RULES, WAIVER & FAQ

• Do I Need a Reservation? 

  • • Yes ALL rides are by reservation only! We canNOT accept walkins

• I have not received a confirmation for my ride...

  • • If you have not received a confirmation for your ride, text or call 231-839-2164. 

• Why are Holidays more expensive?

  • • The increased Holiday costs helps offset increased demand and the time we miss spending with our families on these special occasions.

• Do you offer Lessons? 

  • • No! But we do recommend contacting Bridgett at 231-709-2689

• Do you Board horses?

  • • No

• I dont want to ride but can i come just to see the horses?

  • • Yes you can, this is still by reservation but we love to share our beautiful heard with others. A waiver is still required.

👤 Who Needs to Sign

• Anyone 18 or older must sign a waiver to visit or ride.

  • If your spouse or spouse & minor children will be joining you, both may sign one waiver together upon arrival.

• For minors or legal wards: 

  • If a minor or legal ward is participating and a parent or legal guardian will not be attending, that parent must complete and sign the waiver online before the ride.

  • If both parents share legal custody, either parent may sign the waiver, unless custody terms require both signatures.

🚶 Sign in Person

Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to sign your waiver before your ride. If you are late this will cut into your ride time

• If a minor is attending and NO parent/guardian will be present, waiver will need to be signed online by a parent/legal guardians ( Unless custody requires both parents/legal guardian, them both will need to sign). 

💻 Sign Online

• Signing for yourself or yourself & Minors?  Click here for the online waiver

• Please note: We do not split payments for group bookings. If your group would like to pay separately, each party must book under a separate reservation. Thank you for your understanding!

• Due to an increase in no-shows and the significant time, preparation, and resources required to plan each ride, 50% of the payment will now be due at the time of booking. Please note that payments are non-refundable in the event of a no-show or same-day cancellation.

• Please also note that you are responsible for paying for each person you reserved for unless you notify the stable ahead of time. (See FAQ)

📲 Payment Options

We accept the following payment methods through Square:

✅ Debit & Credit Cards (Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AmEx)

✅ Cash App Pay

✅ Apple Pay & Google Pay

✅ Tap-to-Pay

📌 A 4% service fee is added to all digital payments to help cover processing costs.

A repeat Customer? if you are a repeat customer and prefer to pay with Cash. Contact stable 

You are responsible for paying for the number of riders you reserved for. Unless you notify CJ's Stable in advance by 12 pm the day before your reservation. This is because we schedule our guides and resources based on your reservation to ensure the best experience for everyone. 

ALL RIDRES ARE WEATHER PERMITTING

If conditions are not safe or ideal we will have to cancel/reschedule your ride. 

There are no charges when rides are canceled/rescheduled due to weather

• • We do not ride if it is very windy, this is due to the safety of you and the horses. Branches and trees could fall on the trail. 

  • We do not ride if it is pouring rain. thundering or lightening ( we will ride in a light rain if it is warm)

  • We do not ride if the temp is 85+ degrees (Humidity is a factor) or below 15 degrees, we like to let our horses rest on these days and its not enjoyable for the rider's either

  • we DO NOT ride if the conditions are ICY for the horses safety and your safety

What happens if it starts to rain while on a ride?

• If it starts raining we can continue the ride. If it starts thundering or lightening, we will turn back and head to the barn.

We reserve the right to remove any rider we believe could endanger themselves or others. We also may cancel rides if we have safety concerns.

We do not permit Smoking on the premises. 

Drugs & Alcohol Are not permited at our stable. If you are under the influence of drugs, alcohol or intoxicants. you will not be able to ride and will not receive a refund 

We are open all year 🌷☀️🍂❄️weather permitting, except during hunting/rifle 🦌 season. 

Holidays

We ask all riders to arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled ride time to check-in, to Sign waivers and go over instructions.  If you are late this will cut into your ride time, We need to be respectful of our guides and horses time. If you need to use the restrrom or change clothing please make sure you arrive giving yourself enough time to do so. 

If you are booked with other riders, you may miss your ride there will be no refund for this.

No Calls/No Shows will be charged the full ride price.

• We understand that plans can change and that weather can be unpredictable. If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please do so by 12 pm (noon) the day before your reservation for a refund. 

• In the case of inclement weather, we’re happy to reschedule your ride at no additional charge, or we can provide a full refund. 

• No-shows and last-minute cancellations will be charged the full booking amount. 

• However, we do understand that emergencies happen, so if you reach out to us before your appointment, we’ll do our best to work with you

We are located between Lake CIty & Manton, MI 

7216 W. Walker Rd Manton, MI 49663

CJ's Stable is approx 5 min from Lake city, 25 min from Cadillac, and 45 min from Houghton Lake and Traverse City.

When you arrive. Go to the Red CJ's Stable Barn. Please do not walk around and go to that back of the barn to pets horses. Go in the barn to sign waivers. 

Reminder please arive at least 15 minutes before your reservation. If you need to use the restroom or change clothes. Make sure you arrive with enough time to do so. 

Yes! We have a porta-potty conveniently located right next to our check-in barn. We recommend arriving a little early so you have plenty of time to use it before your ride. 

• I have riding experience, do I still need to follow the rules?

  • • Yes, absolutely. Even if you have years of experience, our trail guides’ instructions are there to keep everyone safe and to ensure the horses remain comfortable. We kindly ask that all riders, regardless of experience level, follow our guidelines and listen to the guides on the trail ride. If you do not follow the rules you will not be able to ride or if you are on the trail you will be asked to dismount and walk. 

• Is there a weight limit?

  • • Yes see below for details, but max BMI 34 ( Rider must be able to mount & dismount horse on their own) 

• Do horses really have a max weight they can carry?

  • • YES! horses should only carry 20% of their body weight 

example a horse that weights 1100 lbs should only carry 220 lbs on their back. This is why we have weight restrictions. we do have a variety of horses which allow us to accomodate a large weight range. 

• I really want to go on a trail ride but am not physically able to, are there options?

  • • Yes! we offer wagon rides. 

We can take the wagon and join the rest of your group on the trail ride. This MUST be scheduled in advance

• Do I need Experience?

  • • No, but you do need to be able to mount and dismount your own horse, follow instructions and control your own horse. We do offer led riders  (a guide will walk your horse) for those that are younger and even adults who may not be confident

For your safety Helmets are required and are provided by CJ's Stable. 

If you do have your own helmet you are welcome to bring your own ASTM F1163-Standard and SEI-certified helmet. 

(Winter- Wear a thin hat to fit under the helmet, make sure your hat does not have a yarn ball on top)

Do I really have to wear a helmet? YES this is for each riders safety

Riders are required to Follow instructions & control own horse (OR reserve a guide to walk the horse for an additional cost ). 

For the safety and enjoyment of all our riders, we kindly ask that all participants follow the instructions given by our trail guides. If a rider is unable to follow instructions or safely control their horse, our guides reserve the right to adjust the ride as needed, which may include ending the ride early. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation to ensure a positive experience for everyone!

Riders MUST be able to sit straight and balanced on a horse to ride, and be able to hang on to the horses reins

Required ✅

Closed-toe shoes are required. 

Suggested 

Full Length Pants 👖are recommended ( but not required ), In the summer we also suggest bug spray. 

DO NOT Wear ❌

 Skirts, dresses 👗,  sandals 🩴, high heels 👠 

Cell phones or Cameras

Make sure your cell phone is on silent during the ride. If you bring a cell phone or camera they must be secured. if you drop them during the ride we may not be able to stop for them. If you do have your cell phone make sure you are paying attention to riding and not turned around in the saddle taking pictures. 

Riders MUST be able to mount & dismount on their own we use a standard 3 step mounting block 

Rider must beable to put their foot in the stirrup and pull their right leg over the back of the saddle. If Rider cant mount the horse on their own they will not be eligible to ride.

If you have any questions please contact us 231-839-2164

If you do not think you are physically capable of mounting a horse on your own. Please contact stable to see if you may be able to join the trail ride with your group by wagon.

Do I have to use a mounting block to get on? 

• YES! We require ALL riders to use a mounting block and have assistance when getting on their horse. This is for both your safety and the horses comfort. Please wait for our staff to assist you -- We will make sure you are all set before you mount or dismount. 

Can we trot, Canter, gallop, or run?

NO. Our trail rides are at a walk only. 

If you trot/Canter/gallop/run during a trail ride you will be asked to dismount your horse 

• Do you offer Hot Chocolate in the Winter ?

  • • Yes, we do! We’re happy to offer hot chocolate for everyone on our sleigh rides. We just ask that parents help their children when preparing or pouring their cups

• Can we bring our own beverage?

  • • Yes! We do provide hot chocolate during our sleigh rides, but guests are more than welcome to bring their own non-alcoholic beverages. Just a couple of quick notes: please avoid bringing any glass containers and remember to take any garbage with you when you leave. Thanks for helping us keep everything tidy and enjoy your ride

• Do you provide blankets

  • • We do offer some blankets, but guests are welcome to bring their own. 

• Is there a fire pit at the end of the ride in the winter?

  • • Yes! In the winter we offer a cozy propane fire pit that provides a quick, warm spot for anyone who wants to relax for a bit after the sleigh ride. If you’d like to hang out a little longer or enjoy any snacks you’ve brought along, you’re more than welcome to do so. 

For everyone’s safety and comfort, we ask that all guests remain seated with arms and legs inside the wagon or sleigh at all times. Please do not stand up or attempt to get off during the ride. We will make a few stops to let the horses rest, but everyone should remain seated during these breaks as well.

Also, if you bring along any items like snacks or drinks, please be sure to take all your garbage with you at the end of the ride. We appreciate your help in keeping our sleighs and wagons tidy for everyone!