MUST ARRIVE AT LEAST 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO TOUR TIME FOR TRAINING.

CANCELLATION POLICY ENFORCED!
PLEASE READ FAQ SECTION BELOW. NO EXCEPTIONS.

How do I pay for the tour?
You can pay for your tour online through our secure payment site on our website using your Visa, Mastercard and Discover. If you do not have one of these credit or debit cards, you may send a check or money order, but payment must be received at least 24 hours prior to ride time. We also accept cash as well. Click here to make an online reservation. Or, you can pay when you arrive at check-in. Just remember, our rides often fill up…

How long are the horse rides?
Your ride time does not include registration, the safety orientation or mounting of your horse. Your horse ride will actually start when you leave the barn and end when you return. We do our best to leave on time but depending on the number of riders and their individual safety instructions we may leave the barn late. If we do leave late your ride time will still the length of time you paid for.

How long is the ATV ride?
We operate our ATVs on our private sand dune track and rent the ATVs in 30 minute intervals of actual riding time because 30 minutes is usually enduring enough for most folks. Of course, you can qualify for our Combo-Special or Repeat Rider discount and ride longer. Just ask us how you can save money. Once you arrive at our track you will be met by our friendly Staff who will fit you for a required helmet and give you our safety instructions. Your safety and the safety of the other riders are paramount to us. Comply with our simple safety rules and you’ll have a great time. If you don’t…expect to end up walking!

Who can ride?
Our Adventure Tours are designed for participants of average mobility and strength who are in reasonably good health. For riding horses the participant weight limit is 300 pounds. Participants may be weighed in before riding.

The minimum age requirement for riding horses is 6 years old. ATV riders must be 14 years old to operate the ATV. No minors may operate an ATV with a passenger onboard.

There is a small amount physical ability requirements to ride horses and ATVs. You must also be able to understand and implement verbal instructions from the tour guides.

We comply with and will enforce the following Equine Law of Texas:

WARNING
UNDER TEXAS LAW (CHAPTER 87, CIVIL PRACTICE AND REMEDIES CODE), AN EQUINE PROFESSIONAL IS NOT LIABLE FOR AN INJURY TO OR THE DEATH OF A PARTICIPANT IN EQUINE ACTIVITIES RESULTING FROM THE INHERENT RISKS OF EQUINE ACTIVITIES

If you are not comfortable with, or, willing to comply with the above notice you will not ride!

Qualifications for participation
Every participant must sign a waiver. Anyone under the age of 18 must have a waiver signed by a parent before they can participate in any activity. If the parent is not present, a “signed” photo copy of the parent’s drivers license must accompany the signed waiver/release. If the waiver has been altered in any way, you will not be allowed to ride or participate in any activity.

No one under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs, or impairing legal drugs will be allowed to participate on any activity.

Pregnant women, people with heart, back, leg problems or other health concerns are advised to consult with their doctor before considering participating in an activity.

What should I wear?
You should wear comfortable closed-toe shoes suitable for walking over dirt (manure) and sandy surfaces..something like tennis shoes or boots. Sandals, flip flops, open toed shoes or shoes without a back are permitted but may not be comfortable for you to ride in.
We highly recommend that you dress for the seasons. Shorts or light pants in the summer and have a jacket, sweater, or sweat shirt in the cooler months. If possible, wear long pants since your legs will be in contact with the saddle and ATV seat. We do realize that this is the beach and folks don’t always wear pants on the Island so most of our saddles are made of cordura which is easier on the legs. We want for you to enjoy your ride…chafe free!

Do you have group rates?
Yes; we do offer rates for groups of 8 or more. Please call 956-761-4677 and ask to speak with a team member of Group Sales to discuss the group packages available. To receive the group rate, the tickets must be purchased at one time. We want your business so please call us for “combined activity rates”.

Are reservations required?
No…but reservations are highly recommended and appreciated. We prefer not to make a horse or staff stand around waiting for a “maybe”. If you do not have a reservation, we will do our best to accommodate you based on availability; however, reservations are first come/first served. Just remember, our rides often fill up…

Should I make an advanced reservation?
Yes, yes, yes. We fill up quickly and if you do not make a reservation, you will not be guaranteed a spot on your preferred ride. We know you are on vacation and we want you to enjoy your stay carefree and enjoy your activity when you want to. So just reserve on-line or give us a call. We’re here to serve you!

When do I need to arrive for my ride?
You must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to your activity time. This will give you enough time to check in for your activity and fill out the necessary paperwork. All activities leave at their designated time. If you are late it throws the entire day off for everyone else. We’re not trying to be pushy but we know how long it takes to prepare for our activities and we prefer to be respectful of other participant’s time. We operate on Central Standard and Daylight Savings Time so adjust your time accordingly. Please plan your travel time wisely and remember any zone and time changes.

Do you conduct tours in bad weather?
Weather is always a fact in outdoor activities and we closely monitor the local weather conditions. The Island is tropical in nature and rain may pass very quickly and we may wait it out and ride after it clears. We may ride when the wind is blowing, cool temperatures or chance of light rain but never when lightning is present.

What is your cancellation policy?
We have a two (2) day prior notice cancellation policy for non-group bookings. If you cancel your reservation more than two (2) days prior to your activity date, your payment, less a $20 per person administration fee, will be refunded to you. If you need to change your reservation date or time, you may do so one time at no charge, as long as you contact us more than 24 hours prior to your originally scheduled activity.

No refunds or ticket transfers will be given with less than two (2) days notice prior to your activity date. There are NO EXCEPTIONS including weather related issues. A “rain-check” MAY be issued for cancelled or shorted activity due to weather. This “rain-check” is valid for 12 months and may only be redeemed by the original participant.

Groups booked through Group Sales must have final head count and deposit submitted 7 days prior to tour date. No refunds/rain checks will be given less than 7 days to tour date. NO EXCEPTIONS!

Once you reserve a spot, you are locked in. There are no refunds. If you arrive for the activity and you cannot complete the activity due to fear, we will give you a six month rain check. We encourage you to try again. The rain check is specifically for you and cannot be transferred to another person. If you are late for your activity, you will not receive a refund or be able to join your tour. Your tour and tour guides will leave as scheduled whether you are there or not. We expect you to arrive 30 minutes prior to your reserved tour time to enable you to check in and complete the necessary paperwork.

What if I am afraid?
It’s not uncommon to have a fear of horses or ATVs. Most people who have a fear of riding are still able to enjoy our rides and return smiling and glad they rode. You’ll be instructed, supervised and well taken care of by our trained staff. The tour guides will be able to answer all of your questions and be able to provide safety information and support as you progress on the ride. You may also request that your horse be connected to a lead rope and your horse be led by one of our Trail Bosses till you are comfortable riding on your own. All children ages 6 & 7 will have their horse led for the entire ride for their safety.

How fast will we go?
All of our horse rides are conducted at a walk for safety and enjoyment of riding on the beach. Occasionally, when a rider demonstrates good riding skills and they request to trot their horse, we MAY allow them to do so while escorted by a Trail Boss. For the safety of other riders, at no time are riders allowed to ride their horse fast by another horse. NO RACING!

ATVs travel faster but we do not allow racing or unsafe speeds. The track has several turns, bumps and loose sand areas that are not conducive to safely riding ATVs. NO RACING!

How far will we ride?
Depending on your horse ride time length we will travel several miles in a round trip. The average pleasure horse ride is 2-3 MPH. It’s amazing how much further we can ride in 1.5 hours versus a 1 hour ride. It seems twice as long and memorable because of the actual riding time on the beach. The Sunset Horse Ride is even better because we ride on the Gulf beach then across the Island to ride along the Laguna Madre Bay for sunset. It’s fabulous!

How safe is it?
All adventure activities carry certain inherent risks but we do our upmost to prepare for your safety. Our horses are professionally selected and trained specifically for our activity. Our tour guides are professionally trained and our equipment is of the highest quality and equipment is inspected daily. We do our very best to foresee and protect against every known danger but we cannot protect against the stupid actions of other riders or people on the beach. At any time on your ride that you are uncomfortable riding or request assistance our Trail Bosses will be there for you and will assist with your concern. We prefer that you never dismount your horse while on the beach ride but if you insist, we will allow you to become a “hiker.”

What if I have never ridden a horse or ATV before?
Great! The majorities of our participants have never experienced riding a horse before or haven’t ridden in a long time. All of our rides are suited for children, beginners and advanced riders. You will receive orientation and basic riding instructions before your ride starts. You will also be supervised during the ride and given further instructions as needed. Please, don’t hesitate to ask questions at any time.

Most anyone can ride the ATVs and our ATVs are user-friendly and most have an automatic or easy shift transmission. Our ATV attendants will give you the necessary safety and riding instructions, but…there are those among us who are mechanically challenged. We can only do our best and the rest is up to you.

May I bring a camera?
You may bring a camera on our rides; however, Island Adventures will not take responsibility for any damage that may incur. Since a horse is a ride-in-motion bringing a video camera is not a good idea. In fact; you must have one hand free at all times to rein (control) your horse. If you bring along a cell phone for use as a camera you will be required to silence your phones ringer so as not to spook the horses with your weird ring tone they aren’t used to. Don’t plan on using your cell phone to talk to your friends during the ride. NO CELL PHONE CALLS OR TEXTING DURING THE RIDE!

How many people will be on each activity?
The number of horse ride on the beach participates will vary according to the season. The limiting factor for number of participates is safety. We will only take out a safe number of riders that we can safely manage. The important fact to you is; we will go out on a ride on the beach with only one rider. Unlike other Companies on the Island, we never cancel a ride because of not enough participates. You reserve…we ride.
During the Spring and Summer we maintain most of our horses here on the Island in-order to be able to rest horses between rides and days. Horses are on like ATVs that only need more gasoline to keep going. They require and deserve rest.
During the Fall and Winter (except for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays) most of our horses are out to pasture. We only keep a few here at the stable but if you make a reservation we will insure that you are able to ride.

Will I be required to wear a safety helmet while on the horses or ATVs?
For ridING horses, safety helmets are mandatory for all children under the age of thirteen (13) and available for all other folks who want to wear a helmet. For riding the ATVs, everyone is required to WEAR a helmet…period!

We will provide all of the required helmets.

Can I celebrate a special occasion?
WE DO IT ALL! Want to propose to your loved one on a horse ride? Create a memorable beach wedding using horses; plan a photo shoot or a birthday party in our petting barn and the Children’s Area? Yes? Then just call Dana Hollinger at 956-761-4677 and she will assist you in creating the special occasion that will be memorable for a lifetime.

How much should I tip my guides?
Our Trail Bosses and ATV attendants are professionally trained to ensure that you have an educational, memorable, and enjoyable experience. Tipping is a nice way to let them know that you enjoyed your activity and is always appreciated. The industry standard for tipping is 15-20% of the tour rate per person…..much like a restaurant.
On the same note, if you did not receive the service you expected please let us know how we can better serve you and others.

What if I am pregnant?
Pregnant women are allowed to participate in a strenuous activity but better to consider our other non-contact activities instead.

Will there be breaks for port-a-potty and water during the beach ride?
Nope…we DO NOT have water stations on the beach, and we highly suggest that you take advantage of our restroom facilities prior to your scheduled tour time. There will NOT be a restroom break during your ride.

South Padre Island Adventures Right of Refusal of services
Our staff is professionally trained and cares about your safety very much. South Padre Island Adventures reserves the right to refuse anyone access to the activities if we feel it would be unsafe for them, our other guests or our staff. Some examples of someone we might turn away would be a guest under the influence of drugs or alcohol, someone who is over the weight limits, someone that will not or cannot understand or obey the rules and those who are physically unable to do an activity, or, mean to animals. We do everything in our power to get guests out on an activity and provide them with safe activity. However, South Padre Island Adventures and our staff will have the final say on any particular person going on or continuing on any activity or having access to our property.

What if I am afraid and can’t continue?
Sometimes, our guests decide that the activity is a bit too much for them to attempt or continue with. Therefore, they may get a “transfer card” to reuse at a later date. We still charge the full amount and there are no refunds. We also charge a $10 transfer fee which allows you to reschedule your activity at a later date. You will be given six months from the original date of the activity to use it or lose the transfer date with NO TIME EXTENSIONS. Please understand that even though a guest decides to not go out on the activity due to fear, you have taken up a slot for another paying guest. We understand that a guest that decides not to go on the activity or wants to come back after starting the activity feels they should not have to pay for an activity not completed. However, the charge is to cover scheduled expenses. Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Employment
We are always looking for qualified folks who will enjoy working in our drug and alcohol free family environment. Please call Dana Hollinger at 956-761-4677.