Horsing Around

Explore the foothills of Carson Valley with Bader Ranch Trail Co.

Fall/Winter 2026 Issue

guided horseback rides with bader ranch trail co in gardnerville carson valley nevada

BY ALEZA FREEMAN

There’s something magical about a horseback ride through the sage and pine of the Carson Valley’s eastern foothills. This is coming from a gal from Las Vegas with zero equestrian experience, unless you count coin-operated horse rides or merry-go-rounds.

From a car, the rolling ranchland along U.S. Route 395 is a greenish blur of high-desert landscapes and grazing cows beneath the Sierra Nevada. On the back of a horse, you are one with the towering range, a courageous American cowgirl with a commanding view of one of Nevada’s most scenic valleys.

jordan bader and horse buzz of bader ranch trail co guided horseback rides in gardnerville nv — Jordan Bader and Buzz

The Ranch Life

Fifth-generation Nevadan Jordan Bader rides the rugged terrain near Kingsbury Grade almost daily. She’s the founder of Bader Ranch Trail Co., a local company that provides safe, professional, and enriching horseback rides and lessons in the Carson Valley.

Jordan comes from Basque heritage: Her grandmother grew up working on a ranch in Lovelock. It’s safe to say that horses are basically in her blood.

Her passion for the gentle hoofed creatures goes back as long as she can remember. As a child, she watched and named the wild horses roaming her Reno neighborhood (her favorite was a flaxen-mane chestnut horse named Goldilocks). At about age 7, she began taking regular riding lessons at a Reno ranch.

“I remember I had this wrangler named Amanda, and she just really inspired me to do what I’m doing today,” Jordan says. “So, it’s kind of a full circle. Now, I hopefully get to be the catalyst for other young riders to find their love for the sport and want to spend some time in the saddle.”

Jordan, a former competitive show jumper, landed in the Carson Valley after graduating from the University of Nevada, Reno with a journalism degree in 2022. At university, she was president of the equestrian team and worked summers riding horses in Montana. It didn’t take long before she realized she didn’t want an office job.

The blonde buckaroo traded muckraking for mucking stalls and moved into her family’s ranch, a nearly 100- acre property in Gardnerville. While more than a dozen horses live on her ranch, the trail rides happen partly on a historic ranch belonging to her neighbors: the Scossa family. They have deep roots in the Carson Valley community—and better access to the mountains.

“They’ve been so gracious to share their property with me because they really care about people exploring the Carson Valley and learning about the heritage and the history,” she says. “It’s nice to wake up and know that I’m going to go enjoy my ride, be on a horse that I trust, and share the love of this area with other people.”

Hit The Trail

Jordan is exceedingly thorough when it comes to rides and lessons. Because her clients range from the super-avid to “people who are just shell-shocked to even be on a horse,” she tailors the rides to their needs and capabilities. She tries to pair riders with the horse she thinks will be the best match, even letting clients ride her personal horse, Buzz, if it makes the most sense.

“It’s a different experience every time, which makes it fun,” says Jordan, noting that the horses love going for rides. “Half of them wait at the gate for me, like, ‘grab me, please, let’s go.’ Their ears are forward. They get their little strut on. They really enjoy it.”

a woman riding a horse with bader ranch trail co in gardnerville nevada — Aleza Freeman Riding Tommy

This Las Vegas city slicker rode a white quarter horse named Tommy, whom Jordan described as an older gentleman who will take care of you. Before the two-hour, one-on-one ride, she saddled up the horses and provided a quick lesson on mounting, riding, steering, and basic behavioral clues.

Steering a horse is nothing like steering a car, so Tommy had to tolerate a bit of ineptitude with a first-time rider at the reins. He took those mistakes in stride, waiting patiently for his signal to turn, stop, or slow down, though there may have been a side-eye or two (to be fair, a horse’s eyes are naturally on the side). He also deftly took advantage of my inexperience by sneaking in a few shrub snacks—something he knows he’s not supposed to do.

“I just think they’re really intuitive creatures,” says Jordan, “and you saw, they have a sense of humor for sure.”

Wrangled by her border collie, Genoa, we made our way up what Jordan calls the “Equine Stairmaster of the Sierra Nevada.” Located below Jobs Peak, the trail winds through sagebrush, bitterbrush, and pinyon pines. You might even find bear tracks or leaping mule deer along the way.

On this particular autumn adventure, the landscape was flush with orange foliage and falling leaves. Spring and summer rides, on the other hand, bring a vibrant palette of colorful wildflowers like Indian paintbrush and lupine.

The invigorating journey ended with selfies with Tommy and a private picnic at the foot of the scenic mountain as Jordan brushed down and loaded the horses into the back of her white pick-up truck.

Jordan does all the work taking care of the horses and preparing them for rides, but she credits the horses themselves for creating positive experiences for her clients.

“I just think they’re really intuitive creatures,” says Jordan, “and you saw, they have a sense of humor for sure.”

a group of horseback riders with bader ranch trail co in gardnerville nevada — Bader Ranch Trail Co. Horseback Rides

“They’re super compassionate and they teach me a lot,” she says. “If I can extend the same courtesy to them, it’s the least I can do.”

Riding with Jordan and Tommy beneath the open sky more than scratched the lifelong itch of someone like me who’s not used to getting her boots dirty (and in truth, didn’t even own boots before this ride). Jordan feels incredibly grateful and lucky to facilitate such bucket list adventures.

“It fills my cup so much,” she says. “I get to build connections with new people every day, but I’m still outside in nature and spending time with the animals that I care so much about.”

lunch on the trail with bader ranch trail co gardnerville nv

Saddle Up with Bader Ranch Trail Co.

Bader Ranch Trail Co. offers horseback rides (for up to six guests) and lessons for ages 7 and up. Experiences include optional add-ons like professional photography or a post-ride picnic at a scenic ranch overlook. Light cattle work opportunities are also available.

Sierra Sunset Ride: A two-hour guided journey with stunning views as the sun sets over the mountains (May-October).
Backcountry & Beyond: A full-day horseback adventure in the Sierra high country with a picnic break (June-August).
Low-Country Hayfield Ride: One-hour scenic introduction to ranch riding beneath Jobs Peak (year-round).
Tailored Trails: Choose your own adventure.