This horse ride was toward the end of our 9 day Zion, Bryce, Antelope, Vegas trip. After spending gazillion, I was a bit short on cash. I looked for a good horse ride that is reasonably priced. Not many reviews on this ranch. It turned out to be a wonderful excursion. The booking was easy. I was not sure about location, but the messaging for direction was good. I did not understand why temperature will be lower until we got there. We were at 8000 feet, not far from Spring Mountain ski area. We drove there from Vegas, Highway 15 north, 95 north, turn left on 156 up the mountain canyon road, climbed a good 3000 ft in elevation, straight drive up, not much turns. It took us 45 minutes from Palazzo on the Strip to the horse ride area.
When we got there, horses were waiting for us.
When we got there, Grace, the manager, was prepping the 5 horses, 4 for us and 1 for our guide Toby. Grace is a young lady, studying for her master graduate degree in equine science. She knows equine behaviors very well. Toby is a rodeo expert, with multiple old rodeo horse/bull injuries screws-plates. He said his son called him the “iron man”. We signed our waiver forms, mounted up. We got our horse riding 101 lesson, how to go/stop/right/ left, body posture going up hill and down hill. We ride single file, with Toby leading. Toby constantly make sure we are not too bunched up, or too far apart. Too close, horse will horse around, and do playful hind leg kick back.
It was an wonderful ride up and down the mountain hill. The only distraction was at the beginning, close to parking lot, there was a Hispanic woman, using macro phone, giving a wild religious renting into the wildness.
Even in the heat of summer, I would still definitely put on a jacket. Elevation certainly drops the temperature.
I would also wear a jean, not bare legged. I am from Florida. I was wearing my usual short pants. That was a wrong outfit for this ride. I was constantly maneuvering my horse, “Joker”, away from the shrub branches. Joker was an excellent rodeo horse, followed my hands well. There were some close calls, no major scrapes on my shin, but my inner calf was burning from constant chaffing with the horse belly.
All in all, a wonderful horse ride at the end of our summer trip. I gladly emptied my wallet for gratuity. Gladly.