Greetings,
fellow horse lovers!

Ricochet horses and wranglers have sure been having fun lately in video shoots and promotional photos! Poncho, our 17 hand high Pinto with Angela riding along with Rascal and me in the surf, is featured on the cover of VisitMendocino.com's 2015 fold-out brochure, which is a great honor. And just last weekend, Carolyn on Victory and Gina on Virshima joined with Ingmar Dorn's family to ride with Carri Wilbanks and me for a video which will air on USA Today Online and MCNBC Online, again arranged by VisitMendocino.com.

Coming Summer 2015: Leigh Ann Lindsey's online show about the cool things you can do, and where you can go, in Mendocino County. Featuring recreational activities that range from kayaking, fishing and diving to cycling, botanical gardens and horseback riding, you'll see Ricochet Ridge front and center. Yup, Rascal got to canter in the surf again! And he wasn't even fazed by the video drone flown by John Birchard. We're in one of the short videos already up on YouTube: “Riding on the Beach.”

When the Best of America by Horseback TV program featured us, they asked: Which do I prefer, riding the spectacular beach along a wild Pacific surf, crossing through a vast cattle ranch overlooking the ocean, meandering under magnificent ancient redwood forests, or a long canter to the top of the coastal mountain range to take in 360 degree views? Truly, we don't have to decide. We can taste it all in one day, or explore it deeply for days on end. Local land owners welcome our appreciative riders on their trails. World class art galleries, exciting kayaking and fishing experiences, fine local dining, ten State Parks between Elk and Westport plus the largest State Forest in California (see our activities page)... no wonder travel writers have their conventions here! Add in an afternoon or day of wine tasting... away from the madding crowd, here you can enjoy both peace and excitement in unspoiled magnificence.

Great news for folks on our Redwood Coast Riding Vacations! No longer will you have to drive for a half hour every morning and every evening to commute between your place of lodging and Ricochet Ridge Ranch! Plus, you'll have gorgeous ocean views and be able to walk right out your door onto the beach.

The Beachcomber and Pacific Coast Trail trestle, with Fort Bragg beyond Nothing between your room and the ocean but headlands and sand.

You could actually ride a bike or hike through MacKerricher State Park to the our stables, or walk right down to the spectacular Glass Beach and the newly opened Pacific Coast Trail. Your drive will take three minutes. Over the years, many of our guests have told us how much they enjoyed lodging at the Beachcomber, Surf & Sand, and Beach House inns, now under one management.

Relax after a long day of riding, listening to the soothing rhythmic roar of the Pacific Ocean. Gather with other guests on the beachfront “Captain's Deck.” And now you'll have Wi-Fi Internet in every room, as well as a guest laundry facility, two amenities which have often been requested. Upgrades to rooms with jetted tub or hot tub spas are available.

RIDE WITH US

Lari and Rascal surfing

If you dream of riding with us again, or haven't ridden with us at Ricochet Ridge Ranch, we can offer you several wonderful alternatives. Our favorite, the week-long Redwood Coast Riding Vacations, are an indulgence of great riding, redwoods as well as beaches, plus comfortable near-by accommodations, brilliant food, and all the benefits of a sojourn on the Mendocino Coast. One price includes lodging, riding every day, fine dining each evening, convenient hot tub spas and massage, a party on Friday night, snacks, beverages and a ton of camaraderie. Our guests join us mid-afternoon on Monday, and depart after breakfast on Sunday morning. The complete itinerary, and more information can be found on our website.

The price for the six night vacation is $2,395 per person, double or triple occupancy, all inclusive. $425 additional for single occupancy. Returning Redwood Coast Riding Vacation clients are welcome to $100 off!

Although our regularly scheduled week-long vacations are during the six summer months, we are happy to arrange custom treks of any duration or full Redwood Coast Riding Vacations at any time during the year.

Rascal overlooking the Inn at Newport Ranch

For those of you who want the full experience of the Redwood Coast Riding Vacation's riding itinerary, but prefer to arrange your own evening meals, we offer the “Ride & Save Redwood Coast Riding Vacation” featuring the exact same riding as on regular RCRV. You'll provide your own evening meals, lunch one day, wine and entertainment.

On all of our riding vacations, those who are interested can and do learn about the sport of endurance. Friday's ride can include a “mock endurance ride”, where we teach you more about sport horse conditioning and veterinary skills. You'll learn to check your horse's cardiac and respiratory recovery rates, capillary refill, skin response, muscle tone and gut sounds, just as is done at a “vet check” on a competitive trail ride, 3 day event, or endurance ride.During the week, we also discuss how to navigate different terrains, demonstrate other endurance related skills, and highlight many of the different riding strategies used by successful riders in the sport.

We can produce custom, magical riding vacations of any duration, from one or two days up to two weeks, with accommodations ranging upwards from $99.00 - 499.00 per night, with or without breakfast, including if you like the Mendo Wine Tour, and suggestions for ocean or river kayaking, golf, hiking trails, free wine tastings and many other local secrets. Of course, if you are going to be in the area already, but don't have time for a full riding vacation, we also offer Daily Trailrides to the Beach and to the Redwood Forests.

Ten Mile Beach Trail Rides

If you can't come for a few days, but you want to ride the surf while watching for whales and seals, join us for a group trail ride any day at 10, 12, 2, or 4. We also offer private one-plus, three, and four hour trail rides, and all-day private trail rides. Redwood rides, too.

RIDE FOR FREE!

And if none of the above entice you... RIDE FOR FREE! Bring 10 friends, and the 11th rides for free on ANY of our private or group trailrides. RIDE FOR 1/2 PRICE! Bring 5 friends and the 6th person rides for 1/2 price on any private trail ride. Ask around at your stables... surely lots of your riding buddies have always wanted to ride in Mendocino and are just waiting for you to get the ball rolling!

And don't forget to follow us on Facebook, where we post fun horse facts, fabulous photos, and share stories of the RRR family - of which you are an important part!

Y'all come!

Happy trails, Lari