NEW MEXICO WILDERNESS RIDES

For the 2024 season, we are offering three and five-day Wilderness Rides, all of which will take place in New Mexico and are limited to a small handful of people per trip. We invite you to join us.

A DIFFERENT WORLD

For both horses and people, these are our favorite rides—the rides where everything comes together. Not a two-hour break from the world—but a different world entirely. This is where you learn to think like a horse, where you learn a lot about wild country and riding, and sometimes a lot about yourself.

LIFE OUTSIDE THE ARENA

It's not for everyone, no cell service or Wi-Fi. You'll bathe in the streams, sleep under the stars, take your meals around the campfire, and probably remember the pleasure of good conversation as opposed to texting. We provide horses and tack, experienced guides, tents, food, drinks, and a not too cranky cook. All you bring is your sleeping bag, a change of clothes, your toothbrush, and whatever goes with it.

CAMP

Your camp will be comfortable and warm with good food, wonderful horses, and attentive staff. Camp will be set up ahead of you and torn down for you the next morning. Our mission is all about horses and the wild country we will cover. We want to show you the real thing, and the real thing just doesn't include flush-toilets and hot showers, internet or cell phones.

THE RIDES

On our three and five-day rides, we show people a world different from the one they are accustomed to—a world worthy of their care and protection. A world where you come to know north, south, east, and west by looking at the shadow of a tree, where you know something yet unseen lies ahead by the flick of a horse's ear, where you come to trust your horse more than yourself, and in doing so remember how to trust others. A place where the moon is your night light and silence still exists.

Contact us for reservations

3-Day Wilderness Ride

Contact us to plan your trip

5-Day Wilderness ride

Contact us to plan your trip

Name

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

(###)

###

####

Please briefly explain your riding experience:

Height?

Weight?

Age?

How Did You Hear About Our Wilderness Rides?

If "Other", please specify...

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What do i bring on a wilderness ride?

Our rides are all-inclusive, meaning we provide the horses, tack, guides, tents, sleeping mats, food, and drinks. Your job is to enjoy great horses, wild country, good food, and pleasant company. All you need to bring is a sleeping bag, a pillow, and your personal items, such as toiletries and clothing.

WHERE DO THE RIDES BEGIN & END?

All of our rides take place in Northern New Mexico. The exact starting point and ending point change with each ride and the specifics will be provided a couple of weeks before your trip. For all rides, there will be a determined meeting place for you to park your vehicle. You will then be shuttled to the starting location where horses will be waiting. At the end of the ride, you will be transported back to your vehicle.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN GO ON A WILDERNESS RIDE?

We cap the groups at six people, plus guides.

Do I need to have experience to go on a wilderness ride?

We are capable of taking people of all experience levels, from beginners to those who have spent a lifetime in the saddle. However, we do recommend you have at least a little horseback riding experience to go on these trips. You’ll be spending a good portion of the day in the saddle, sometimes up to eight hours, and you’ll need to know how to handle your horse. We expect people to be comfortable getting on and off a horse unassisted and feel fairly comfortable at a walk, trot, and gallop.

Although this is what we would recommend, we are capable of taking beginners. We try to arrange our groups according to experience level, so beginners ride with beginners and experienced riders with people of similar experience. If you are interested in a Wilderness Ride and do not have riding experience, we would love to help you prepare with one of our pre-ride lesson packages, which can be arranged by reservation.

can children attend a wilderness ride?

It is possible for children to go on a Wilderness Ride, but this is something we consider on a case-by-case basis. If you are interested in bringing your child on Wilderness Ride, please send us an email or give us a call so we can discuss specifics.

Do you offer private or custom wilderness rides?

Yes, we do. In addition to the mixed group Wilderness Rides, we also offer private custom Wilderness Rides. This is often a popular option for families or small groups of friends. If you would like to arrange a custom ride, please fill out our contact form or send us an email.

Do Wilderness Rides usually fill up?

Yes, our Wilderness Rides are very popular, especially during a time when people feel limited in what activities they can do. Our Wilderness Rides are limited to only 72 people per season, so we expect our 2021 dates to fill up pretty quickly. If you want to make sure you get to participate, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible.

Can I break the total cost up into payments?

For all rides, a 50% deposit is due at the time of booking and the balance is due a week before the ride.

What happens if there is an emergency?

In the event of an emergency, we will have a satellite phone on hand. If a health emergency occurs during the ride we can arrange for anything up to airlift evacuation. We always have a certified healthcare professional on staff for each ride who is capable of attending to any medical problems that do not require evacuation. If there is an emergency at home we will supply you with the satellite number so your loved ones can reach us.

Can you accommodate special diets?

Absolutely! We are happy to accommodate any dietary restrictions.

REFLECTIONS FROM FELLOW WILDERNESS RIDERS

Over the summer I joined the 5-day Wilderness Ride through the Carson National Forest-- a highlight of my year. I feel very lucky to have had the opportunity to explore beautiful Northern New Mexico with happy, healthy horses, and a wonderful group of people. Each day, we traveled through stunning remote legs of the National Forest, watered horses at streams, cantered through open fields, and eventually arrived to camp where we were greeted by our incredible chef with cold drinks and snacks. I woke up everyday smelling fresh brewed coffee with a smile on my face. It's clear that Rachel and Chance have a deep understanding and knowledge of horses, and throughout the trip, they passed some of that knowledge to the group. With their guidance and support, I improved my riding skills and learned invaluable approaches for building trust with horses. I absolutely recommend the Wilderness Rides (all rides) with Red Horse Riding Company.

- Lindsey Noyes

There is something to be said about the Wilderness Ride with Red Horse Riding Company. Like the early mornings waking up to the smell of coffee as you crawl out of your sleeping bag, the moon still lighting your path as you gather by an already prepared fire to watch the sunrise. You watch the steam rise from your coffee cup and wait for the others to wake. Grateful for the silence of the morning, to sit and reflect on the journey thus far. After eating a hearty breakfast you saddle your horse and continue on. Another day to explore, another day to trust your horse to get you to your next destination. There is something to be said...or maybe it’s not a saying or a story at all, but rather a feeling.

-Ashley Minck