Dear Friends,

The riding stable at the foot of Mt. Princeton in Nathrop Colorado has been a part of Chaffee County since 1973. Native area resident and proprietor Ralph Ogden started the business at age 17.

Unique small businesses like this are few and far between. The stables contribute to the economy of Chaffee County and Southern Colorado in many ways by offering creative recreation opportunities and drawing travelers from all over Colorado, most states across the country and many countries around the world.

The level of commitment required to keep these stables running is beyond description. It takes someone like me who has known Ralph his entire life to fully understand what he, his family and dedicated employees go through to keep the business afloat. It takes a true love of horses and a lifestyle that very few are willing to preserve in a world dominated by a high tech environment..

Small entrepreneurial businesses like this have been hit the hardest because of their reliance on tourism and the independent structure of the business. Feeding 85 head of horses during the slow part of the season is an enormous expense especially when Chaffee County is trying to keep non-residents out for fear of the spread of Covid19.

As residents of Colorado and Chaffee County we all lose when these unique businesses are lost. We all benefit from the rotation of visitors to our area who are drawn here by businesses like the Mt Princeton Riding Stables. We all have been affected negatively by Covid19, some more than others. If you are able to help please consider going to the GoFundMe link below to contribute.

Thank you for reading,
Mike & Karen M.B. Cowan
Saguache, CO

Come on up to Colorado Trail Rides as we have horses for all experienced riders. All of our rides provide plenty of time to take pictures and enjoy Colorado's high country.

We offer a variety of rides so please check them out on the menus on the left side of the page.

We do have an age limit for our rides. We only take 5 years of age and older. For kids under 5 we offer pony rides.

For more information click here or to schedule a reservation please click here.