At Cheley, horseback riding isn’t just something campers sign up for; it’s a way they grow. From first-time riders learning the basics in the ring to experienced campers heading out on long trail rides, overnights, and backcountry pack trips, riding at Cheley is thoughtful, progressive, and rooted in real relationships with horses, with people, and with the land.
It’s also one of the largest and most established horseback riding programs in the country, shaped by deep experience, year-round care, and a belief that how we ride matters just as much as where we go.
Our Horses, Our Responsibility
Cheley is home to more than 140 horses, and we own and care for every one of them. That means we know our horses well: their personalities, their strengths, and what they need to stay healthy and happy. They’re thoughtfully shod, regularly evaluated, and supported by experienced professionals who know them as individuals, not just as part of a program.
During the off-season, our horses head to a trusted ranch for additional rest and care before returning for the summer. Horse care at Cheley isn’t seasonal; it’s a year-round commitment rooted in respect. Our goal is always a program that’s good for campers and good for horses because one depends on the other.
Riding That Grows With Campers
Horseback riding at Cheley is designed for all experience levels, from campers who have never ridden before to those who arrive with years in the saddle. Campers are supported at their own pace, with instruction and horses thoughtfully matched to each rider. Campers can choose from a variety of riding experiences, including ring rides, trail rides, overnights, and TE pack trips. Using Cheley’s FunPlus® sign-up system, campers decide how often they want to ride.
Some campers choose to ride four to five times per week (and sometimes every day). Others ride occasionally or not at all. Both choices are supported. Horseback riding is always an opportunity, never a requirement. This isn’t a pony ride or a quick loop around camp. It’s a flexible, progressive riding program that meets campers where they are and lets them grow from there.
Strings: Learning Through Consistency
Each unit at Cheley rides with a consistent group of horses, known as their string. Riding the same horses over time helps campers build familiarity and trust. They learn that every horse communicates differently and that good riding starts with paying attention, adapting, and showing care. The scope and sequence of riding experiences are customized to each unit, so expectations and responsibility naturally grow as campers do.
The Riding Patch (RP): Going Deeper for Interested Campers
For campers who want to explore horsemanship more deeply, Cheley offers the Riding Patch (RP). The RP is an optional recognition that encourages campers to learn and demonstrate knowledge around riding, safety, and horse care. It’s not competitive; instead, it rewards curiosity, effort, and growth, giving campers a sense of pride in what they’ve learned.
Beyond the Saddle
Some of the most meaningful learning at Cheley happens off the trail. Campers spend time grooming horses, helping with care routines, learning about horse behavior and anatomy, and taking on responsibility during overnights. These quieter moments reinforce an essential lesson: riding well starts with care, patience, and respect.
Experienced Leadership, Thoughtful Training
Cheley’s horseback riding program is guided by a year-round Ranch Manager, supported during the summer by a Wrangler Coordinator, Head of Barn Crew, and a team of trained wranglers and barn crew. Our Ranch Manager, Nicole, brings a lifetime of experience with horses across multiple riding disciplines, along with formal training in animal science, farrier work, and equine bodywork. Her leadership shapes everything from horse care to staff training to the day-to-day rhythm of the barns.
Wranglers complete extensive pre-summer training focused on horsemanship, safety, youth development, and mentorship. Rides are always guided by trained wranglers who lead, follow, and stay attentive to both riders and horses throughout the experience. Wranglers are counselors first, people who know how to support campers through challenge, growth, and responsibility.
Riding With Respect for the Land
Riding at Cheley also means learning how to care for the places we ride. Cheley works closely with public land partners to responsibly guide horseback riding experiences in and around Rocky Mountain National Park and surrounding national forests. Campers learn respectful riding practices, stewardship, and a deep appreciation for protected landscapes, values that carry far beyond camp.
Why It Matters
At its heart, horseback riding at Cheley is about more than learning how to ride. It’s about responsibility practiced daily. Confidence built through trust. And growth that comes from partnership with horses, with peers, and with the natural world. For many campers, these moments become the ones they remember most, long after the trail dust settles.
