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Your adventure
awaits in the heart
of the rockies

Just one mile northeast of Vail Village, we offer
unforgettable outdoor experiences.

VIEW THE SCHEDULE

Horseback riding adventures

Explore breathtaking trails on guided horseback
rides, tailored for different skill levels and ages.

Our rustic little outfit offers something for everyone during the summer

We offers a unique blend of adventure and relaxation in the heart of the mountains. Whether you’re seeking thrilling horseback rides, playful goat yoga, or simply a place to unwind with friends and family, we have something for everyone.

BREAKING NEWS

We are located one easy mile
(don’t walk!) NE of Vail Village

Open again May 2025
We have parking!

Horse rider

Your adventure starts in 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.

treat yourself to the
ultimate adventure

Just the faq's Ma'am

What time do we arrive?

Right at the reservation time.  No earlier unless your ride ends after G.O.A.T. Happy Hour ends then, we recommend you come earlier to enjoy the goats.

Please click on the big red button on the homepage for the real-time calendar for hours and days.  Or right here! If you call to ask, your first drink costs double.
Hours: 11-5pm, usually.

Vail Stables is located 1 mile NE of the Vail Village in Vail, CO. We’re the closest stables to the town and the best of course!

Use our free shuttle between 11:30am and 6:00pm.  Find it at the Vail Transportation Center every 30 minutes.

We are off of Spraddle Creek Road, which heads east, out of the north-side roundabout, at the Main Vail Exit #176 off I-70.

Driving Directions: From the main vail Exit #176, get into the North Side Round-A-Bout and turn right onto Spraddle Creek Road.  Go up the hill one mile and for Heaven’s sake DO NOT PUSH THE BUTTON AT THE GATES TO SPRADDLE CREEK ESTATES!!  That is a private housing community and they are over it!  Absolutely OVER it!!

Look to the right as you enter the circle and you will see our WELCOME sign and dirt road.  We are 50 yards up the dirt road.  We promise you, that you will not drive off the edge if you simply do not turn your wheel towards the side.  Your car will not spontaneously swerve to the right and run off the edge.

Park like you are in a lot with lines, even though there aren’t any, ~close together and straight.

Absolutely. YES!!! The limit for horseback riding is 225pounds. People over 6 feet tall can weigh up to 240 pounds. People over 6’4″ can weigh 260 pounds.  We do weigh you on the scale if our professional weight guesser is off for the day.

Please be aware that you would still pay, still pay, still pay for the time slot you’ve reserved should you exceed the weight limit.  You bought a time slot!!!!

The weight limit is due to fatigue of the rider going downhill.  If you are very athletic and muscular, we can talk about an exception.

Yes. The age limit for adult-only horseback rides is 18+.  Yes, we know your 17 yr old is very mature.  But the other people on the ride aren’t interested in what they have to say.

The limit for the all-ages horseback rides is 5+.  So if your child is 6 you don’t have to call to check to see if that last sentence is true.  Seriously, we are too busy getting people on an off horses to verify the answer to this question on the phone.  No kidding, people call to ask, “I see on your website it says 5 yr-olds can ride.  So does that mean it’s okay for my 6 year-old to ride?”.  It’s difficult to say yes.

This is how it works.  If your child is  5 or 6 (1,825 to 2,554 days old) (not 4-11/12, even w

ith bribe money, because the insurance company said so.  It’s like saying, “I am 20 years and 360 days old. Can I get a drink?”).  They will sit on a larger horse in a 

tiny saddle.  The guide will lead your child’s horse,  No, the guide will not walk the entire 2-5 miles on foot leading your child’s horse.  He will be riding his horse and holding a long lead line to your child’s horse.  If there are multiple 6 yr olds, there will be multiple guides.  If the number o

f 5-6 yr olds in your group exceeds 1, there will be an upcharge of $95 per guide for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th… 5-6 yr old.  If we have enough guides.


Note how the girl is not using the reins, the guide is holding a blue lead rope to her horse.  The kid is not steering the horse.
We take 100s of 5 and 6 yr olds each summer.  They consistently do better than 90% of the parents.

Important policies & tips for your visit

Cancellation Policies

Group Horseback Rides, GOGA, and G.O.A.T. Happy Hour:

RIDICULOUSLY STRICT 48-hour and 5-minute cancellation policy. Click the link to read it. It’s funny, and very real.

Groups of 12 or More, Private Rides, and Private GOGA:

7-day cancellation policy.
Private Events in G.O.A.T. Happy Hour:

30-day cancellation policy.

Thunderstorms & ride delays

  • The Rocky Mountains are prone to thunderstorms during monsoon season due to high elevation and intense summer heat.
  • 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 pass.
  • Happy G.O.A.T. Hours continue as usual—we have gazebo shelters to keep you dry.

 

weather and what to wear

Weather & what to wear
Dress in layers! 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.

No, you cannot bring your pets

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

🐘 Your elephant sat on a pony

Plan your adventure now!

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)

Ridiculously, Insanely Strict!

RIDICULOUSLY, INSANELY, NECESSARY, STRICT 48 HOUR and 5 MINUTE CANCELLATION POLICY. NO Exceptions whatsoever. Please don’t call to debate this as it will not change or bend for any reason. You are not more special than everyone else.

 

We are genuinely sorry that we must have a strict cancellation policy. We realize that this policy may come as a real disappointment and shock to your normally catered-to self. We hope that you will understand that the policy reflects an extraordinary range of determining factors. It is painful that we must upset any of our superb guests. If you must pay the full cancellation fee plus auto gratuity for the guide, it is our hope that your overall vacation delight will soon erase any disappointment regarding our cancellation policy, and that you will go on to create a beautiful vacation slideshow.

Please do not book a ride on your travel day. Travel dilemmas are not an exception to the cancellation policy.

A full 48 hours and 5 minutes notice required to cancel, change, alter, subtract people, change your mind, fall very ill, altitude sickness, aggravate an old injury, appendicitis, new injuries, hurt your back, stub your toe, eat too much, develop bad gas, feel the forest is too organic, believe the hay the horses eat isn’t gluten-free, find something better to do, have a brooding teenager, medical emergency, surgery, double-book yourself, have your plane delayed, someone has a migraine, complain about the weather, get into a wreck, family emergency or ANY, ANY, ANY other reason to avoid a cancellation fee equaling the entire ride price. Calling with an exceptional story, will not an exception make. If you are obnoxious about this policy, we have an obnoxious horse for you. By booking any activity, you are agreeing to this policy. You understand that your story will not be the exception to the rule. The threat of bad reviews doesn’t change this. People enjoy reading those when they understand that this policy is crystal clear.
Groups of 12 or more, private rides and private GOGA sessions are required to give 7 (seven) days notice of cancellation for a full refund. Private Events in the G.O.A.T. Happy Hour area are required to give 30 (thirty) days notice of cancellation for a full refund.
You are guaranteeing your arrival, and usage of the horse blocked out of the schedule, with your credit card. Calling to bluster and spout and threaten will not change this strict policy even if you “just called 30 minutes ago” or “just booked yesterday”. It’s highly probable someone wanted the saddles and we had to turn them away. They lost out because of Y-O-U.

Customers will receive a full refund if one of the following 2 conditions exist:

A full 48 hours and 5 minutes notice of cancellation. (or 7 Day or 30 day – depending on the type of booking)
In case of operator cancellation due to outrageous weather or other unforeseen circumstances (like wildfires or a wild herd of buffalo sitting on the trail).

We do ride rain or shine. Sometimes we will delay the ride 60-90 minutes for weather to move by.  Your fear and anger will not change this.  Your threats of bad reviews will not change this. 

Your lectures of customer service and accommodating people will not change this. Your threats of disputing credit card charges will not change this.  Credit card companies understand that you blocked other people, that don’t throw hissy fits, from your time slot and will support us. You are an adult that made this choice and agreed to the terms and conditions even if your friend created the booking. Your big, bullying, body language, threats and curse words, while towering over the 5’2″ bartender will not change this.  She will kick your *ss if you push too far.

Contact us by phone at (855) RIDE-VAIL (743-3824) to cancel. No-shows and late cancellations will be charged the full price for horses or yoga mats removed from the schedule. The rules apply to you – no matter who you are, but if you feel they don’t apply to you, we charge double.

And, you wouldn’t want to miss out on the greatest adventures offered in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. For those that enjoy disputing charges because you can’t abide by cancellation policies or deny the conditions of the waiver, please book with our competition.