Please click on the forms below for a downloadable pdf document.
SUMMER HORSE FORMS:
2026 Summer Horse Request Form
GREAT AMERICAN HORSE DRIVE FORMS:
HUNTING HORSE FORMS:
Hunting Contracts open June 2026!
LIABILITY WAIVERS:
RELEASE_OF_LIABILITY_AND_INDEMNITY_AGREEMENT_ADULT_18_AND_OVER
And Many More On The Way!
Yes, you are responsible for proper hoof-care throughout the term of your rental. Horses must be shod every 8 weeks to prevent injury to the horse.
Renters are responsible for paying for veterinary care throughout the term of your rental. Please call the main office at (303) 442-0258 or our horse manager, who’s number will be provided upon completion of the contract.
You need to call our main office at (303) 442-0258 ahead of time to schedule a pick-up date.
You need to call our main office at (303) 442-0258 ahead of time to schedule a pick-up date. You also need to have current health papers, provided by your local veterinarian, no older than thirty days from the pickup date. Renters are responsible for the cost of return health papers.
Yes. Injury or death to horses results in a fine starting at $800.00 to full replacement value of the horse at $15,000.00. Equipment fine starts at $25.00 for a halter, $40.00 for blankets and bridles, and $800 for a saddle.
Typically no, but this is taken on a case-by-case basis. Most of the horses will be needed to fulfill other contracts during hunting season.
This is also taken on a case-by-case basis. We need to make sure your equipment will fit the horse properly to reduce the risk of saddle sores and soring the horse.
We have not trained our horses to load in a two-horse or smaller trailer, we recommend a four-horse or stock type trailer.
We only offer single season rentals, unless you have a current outfitter’s license. With your single season rental, you may have your horse for up to ten days for rifle seasons.
Your contract is assigned a horse camp, which is provided on the top of the page. You need to call your designated horse camp to schedule a pick-up time. All pick-ups MUST meet at the same location as the drop-off.
Colorado boasts on the of most treacherous landscape and trying weather of any other state, as such we provide renters a twelve-hour time window of when your horse will arrive or be picked up. We understand the inconvenience this could lend, and as always, we attempt to making our deliveries and pick-ups as quickly as possible. Please be understanding and patient! A bad day hunting is still better than being at work!
Due to the high volume of hunting horse rentals, it is impossible for us to gather, saddle, load, and drive to your location before 11 am. Thankfully our employees work incredibly hard all season long to provide you with the best service we can. If you need your horses before 11 am, please plan on arriving a day early and requesting your horses be delivered the day before.
A barefoot horse walking on hard rocky trails will bruise their foot very easily. Call your assigned horse camp on the contract and arrange for an exchange, or for the shoe to be replaced.
If it is a life-threatening emergency, call 911. Then, call your designated horse-camp and arrange for the horses to be picked up.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HORSES! Sometimes locations of designated spots get lost in translation, and horses risk getting left in locations for long periods of time before being found. Be patient, we are on our way to get your horses from you, then you can leave.
Our staff will transport you and your hunting party and all your gear to one of our established drop camp locations, where we drop you off and return, upon your request, to pack you out at the end of your stay. All four drop camps are in Game Management Unit 12 of the Routt National Forest.
GMUs are used to allocate game management and hunting locations. Each year, only a designated number of hunting tags are released per GMU, this prevents over-hunting in specific areas.
For the state of Colorado, you can apply for a hunting license, following this link: http://cpw.state.co.us/buyapply/pages/hunting.aspx
We recommend a sleeping bag and a comfortable pillow. You are also welcome to bring sheets and blankets, our mattresses are anywhere from a twin size to queen size.
The only thing you can expect with Colorado weather is for it to be unpredictable. Bring cold weather clothes including a waterproof jacket, gloves, stocking cap, long-johns, wool socks and any other cold weather item. In warm or cold weather, we recommend wearing a long-sleeve, collared, button-up shirt; at the high altitudes of Colorado, and extended periods of time in the sunshine, getting a sunburn is hardly unavoidable. We also recommend, to protect you from the elements, a cowboy hat with a good brim for sun protection, chaps or leather leggings to protect your legs from saddle sores, leather gloves to prevent sunburn, we highly encourage clean socks, and multiple pairs of underwear!
When you are here, we treat you like family, this means, everyone sleeps in bunk houses. Our Horse Drive Coordinator does an excellent job pairing roommates and assigning housing for the week. You should expect bunk beds, with the double mattress to sleep on, and the top bunk for storing your things. A few guests in the “Red Roof Inn,” will have a private room like a hotel with a sink, shower and two queen size beds. Guests are also welcome to book their own accommodations in town, but please know you will need to provide your own vehicle transport to the ranch each day./p>
Unfortunately, due to the large number of guests visiting the ranch, our cooks are not able to accommodate specialized diets.
With hard work comes hearty food. The cowboy way is meat and potatoes, and luckily, we add in a few of the fluffy greens as well. Each meal, you should expect to have these food groups, as well as a delicious dessert!
No, and you will thank us later! We bring you back to the ranch that night, feed you a big supper, and you can fall into bed for peaceful rest!
During the drive you will ride sixty miles in two days. The other three days at the ranch, you will ride between fifteen and twenty miles. Making the total seventy-five to eighty miles in the five days you are with us!
No, and here’s why… we will be traveling over seventy miles in just five short days, in challenging terrain, with unfamiliar horses, and in a unique situation. While you are with us, you will be assigned two different horses, which you will alternate between as one horse cannot complete the whole week carrying a rider. Your horse will likely not be acclimated to the terrain we encounter, watching for holes, high altitude, deep sand, and rattle-snakes. You will also be surrounded by five hundred or more unfamiliar horses, with a strict pecking order, thus requiring special accommodations for your horse, which we are unable to provide. Finally, our horses are a unique type of horse, as they are perfectly comfortable in large herd situation, and remain calm under the pressure of carrying a rider near a loose herd. We hope you enjoy the chance to ride a different horse, and the learning opportunity that comes with it!
Yes of course! Though please understand, we will have to make sure it will fit the horse you are riding, so horse and rider can ride proudly to the finish line!
Absolutely, but please make sure you get a return label to mail your saddle back home!
We have horses for all weights, including larger horses for larger people. Though, it is generally recommended that persons over three hundred pounds do not ride. Each guest is the best judge of his or her abilities to stay balanced in the saddle and on the horse.
Although completely optional, our guides appreciate a tip in recognition of great service.
We are located thirteen miles north of Craig, Colorado. The closest airport to our ranch is the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, in Hayden, Colorado. We do provide rides to and from the airport and can schedule arrivals once an application is filled out.
Address of the airport 11005 Co Rd 51A, Hayden, CO 81639
We ride rain or shine! Regardless of the weather, we must get the work done. Please bring plenty of warm and water-proof clothing despite the weather forecast!
We love families at Sombrero, as we are a family business! Although, due to the difficult nature of the drive, children must be fourteen years of age to attend and have a parent or legal guardian in attendance with them. The oldest guest we have had is seventy-six, but this is a matter of your physical fitness and determination!
Planning a Better Trip for You and Your Horse!
USE CAUTION WITH PELLETS AND CUBED FEED. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PELLETIZED FEED.
First, the horse should be assessed for how dirty he/she is; leaving mud, leaves or foreign objects on their backs while they are saddled can lead to soring and even misbehavior! Once their backs have been cleaned, check the blanket and pad to ensure they have not fallen in the dirt. Place the blanket closest to the horse’s skin and the thicker pad on top. The front fold of the blanket should be in line with the horse’s shoulder. The pad and blanket have a natural tendency to move backwards throughout the day, so be sure to keep an eye on it, and adjust as necessary.
Next, the saddle and cinch should be inspected for dirt, twigs, etc. that are stuck in cinches. The saddle should be placed just behind the front shoulder. The cinch should go under the horse’s belly, from right to left, and attach on the left side (or driver’s side). The cinch should sit just behind the front armpits of the horse, but not rub them.
The latigo should be tightened where is it comfortable, but not painful for the horse. A good way to measure if it is tight enough is by sliding your fingers between the horse’s body and cinch. If you are still able to get your fingers between them, then it is suitable.
Bridling is not always the easiest task, but if you treat the horses gently, and avoid fighting them, you will find it is easier than you think. For a complete tutorial on how to properly bridle a horse, please follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWTIxh9eURE
Please follow the guidelines below to help prevent soring your horse:
Do not over-pack, ride double, or ride and pack horses at the same time. Overworking horses will cause soring, lameness, and in some cases colic.
Use both the saddle pad and blanket provided for you during your rental. Be mindful that the equipment stays in the proper location throughout the day. More importantly ensure that your saddle is not rubbing on the horse’s withers, armpits or back.
Proper adjustment of the cinch will reduce the risk of cinch soring. For guidance on the tightness of a cinch, see the section on saddling your horse. Balance your weight on the horse’s back evenly. Ensure that your stirrups are the same length and you are centered in the horse’s back.
When using saddle panniers, carefully balance a load, proving it is even. Uneven loads will lean to once side, causing rubbing and soring.
DO NOT PACK MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED (200) POUNDS PER HORSE.
This means, one hundred (100) pounds per side. When using panniers, make sure the saddle has been adjusted properly and both the pad and blanket are in the correct spot. Pack the panniers with the heaviest objects on the bottom, and fill the tops with the lightest objects.
DO NOT put sharp objects in the panniers, this includes, but not limited to: unsheathed knives and axes, antlers, and hanging forks. Should a horse accidently slip on a trail, sharp objects can puncture saddle panniers and injure the horse.
DO NOT pack an entire elk, deer, or antelope on a single horse at ANY time. A horse can carry two hind quarters OR two front quarters and back strap, at one time.
EVERY night, horses must be unsaddled and unbridled. Your horse may ONLY have a halter on at night, to ensure they receive optimal rest. Upon returning to camp, your horse must be watered promptly. Allow adequate time for the horse to drink to contentment. Some horses feel vulnerable drinking water in a new location, be patient, and allow them to have multiple attempts at water as they adapt to their surroundings. The next priority is ensuring horses get enough to eat. If you are feeding pelletized or cubed hay, it must have soaked in water at least an hour prior to feeding. Cubes, pellets, and hay should all be separated into multiple plies to prevent fighting. CAUTION SHOULD BE USED WHEN FEEDING PELLETS, AS THEY CAN CAUSE CHOKING.
We recommend that when feeding horses on the ground, lengthen their lead ropes until they are finished eating, then before evening shorten the lead ropes again.
DO NOT tie horses to fallen dead trees, that if spooked they could drag or move.
DO NOT tie horses under or to trees that could fall if pulled, or in strong winds.
DO NOT tie horses to vehicles, camping equipment such as a tent, the ground or any other unsecured, breakable, or dangerous objects.
Our horses are not trained to load in straight load, or small trailers, such as two horse trailers. If you plan on picking up your horses, and hauling, please provide a larger stock trailer.
When unloading you horse, always untie them before opening the trailer door. Allow the horses to back off the trailer and take their time stepping down from the elevated deck
When loading the horses, do not use constant pressure when leading. It is a give and take relationship. Face them towards the trailer, give a small tug, then release. Do not fight them, few can win a tug-of-war against a 1,200-pound animal.
DO NOT leave a horse in the trailer over-night.
DO NOT travel for longer than eight hours, without unloading the horse, and giving them the chance to rest and eat.
IN CASE OF NATURAL DISASTER, PHYSICAL HARM, OR OTHER LIFE-THREATENING EMERGENCIES, call 911.
To arrange for return of your horses: Call the Sombrero phone number on your contract to notify a horse pick up is needed. Return horse to location that it was dropped off at. STAY with horse until Sombrero Ranches, Inc. arrives.
