Our Rules & Policies | Rise and Ride Ranch

Rules & Policies

Please make sure you have read and understood our rules and policies before you book your experience. 🙂

Rider Policies & Conduct

Private Day Rides ☀️

Ages 2-3 (walker required) will ride double up with an adult and be led by a walker. Combined weight should be under 250lbs, and both riders need to fit in a 17" saddle.
Ages 4-6 (walker required) ride on their own horse led by a walker.
Ages 7 and up ride on their own horse. You can request a walker if you'd like extra help on the trails. ☺︎

$10 per walker - Our walkers are team members who know our trails and horses. Only members of our team are permitted to walk the trails with the ride. We do not allow the public to walk our trails for everyone's safety.

Glow in the Dark Rides ⭐️

Ages 7 and under cannot participate in glow rides. We invite you to explore our other riding experiences!
Ages 8 and up can ride and must be able to steer their own horse as directed on the trails. Walkers and double ups are not permitted on Glow in the Dark Rides.

The overall weight limit for our rides is 280 pounds, with minimum height requirements for certain weight ranges to ensure our horses' well-being. Before riding, we check each rider’s weight and height; riders must agree to this check-in to ride.

Riders 150lbs or less, no height requirements (within reason).
Riders between 151lbs-200lbs must be 5'0" or taller.
Riders between 201lbs-250lbs must be 5'3" or taller.
Riders between 251lbs-280lbs must be 5'5" or taller.

These limits are all about keeping everyone safe and our horses happy and healthy for years to come. We understand these rules might seem strict and uncomfortable, but they're necessary. Thank you for understanding and cooperating with us. ☺︎

Why Do We Do This?

Saddle Fit 📏 It's important that saddles fit well to keep both riders and horses comfortable. A good fit depends on weight, height, and the size of the seat and stirrups.
Horse Comfort ♥ Our horses are strong, but it's important we respect their limits. Making sure they aren't carrying too much weight helps keeping our horses happy.
Weight Distribution ⚖ Proper weight balance helps keep our horses' backs, hips, and joints healthy. If a rider is unbalanced, it can cause the horse to change the way it moves, which can lead to health problems.

Do Wear ✅

Closed-toe shoes required for safety. Full-length pants recommended for comfort. Consider bug spray in hot weather. Consider gloves in cold weather.

Do Not Wear ❌ Skirts, dresses, flip-flops, heels above two inches, or disposable ponchos are not permitted.

Electronics 📱

Please secure all your electronics like GoPros, cameras, cell phones, etc. properly on your person before your ride. Cell phones should be silenced during the duration of your ride. NOTE: If you drop your devices during a ride, you are expected to walk the trail to retrieve them once the ride is done and dismounted.

We value our horses and their workload, and we ask all riders to do the same. For the safety of our guests and the well-being of our horses, riders must listen to and follow their guide's instructions at all times. All rides are walk only for the sake of our horses. If a rider attempts to trot, canter, race, or push their horse into a faster gait, the ride will end immediately. No refunds or reschedules.

Riders must ride soft and steady.

Do not yank, jerk, or “see-saw” the reins. Keep your hands slow, steady, and consistent.
No screaming, shouting, or sudden loud noises.
No roughhousing, intentionally spooking horses, grabbing/throwing branches, or “testing” the horse.

Riders must keep their feet in the stirrups during the ride. Riding without stirrups puts extra strain on our horses and can lead to discomfort. If a rider cannot keep their feet in the stirrups, they will be asked to dismount. We reserve the right to:

Adjust riders (including adding a walker when needed, if available and applicable)
End a ride early
Remove a rider from the ride

If a rider’s conduct is unsafe, disrespectful to the horse, or disruptive to the group, the ride may end immediately. No refunds or reschedules.

For the safety of our guests and the well-being of our horses, riders must listen to and follow their guide's instructions at all times. It's essential that all riders understand and can follow instructions.

Normal or Holiday Horseback Rides (Daytime) 🌞

If a rider is unable to understand and follow instructions, a member of our team will walk with them for the safety of that rider and our horses ($10 fee). If the rider refuses, they will not be permitted to ride for everyone's safety.

Glow in the Dark Rides (Nighttime) 🌛

If a rider is unable to understand and follow instructions, they will not be permitted to ride for everyone's safety. We do not permit walkers or double ups during Glow in the Dark Rides.

Please read through every section below before your ride. These guidelines keep our horses comfortable, our riders safe, and help avoid surprises on ride day. ☺︎

Cancellation, Changes, & Rescheduling Policy

The time you book has been reserved specifically for you, which prevents someone else from riding at this time. We are a small family ranch and cannot absorb the loss of revenue when bookings are canceled or rescheduled at the last minute.

When you book with us, you’re directly supporting our horses’ daily care and upkeep. We’re truly grateful to serve our community, and we do our best to keep our prices and policies fair while protecting the consistent care these gentle giants require.

How to Cancel or Make Changes

To cancel or make changes to your reservation, TEXT 616-422-8200 or EMAIL riseandrideranch@gmail.com at least 24 hours before your scheduled ride time.

Due to our location in the woods with limited service, we are rarely able to answer phone calls. Texting is the best way to reach us. We may be a little slow to respond because we’re often caring for our horses or out on rides with guests just like you.

Reschedule or Cancel 24+ Hours Before Your Ride

Up to 24 hours before your ride, you may either reschedule your booking or cancel for a full refund to the payment method on your booking.

Reschedule or Cancel Within 24 Hours of Your Ride

Within 24 hours of your ride, cancellations or changes are not eligible for refunds, and rescheduling is not permitted.

Change of Riders

If you have a change in riders, you must notify Rise & Ride Ranch at least 24 hours before the ride to ensure a proper horse and saddle is available for the new rider(s). If you wait until after 24 hours, we may not have a horse or saddle available for your new rider(s).

We strive to be transparent by including our cancellation/rescheduling policy in the rules provided before booking, at checkout, and in all reminder emails. Thank you for your understanding and support!

Late Policy ⏰

For Private Rides

We ask all riders to arrive 15 minutes before your ride time to check-in and weigh-in. If you are late, it will cut into your ride time. Our horses begin their work as soon as they leave their pasture. We wrap up rides on time out of respect for them!

No shows/no contacts 15 minutes after your ride time will be considered a cancellation and not eligible for a refund or reschedule.

For Public Rides

We ask all riders to arrive 15 minutes before your ride time to check-in and weigh-in. If you arrive at your scheduled time, or if you are late, you will miss your ride with no possibility of refunds. 😭

Inclement Weather 🌦️

We ride in most light rain and snow. 🙂 Bring a jacket and your sense of adventure!

Michigan weather is unpredictable, and being close to the lake means conditions can change quickly. Unless you hear from us by email, riders should expect to ride.

Please make sure your contact information is accurate when booking so we can reach you if conditions change.

Nervous About the Weather? 🌦️

It’s important to know that horses can be a little more difficult to navigate in muddy, rainy, or windy conditions.

If you’re a nervous rider and you’re worried about the forecast, please text or email us at least 24 hours before your ride to talk it through.

Rain Check (Only When Rise & Ride Cancels) 🌧️

Because Michigan weather can shift hour to hour, we do not make a cancellation call until we are confident about the conditions at our ranch and on our trails. Forecasts are helpful, but our decision is based on real conditions on-site.

When we do cancel, it’s after careful consideration for the safety and comfort of our horses and riders. Because cancellations come at a significant loss of revenue for our small family ranch, we only cancel when we’re confident conditions are truly unsafe.

If Rise & Ride Ranch cancels your ride due to severe weather, unsafe trail conditions, or unforeseen circumstances, you will receive a Rain Check issued as a gift card credit for the full amount of your ride. The gift card never expires and can be used anytime for any experience available on our booking calendar.

Important: Rain Checks are credit only. No refunds are issued for rides we cancel due to weather/unsafe conditions. When you book with us, you agree to this policy and the risk of cancellation due to weather

By booking with us, you are agreeing to this policy and understanding that weather-related cancellations are always a possibility — and when they happen, it’s for the safety of you and our horses.

We will notify you by email, typically the night before or the day of your ride once we know what conditions are doing at the ranch.

Rules & Policies

Please make sure you have read and understood our rules and policies before you book your experience. 🙂

Rider Policies & Conduct

Age Policy 🧒

Weight-to-Height Policy ⚖️

What to Wear 👖👞

Rider Conduct 🐎

Following Instructions ⭐

Substance Policy 🚭

Cancellation, Changes, & Rescheduling Policy

How do I contact you to cancel or make changes?

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Can I reschedule instead of canceling within 24 hours?

Can I change riders on my booking?

Why is the 24-hour policy so strict?

What counts as a “change” within 24 hours?

What happens if Rise & Ride cancels my ride?

Late Policy ⏰

Inclement Weather 🌦️

Rain Check (Only When Rise & Ride Cancels) 🌧️

Stay Connected 🐴