• The minimum age for riders should be 6 years old. All riders should be matched to horses according to aptitude, ability, and size. Each rider should properly fit into his/her saddle and his/her feet should properly fit into the stirrups. Only one rider per horse should be allowed.
• Riders should be carefully checked to ensure that each rider is physically and mentally fit to ride a horse. Overweight and/or young riders should be carefully screened by the stable manager. Elementary riding safety should be explained to all riders, including how to control a run-away horse. A pre-ride safety program should be implemented.
• Experienced, gentle horses with well defined withers (to keep the saddle from rolling) should be used. No sick horses or stallions should be ridden. All horses should be saddled and each horse should be properly fitted with its own set of tack (not to be changed from horse to horse).
• All riders should be accompanied by a guide with a ratio not to exceed 6 riders to 1 guide if the gait is a trot or slower. Before exceeding a trot, riders should have ridden with the stable at least three times and a ratio of 4 riders to 1 guide should be maintained.
• Riders should not dismount on the trail. If a rider drops anything from a horse, the guide should pick it up. Horses should be kept to a walk when going downhill.
• Guides should have considerable experience and maturity. Younger guides could accompany older guides. You should have a system to check the training and qualifications of guides.
• All guides should have current first aid training from accredited source. (i.e. Emergency Medical Technician or Red Cross)
• a. All saddles should have breastcollars and either tapaderos or safety break-away stirrups and be in good repair.
  b. The cinches and latigos should be In new or in excellent condition.
  c. One piece or tied reins should be utilized.
  d. Safety approved riding helmets should be mandatory for all riders.
• There should be at least one functional set of two-way radios or cellular phones on each ride.
• All employees and independent contractors should be fully informed of your requirements and will agree to enforce them.
• Release and Acknowledgment forms should be obtained where applicable (see Section 4)
• Maintain a supply of "Accident Report Forms" to obtain important information should and accident occur (see Section 5)

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