Dunrovin Equestrian Club emphasizes responsible and safe horsemanship—for both rider and horse. Members enter a horsemanship program tailored to the needs of each member, designed to enhance skills and communication with horses, focused on the responsible use Montana’s back country for horseback riding. The program consists of four levels of horsemanship. To ensure the safety of both Equestrian Club members and the horses, privileges with Dunrovin horses are a function of each member’s horsemanship level and training:
BEGINNER—All members enter the club at the beginner level. While some new members may have lots of previous riding experience, all riders need to familiarize themselves specifically with Dunrovin’s horses, tack, and procedures. Beginning riders are required to take riding lessons and ride under direct supervision until they can independently and safely saddle and ride their assigned horse in controlled circumstances. BEGINNERS may take lessons, participate in all clinics, guided trail rides, guided overnight camping trips, and special event trail rides.
NOVICE—Riders who are able to properly saddle and safely ride the horse assigned to them can ride on the ranch in the arena or pastures without direct supervision. Novices continue to require direct supervision on trail rides, open rides off the ranch, or during overnight horse camping trips.
INTERMEDIATE—Riders who can safely ride by themselves on the ranch and have sufficient trail experience to safely ride unsupervised on the trails within a group; but they are not yet ready to ride alone on back country trails. INTERMEDIATE riders may ride on the ranch and the trails without direct supervision, and they may (with prior approval*) participate in unguided trail rides and overnight trips with club members and non members.
ADVANCED—Riders who are skilled and experienced trail riders, prepared to handle any emergency, and can safely function entirely independently may take Dunrovin horses off the ranch (with prior approval*) to go trail riding by themselves or on organized trail rides and overnight horse camping trips.
*Dunrovin Ranch reserves the right to approve the destination for Dunrovin horses and the conditions and method of transport under which Dunrovin horses may be taken from the ranch.