The VVR remuda is a melting pot of kind-hearted horses who have earned their spot at the ranch by proving their willingness to care for our guests and navigate the rough mountain terrain surrounding the ranch. Like any group of people, they have diverse personalities and each horse has his or her strengths and weaknesses. Fun fact: there is no perfect horse! So, how will you make sure you get a good match? Upon arrival at the ranch you will be asked to stop by the barn and visit with the wranglers. They will be asking you specific questions about your previous riding experience, concerns, and desires. Based on that information, getting a feel for your personality, and body type they will pick a horse who they think will be a good match for you. Once your horse is selected, you will move on to saddle fit. Saddle fit is an incredibly big part of keeping our horse’s injury free and happy. A poorly fit saddle can result in damage to the horses back. And, if your horse is not comfortable, they cannot perform well and will even act out dur to the irritation. We want happy horses, so a professional saddle fitter has worked with each horse to identify a group of saddles that will work for their back. Based on that list we will pick one that fits you best, and then adjust stirrups and get it all set so you’re ready for your first ride the next day.
Pro tips for getting the right horse?
• Rather than telling us what kind of horse you want, let us know about what you want your riding experience to look and feel like. Do you want to just relax and enjoy the scenery, or do you want to spend your time focused on learning to communicate with your horse? Or a little of both?
• Do you want a horse that is so responsive he/she will only respond if you give your cues perfectly? Or do you want a horse that is somewhat forgiving and will ignore incorrect cues and be patient while you find your way?
• Just like people, color doesn’t matter.
• Remember if you request a horse that is good at one thing (fast, cowy, etc..) you might get a horse that is only good at one thing. Given all the kinds of riding that we do here, a jack of all trades but master of none is often the best fit for the most fun overall.
• Be the type of rider that the horses would select… if it were their choice.
We hope you will fall madly in love with your horse during your stay! If not, we are more than happy to help you sort out the relationship. We are skilled horse relationship counselors, but that’s the extent of our relationship counseling….