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Western riding holiday

cowgirl wrangler

A horse back riding holiday at Marble Mountain Guest Ranch is centered around a Western trail riding theme. We ride through ancient Doug Fir tree stands to high vistas with views across deep river valleys and granite ridge tops. The California wilderness terrain here is dramatic, varied and rugged, so horse and rider are provided an evolving backdrop of challenges, obstacles and landscapes to ride through. The scenic grandeur of trail riding in California’s Klamath National Forest creates the best Western riding holiday.

western pleasure trail ridingYour Horse riding vacation at our guest Ranch is choreographed to match your riding skill with the horse and the trail.  Group sizes typically limit at 6-8 riders with a maximum staff ratio of 6 horse riders to 1 wrangler.   After check-in we will meet you at the round-pen for a riding orientation and quick analysis of your riding prowess. With clearance from our wrangling staff, more advanced riders will ride more challenging trail sections, crossing creeks, ancient mining flumes and other trail obstacles.

  Opportunities for younger or timid riders include round-pen lessons, arena-style horse riding instruction, easier trail sections, and level ranch perimeter trail rides that are shorter and closer to our ranch base.  Our equestrian program is based on stock that is bred and trained by our staff and family so that we know intimately the personalities and traits of our horses. Here are some of the horses in the dude string that you will meet on your trail riding holiday.

California riding Holiday

We keep our best stock available for our 6 day packaged itinerary and limit our wilderness pack trips to three day events spanning the Saturdays-Mondays between ranch packages, or as part of specially scheduled events.  Overnight wilderness pack trips allow you access to alpine lakes for dramatic float-tube fishing and unparalleled photography and wild-life viewing.  Horse back trail riding on a wilderness pack trip will also give you a taste of the century old Salmon River Pack system that allowed our forefathers to access the spectacular and dramatic Marble Mountain Wilderness terrain.
As schedules permit, we can also provide a stand-alone “drop camp” wilderness pack service to destinations on the Western side of the Marble Mountain Wilderness.

 


Horse Eye Close up

The minimum charge for a drop camp is $500 and includes a packer with horse and up to three other horses to ride or pack. A fourth or fifth horse is an additional $100 each. With the sixth horse and beyond, there is an additional charge of $175/day to cover the cost of an assistant wrangler. Each horse can carry about 140 pounds dead weight or 240 pounds live weight maximum. The maximum trail distance for single date rates is 10 trail miles.  Longer rides will incur partial or additional full day charges.

 

USA riding holiday

 

Horseback riding on mountain trails requires participants with proper attire and some minimum physical conditioning.

cowboy hatPlease come dressed with long pants, sturdy shoes or boots, a hat and no large or expensive jewelry.  We allow adults to choose the option of wearing a hard hat but require all minors to wear an equestrian helmet.  Sorry, riders must weigh less than 240 pounds and be able to get on and off their horse unassisted.  Safety is our prime directive in guiding you to an enjoyable and safe equestrian vacation.

 

round pen and horse corral