Behind the Ride List: How We Match Guests With Their Horses
1. More than 170 horses- and 170 personalities
Every horse is different, and each has a unique personality. With a herd of more than 170 horses, that means there are quite a few personalities to get to know. Some horses are best buddies, while others have their sworn enemies. Much like people, they form their own friendships and cliques, and those relationships are another factor we consider when creating our ride lists.
Just like horses, people have different personalities and temperaments, so we try to match each guest with a horse that complements them. For example, a loud, outgoing rider with absolutely no fear may not be the best match for a more timid, cautious horse. Finding the right pairing is about more than riding ability; it’s also about understanding how two personalities are likely to work together.
2. It begins with the guest questionnaire
When guests arrive, they complete a questionnaire covering their riding experience, height, weight, age, health status, and whether they have visited the ranch before. This information helps us choose a horse whose size, temperament, and experience level suit each rider.
Personality is only one part of a successful match. For example, we wouldn’t pair someone over six feet tall with one of our smaller horses, even if their personalities seemed perfect for each other. The rider and horse need to complement one another in both personality and build.
That’s why complete and honest answers on the questionnaire are so important. Every piece of information helps us make the best possible match, and there’s never a benefit to overstating your riding experience or leaving out information you think may affect your horse assignment. Our goal isn’t to judge your ability, it’s to pair you with a horse you can feel safe, comfortable, and confident riding. The more accurately we know you, the better we can choose the right horse for you.
3. Creating the ride list
Creating the ride list is a tradition that goes all the way back to the early days of White Stallion Ranch. Even today, the process is still done with paper and pencil… and you should see Russell’s pencil bag setup.
Most often, Russell or Laura takes the list of arriving guests, along with their completed questionnaires, and compares it with the current list of available horses. From there, the matchmaking begins. It can become quite a puzzle when the guest count climbs into the 80s or 90s, especially with so many factors to consider.
Many returning guests request the same horse they rode during a previous stay. Because we get to know our repeat guests, we can often anticipate which horses may be requested in the coming weeks. Of course, horses aren’t machines. They may be injured, resting, or simply in need of some time off, so the list of available horses is always changing.
The process can be time-consuming, but every detail matters when creating the best possible match between horse and rider.
4. From ride list to catch list
Once the matches are made, we confirm that every guest scheduled to ride has signed a waiver. From there, the front desk coordinates with the corral, sharing the names and paperwork for the guests who have signed up for each ride.
With that information, the corral team creates its catch list, a list of the horses that need to be caught, brought down, and saddled for the morning rides. The process is then repeated for the afternoon schedule.
It takes consistent communication between the front office, which manages guest check-ins, ride sign-ups, and paperwork, and the wranglers, who make sure each guest’s horse is caught, saddled, and ready when it’s time to ride. By the time a guest arrives at the corral, a great deal of behind-the-scenes coordination has already taken place.
5. The final check
Even with so much thought behind each pairing, not every match works exactly as expected. If a horse and rider don’t seem comfortable together, our team can make adjustments or switch the pairing. At other times, the most unexpected matches turn out to be the very best, so we always remain open-minded about the partnerships we create.
By the end of their stay, many guests have become deeply attached to their four-legged teammate, and they often remember that horse when planning their next visit. Returning guests are always welcome to request a favorite horse, although we can’t guarantee the match. Another guest may already be paired with that horse, or may have requested the same beloved partner from a previous stay. Our horses are quite popular, after all.
The connection goes both ways. Our horses often recognize their returning guests, making a reunion at the corral an especially meaningful way to begin another stay at White Stallion Ranch.
6. The result
All of this care and coordination has one goal: to help every guest feel safe, comfortable, and confident with their assigned horse. As the rides continue, that confidence often grows into a genuine partnership. Guests return to the corral excited to see their buddy, saddle up, and head back out together through the Sonoran Desert.