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Riding and equine experiences
Among the strongest lots available, and the ones that need the insurer first.
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Time with horses sells better than almost anything a rescue can offer, and these are also the items most capable of causing serious harm. Both are true and the second governs the first.
Insurance and liability come before the catalogue
- Does the rescue's policy cover members of the public on the property at all
- Does it cover mounted activity, which is frequently excluded or separately rated
- Does it cover an instructor, and must they be certified
- What does the state's equine activity statute require — signage, wording in waivers, specific notices
- Are waivers adequate, and are they adequate for minors, which is a separate question
- And what is the position if a volunteer rather than a professional leads it
Take the proposed items to the insurer as a list, before publishing. An insurer saying no to a trail ride and yes to a groundwork session has just designed your catalogue for you at no cost.
Consider the unmounted versions first
The practical move, and it is not a consolation prize. Unmounted experiences carry substantially less risk, need less specialised supervision, and sell surprisingly well — because most people who love horses are not riders.
- A grooming and bonding session with a specific horse
- A groundwork or liberty session with a trainer
- Feeding time with the herd
- A behind-the-scenes barn tour and meet-the-horses morning
- Shadowing the farrier or the equine vet on a visit
- A photography session with the horses
- A day volunteering — mucking out included, which people genuinely bid on
The farrier or vet shadowing item is under-listed everywhere. It is fascinating, it costs the rescue nothing beyond a conversation with a professional who is coming anyway, and it explains where the money goes better than any appeal.
If you do offer riding
- The horse is selected by staff, not the winner — suitability is a professional judgement about a specific animal on a specific day
- A rescue horse's history may be unknown, and an unknown history is a reason for caution
- State the rider weight limit plainly, because it is a welfare requirement rather than a preference
- Helmets required, provided, and worn — no exceptions and no negotiation
- State the experience level required honestly, and verify it rather than trusting the description
- Arena rather than trail, unless the insurer has specifically agreed otherwise
- A qualified instructor present throughout
The weight limit is the one people find awkward to publish and the one that must be published anyway. It is about the horse's back, it is not negotiable, and discovering it at the mounting block is worse for everybody.
Scope every item precisely
- Duration, and how many sessions
- Number of people, and whether spectators are included
- Age limits, and whether a parent must be present
- What to wear and bring — closed footwear at minimum
- The season and weather policy, since arenas flood and horses stand in mud
- Expiry, and how to book
- And that the rescue may substitute a horse or reschedule for welfare reasons
That last clause matters. A horse that is lame, unsettled or simply having a bad day is not going to work, and the right to reschedule must be reserved in writing rather than negotiated on the day with a disappointed winner.
Cap the number, and protect the horses
Every experience item spends horse time as well as staff time, and rescue horses are frequently recovering, elderly or in rehabilitation.
- Agree with whoever manages the herd how many sessions exist before listing any
- Rotate horses; do not let the two friendly ones do everything
- Exclude horses in rehabilitation, quarantine or behavioural work
- And give staff an unquestioned right to cancel on the day
Convert the visitors
Everybody who comes for an experience meets the horses in person, which is the most effective recruitment a rescue has. Ask them to sponsor a horse before they leave, put them on the list, and invite them to volunteer.
The lot is worth its price; the person who has now met the animals is worth more.
General information, not legal or veterinary advice. Liability for any activity involving horses, equine activity statutes, insurance and the terms of any adoption or ownership transfer are specific and consequential — your own counsel and insurer decide how any of this applies.
Frequently asked questions
What comes before listing an experience?
The insurer. Whether the policy covers the public on the property, whether it covers mounted activity, whether an instructor must be certified, and what the state's equine activity statute requires. Take the proposed items as a list.
Should we offer unmounted experiences?
They are not a consolation prize — less risk, less specialised supervision, and they sell surprisingly well, because most people who love horses are not riders.
Which item is under-listed everywhere?
Shadowing the farrier or the equine vet. Fascinating, costs nothing beyond a conversation with a professional who is coming anyway, and it explains where the money goes better than any appeal.
Do we have to publish a weight limit?
Yes. It is a welfare requirement about the horse's back rather than a preference, and discovering it at the mounting block is worse for everybody.
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