts who know how to teach, when to share a story, when to make fun when to share history – and when to let the silence of nature speak for itself.
• You’ll likely ride with several wranglers during your stay, each bringing a unique perspective on Wyoming’s backcountry, horses, life and interests.

“What stood out to me was that every member of the crew told us spontaneously how much they enjoyed working at The Hideout and how respected they felt working there!” – Hideout Guest

The Hideout offers a unique variation on Point-to-Point Riding – Lodge to Lodge Riding

In most places to see a variety of terrain and scenery, one needs to ride from point to point, lodge to lodge and sleep daily at other locations which are often very basic in terms of comfort.

Trailering out

• Our riding backyard consists of hundreds of thousands of acres in a seldom seen variety of terrain, scenery and elevations. Riding out from the Barn would make it impossible to fully enjoy and experience this on horseback.
• To access this huge backyard, we load up horses and riders and trailer out to a variety of trailheads from where we start riding, returning at the end of the day to the trucks and trailers.

• We load up the horses and riders and return to the ranch headquarters. This concept allows you to enjoy the best of two worlds.
• Each day you will enjoy different rides and rides in very different terrain, while you will be returning to your comfortable cabin with AC / Heating, and a hot shower to relax. You can also choose to skip a day or half a day riding and enjoy your cabin, the pool, a non-riding activity, etc.

“What I like about The Hideout is that they are professional, caring, flexible but stick to their processes and are always transparent. They do not beat around the bush. When handling horses and riding with guests, they will help you with a smile and correct you in a friendly respectful way if needed. They really care deeply about you, your experience, their horses and staff. They care about your experience and safety, not too much about your ego!” – Hideout Guest

We are excited and honored that you are considering a riding vacation with The Hideout.  If you have questions about the requirements of a riding vacation at The Hideout or accurately judging your riding ability, please contact The Hideout office at 800-354-8637, 307-765-2080 or email info@thehideout.com.