Painted Bar Stables - FAQs

THE IMPORTANT STUFF

Do you carry insurance?
Yes, we do! We are very proud of the fact that we are a fully insured stable. Not only do we carry a general farm plan, but we also carry a commercial liability plan that covers all of our equine operations, but most importantly trail rides specifically. Every stable is insured but you need very specific and special insurance to cover our guided trail rides that a typical lesson plan does not cover.

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PREPARING TO RIDE QUESTIONS

Do we HAVE to have a reservation to ride? Can't we just show up?
All rides are by RESERVATION ONLY! We pride ourselves for being able to group people into the perfect ride for their group and not just lumping everyone together haphazardly into our trail rides. We do not appreciate when people just show up and it is a rare occasion that we can accommodate walk ups.

Before we can book your ride we will need you to either fill out our online request form on our website or get us the following information on every rider:

Name, Age, Height, Weight, Riding Experience or Personality Type

We need this information to make sure we group you with other people of the same level and expectations and to make sure we ready you the proper horse before you come.

What should we expect for our ride?
When you get here, your guides will be readying horses. Just come into the indoor arena and we will be right with you when we can to have you sign in. Once everyone arrives we will take money from everyone and start our Horse 101 Speech to make sure that everyone is on the same page before the ride. Once we assign everyone their horses, we will need everyone to lead their own horse through the barn and out to the outdoor arena where we will mount using stairs. Once all of the tack is checked and everyone is aboard we will hit the trails.

In terms of planning, we ask that people arrive 15 minutes before their appointment to sign waivers and be ready for their ride. There is a 5-15 minute introductory 101 speech to make sure everyone is on the same page. From there we mount up. From mount up to dismount it takes between 60-70 minutes. We try to take photos after the ride which can take an additional 5 minutes as well. With additional couple minutes for farewells to the horses and exchanging I would budget 90 minutes for a 1 hour trail ride from the scheduled start of the appointment (with an additional 15 minutes for your early arrival).

When should we arrive for our trail ride?
You should arrive about 5-15 minutes early for your trail ride so you can get your waivers signed. There is no need for you to arrive any earlier because your guides will be busy preparing the horses for the ride (there's a LOT of work for us to do before we can even get you signed in!).

Never arrive late! We will collect money and start our Horse 101 Speech at the exact time of the scheduled ride. If you are late you may miss our introduction on how to ride a horse. We reserve the right to decline anyone arriving late the privilege of riding, especially if they miss our Horse 101.

I weigh over the 250 lb. weight limit. Can I ride?
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate riders larger than 250 lbs. as we do not have a herd that can carry such a rider.

It takes a very specific herd to be able to take beginner riders out, but especially heavier beginner riders. Our goal is to ensure a pleasurable ride for all of our riders. If a horse is carrying more weight than it is comfortable, it not only takes a toll on the horse, but also can cause unpredictable and unsafe behaviors no matter how well trained a horse might be (tripping, slipping, reluctance to move, irritability and even bucking).

Our restrictions are not a matter of prejudice against heavy persons, but for safety for you as well as our horses. For further explanation of our policy, please see www.paintedbarstables.com/Weight_Policy.html

I have a hard time getting on, can I get a short horse?

Unfortunately we cannot promise any rider a horse of a particular size.

Horses are assigned for many reasons, one of which being their carrying capacity and proportions in relation to the rider. Horses can only safely carry a novice rider that is about 15% of their body weight - their max capacity being 20% including all of the equipment. More information here: http://paintedbarstables.com/Weight_Policy.html

Mounting is also the HARDEST part of the ride for the horses too because of the torque on their back causing them discomfort and potential chiropractic issues. This is exacerbated when people mount too slowly, are unbalanced as they mount or plop down on the saddle without care. This is why we always insist that every single rider use our mounting block steps so that riders can have an easier step up into the saddle without causing our horses unnecessary pain.

If you are worried about your abilities, here are some evaluative skills you can do ahead:
- Lift your knee to waist level
- Step up two stairs from a standstill, skipping a step
- Swing your leg over the arm of a couch or chair easily

Please also keep in mind that you are unable to get up onto the horse independently, you may also find it even more difficult to dismount and get off. People always find it more of a struggle on the way down than on the way up

If you need more assistance let us know what we can do to help you up. We do have instructors present to provide some assistance, however no one will be able to lift you into the saddle. Please know that this is for the health and safety of both our riders, staff, and horses.

How old do my kids need to be to ride?

For general trail rides we require children to be 10 years or older

Children age 8 and 9 are old enough for trail riding, however we require them to ride in a Trail Experience Lesson. The Trail Experience Lesson is completely designed to ensure that young riders, or nervous adult riders, are set up for success on trail.

To ride without an accompanying adult, children must be 12 years or older. This is because while we take responsibility for the riding education and instruction throughout the ride we expect all riders to be accountable for their own actions. We have found that children under age 12 still require an adult that they know to supervise them, support them, encourage them and hold them accountable.

What is a Trail Experience Lesson for riders age 8+?

The Trail Experience Lesson includes an instructor led lesson in the arena maneuvering around obstacles, playing games and practicing skillsets that will be needed on the trail. From there the riders will head out on a short trail ride.

These lessons are completely designed to be flexible so that instructors can give riders the best and most memorable experience.The proportion of the ride spent in the arena or on trail can be altered according to the demonstrated riding abilities, direction following skills, emotional capacity and enthusiasm of each rider. If riders are looking in control, enthusiastic to go faster, and capable of maneuvering their horse they may spend more time on trail and even have controlled trotting opportunities!

But my younger child has taken lessons before, can they come on trail?

If they are not 10 years old, we will not allow them on our regular public trail rides.

Even if your child already has ridden before and has taken lessons, skills riding in the arena, while obviously a very useful pre-qualification, does not always translate onto the trail for children. While horses do tend to follow the trail while out on rides, their definition of a trail is just much more vague than ours is. Younger riders usually just have less advantage are more likely to struggle with planning, paying attention to their surroundings, coordination, processing on-the-fly directions from guides, knowing left-from-right, multitasking and often can lack the strength for strong last minute cue if ever needed.

And even if your child has ridden on a trail ride elsewhere, they may not be ready for our trails. Our trail routes are REAL TRAILS not just dirt roads.

While we can sometimes take our regularly riding younger students on the trail, these are children who know our horses very well and have the one-on-one attention of an instructor as they ride. These well-founded relationships between both instructor-child and child-horse change the dynamic significantly - especially when it comes to last minute corrections or anything else unexpected that is encountered on the adventure. 

Can my child take a lesson while we go on trail?

For youth age 8 and up, the Trail Experience Lesson is a great option. While adults hit the trails, the youth can simultaneosly get a private lesson inclusive of trail riding. At the end of the ride we can even try to meet up back at the barn for a photo op with everyone mounted.

If adults want, they can also take the Trail Experience Lesson along with their children.

While we do offer Tiny Tot Horsemanship lessons for kids ages 3-5, those lessons are too short to do simultaneously with a trail ride.

We do not provide babysitting beyond the duration of a lesson and strongly recommend an adult stay back with their child so that if other adults are not back in time there is someone there for them.

Can my child ride double with me?
Everyone must ride their own horse. We NEVER allow double riding as it is A) dangerous for the child and B) dangerous for the horse. While we often see people doing this with their own children on their own horses, these are experienced riders taking risks with their own deep and well-founded relationships with their children and animals - something that is impossible for public trail riding.

What kind of footwear is appropriate?
So, traditionally the rule of thumb is to wear riding boots and cowboy boots. But let's be honest, we don't all own those. So here's an explanation of what makes riding boots so optimal so that you can go through your closet and choose the right boots.
Firm sole: you want a firm sole on your boot so your foot is not bending at the stirrup.

• Short solid heel: the heel on your boot is to prevent you from being able to slip your entire foot through the stirrup accidentally
  Closed-toed made of leather: horses are heavy (+1000lbs.) and unfortunately the only part of their body they really can't see is their feet. They are usually pretty good at being careful but us spastic humans tend to move a bit unpredictably and sometimes they misstep and land a foot on our toes. We want these protected.
• Tall boot height: when we sit down, our pants hike up. Tall boots protect our ankles and legs from both the outside world and getting sores from the leather of the saddle.
• Narrow width and a pointy toe: we are sticking our toes in a hole, so it's best they fit.
  So whatever you have that is as close to the above criteria is good with us, however, here is an easy cheat sheet of options other than riding boots:

Good to Go: Leather boots, rubber boots, many tall hiking boots
Not Optimal: Sneakers, Fancy Heeled Tall Boots, Stilettos
Not Acceptable: Keds, Crocks, Canvas Sneakers, Keens, Sandals, Shoes that don't cover the entire top of your foot.

I'm on vacation and have no pants. Can I ride in shorts?
No. Unfortunately shorts are unacceptable for riding.

Riding in shorts can cause saddle sores and scrapes from brush and thorns on the trail. What makes it truly a problem is not just the scrapes and sores, but the distraction that it causes for the rider. Some riders may even compensate for sores by changing their riding position, putting them off balance. This can be problematic when riding because it not just limits the rider's ability, but can even sore our horses.

There is a Walmart in Watkins Glen and many of our riders previously have picked up some sweatpants or leggings for very cheap.

I forgot gloves and it's cold! Can I borrow yours?
Every winter we have dozens of riders (especially students!!) who show up to ride without gloves. This is just silly! Please wear weather appropriate clothing.

In the past our employees have loaned out their personal gloves at personal expense and loss. Now we have the following items for sale for forgetful people:

Gloves in assorted colors - $5.00 per pair.
Winter Helmet Covers - $15.00 each
Hot Hands and Toe Warmers - $1.00 each

Why can't we book any rides by phone?
We don't rely on phones for a number of reasons, but the main one is that we do not have designated office staff. While this helps us keep the overhead down and our prices low, this means that the people you need to talk to are either on horseback, with clients, on a tractor or working the barn about 9 hours a day. It can be dangerous for us to be distracted from the task at hand. Texts and emails we can get back to decently quickly once it is safe for us to respond.

Also, it turns out that most of you people who try to book appointments on the phone don't actually show up! Our no-show rate for phone bookings is roughly 50%, whereas 98% of our email bookings hit the trails with us. Having that written record via email seems to help everyone remember their appointments.

We have a large group, how many riders can go at once?
We can safely accommodate groups of riders of 12+/- novice riders on trail at a time depending on the height, weight, age and riding history of the riders. Our optimal group sizes are 6-10 riders on our 1 hour routes, and 4 to 6 riders on our longer routes.  

While we could potentially take out a handful more people if they are skilled enough riders to take our more forward, sensitive and independent horses, we do try to avoid ever taking out over 12 riders on trail at a time.  This is for a number of reasons such as wanting to make sure we have enough spare horses in case a horse is lame or having a 'bad day,' but also because every additional rider adds a little more chaos and two more personalities (rider and horse). If younger riders are present we strongly suggest keeping the group smaller as every additional rider can provide an added obstacle for the kids to navigate.

For large parties we strongly suggest breaking up into smaller groups and riding on consecutive back-to-back rides. We always advise that groups divide based on the kind of ride individuals want: peaceful riders or nervous riders on a more scenic ride, and the more adventurous riders looking for a challenge in another group. 

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POLICIES

Do we get a refund if we cancel our ride?
To book your ride we will require a 20% deposit upfront. All deposits are non-refundable, but are transferable to another ride within 6 months of the original booking if you reschedule prior to 36 hours before your appointment.

See below for Weather Related Cancellations.

More than 36 Hour Notice:

• Riders who need to cancel their ride and gives us more than 36 hour notice will get refunded their payment, less the deposit.
• Riders who wish to reschedule may do so at no cost if they reschedule within 6 months of their original appointment and if more than 36 hours notice is given.

Less than 36 Hour Notice:

• Any rider who cancels or decides not to ride without giving us 36 hours notice is entitled to no refund but may reschedule to another date within 6 months with the payment of an additional deposit
• Any rider who is in attendance and given the opportunity to ride but chooses not to mount is not entitled to a discount or a refund, but may reschedule to another date with the payment of an additional deposit.
• Any trail riders who mounts and/or heads out on the trail but voluntarily decides and chooses to not finish their ride is not entitled to a refund or rescheduling discount.

Staff Decisions, Changes or Cancellation:

• Any rider that is forced to return to the stables part way through the ride because of an executive decision by the trail guide (rider safety, weather changes, footing issues, rider behavior) is entitled to a 25% discount if requested.
  
• Any ride cancelled by Painted Bar Stables staff due to weather, bad footing or exessive heat or cold can reschedule free of charge.

COVID19 Related Cancellations:

• If your party needs to cancel because of COVID 19 related reasons, we require give us 36 hours notice and follow the above polices.
• COVID19 related reasons for cancellation or reschedule can include but are not limited to:
  • Home State was put on a restricted travel list and can no longer visit NY
  • Riders are under Quarantine
  • Rider Tested Positive
  • Riders have Symptoms
  • Someone riders know tested positive
    
• If you need to cancel or reschedule because of COVID19 related reasons, we will not be able to reschedule your ride for a minimum of three weeks beyond the date that you notify us of the COVID19 cancellation.
• By coming to our facility you are warranting that you are symptom free, you live in a symptom free household, have not had any interactions with someone who has tested positive, and are not breaking quarantine.
  

What is the policy for if a rider is scared and backs out of the ride?
What we sell is not just the experience of the trail ride, but the opportunity to ride on our seasoned horses on proven trails with supportive and experienced guides. As a result we maintain the above policies

Unfortunately the ride is not the "work" that we provide for the trail ride. Preparing the horses is half the battle for both our staff but also the horse.

Furthermore, every rider that does not hit the trails, especially during peak season or holiday weekends, means that one of the riders we turned away does not get to ride when they could have. We often cannot get in touch with our waitlsit and get them into the schedule if we have less than 36 hours.

Please be sure before you come to ride that you are mentally prepared for riding and let us know how we can help. If you are bringing children with you, please do not make assumptions of their bravery. Have a conversation with those riding with you and explain that they will need to ride their own horse unassisted, but that there will be staff available to give them instructions, coach them along and make sure that they are safe.

What if there is bad weather?
While it can be possible to ride in the drizzle, cancellation may be necessary if miserable, severe or threatening weather is anticipated. This because these types of weather conditions can cause unpredictable behaviors in horses and bad terrain condition. Moreover, we don't like people to pay us to be miserable.

Other reasons for weather cancellation beyond storms may include excessive heat, excessive cold and muddy or icy footing that may reduce the safety for the horses and riders.

Because of rapidly changing weather systems in our area we give notice at least 2 hours in advance if we need to cancel or reschedule a ride. If possible, we try to send out an email the night before if we see a bad forecast with the following options:

• Play it by ear and keep in touch before the ride, understanding that there may be last minute cancellations. The best way to get in touch with us quickly is by text at 607-216-8141
• Reschedule to another time or day
• Cancel

If the weather is looking poor the day of the ride, we will send you a text message and an email telling you if we need to cancel the ride. We will also try calling you on the number you provide if we can't get a hold of you by text.

If the stables chooses to cancel the weather you have a choice of either the following refund policies:

• Full 100% credit on a e-certificate gift card that can be used on future ride bookings, sweatshirts and gear, or other non-riding activities with the horses.
  These e-certificates have no expiration dates and can be forwarded as gifts to others to use at any point in the future.
• 80% refund to your credit card, minus the 20% deposit.

Deposits for weather related cancellations are only fully refunded to a gift card if the ride is canceled by our staff. If you decide to cancel because of weather and the stables is still " a go" for the ride, the deposit is non-refundable.

May I ride in an English Saddle on the trails?
While we do ride both English and Western in our barn, we require that every person riding on trail with us for the first time rides in a western saddle. This is because our terrain is hilly and varied and we ride at multiple speeds. We have had issues in the past with riders over-estimating their abilities to conquer our trails in English saddles; this issue has resulted in other riders on the ride not getting the ride that they desired.

As a result we have developed an "English Approved List" that you can ask to be added to once you have ridden with us once before and we have seen your competency in this terrain. There is no guarantee that you will be added to the list just because you ask.

Do you take Credit Cards and Debit Cards?
Sure do! Even American Express.

That said, for certain services (boarding services, farrier services, and other services not often offered to the general public) we do charge an additional 3.5% for card transactions. This is because of extra taxes and fees associated with credit cards and we have chosen to pass on the added expense only to our card users and not to those who pay by cash or check.

Do you offer Group Discounts?

Because it takes significantly more work and extra staff to ensure safety and clarity of instructions for any group of over 6 people we do not offer group discounts; however we also do not require a group surcharge or group gratuity. Tips are always appreciated.

Can we ride without a guide?
Short answer: No.

All of our rides are guided as we deeply care for our animals and the liability is just too high to let strangers have unsupervised access to our horses.

We do have membership programs for experienced riders who take lessons with us and have proven their skills and want a monthly contract to take our horses out independently. See the website for more information on that.

Where can I smoke?
Honestly, you should quit. Or at least don't do it anywhere here! We have a no smoking policy on the entire premises.

Barns are an incredibly flammable environment filled with dry hay, wood, dust, and more that can light at the drop of the hat. As a result we cannot allow smoking in or near the barn.

Horses aren't really a fan of smoking either. They can't really wrap their brains around why we would light ourselves on fire and it can freak them out. While many horses can be trained to tolerate smoke, none of us smoke around here so our horse's just aren't used to it. As a result we cannot allow smoking on or near our horses.

And even in the driveway smoking drives us nuts. Too many smokers have left their cigarette butts in the driveway and quite frankly it's kinda gross when we have to go and pick them up. So basically, just don't smoke at Painted Bar Stables unless you're in your own car.

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IN THE BARN

Am I allowed in the barn unsupervised?
No. You must be escorted by staff to enter the barn.

If you enter our barn, please stay in designated areas for visitors. These areas include the sign-in lounge and in the indoor arena.

Only designated individuals are allowed into the tack rooms, residential areas of the stables where the horses live in their stalls, or the fields. Nobody is allowed into a horse's stall without staff present. Please do not reach into horse's stalls as this can greatly irritate horses. A horse's stall is their private bedroom and they prefer that people not barge in.

Can I bring my dog?
We don't allow outside dogs into our barn or barnyard mainly because horses can be INCREDIBLY dangerous to dogs - but especially dogs who do not regularly live with horses and understand their body language. Even the most minor and gentle altercation or reprimand by a horse can be decently catestrophic in terms of injury to a dog.

Furthermore, we do not know how they will interact with our horses or our own off-leash dogs. Additionally, we cannot have them here for not only the safety but the peace of mind of our barn cats. We love our off-leash and free-ranging animals dearly and if they were to get hurt by a dog that wasn't supposed to be there we would be inconsolable.

Additionally we have enough to do to get ready for your trail ride and we do not have the time to check your dog's rabies forms and make sure they are up to date on vaccines that would be required for them to be on site, nor will we have time to provide safety check on behavior to allow interactions with our animals without us being present.

If you are looking to take the dog for a hike, we are just a hop skip and a jump away from the Finger Lakes National forest which has some nice walking trails as well. Please do not use our riding trails off of the farm to walk your dog as you may end up in a precarious position with a passing trail ride, potentially spooking the horses or injuring your dog.

Can I pet horses while I wait for my guides?
No! As I always say, "If you don't know the horse, don't pet it. And if you knew the horse you would know why not to pet it!"

Just like humans, horses have personal space boundaries. Often when they are waiting at the wall for their riders they are dozing and resting, mentally preparing themselves for the ride. They don't appreciate a stranger coming up to pet them or surprise them. Even the kindest and most gentle animal will nip if surprised or overly bothered, so just let them be. We'll introduce you soon enough.

Can I help saddle my horse?
Nope. For the same reason that we don't let you pet them, we don't have you saddle them. Getting ready for a ride is a surprisingly intimate experience for horses. Every horse has some quirks and a particular way they like to be readied. They like to have "their people" who they know and trust get them ready to ride.

It's also really important that everything be put on correctly. Not only that, but it actually takes more time for us to help someone and to double check the gear than it would for us to do it ourselves.

Can I use my own saddle?
We would rather you not. Every horse is a different shape and size and while we understand that your saddle will be most comfortable for you, it may not be comfortable for our horse. A bad fit saddle can cause pain for a horse, and even major behavioral issues. We'd rather take out the risk for both you and our horses by using gear that we know fits.

Sometimes we can make exceptions and let you use your own gear, but only if you:

1. give us a heads up and describe the measurements of the saddle you are bringing,
2. come early so we can get it on before the start of the ride,
3. we are not jam packed during peak season and too busy to properly fit the saddle.

Can we give horses treats?
Please don't. There are many reasons we do not let everyone give our horses treats but here's the main ones:

Our horses are on specific diets to ensure their health. They do not need treats. You are not the only person riding that horse and if everyone were to give them treats it could cause obesity, diarrhea and many other digestive issues.

Treats, especially from strangers, can cause LOADS of behavioral issues. Horses that are constantly given treats will become mouthy or nippy, and are even known to tear people's pockets in their jackets. Our horses do not expect treats and are respectful of you and your space BECAUSE of this policy.

You can't bribe your way into a horse's heart with treats. They are just not that stupid.

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ON THE TRAIL

Do I have to wear a helmet?
Helmets are not required by New York State law for adults but we strongly suggest them and provide them. Our suggestion is not only because it is the safer option, but helmets also provide protection from tree branches and offer shade from the sun. Adult riders who opt to not wear a helmet, they must take it on as their own risk and initial an additional portion of the waiver.

Helmets are required for all minors.

Bicycle helmets are not approved for riding horses and not allowed at any time.

We provide approved horseback riding helmets free of charge at our stables in various sizes. We regularly sanitize them to keep our riders healthy.

Can I wear a hat when I ride?

We only allow people to ride in hats that are firmly secured with a neck string or are connected securely to the rider's hair. This is because often when riding hats fall off or are blown off by the wind. Not only is it an inconvenience to be picking up hats but it also can cause a significant danger.

Hats that fall off can turn into projectiles as the fly, hitting horses behind them. Because of the height of hats, often this means that the hat lands directly in the face of the horses in the rear and could cause a horse to shy, sidestep or spook (I mean, if I were walking down the road somewhere and something came flying at me, I would be startled and panic as well!). This is why any hat or helmet worn must be securely attached to the rider.

Can I wear a hat under my helmet to keep warm?
We would prefer that you don't. Helmets are designed to be safest to be worn as they are. If you must wear a hat the hat must be slim fitting and the helmet must rest balanced and secure.

We do sell helmet covers especially designed for winter riding that have built in scarves and keep you insulated from the cold. These are available whenever in stock.

Can I choose which horse I ride?
Nope. We do our best to match riders with their desires for horses, however we cannot make promises based on horse color, breed or size. Our goal is to have the best fit for each rider's form, personality and capability and there are many factors that we need to take into about not only individual horses but the distribution within our herd.

That said, if you have really enjoyed a particular horse in the past, let us know. Or if a particular horse and you didn't work well previously, let us know that too. How you interact with each horse will give us hints as to which horses would probably work well with you in the future.

Why does our guide get so upset when I let the horses eat?
Well first off, you gotta be kidding us, right? We spend a LOT of time working with our horses to ensure that they are in the best physical, mental and skillful condition for your ride. A big part of this is developing routines and rules for our horses and not being allowed to eat while bridled and saddled is one of them! We assure that under a skillful hand that our horses will not eat under saddle. When we ride them they do not eat.

We understand that some riders may not be as skillful and the horses may take them for granted more than they would us, as their trainers. The big thing to keep in mind with horses, like children, it's not what you do but when you do it. A well timed reprimand is much better than a repeated and frustrated argument. We understand that you might not just have the timing down, but that you're trying.

However, one thing we cannot tolerate are people who purposefully allow our horses to eat under saddle. We do not care if you think you are "being nice" or "winning them over" or any of the other excuses you could come up with because in the end, what it encourages is disrespect from our horses. If you are not training a horse you are un-training them. When riders allow our horses to eat, it creates extra work and fatigue for us and our horses because we will have to ride them additionally afterward to re-teach them their manners and re-establish expectations.

Why can't I get my horse to neck rein the way I want?
While neck reining may seem easier, there's a lot more that goes into it than you'd think. With neck reining you're supposed to use your legs, seat and weight to cue the horses to turn instead of just the reins alone.

So why when you ride elsewhere do they turn so easily when you just pull the reins over? Well, look at what bit they are using!

A lot of horses out West ride in curb bits or leverage hackamore making neck reining easier because of increased pressure on the horse. Most of our horses ride in very gentle bits that do not apply any leverage to the horse's face or mouth. Without the extra pinch, the cue from a neck rein is more dull, making the horse look to your other aides (legs, seat, weight, etc...) to verify the cue.

Why do we use these softer bits? This is because we ride with a lot of different people of different skill levels and we do not need the roughness of badly timed, coarse novice hands to be amplified by leverage on the horses' faces. Also, being on the East Coast, a lot of our riders that come to us have ridden in various English riding styles and are more used to riding with direct reining (two hands) and more pressure on softer bits. If they are used to riding with more pressure, having an amplifying leverage bit will be too harsh on our horses.

Why aren't beginner riders allowed on the longer routes?
Our longer routes aren't just longer, they are often more difficult than in terms of riding technique. We restrict these rides to novice, and sometimes even just intermediate and advanced riders not because we do not think beginners can ride on a longer ride, but because the routes are simply harder.

Our shorter rideshave vastly varied terrain, twists and turns, creek crossings and is highly interesting at a walk, with opportunities for short jaunts. Our longer routes go through more ungroomed trails and many more fields with long straight aways and we have to ride along the road at one point. For much of the trail the grass is tall and if not moving at speed it can be quite the buffet. As a result we tend to take this trail at a faster speed. Here is a picture from one of our longer rides.

Additionally, the main problem with beginners joining longer rides is that if they can't keep up, the other riders in the ride who are more up to the task can feel extremely frustrated. This is why we ask typically that people be of an intermediate level to ride the longer rides (capable of a non-bouncing posting trot or canter, or at least the ability to control their horses and not allow them to eat on the ride).

Why aren't saddle bags provided for water bottles on our 1 hour ride?
It's just an hour! We find that the saddle bags and water bottles cause more distraction than comfort on these short rides. We want everyone focused and safe.

Can I carry a bag with me on the ride?
Let's be honest, how much stuff do you really need on your ride? It's always best to put everything in your car.

If you do need to wear a bag wear something that is strapped down so that it will not flap or cause you discomfort. Anything that can flap up and down will not only be distracting to you, but also to your horse. Depending on your group, we may or may not be able to change our ride to accommodate your needs because of your baggage.

Is the ride in the sun or the shade?
The first part of all of our trail rides is in the sun as we pass through the fields and past the horse pastures. For 1 hour rides, the trails past the pastures are predominantly in the woods and shaded. For our longer rides the trails are an equal mix of sun and shade.

Are rides based on time or route?
All of our rides are based on mileage and time and the average speed it takes to do each route. We ride our trails often enough to know the average speed for each route and to plan accordingly.

Our 1 hour trail routes are all roughly 3 miles long and is typically taken at 2.5-3 mph. As a result, most 1 Hour rides end up being 60 minutes to 75 minutes in duration.

Our 2 hour trail ride is roughly 8 miles long and is typically taken at 3.5-4 mph and turns out to be roughly 120 minutes to 140 minutes in duration.

If your ride is faster than planned, often it is because we were able to go faster than the average rider. We do not offer discounts for riders who push our horses harder than average, even if they do return to the barn earlier, as it usually is a sign of more than expected wear and tear on our horses.

Do you provide food for our trail ride?
We unfortunately only offer food with our all day or overnight rides as we need to find outside catering for those events.

We strongly suggest going to Two Goats Brewing after your ride to grab a home brew and a homemade roast beef sandwich with the 180-degree lake view off their porch. Or for an early meal stopping at Berta's Café in Burdett where everything is homemade from scratch. Stonecat Café or Nickles Pit BBQ are great places to eat dinner and everything they serve is not only yummy but locally sourced.

What's your policy for riding under the influence?
I understand that we are located right off the Seneca Lake Wine Trail, that there are a number of microbreweries mere miles away, let alone Finger Lakes Distilling. That said, please refrain from drinking before your ride because we do not allow drinking and riding, nor riding under the influence of any drug.

Our waiver includes a clause that maintains that riders are not under the influence of alcohol or any substance and we reserve the right to refuse you the right to ride WITHOUT refund if we determine that you are under the influence.

We are adventurous beginners. What speed ride should we book?
We always encourage our riders to ride slower than faster. While the adrenaline is fun (obviously we know, we love it too!) if you are not skilled and will be bouncing on the horse's back or pulling on the reins and the horse's face for balance, the harm done to the horse is never worth the adrenaline rush. We will always prioritize the safety of our horses over the glory moments of fun for riders.
That said, we do love to teach and love to give people the opportunity for more adventure. We generally add adventure through hill climbs versus runs on the straight aways as they are often easier for the rider and horse as a team. If your guide is seeing problems with your riding on the hill it will only be worse when trotting or cantering for longer stretches and we may choose a more conservative route.

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