Trail Rides

With great thanks, The Marriott Family and Corporation is willing to share their breathtaking private property with the public. Because this is private property, horses owned by The Natural Connection INC. are the only horses permitted to live and work on the property.

Guided western horseback riding is available for many different levels of riders. We cater to majority first time or beginner riders, but we are happy to offer options for riders to advance in their skills or provide a great ride for more experienced guests!
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APRIL THROUGH SEPTEMBER:

CLOSED SOME MONDAYS

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY - 10AM, 12PM AND 2PM Semi-Private or Private

**Occasionally, the trail barn closes to the public due to Special Events that have rented all horses and/or the facility for a specific function.**

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***FALL/WINTER SCHEDULE CHANGES DUE TO DEER HUNTING PROGRAM RUN BY THE MARRIOTT RANCH***

(Deer Hunting October through January)

OCTOBER:

CLOSED SOME MONDAYS

TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY - Rides available between 10 am and 4pm Semi-Private or Private

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NOVEMBER:

CLOSED SOME MONDAYS

TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - 11am and 1pm rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SATURDAYS - 12PM and 2pm rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SUNDAYS - 12PM AND 2PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private

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DECEMBER:

CLOSED SOME MONDAYS

TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - 11am and 1pm rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SATURDAYS - 12PM and 2pm rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SUNDAYS - 12PM AND 2PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private


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JANUARY AND FEBRUARY:

CLOSED EVERY MONDAY

TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - 12pm ride only, Semi-Private or Private

SATURDAYS - 12PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SUNDAYS - 12PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private

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MARCH:

CLOSED EVERY MONDAY

TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY - 12pm ride only, Semi-Private or Private

SATURDAYS - 12PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private

SUNDAYS - 12PM AND 2PM rides only, Semi-Private or Private

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***IMPORTANT-ALL RIDERS, REGARDLESS OF AGE OR EXPERIENCE LEVEL, ARE REQUIRED TO WEAR ASTM-SEI SAFETY APPROVED EQUINE RIDING HELMETS.*** (The trail barn does supply helmets or you may bring your own equine riding helmet. If you are looking to ride without a helmet, please do not book a reservation with us. We must do our best to protect our customers and our business and gently remind our customers that although we are able to control alot of factors, we cannot control mother nature. No bicycle or other helmets are permitted.)

Option 1:
SEMI-PRIVATE TRAIL RIDE - $90 PER PERSON

The Semi-Private Trail Ride is open to any level of rider. The process is 90
minutes, which includes mounting, instruction, the trail ride and
dismount. These trail rides are open to up to 8 riders per trail ride. These
rides are ALL WALK ONLY catering to a mixture of riding levels, primarily
beginners. The more horses there are in line, the more personalities we have to manage, and since horse's naturally have a hierarchy, to be safe, we keep all riders walking on the Semi-Private Trail Ride.



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Option 2:
PRIVATE RIDE - $120 PER PERSON

The Private Ride caters to small groups, as few as one (1) and up to eight (8). The ride time under-saddle is 90 minutes so we ask that riders arrive early. This allows private ride time to be used appropriately for all aspects of the trail ride or session.

**IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE OWNER ABOUT PRIVATE TRAIL RIDES:**

**PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE THESE HORSES ARE PRIVATELY OWNED, WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THEIR CARE AND WELL-BEING. THAT SAID, ALL PRIVATE RIDE PARTICIPANTS ARE ASKED TO BE HONEST WHEN SELECTING THE MOST ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF WHAT TYPE OF TRAIL RIDE IS DESIRED, BASED ON EXPERIENCE LEVEL OF THE INDIVIDUALS.

OPTIONS ARE:
(90 minutes includes mounting, instructions, trail ride and dismount AND please note that there are weight limit restrictions for some Private Trail Rides. Weight limit restrictions are due to only having a certain number of horses that are naturally large enough to carry our highest weight limit of rider at 200-220lbs, safely, at a pace other than a walk, hence we cannot allow large groups to book containing all riders at the maximum weight limit since we simply do not have enough horses to cater to that specific need.)

Please keep in mind that specific horses are selected for specific TYPES of Private Trail Rides, always doing our best to cater to our horses and rider's unique abilities.

1) PRIVACY: One or two people are booking specifically for Privacy, not wanting to ride with the public, enabling more one on one with the Wrangler and a relaxing all-walk trail ride.

2) EDUCATION: One or two people are booking specifically to learn how to Glide (equivalent position to light seat in English disciplines) on the horse while the horse is trotting underneath. An Education trail ride must be taken out by the Owner/Instructor OR by one of the trained Wranglers that have the knowledge of how to teach safely on the trail. WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTION OF 200LBS

3) EDUCATION GROUP: A group of individuals, 4-6 people, are booking specifically to learn how to Glide (equivalent position to light seat in English disciplines) on the horse while the horse is trotting underneath. An Education trail ride must be taken out by the Owner/Instructor OR by one of the trained Wranglers that have the knowledge of how to teach safely on the trail.
WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTION OF 180LBS

4) I AM A RIDER: One or two people are booking specifically because they are looking forward to a more forward trail ride. Trotting and cantering may be done, time, terrain, environment and skill sets permitting. This ride can be taken out by any Wrangler, as guests selecting this option MUST have prior formal training at the post and trot and canter in order to select this option. Wranglers DO NOT TEACH on this trail ride. If a Wrangler finds the skill sets of riders in the group are not balanced and safe, the Wrangler will reduce the ride to the safest pace as per the abilities of the riders in the group.
WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTION OF 200LBS

5) WE ARE RIDERS: Multiple people are booking specifically because they are looking forward to a more forward trail ride. Trotting and cantering may be done, time, terrain, environment and skill sets permitting. This ride can be taken out by any Wrangler, as guests selecting this option MUST have prior formal training at the post and trot and canter in order to select this option. Wranglers DO NOT TEACH on this trail ride. If a Wrangler finds the skill sets of ANY riders in the group are not balanced or safe to be considered good horsemanship, the Wrangler will reduce the ride to the safest pace as per the abilities of the riders in the group. WEIGHT LIMIT RESTRICTION OF 180LBS

IN ORDER TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE, AFTER A TROT SET OR TWO, IF ALL PRIVATE RIDE PARTICIPANTS ARE STILL NOT SHOWING BALANCE AT THE TROT, THE WRANGLER LEADING THE RIDE MAY INFORM THE RIDERS THAT MORE TROTTING OR CANTER IS NOT ADVISEABLE NOR PERMISSABLE. REMEMBER, AN IMBALANCED RIDER BOUNCING ON THE HORSE'S BACK IS PAINFUL FOR NOT JUST THE RIDER, BUT FOR THE HORSE AS WELL.

**THANK YOU FOR HELPING US PUT OUR HORSES & RIDERS SAFETY FIRST.**





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Option 3:
WESTERN TOWN EXPERIENCE - $150.00 PER PERSON
Email to book please-naturalconnectionprogram@gmail.com

Western Town Experience rides are offered occasionally throughout the fall and are open to up to 10 riders. These unique experiences can include grilled food, hot drinks, bonfire, music, and of course, horses in the corral, all gathered in one place, Western Town. Guests will enjoy a trail ride from the trail barn to Western Town, where they will dismount and go enjoy a relaxing meal, dessert by the fire, story telling, roping a cow dummy and then mount up and ride back to the trail barn as the sun is setting. Open to adult beginner riders, this is an all walk trail ride and is particularly popular for couples and groups of friends looking for a memorable experience.

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SPECIALTY RIDE OPTION 3:
TRAIL RIDING IN THE SNOW - $70.00 PER PERSON



Virginia often blesses us with a mild winter and we want to encourage our riders to enjoy the beautiful views that wintertime offers! Even though these rides are essentially a Semi-Private All Walk Trail Ride, they are special in that the scenery is unforgettable! Keep us in mind when you feel a little cabin fever is setting in! Depending on the type of snow and ice conditions, occasionally, these rides are open to more seasoned riders only.