SUMMER LONG TERM HORSE RENTAL DATES: | Please call for pricing |
Summer Horse Rental Dates: | May 23 – September 11 |
Summer Horse Extension: | September 12 – November 15 |
SADDLES AND TACK, HEALTH PAPERS AND SHOES | |
Saddle and tack rental: Western stock saddle, blanket, pad, halter with lead rope, and bridle | $100.00/ set |
Out-of-state or board barn rentals require health papers and brand inspection, a ten to fourteen day prior notice is required. ***This is a legal requirement if horse is taken outside Colorado. Renter responsible for furnishing return health papers through local veterinarian. |
$100.00*** |
ALL HORSES COME WITH SHOES. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RENTER TO MAINTAIN SHOEING AND HOOFCARE. PLEASE SEE SOMBRERO RANCHES, INC./COLORADO HORSES, INC. POLICY ON HORSE CARE AND FEED REQUIREMENTS (BELOW). |
No deliveries or pickups will be made the weekends of Memorial Day or Labor Day.
Summer horse rentals may be extended through November 15th for an additional fee. The rent extension is due, and payable by September 1st. Please call us if extensions or other arrangements are necessary.
- Travel Fees:
The delivery of summer horses costs $4.50 per loaded mile. For exchanges, see horse exchange policy below. - OUT-OF-STATE RENTALS OR PRIVATE BOARD BARNS:
Horses leaving Colorado or going to private board barns will be charged an additional $100.00 per horse, to cover health and brand papers as required by law. Please let us know within ten to fourteen days prior if your rental horses will be leaving the state of Colorado. Also, please be aware that the renter is responsible for supplying current health papers, and EIA testing (Coggins Test) papers if necessary, at the renter’s expense, for the return of horses to Colorado. - INJURED OR DAMAGED HORSES:
We take the health of our horses seriously. If horses are returned injured–or discovered to be injured in the course of the rental–so as to be unusable for the remainder of summer season (September 17th) or hunting season (August to November 20th), the renter will be charged $800.00 for each injured or damaged horse. This includes wither sores, kidney sores, and/or other damage.
If injury of the horse is permanent, or if death of a horse should occur, the renter will pay $4000.00-$15,000.00, per horse, at owner discretion.
Sombrero Ranches, Inc. d/b/a Colorado Horses, Inc. reserves the right to remove horses at our discretion at any time during your contract due to neglect, misuse, abuse, or lack of timely payments.
- HORSE EXCHANGE POLICY:
Sombrero Ranches, Inc./Colorado Horses, Inc, must be notified within the first week of any horse delivery for horse problems or exchange needs, and delivery fees will apply. After one week, replacement horses will not be available. - SELECTING HORSES:
After entering into a rental contract with Sombrero Ranches, Inc./Colorado Horses, Inc., we will select your horses for you.
*New clients are asked to come to the ranch to view and ride your horses(s) so that you are comfortable with our selection. Please call one week prior to delivery to schedule your appointment. - PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
We have established the following three payment policies. It is at Sombrero’s discretion which policy we use for each customer; all first-year customers will be put on policy number two. - Payment Policy #1:
One third will be due with contract to reserve horses. One third will be due July 1st. One third will be due August 1st (or as approved by Colorado Horses, Inc.) - Payment Policy #2:
Payment in full prior to June 1st.
If your payments are not received by the 5th of the month (or five days following the due date), Sombrero Ranches, Inc./Colorado Horses, Inc., reserves the right to, AND WILL, immediately remove the rented horse(s) from the renter’s possession. All summer horse rentals must be paid in full by August 1st. Sombrero Ranches, Inc./Colorado Horses, Inc. will charge one percent interest per month on overdue or delinquent accounts.
For more information on summer horse rental availability, please fill out the form on our FAQs&Forms page, and return it to our office by mail or email.
SUMMER SHORT TERM HORSE RENTALS
SUMMER SHORT TERM RENTAL, MAY TO JULY: | PER HORSE |
Please call for information concerning short term horse rentals, as pricing and availably dependent on use and number of horses needed. | |
ALL HORSES MUST BE PAID FOR, IN FULL, UPON PICKUP. *All short-term prices include saddles and tack. Please see short-term delivery policy below for delivery fees. |
- SUMMER HORSE, SHORT-TERM RENTAL:
No short term rental deliveries are available. Renter is responsible for providing transportation for their horses. SRI also reserve the right to refuse horse rental or delivery for any reason we deem reasonable, and appropriate. - FALL RENTALS:
Please see our HUNTING page for additional information on our fall rental rate for both individuals and outfitters.
HORSE FEEDING AND CARE RECOMMENDATIONS
Planning a Better Trip for You and Your Horse!
- FEEDING
A horse requires at least thirty (30) pounds of quality hay per day. As a company policy we also recommend that you feed six (6) pounds of grain per day. This ensure the horses are full and they have enough energy to last the day. When feeding, each horse will need their own separate serving of hay, to prevent fighting, and possible injury. Bigger horses require more feed. If you have a large draft size animal, they need at minimum thirty-five (35) pounds of quality hay. - Important things to know:
- BLM, Wilderness, and National Forest Service all require certified weed-free hay.
- Wilderness lands DO NOT allow bales of hay to be brought in, only cubed feed.
USE CAUTION WITH PELLETS AND CUBED FEED. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND PELLETIZED FEED.
- FEEDING CUBED AND PELLETIZED FEED
Cubed and pelleted feeds can be used, if they are soaked in water, for at least an hour, prior to feeding. This does require the use of a bucket, or water holding device, as well as easy access to water. To know how much to feed each horse, read manufacturer’s instructions on packaging. The average horse weighs 1000 pounds with draft size horses reaching 1400 pounds. Horses must be fed twice a day, and cubes or pellets must be rehydrated prior to every feeding. - WATERING
A horse MUST be watered at least three (3) times per day, and more often if you are using them. Horses refusing to drink should be monitored carefully and given more opportunities to drink. The key to keeping your horses healthy during your trip is to ensure they have access to clean water, often. - SADDLING
It is important to saddle your horse properly not only for the safety of the horse, but your safety as well.
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
TO AVOID SADDLE SORES OR SORING
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 the load, to make sure it is even. Uneven loads will lean to one side, causing rubbing and soring.
PACKING HORSES, LOADING AND HAULING GEAR ON HORSEBACK
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.
NIGHT TIME PROCEDURES
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.
- EACH NIGHT
Check your horse’s back for hot spots, sores, or rub marks on their back, withers, and over their kidneys. If a horse has started to develop any AREAS OF CONCERN, immediately discontinue use, as these can take weeks to heal. - CONTAINING HORSES AT NIGHT
The National Forest Service, BLM and Wilderness areas require the use of high-lines for tying horses. Information on this can be found in the “Back Country Horsemen of America Guidebook.” When tying your horses, use a quick release, slip knot. This ensures if an incident happens you can easily release the horse from the tie. Tie your horse short enough that it is unable to step over the lead rope, or get tangled up with others, but long enough to be able to rest head and small movements.
We recommend that when feeding horses on the ground, lengthen their lead ropes until they are finished eating, then 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.
- TRAILERING
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.
- GENERAL INFORMATION
Please take the time to get to know the rental horses that will be under your care by asking our staff any questions that you may have. The best time to do this is when your horses are dropped off, or if you come to pick them up. - EMERGENCY PLAN
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. DO NOT abandon your horse.
- HOW TO RESERVE YOUR HORSES
To reserve your horses, we must receive a completed contract and deposit. Please download the hunting horse rental contract at: www.sombrerohorses.com/faqs-forms/