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Vail Stables

Five minutes from Vail but a world away. We do have the ultimate horseback ride in the mountains of Colorado. Guests from all around the world confirmed it.

Our Rustic Little Outfit Offers Something for Everyone During the Summer

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CLOSED for the 2024 Season 

Located one easy mile (don’t walk!) NE of Vail Village. 

Open again May 2025.

We have parking!

Here is the chart to help guide you with activities available for your family members.  Please don’t call to confirm that this is true and accurate information.

Age Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity Activity
0-5 yrs Goat Yoga Feed and pet the goats. Sandbox Ride-On Toys Happy G.O.A.T. Hours
5 yrs+ Goat Yoga Bear Hollow Ride Happy G.O.A.T. Hours All Private Rides Sandbox
7-99 yrs All Horseback Rides Happy G.O.A.T. Hours Goat Yoga Private Rides Sandbox
18-99 yrs Happy G.O.A.T. Hours Adult-Only Rides Signing the Waiver Goat Yoga All Horseback Rides
21-99 yrs Alcoholic Beverages Foolish Behavior

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RIDICULOUSLY STRICT 48 hr and 5 minute cancellation policy for group horseback rides, GOGA or G.O.A.T. Happy Hour.  Click the link to read it.  It’s funny, and very real.

7 day cancellation policy for groups of 12 or more, private rides and private GOGA. 

30 day cancellation policy for private events in G.O.A.T. Happy Hour.

Dress in layers as Colorado weather is very moody, and the forecast is usually deceiving.  A lot can happen in 1-2 hours on a mountain.  Please have more than a t-shirt and shorts for your skinny little kids.  

The Rocky Mountains are prone to thunderstorms during the monsoon season because the high elevation and intense summer heat create ideal conditions for convection. As the sun heats the mountain slopes, warm air rises, carrying moisture into the upper atmosphere where it cools and condenses into thunderstorms.  Then it rains, cools off and the storms dissipate.  We may delay rides for up to 90 minutes for storms to die down.  Happy G.O.A.T. Hours continue as usual.  We have gazebo shelters.

Nope.  You cannot bring your dog, cat or elephant.  It would be a social media nightmare if your dog bit a goat, your cat scratched a kid or your elephant sat on a pony. 

 

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If you are in dire need of a ride, we do have a shuttle, but not a dedicated driver.  Text (970) 445-8204 requesting a ride and someone will show up for you.

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a group of people riding on the back of a horse

If 2024 is anything like last year, it will be ridiculous. We encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible to secure the ride and time slot or class you desire. You have 48 Hours and 5 Minutes prior to check-in time to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund.

Q:  Why do we have to pay in advance?

A:  Because we are all dumb cowboys and cowgirls and the software people say that’s how it works.

 

Recent Customer Review:

Safety is a priority/Thoroughly enjoyable trail riding on well-trained horses!

From past experiences, I have always had low expectations of trail rides. Vail Stables turned that around. I know what a healthy and happy horse is supposed to look like, and we all know how service-focused employees act. This place has both.

The horses had just returned from their winter home and were happy to be at work.  They were well-fed, groomed, cared for, and well-shod (blacksmith or farrier work). The latter is essential.  The release was easy to sign, and the process for mounting was quick.

I only know how to ride English hunt seat, but I found the western saddle very comfortable, and the pre-ride instructions simple enough to not offend or challenge my sensibilities or customs. Most importantly, Vail Stables provides helmets for all riders even though they do not make people of a certain age wear them.  

While mounting the horse before leaving for the ride, they checked our stirrup length for comfort and the cinch on the saddle for tightness and stability. This is only sometimes the case at most places.

The horses were appropriately paired for the riders and grouped according to an order they were accustomed to working in so their patterns were not disrupted.

The views were beautiful, the guides were helpful, talked enough, and quiet enough to allow guests to enjoy the serenity of the mountains and to feel their horses under.

Those who do not know horses often think that one will “take off at a gallop” to catch up with the others after their horse stops to nibble a blade of grass and then wants to join the rest of the pack.  I would find that hard to believe with how organized and guest-focused the staff is.  At the most, a horse may trot for a few steps, which may feel fast and jarring to some but is barely first gear.  It is just a bit bouncy for the inexperienced.  Hold on to the horn of the saddle and enjoy the ride! These horses seem very safe!

Overall, I was very impressed and would highly recommend this place.

Discover Vail, Colorado

Vail Stables is uncompromisingly Colorado, specializing in beautiful mountain horseback rides near the town of Vail.

We have been the leading provider of tours on horseback for over 20 years and offer adventurers an all-access pass into the backcountry of the White River National Forest.

The spirit of the Old West rides on the breezes flowing through the quaking Aspens and echoes in the squeaking leather saddles. Our passion is to create transformational experiences through horseback riding.

Our friendly, experienced guides, gentle horses, and awe-inspiring trails await your arrival.

Note:  The information on this website supersedes any other information found on printed materials or other websites.

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Home of the G.O.A.T. Happy Hour - The Happiest Hour in Town

Extremely family friendly.  Relax in our gliders with a stunning view of the slopes. We have cold beer and wine for the adults, soda and juice available for the kids. Take a selfie with the goats, roosters, ponies and horses.  Feed them some treats and enjoy the chill vibe of farm life in the Rockies

Check the schedule online for reservations.  Random days available.

G.O.A.T. Happy Hour reservations $10 for ages 6+.  0-5 is free

 

Treat Yourself to the Ultimate Adventure
★★★★★

Goat Yoga so much fun!

"My daughter convinced me to sign her up for goat yoga. We got there and all decided to join her as a family. It was so much fun. Amy was the instructor and was awesome. She gave us a nice workout and gave us plenty of time to interact with the goats. The goats were sweet and fun. Highly recommend. We may try to do it again before our vacation ends."

– kjtex2016 · TripAdvisor
Visited twice in 3 days- so much fun!

"We booked a family trail ride our first day of vacation in Vail- it was so great- horses were very sweet and gentle, scenery was gorgeous, ride was very relaxing. Then we found out they have Goga (Goat yoga), and the girls HAD to come back for that, so day 3 of our trip we were back at Vail Stables for a really fun session of goat yoga with the sweetest goats and great yogi leading the session. Highly recommend both experiences!!"

– SOonthebeach · TripAdvisor
Excellent Beginner Ride

"Having almost no horseback riding experience, 2 hour Vail Stables tour was perfect for our family with 2 tweens/teens. Climb into forest was manageable, not scary at all, and views were amazing. Horses in beautiful condition and very well trained. On our ride we hardly did any directing, in fact, we could have actually handled going faster."

– KrisC3333 · TripAdvisor
Best ride we've been on. Great route and overall great experience.

"Great experience from the minute we checked in. Our guide was Ellen and she was terrific. Got us ready and off we went on a fantastic 2-hour ride. Great pics along the way. Never considered about the horses or trails and we got up and down the mountain with incredible views and great memories. Highly recommended! Do the 2-hr ride. well worth it!"

– David K. · TripAdvisor
Loved it!

"We decided to go for a horseback riding after my kids (10 and 12 years old) insisted... my husband didn't want to come but somehow we convinced him. We all loved it!!! The horses are so perfectly train that you literally don't need to do anything... it was a great experience and a great way to see Vail from a new perspective! Will definitely be back."

– Karilli · TripAdvisor