Today we’d like to introduce you to Aspen Peterson.
Hi Aspen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Our story at Soldier Hollow Stables began in 2021, when we purchased the business just before we got married. In a lot of ways, it felt like a natural fit for both of us. Aspen grew up on a cattle ranch in eastern Wyoming, and Brandon grew up here in the Heber Valley and spent much of his life rodeoing. Horses and the western way of life have always been a part of who we are.
Since then, we’ve poured a whole lot of blood, sweat, and tears into growing Soldier Hollow Stables—and we mean that pretty literally! What started as a business we were excited to build together has become such an important part of our life and our family. We welcomed a baby girl this year, and it’s incredibly special to think that we’ll get to raise our family alongside this business and the horses we love.
Even after all these years, it still means the world to us every time we see another booking come through. Yes, this is how we make our living, but it’s so much more than that. We genuinely love getting to share a little piece of the western way of life with people from all over the world. There’s something really special about watching someone climb onto a horse for the very first time, seeing their nerves turn into a smile, and knowing they’re going home with a memory they may carry with them for the rest of their life.
None of what we’ve built would be possible without our team. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a fantastic manager and an outstanding group of guides who are not only talented horsemen and horsewomen, but also wonderful with our guests. They care about the experience just as much as we do, and they’ve played a huge role in helping Soldier Hollow Stables become what it is today.
We’re incredibly proud of how far we’ve come, but we also feel like we’re just getting started. We’re excited to keep growing, keep sharing this lifestyle with others, and see where this adventure takes our family next.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Smooth? Absolutely not! And while even on our worst day we wouldn’t trade what we do, that certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy. We’re sure just about every small business owner can relate.
Owning a business means lying awake at 2 a.m. thinking about the never-ending to-do list. In our case, it also means caring for horses 365 days a year, no matter the weather, and learning to roll with the punches when things don’t go according to plan. We rely heavily on tourism, which means our business can be affected by things completely outside of our control—the weather, the economy, travel trends, and everything in between.
One of the biggest responsibilities is knowing that we’re not only working to take care of our own family, but that there are other families who depend on this business, too. We care deeply about the people who work alongside us, and that adds another layer of responsibility to every decision we make.
There have been plenty of long days, sleepless nights, setbacks, and lessons learned the hard way. But there have also been so many moments that remind us exactly why we do it. At the end of the day, we feel incredibly grateful that we get to make a living doing something we genuinely love—and we wouldn’t trade this life for anything.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Rocky Mountain Outfitters and Soldier Hollow Stables, we like to say that we’re not just offering horseback rides—we’re giving people a chance to experience a little piece of the Western way of life.
Located in beautiful Midway, Utah, we offer guided horseback adventures through some of the most incredible scenery the Heber Valley has to offer. From first-time riders who have never been on a horse to experienced horsemen and women, our goal is to create an experience that feels authentic, personal, and memorable. We offer everything from scenic trail rides to private rides, group and corporate experiences, chuckwagon meals, and other Western-inspired events throughout the year.
What sets us apart is that this isn’t simply a tourism business built around horses—horses are genuinely our way of life. We know our horses individually, we care deeply about their well-being, and we have an incredible team of guides who know how to make guests feel comfortable and confident in the saddle. We want the experience to feel like you’re spending a few hours with real horse people, because you are!
We’re probably most proud of the reputation we’ve built for creating experiences that feel genuine. There’s a lot of pressure in tourism to make things bigger, faster, or more commercialized, but we never want to lose the authenticity of what we do. Some of our favorite guests are the ones who arrive a little nervous and tell us they’ve never even touched a horse before. Watching them come back down the trail an hour or two later with a huge smile on their face never gets old.
We also love that our business has grown beyond traditional trail rides. We’ve had the opportunity to create memorable experiences for families, couples, corporate groups, visitors from around the world, and even locals who have lived in Utah their entire lives but have never experienced their own backyard from horseback.
At the heart of our brand are good horses, good people, beautiful country, and genuine Western hospitality. We want people to leave Soldier Hollow Stables feeling like they didn’t just check another activity off their vacation itinerary—they experienced something. If they leave with a little dirt on their boots, a few horse hairs on their clothes, and a story they can’t wait to tell, we’ve done our job.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We love collaborating! Whether it’s with other local businesses, brands, influencers, photographers, or organizations, we’re always excited to find creative ways to work together. We’ve never really believed in looking at other businesses as “competition.” We’d much rather look at it as an opportunity for all of us to succeed. There’s plenty to go around, and we genuinely love seeing other small businesses thrive, too.
And when it comes to supporting us, it doesn’t always have to mean booking a horseback ride! We completely understand that not everyone can—or even wants to—get on a horse. Simply following us on social media, liking or sharing a post, recommending us to a friend, or leaving a review means more to a small business like ours than people probably realize. Every share helps someone new discover us, and every recommendation helps us continue doing what we love.
Of course, if you do want to come ride with us, we’d absolutely love to have you! Come see the Heber Valley from between a horse’s ears and experience a little bit of the Western way of life with us.
Pricing:
- $99/person for the Mountain Meadows 1-hr group ride
- $145/person for the Mountain Meadows 1-hr private ride
- $125/person for the Crow’s Nest 1.5 hr group ride
- $165/person for the Crow’s Nest 1.5 hr private ride
- $125/person for the Winter 1 hr horseback ride; $165/person for the Winter 1 hr ride
Contact Info:
- Website: https://rockymountainoutfitters.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockymountainoutfitters/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@rockymtnoutfitters
