Saddle Soar Ranch Horse Rental and Trail Rides

Horseback Riding Lessons for individuals, groups or day camps for children at Saddle Soar Ranch

Saddle Soar Ranch is a proud member of the Certified Horsemanship Association

Saddle Soar Ranch is proud to be an Accredited Site Member of the CHA.

CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association) was founded in 1967 to develop a means to test and evaluate riding program staff for risk management skills, teaching ability, horsemanship knowledge and professionalism.

Click here for more info.

We have been teaching at this location for over 13 years
and we specialize in Teen and Adult Beginning Riders
Call Today For Your First Lesson ~ (253) 927-6899

Gift Certificates Available!
Call 253-927-6899 to order one today!

We teach horseback riding. We do not rent horses or do trail rides. We CAN teach you to ride properly. Call today for lessons.

Meet the Instructors
Owner/Instructor
Darleen Finnigan
CHA & ARIA
Certified Instructors
Bill Finnigan CHA
Laura Pauls

-- Horse Rentals and Trail Rides --

Saddle Soar Ranch, Inc. is exclusively a teaching facility. We are not set up to rent horses or do "dude" rides for non-students. We do not have trails on or off our property for rides.

We do offer lesson trail rides for students after they have learned to ride to the level that is necessary to be a safe trail rider and are able to control the horse they are riding in a variety of situations, including spooking of a horse.

We strongly feel that it is a disservice to horses for people to ride them without learning good communication and riding balance. It requires the horse to try to interpret what the rider wants and to compensate for the lack of balance and rhythm of the rider. And it is a dangerous situation for both the rider and the horse.

It could be compared to a person renting an automobile without having learned to drive or obtain a driver's license. No rental agency would rent one to you.

The difference is that the horse has a brain of its own that the rider should learn to understand before they begin riding.

A vehicle has an "off" switch and a brake. The rider of a horse needs to learn how to tell the horse to stop without yanking on the horse's mouth, which gives the horse much pain, but not much communication.

The majority of the time when a person does a "trail-dude" ride, it is much like getting on a bus and letting the bus driver do the work and make the decisions.

Since horses are a very herd bound animal, if the rider does not have the skill to communicate so the horse can understand, the horse will simply follow the lead horse on the trail. You are not really riding the horse you are on; you are simply a passenger going along "for the ride".

If you doubt this, try asking the horse to turn away from the lead horse, or go on a different trail than the scheduled one. The horse will have a different idea than you, and will give you a fair amount of resistance or more.

Therefore it is our suggestion that instead of doing a one time, unskilled trail ride we recommend that you take lessons and really learn how to enjoy and communicate with these lovely, powerful creatures entrusted to humans.

Please read our page on "What Is Horseback Riding?" which lists the skill progression of learning to ride.

Lesson Times:
Monday-Friday...2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Saturdays..........9 a.m. to Noon
Closed on Sundays

Summers:
June - August....some morning classes available depending
on the instructors availability.
Special party groups planned per private arrangements
for prices and times.

Rates: ~fees are subject to change without notice~
Cash or Checks ONLY. We cannot accept either
credit cards or debit cards at this time.
*Price rates do not apply to children under 10 years of
age. Please inquire at 253-927-6899. Closed on Sundays.

There is a one time enrollment and orientation fee of
$40.00 for all new or returning students. This fee covers
the advance session held before riding lessons begin to
review safety and policy procedures with students and
student's parents.

Private: Four 1 hour lessons.......$160.00 per month

*Semi-Private or **Group Rate:
    please read * notations below the prices for these classes.
    2 - 4 students in each 1 hour class.
   Four hours per month.......$120.00 per each student
   in the group
*There can be no make-up classes or schedule changes
    unless by the instructor for holidays.
    There will be no credit given for missed classes in the
    Group Classes.

**New and returning students must start in private
      lessons FIRST.

Horsemanship 101: 1 eight hour class.
  Saturday seminar. Hours: 9 - 5:30.
  Held once a year in the Spring.......$75.00
  Children 14 and under must be accompanied with
  parent or legal adult in class.

Our facilities offer an outdoor arena with lights for evening classes and a pea-gravel footing.
We are located in Edgewood WA, 5 miles south of Federal Way and 4 miles north of Puyallup.
See MAP for directions to our ranch.
Please come and visit our facilities and view a lesson in progress!

Call for an appointment - 253-927-6899. Closed on Sundays

11810 County Line Rd. E.
Edgewood/Puyallup
WA 98372
(253) 927-6899 [Office Hours are Monday - Friday ~ Noon - 8 p.m.]