Policies & Procedures

S&D Horseback Riding Riding Rules

Riding Instruction

Instructions will begin to be given as soon as you arrive at the stables. Firstly, all riders will mount their horses using a mounting block and will be asked to hold the reins in one hand, in front of and below the horn, without resting their hands on the saddle or the horse’s neck. The other hand is to be kept on the horn at all times and riders must sit up tall with their heels down and toes up towards their horse’s ears and their shoulders over the top of their hips to ensure the perfect horseback riding position.

When each of the riders are in the correct horseback riding position, the expert guides at S&D Horseback Riding will instruct the group on having their horses move around up until such time everyone is comfortable to eventually lead the group out of the stable. During the ride, your guide will coach each of the riders on maintaining the correct equitation to help the riders relax into a more comfortable riding position for the duration of the adventure.

What To Wear And Bring

Horseback riding is a great outdoors experience and it is very important to us that you are dressed comfortably for a safe and relaxing horseback riding adventure. We recommend all of our riders that they must wear tennis shoes and jeans, no shorts or open-toed shoes. Riding boots are fine, but please do not wear dress boots that have a high heel or restrict the calf muscle because you will be using those parts importantly throughout the ride.

For the duration of your ride S&D Horseback Riding will be focused on your safety, so please leave all of your unnecessary belongings (cameras, cell phones, purses, water bottles, and etc.) in your car as these can be a distraction or liability when you go on horseback riding adventure. Dont worry about capturing memories because during the ride your trail guide will take photos of you and your group and share them with you before the end of your ride.

What To Wear And Bring

Weather Policy

For health and safety reasons, S&D Horseback Riding will not conduct rides in excessive heat, during rain, or in heavy winds. Rides with all adults will be withheld if the temperature is above 95 and rising, and will resume when the temperature is 101 degrees and dropping. Rides with children under 13 years old will not be held if the temperature is 90 degrees and rising, and they will resume when the temperature is 95 degrees and dropping. Any kind of rainfall is damaging to the equipment and uncomfortable to the horses wearing it. Heavy winds can blow debris and spook the horses as well as make it difficult to balance on the horse and hear the guides’ instructions. If the weather seems hazardous, scheduled groups will be notified. If the reservation is within 24 hours, S&D Horseback Riding will call to offer a reschedule or cancel and refund for the ride in the event of bad weather. Groups opting to reschedule or cancel their ride manually are still subject to S&D Horseback Riding’s cancellation and reschedule policy.

Cancellation And Reschedule

All sales are final and specific to the day and time you choose when you pay. We will offer to refund your ride only if you are able to make the request a minimum of 48 hours prior to your scheduled ride time, giving us time to sell that spot to another party or for us to not be obligated to the staff required to put your ride together. We will allow you to reschedule your ride if you are able to make the request a minimum of 24 hours before your ride.

We will NOT offer to refund or reschedule any rides canceled for any reason within 24 hours of your scheduled ride time. This includes rides reserved by you the same day. We also do not offer to refund or reschedule any missed rides. When you pay for a spot, we guarantee we won’t give it to someone else so that when you arrive you can ride as planned. Due to this, when you make the payment you are guaranteeing to pay for the ride time whether or not you use it.