Although your horseback ride with us no doubt will be an adventure, there still is some groundwork to lay to ensure things run smoothly. Following is a brief summary about what you can expect from us, and in turn, what we expect from you.
What You Should Expect:
We have a few “rules of the trail” that you must agree to in order to make sure you, our guides and our horses have a safe and happy experience on the trail.
- Our one main rule is BE SAFE! If you think that it might not be not safe, then it probably isn’t, so don’t do it.
- The other main rule is stay behind the lead guide: if you get ahead of us we can’t take care of you. We do not have, nor will we ever have, half-dead horses — no nose-to-tail riding — this is the real deal! We give the experience of having your own horse. You come with us ready to ride, and you must control and guide your own horse. We invite and encourage you to ride side-by-side or three-abreast if the trail allows it.
One word of caution: do not kick these horses in the ribs! (If we went to the races tomorrow we may not win, but we would place.) These horses are quarter horse bred; they have a lot of cow horse breeding, are quick on their feet, and can jump right out from under you. So don’t kick them – a little squeeze with your knees and a kiss will take you a long way.
- All riders must sign a participation waiver form: Liability Release Agreement . Under Missouri law, an equine professional such as Show Me Trail Ride Outfitters “is not liable for an injury to or the death of a participant in equine activities resulting from the inherent risks of equine activities pursuant to the Revised Statues of Missouri.” In other words, you are responsible for your own safety while you ride/camp with us. Please take a moment to review the Missouri Equine Limited Liability Law.
- All riders must be at least 9 years old and have sufficient upper-body strength to mount a full-sized horse without assistance. Riders under the age of 18 must have a parent or legal guardian ride with them, and must wear a helmet.
- All riders must weigh no more than 250 pounds with an acceptable height to weight ratio. If you misrepresent yourself, you will not be allowed to ride and you will forfeit all deposits and payments.
- Smoking and alcohol consumption are prohibited while horse back riding.
- Two riders are required for most trail rides. If you would like to book one of our activities for an individual, please e-mail Jeff to check for availability.
Now that the rules are out of the way, on to the fun stuff…In general, we guarantee the following about our services:
- Small, informal groups
- Gentle horses
- Experienced guides to ensure safety
Public Park Trail Rides
We will meet you at a designated area in the park. We provide all the necessary tack you will need, including a saddle, bridle, blanket, lead rope, saddlebag, and helmet. Lunch is included in all-day rides.
Proper attire for trail riding is necessary for your comfort. We recommend a long-sleeved shirt or light jacket if riding in wooded areas, a hat or cap, jeans, leather gloves, and appropriate clothing for rides in cold weather, such as a heavy winter jacket. *Western boots are recommended. DO NOT wear flip-flops, sandals or open-toed shoes.
Depending on the amount of people in your group, you may be riding with other couples or parties. We’ll take a second for introductions and brief you on the basics of trail riding (including a safety brief) before we start out. We will do our best to answer any questions you might have at this time and throughout the ride.
What We Expect from You
Lucky for you, we expect much less from you than you should expect from us!
It’s our priority to create a family-centered atmosphere where couples, friends and families can get together and enjoy the simple things in life. We expect your attitude and behavior to reflect this idea. We reserve the right to dismiss any guest at any time without refund for inappropriate behavior toward other guests, our guides or our horses.
