Rider weight limits, ranch by ranch
66 of the 111 ranches here publish a rider weight limit. The number is only half the story: some bend it, some have bigger horses, and some keep heavier riders at a walk.
Why ranches set a limit
A ranch week means hours in the saddle, often on steep or rocky ground. The limit protects the horse's back and legs over a long day, and it counts the rider, boots and all. It is a safety rule, not a judgment, and a ranch that states it plainly is easier to plan around than one that leaves you to find out at the barn.
What the numbers look like
250 lb is the most common limit: about half the ranches that publish one use it. The rest spread out on both sides.
- The lowest: K Diamond K asks riders to be under 200 lb with boots on, and McGinnis Meadows sets 200 lb but will discuss exceptions.
- 220 to 230 lb is common in the Southwest and the Rockies: Saguaro Lake, Geronimo Trail and Sylvan Dale at 220, Devil's Thumb, Colorado Trails and Steens Mountain at 230.
- The highest: Stagecoach Trails at 270 lb, Circle Z at 275, and Tombstone Monument for riders under 280.
On Brand Book: K Diamond K Guest Ranch, McGinnis Meadows Cattle & Guest Ranch, Saguaro Lake Guest Ranch, Geronimo Trail Guest Ranch, Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch, Devil's Thumb Ranch Resort & Spa, Colorado Trails Ranch, Steens Mountain Guest Ranch, Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch, Circle Z Ranch, Tombstone Monument Ranch & Cattle Co.
Limits that bend
Some ranches keep a few bigger horses. Blackwater Creek and Circle Bar both set 250 lb, with a few horses for riders up to 280. Double R has draft horses for riders over 220 lb, for an extra fee.
Others will talk. Lazy L&B asks riders over 225 lb to get in touch, Latigo asks anyone over about 200 lb to call ahead, and Flathead Lake Lodge leaves riders over 250 lb to the wrangler's call.
On Brand Book: Blackwater Creek Lodge & Guest Ranch, Circle Bar Guest Ranch, Double R Guest Ranch, Lazy L&B Ranch, Latigo Ranch, Flathead Lake Lodge
Limits that change the riding
At a few ranches the weight decides how you ride, not whether. Stagecoach Trails keeps riders over 240 lb to walking rides, and Drowsy Water may do the same above 225. Alisal sets its limit by level: 250 lb for beginners, 230 intermediate and 210 for advanced rides. Bar W lets riders between 225 and 230 lb ride only on the ranch and in the arena, and French Broad Outpost limits what riders between 225 and 240 lb can do. Circle Bar B sets 265 lb for its 90-minute ride and 235 lb for the rest.
Some are stricter than a single number. Elkhorn Ranch and Covered Wagon, both in Montana, add a body-mass limit, and Bar W and Marble Mountain weigh riders when they arrive.
On Brand Book: Stagecoach Trails Guest Ranch, Drowsy Water Ranch, Alisal Ranch, Bar W Guest Ranch, French Broad Outpost Ranch, Circle Bar B Guest Ranch, Elkhorn Ranch, Covered Wagon Ranch, Marble Mountain Ranch
The ranches that don't say
The other 46 do not publish a number. That does not mean there is no limit, only that you will have to ask. Several ask for every rider's weight when you book, which tells you it matters to them.
What to ask before you book
- Is the limit with boots and clothes on?
- Is it the same for every ride, or lower for faster rides and cattle work?
- Do you have bigger horses, and how many? Are they likely to be free the week I want?
- Will I be weighed when I arrive, and what happens if I am over?
- Do I need to mount from the ground on my own?