TRAIL HORSE ADVENTURES ADOPTS NAHA SAFETY POLICIES

Sedona, AZ � As a leader in their industry, Trail Horse Adventures (THA) establishes and enforces safety policies for the protection of their riders and their horses. Many of these safety policies are found within the National American Horsemen's Association (NAHA) guidelines. Recently THA adopted the NAHA height and weight guideline as part of their procedures as they found it more comprehensive and a positive safety change.

The height and weight guide is similar one found in your doctor's office. The chart is based on the size of the horses that can pack heavy weight. In accordance with NAHA standards the rider's height while standing on the ground, should be no shorter than the top-line of the horse's back. The horse should be of an appropriate size to allow the rider's legs to be under the rider's body, and the rider's feet are to reach at least half way down the sides of the horse. As a general rule, a horse should not carry more than 20% of his weight; therefore, it takes a big, usually tall horse to carry a heavy person and that person must be tall.

�We continually review and adopt safety policies and guidelines that create a safe environment for our riders and our horses,� Tom Yoke, owner of Trail Horse Adventures said. �As part of our new safety policy, with every reservation we take, we establish which horse is best suited for the rider by matching the riders' height and weight with the horse's height and weight. We continually rotate our horses to ensure every horse gets the rest they need. We give our horses the best feed available, provide them shade and our veterinarian visits them twice a month to ensure they are healthy and happy. Healthy horses, great customer service and beautiful trails are the mainstays of our ranch.�

In addition to the new height and weight NAHA safety policy, THA is implementing the following guidelines beginning May 1, 2005.

•  Helmets for minors ages seven to 15.

•  Helmets are optional, when authorized by a parent or guardian for teenagers between 16 to 18 years old.

•  Guests will not be allowed to take anything on the ride that could drop, bounce, flap, fly-away such as purses, bags, cameras, video cameras, backpacks.

•  Cell phone must be turned off if carried.

•  Each guide will be required to carry a basic tack repair kit.

Wranglers, who are all CPR and First-Aid certified, always put safety first beginning with a specially designed platform from which to safely and easily mount and dismount your horse. Every rider receives a fifteen minute demonstration of riding to help them feel more comfortable and secure with their horse before they head out on their adventure.

Trail Horse Adventures holds a Coconino National Forest permit to miles and miles of the most beautiful trails in Sedona. Riders experience dramatic red rock views and pastoral high desert scenery. The best trail rides even feature crossings of Oak Creek. Trail Horse Adventures horseback rides are truly the only experience of their kind in the entire Verde Valley.