Basic Lesson

Provides the hands-on horse work skills needed by guests interested in horseback riding. Our wranglers will teach you the fundamentals which include: proper mounting and dismounting, correct posture while in the saddle, turning and stopping your horse, how to move at a walk and trot in a safe manner, and how to walk in a line. This lesson prepares you to enjoy the walk rides with the knowledge of basic horsemanship

Horsemanship “Fun”damentals

This lesson builds on the skills learned in the Basic Lesson, and will help you develop confidence through balance and a safe “seat”. This lesson expands on reining, movement, and overall control of a horse at a walk or trot. We strongly recommend that you complete this lesson before you saddle up for Intermediate Horsemanship.

Intermediate Horsemanship

With growing horsemanship, you will learn to guide your horse around barrels and cones at a walk, at a trot, and at a lope.  Typically, this class starts with a review of Western-style reining. It quickly moves into controlling your horse in a synchronized fashion with the other classmates and instructor and progresses into independent control where you break from the group and canter the corral. Your instructing wrangler provides all of the feedback you need to correct any inconsistencies in your style as well as to assist you with posture, control, and what you can do to gain a more comfortable “seat” on the horse.

This class will expand on reining and control of the horse through all gaits. And, if you are ready, provides access to all of the tools needed to pass the lope check. Participation in this class is at your discretion—you will never have to do anything that makes you too nervous or uncomfortable; at all times, your wrangler/instructor retains complete control of the class and ensures a safe and enjoyable experience.

Lope Lesson/Check

This is the highest level of horsemanship class offered at TVR. The purpose of this lesson is to check rider safety for lope rides. It is expected that riders be at an advanced level of horsemanship or have completed Horsemanship “Fun”damentals and Intermediate Horsemanship prior to taking this lesson. Riders will be monitored for their ability to safely ride at a lope. Passing this lesson/check is a requirement to participate in a lope ride. Safety and control are of the utmost value. In this lesson, riders will be asked to ride at a lope with little or no prompting. Individual assessments will be offered as needed to assist the rider in making appropriate adjustments in order to pass the lope check and participate safely on TVR lope rides.

The Horses

With names like Domino, Scout, Baldy, Tank, Diablo, Valentine, Frosty, and Tahoe, we’ve got the horse to suit your personality. With over 150 horses, our breeds include Quarter Horses, Draft horses, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, Appaloosas, Paints, and Mustangs. And with three scheduled rides every day, you will soon find your favorite, and can request him when you sign up for the next day’s rides.

Photography

These photographs displaying above were taken of real guests and actual wranglers on the Tanque Verde ranch during rides, classes and other activities. If you’ve been a guest at our ranch in the past, you may see yourself there!