Frequently Asked Questions

Reservations are required, at least 24 hours in advance. When you call we’ll ask about each rider’s age, size, and skill level. This will allow us to reserve a horse and tack appropriate for each rider. We ask that you secure your reservation with a credit card. You will not be charged in advance, and you have no obligation if bad weather makes it impossible to ride, but you will be charged if you simply do not show up, or cancel at the last minute. Our rides are customized to each party, and the horses will be saddled and waiting for you, and you alone. We may have turned away others who wanted to ride. We ask that you are considerate in arriving for your reserved ride. You’ll be glad you did, because you’ll have a great ride!

No. We can mount you on a gentle horse that knows how to take care of its rider, and we’ll give you basic instruction before we start on the ride. During the ride your professional guide will keep an eye on you and make sure that you have a safe and pleasant ride.

We ask that you wear closed-toe shoes that will stay securely on your feet. Long pants are recommended to protect your legs from rubbing and from branches or thorns on trail. It’s best to avoid loose, floppy clothing that could catch on branches, as well as hats or other items that might fall off.t

Please arrive at least a half hour before your reserved time. This gives us time to get acquainted, take care of paperwork, and set you up with your horse.

We ride on our own property as well as on surrounding conservancy land. Trails go through both woods and pastures and include old wagon roads, logging roads, and narrow forest trails. We may make creek crossings and pass through gates. To reach some of the longer trails we may ride on nearby paved roads where traffic is light. Depending on the skill level required for the ride, some trails are gentle while some are quite rugged. Since we are in the mountains, most trails go up and down and the terrain can be rocky. Trails for beginning riders are not very steep.

For your safety, we do not allow anyone to ride without a guide.t

Our herd includes Quarterhorses, Walking and Standardbred horses, and sturdy draft crosses. They range from large pony size to over 16 hands, so we can mount you on a horse that’s right for you. None of our horses are the “nose to tail, plug along” type of trail horse. We have gentle horses suitable for beginners and spirited horses for more experienced riders. We have a professional trainer on staff, and regularly work with each horse to keep it at top performance.

We use Australian saddles designed for rider comfort and safety. The Aussie is similar to a Western saddle, but with a deeper seat, more comfortable stirrups, and “poleys”-thigh blocks that keep you firmly in the saddle even on rough terrain. They’re lightweight and very comfortable even for long rides. Best of all, the Aussie can be ridden either Western or English style.

Though we can mount more, we prefer to keep groups to 5 or 6 riders. This allows you to enjoy a more personal riding experience and practice genuine horsemanship. If you have a larger party in mind, though, please give us a call and we’ll try to accommodate your needs.

Yes. All riders 15 and under are required to wear certified safety helmets. Minor-age riders 16 and above are required to wear a safety helmet unless the rider’s parent or legal guardian has signed a helmet refusal form.

On your first ride with us, we ask each rider to fill out and sign an information and release form. This provides us with helpful information for matching you with a horse as well as emergency contact information if needed. We keep this on file for your next ride, along with notes about your riding preferences. You only need to do this once a year.

For their safety, riders under the age of 7 may ride only in a fenced paddock under one acre in size, and their horses will be led by a qualified staff member.

No, but for the comfort and safety of both rider and horse, riders may weigh no more than 20% of a horse’s weight. Riders over 240 pounds can be accommodated, but there are a limited number of large horses and they’ll be provided on a first-reserved basis.

We accept cash and credit cards (MasterCard, Visa, and Discover).

We have a variety of soft drinks available including sodas, fruit drinks, Yoo Hoo, and Frappuccino. Riders are provided with complimentary bottled water.

Yes. We have a picnic area, and you’re welcome to eat before or after your ride. We just ask that you leave the area as tidy as you found it.

Non-riders are welcome to come to Randall Glen, but we ask that all children under 18 be accompanied by a non-riding adult. This is a working farm, and we have no staff or facility to keep an eye on children.

We ask that you not bring dogs. We have farm dogs and other livestock here, which could result in conflicts, and often the weather is not suitable for leaving a dog in a car.

If the weather is rainy, give us a call before you come; it might not be raining here. We don’t go out if it’s actively raining or if rain is imminent, but if the rain has passed we’ll ride. Also, mountain weather is unpredictable; keep in mind that sudden showers can come up even on a ride that started off sunny. We’ll try to stay as dry as we can. If your ride is canceled due to rain we’ll try to reschedule for a time that’s convenient to you.

Yes, we are. In the winter we play it by ear according to the weather. We keep to the trails with the best footing, and we don’t go out if the conditions are too muddy or icy. But if the weather’s good, we’ll be riding. Just give us a call to check.

Certainly. Give us a call and tell us what you have in mind. We can reserve a ride just for you, and we can also custom design a ride for your group.