A partnership that begins long before you meet the horse.

Riding here is not performance and not spectacle. It is a shared responsibility between the rider, the horse, the trail, and the land.

Before the reins

Softness, steadiness, and clarity are read before any instruction is given.

Horses read human intention before we pick up the reins.

The relationship around the horse matters before, during, and after the ride. What happens in the yard sets what is possible in the field.

A guest riding between two Vonfidel Ranch guides in open country

Riding access is guided by suitability, field authority, welfare, and the horse in front of us.

The basis

02Why suitability matters

Suitability is not about ability alone.

Three things weighed before a pathway is offered.

Attitude

Openness, patience, and respect matter as much as experience in the saddle. A capable rider who will not listen is not a suitable rider here.

Readiness

Physical readiness, confidence, and balance help determine the right riding pathway, and whether a first session is worked in the round pen or on the ground.

Conditions

Terrain, heat, horse condition, weather, and field judgment shape what is appropriate on the day the party actually rides.

03What we ask

Accepted before arrival, and held to in the field.

Riding is a question of whether horse, rider, terrain, and day can meet responsibly.

The Ranch takes responsibility for making the experience right for the guest and for the horse. That responsibility is only workable when it runs both ways.

Declare riding ability honestly, including the parts that are rusty.
Give exact current body weight before confirmation.
Accept the guide's instruction as binding in the field.
Accept that a plan can change for the horse's sake.

04Common questions

The answers that protect safety, dignity, and mutual respect.

What guests ask before they request a date.

Can beginners ride?

Beginners and novice riders are considered through the Horsemanship Training Holiday, subject to individual review. Signature Riding Holidays require intermediate ability or above, with independent control at walk, trot, and canter in open country. Intermediate and advanced riders may also choose Horsemanship Training when structured development is the goal.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. The maximum is 75 kg current body weight per rider, without helmet, boots, or other equipment. Exact weights are required before confirmation, and acceptance still depends on horse availability, suitability, heat, terrain, and operating conditions.

Can children ride?

Signature Riding Holidays and Trail Rides are adults only, with a minimum riding age of 18. The Horsemanship Training Holiday accepts riders from age 12 and is the pathway for younger riders and for families. Riders aged 12 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, who does not have to ride. Non-riding children under 12 may stay on residential holidays when declared in advance.

Is a helmet provided?

Helmets are provided at no separate charge, subject to fit and availability, and riders are asked to bring their own where possible. Footwear is not provided. Bring boots with a small heel.

05Further reading

Start with your riding background, honestly stated.

The Ranch reviews the party, the horses, and the season, then replies in writing with the suitable pathway or with the questions still open.

Request availability

No payment taken · No instant booking · Reviewed by the Ranch