Thank you for your interest in riding on the beach and in the redwood forest with Ricochet Ridge Ranch. We offer week-long riding vacations, five night riding treks, custom vacations and daily trail rides, which I'll describe in the following letter. We have the honor of being selected by "Outside Magazine" as one of the top "25 Trips of a Lifetime", right up there with a Big 5 African safari and a suborbital flight into space! It's the feature article for their March, 2002 issue. And they even included a photo of my top ten Tevis arabian, Gabriel, and me leading a group of riders next to the surf. (pg. 76).

Redwood Coast Beach and Forest Riding Vacations are fully catered with truly wonderful meals, and include lodging at unique Bed & Breakfast Inns and Hotels, riding every day, fine dining including choice California wines with dinner each evening, entertainment on three evenings, hot tubs five nights, snacks, beverages and lots of camaraderie. They begin on a Monday at 2:00PM and end after breakfast on Sunday morning. The complete itinerary, with dates, description of accommodations, and other information is on our web site at http://www.horse-vacation.com.

In year 2003, the price for the six night vacation is $1995.00, all inclusive. Although we do not regularly schedule week-long vacations during winter months, we are happy to arrange private treks of any duration, at any time during the year. We've had some great rides in between or even during winter rain! The footing remains safe at all times.

We also offer the economical five night/Mendocino North Coast Treks, on which you provide your own dinners and entertainment. Both rides provide a combination of spectacular landscapes and superb riding. The majestic Redwood forests and the long, secluded sandy beaches of the Pacific Ocean in this rural area of Northern California afford some wonderful opportunities for long canters. The horses, trained for endurance riding, trail and dressage, are exceptionally fit and a joy to ride. Price for the five night North Coast Trek is $1525.00; again, more details are available on our web site.

Both types of vacation provide a wonderful variety of lodging. The Cleone Gardens Inn offers ranch style accommodations in a beautiful setting of six wooded acres. Sun decks, a jacuzzi and lending library add to the appeal. The DeHaven Valley Farm, surrounded by flowers in every season, is a charming, historic, Victorian house with a hot tub high on the hill, situated on 60 acres right next to the Pacific Ocean. Decorated with Victorian antiques, the historic Mendocino Hotel is an elegant place of lodging which combines modern amenities with history, directly opposite Mendocino Headlands State Park and Big River Beach. Their acclaimed restaurant and cosy, Tiffany enhanced bar add to the charm.

A full breakfast is provided each morning at the respective places of lodging on both Vacations and Treks. Following breakfast, clients will select their own picnic lunch, choosing from a wide variety of meats, cheeses, condiments, fruits and vegetables, candy, trail mix, and juices. Dinners on the Mendocino North Coast Trek are not provided by Ricochet Ridge Ranch, but are at the riders' own expense, with many excellent local restaurants from which to choose. Entertainment at night also is not included on Treks, but on Vacations we gather for a party on Friday evening and enjoy live musicians/singers on various nights, culminating in quite a boogie our last night together.

A custom vacation can include portions of the above rides scheduled for dates of your choosing, for any number of people.

I have been a riding instructor for 25 years, and my staff also includes many accomplished horsefolks who are good at sharing their knowledge. We have some terrific horses who are both fit and sensible, good for taking novice riders safely on the trail, and yet willing to keep up with horses more suitable for advanced riders. Many of our horses have won high placings at numerous endurance races and dressage/horse shows. We offer both English and Western styles, and are happy to help with instruction during the week, when needed. Each day, we split up into groups according to experience level, and offer shorter and longer versions of the same ride, meeting up with the "gang" at prearranged spots a few miles down the trail. Although everyone on the riding vacations has ample opportunity to trot and canter, one may choose to take a slower pace at any time.

You may enjoy joining others on our monthly "Ricochet Ridge Ranch Weekend Adventures". We supply the horses, trails, lodging, breakfasts, and fellow riders. You arrange your other meals and nightly entertainment. You may choose 4 hour or all day rides on Saturday and Sunday. When you bring ten friends on any given ride, your own ride is gratis. . We'll hook you up with other riders of a similar skill level and even help with car-pooling. Mendocino Weekends are a great way to make new riding friends.

Our daily Group Trail Rides onto the beach are offered at 10:00AM, noon, 2:00PM and 4:00PM for $40.00 per person. Although we prefer folks to call a day or two in advance for a reservation, it is often possible to arrange riding at the time of your choice by phoning the same day. Plan to spend two hours with Ricochet Ridge, as it takes time to read and sign release forms, mount, try on protective riding helmets, adjust stirrups, etc. You will be on the trail for one and one half hours out of the two.

A Private Trail Ride for the same time duration is offered at $60.00 per person for the hour and a half on the trail. This assures that just members of your own party will ride with a private trailguide. It is best to phone a day or two in advance for private rides.

We also offer open 3 hour beach ($80.00), 4 hour beach or forest ($105.00), 4 hour beach and forest ($130) and all day rides ($200.00, including beverage). Four hours may be ridden on the beach and/or in the redwood forest, while all day rides can include both beach and forest, or all forest. If we have other folks signed up for the same ride you have chosen, we will group people together. If you would like to assure that your ride is "private"....just yourselves with a guide, please add surcharges of $25/$35/and $45 for 3 hours/4hours/ and all day, respectively. We have many hundreds of miles of trails, through cattle ranches, along the coastal mountain ridges, and deep into the redwoods in state forests and private timber preserves. We are happy to recommend activities for non-riders, ideas for local lodging and can even book your reservations at the Mendocino Hotel or Cleone Gardens Inn, if you so choose.

Although we specialize in rides for experienced riders, we also often have people who have never ridden at all on our trail rides, and pride ourselves on our safety record. When you call for an appointment, please be explicit about your experience level, so we can assign the best horse for you.

Ricochet Ridge Ranch is located 3 1/3 hours drive north of the San Francisco Bay area, two miles north of Fort Bragg, on the corner of Highway One and Mill Creek Road, on the right if coming from Fort Bragg or Mendocino. We are opposite Mackerricher State Park. From Mendocino, take Highway One north through Fort Bragg (where it is called "Main Street"), and continue on for another two miles. You will see our big black sign on the right saying "Trail Rides on the Beach". Turn right onto Mill Creek Road, and immediately turn right again into our driveway. We are only about 12 miles from Mendocino, but it will take you about 20 minutes to drive. Although the fog sometimes comes in along the beach, the dramatic beauty remains. Our weather, never hot, offers a respite from inland summer temperatures.

You may call our ranch telephone at 1-888-TREK-RRR or 707-964-7669 (964-PONY) for reservations for day rides. Additionally, for trail rides or riding holidays, our reservation form is on-line at our Web site.

If you send me your postal address, I will also mail you our color brochure. Please don't hesitate to contact me for further information.

Thank you for your interest. I look forward to showing you our beautiful beach and forest trails in Mendocino, California.

"What unites us all is a spirit of adventure, a love of the out-of-doors, and a passion for horses!"

Lari

RICOCHET RIDGE RANCH
REDWOOD COAST BEACH AND FOREST RIDING VACATION 2003 DATES
May 5-11, June 16-22, July 14-20 (Mendocino Music Festival Surcharge), August 18-24 (high season surcharge), September 8-14, September 29- Oct 5, 2002

* Lodging Monday through Saturday nights.
* Full hearty breakfasts Tuesday through Sunday mornings.
* Superb dinners, including fine wines and dessert, Monday through Saturday evenings.
* Live entertainment Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings. Party on Friday.
* Hot tubs available Monday through Sunday.
* Trail rides on beaches Monday and Wednesday.
* Full day rides with lunch on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.
* Lunch at the Bay View Cafe in Mendocino on Wednesday.
* Snacks and beverages, including beer and soda at the end of each ride.
* Wine with lunch 2 days.
* Fully guided, with choice of English, Western, or Australian tack.
* Exceptional horses, well trained for all experience levels.
* Rides may be divided according to experience level of riders.
** $1995.00 per person, double occupancy. $275 additional for single occupancy
** $2025.00 per person, double occupancy in July: Mendocino Music Festival Surcharge
** $2095.00 per person, double occupancy, in August: high season surcharge.


MENDOCINO NORTH COAST TREKS: 2003 Dates
dates for groups by reservation

* Lodging Monday through Friday nights.
* Full hearty breakfasts Tuesday through Saturday morning.
* Hot tubs available Monday through Thursday.
* Trail rides on beaches Monday and Thursday.
* Full day rides with lunch on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.
* Snacks and beverages, including beer, soda, at end of each ride.
* Wine with lunch two days.
* Fully guided, with choice of English, Western or Australian tack.
* Exceptional horses, well-trained for all experience levels.
* Rides may be divided according to experience level of riders.
**Dinners and evening entertainment are not included.**
** $1525 per person, double occupancy. $220 additional for single occupancy.

OPTION 1: Saturday and/or Sunday nights at Mendocino Hotel for an additional $185 +11% tax double occupancy, per night. The option does not include any meals, but many lovely restaurants are available within walking distance, including the award-winning restaurant at the Mendocino Hotel itself.

OPTION 2: Private rides on the beach at Ricochet Ridge Ranch on Saturday or Sunday

OPTION 3: "Luxury Upgrade" for five night trek. Double or single occupancy. Only two upgrades are available per week, one with king bed, the other with one king and one queen sofa bed; each must be sold to two people coming together. $250 per upgrade per couple.

*****If you envision yourself going on one of these exciting horseback riding vacations, please call or email for further information.****

Lari Shea http://www.horse-vacation.com
Ricochet Ridge Ranch 707-964-7669 ranch phone
24201 North Highway One 707-964-9669 home office ph/fax
Fort Bragg, CA 95437

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