OPEN RIDES AT THE FAIRGROUNDS
If you are interested in open riding at the fairgrounds, check the reservation calendar for open ride times.
The cost of open riding is $10 per adult per day in the indoor arena, and youths under 18 ride for free with a paying adult. The fairgrounds offers free open riding in three outdoor arenas, weather permitting, if those arenas have not been reserved for an event or other activity. During the months of October through March, the indoor arena will have some designated open ride times to accommodate winter riding, and the outdoor covered arena will remain available 24/7 for open riding, unless reserved for other activities or maintenance. If you are interested in open riding, please check in advance to make sure these spaces are available for open riding.
Rules for open riding
- Enter the arena at your own risk! Ride at your own risk!
- No alcohol. No glass containers. No smoking while riding, nor within 15 feet of any building.
- No roping or use of steers, other animals, or “hot heels” are allowed during open rides.
- Open riding is for pleasure and flat work only. No racing barrel racing, poles, ponying, jumping or trick riding allowed in the arenas during open riding, unless all other riders present agree.
- Clean up after your horses inside the arena and throughout the fairgrounds, including the parking lot.
- Pick up after yourself and use trash receptacles for litter.
- When available, open riding is free of charge in the outdoor arenas, and $10 per adult in the indoor arena.
- Arena availability for open riding varies from day to day. Check availability in advance.
- Enter the arena only when it is safe to open the gate and no one is riding near the gate.
- No lessons during open riding. Instructors, please contact the fairgrounds office for more information.
- Screaming, yelling, running around the arena or bleachers, or climbing railing/chutes is not permitted.
- No unbroken horses allowed in the arena during open riding.
- Horses must be kept under control at all times. No loose horses allowed. No stallions allowed during open riding.
- No tying of horses to the arena railing at any time. Please use the tie rails provided.
- No lunging of horses, unless all others riders present agree.
- Remain in the bleachers if you are not riding or assisting a rider.
- Mount and dismount in low traffic areas when inside the arenas.
- If you need to dismount or work with your horse, do so in a low traffic area of the arena.
- Keep a safe distance from other horses, slower pace to the outside of the rail, faster pace to the inside.
- Refrain from socializing while riding on the rail. No double riding allowed.
- Mounts must be appropriate to the age and experience level of the rider.
- Children under 16 years of age handling horses require a parent or guardian to supervise.
- Children in the arena under 12 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Reserved ride sessions at the fairgrounds
Reserved ride sessions are available for reservation during the months of October through March in the indoor arena to provide a venue for equestrian activities when most outdoor arenas in the area are unusable due to the weather. Availability for reserved ride sessions will be limited throughout the remainder of the year due to staffing, maintenance, and other event reservations. Please check with the fairgrounds office for more information.
Open ride rules apply unless otherwise noted here
- Riders may rent the indoor or outdoor arena in two-hour increments called “Limited Reserved Ride Sessions” for $20 during the week, and $25 on weekends (Friday after 5 p.m. to Sunday evening), if staff and facilities are available. The limited fee includes the first two riders, and additional riders will be charged the open ride Fee of $10 for adults.
- Riders who desire “Unlimited Reserved Ride Sessions” may use poles, barrels, steers, calves, goats, dummies, and other approved practice aids for an unlimited number of riders, but will be charged an additional post-session grooming fee of $20 if doing so, for a total of $40 during the week and $45 on weekends, if staff and facilities are available.
- Advanced reservations are typically received beginning at a designated time in late September (for October-December) and mid-December (January-March). Contact the fairgrounds office for more information.
- Except for routine working and grooming of the footing, if the arena needs to be cleaned or repaired after use to make the facility ready and available for the next use, the user will be charged a fee of $50 per hour for county staff time to clean and/or repair the arenas. Users will be notified of any extra charges.
- The county reserves the right to cancel reservations for riding time in order to schedule larger events. If cancellation is necessary, advanced notice will be given.
- Users of the arenas during reserved riding time understand and agree that they are voluntarily using the facilities, with knowledge of the dangers of equine activities (see paragraph k) and agree to accept any and all risk of injury or death associated with such activities.
All riders are asked to clean up after their animals both inside and outside of the riding areas and throughout the fairgrounds. Please contact the fairgrounds office for more information about reserved riding information, rules, and procedures.