Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know Before the Barnyard Arrives
Planning an event with animals tends to create a few questions.
How much space do we need?
What happens if it rains?
Can a Highland cow really come to my wedding?
Yes.
Here's everything you need to know about booking The Barnyard at 2R Ranch for your North Texas event.
Booking & Availability
How do I book The Barnyard?
Start by submitting our event inquiry form with your date, time, location, expected guest count, event type, and the experience you're interested in.
Our team will review your event details, check availability, and recommend appropriate options.
Your date is not reserved simply by submitting an inquiry.
CHECK AVAILABILITY
How far in advance should I book?
As early as possible.
Spring and fall weekends, Saturdays, wedding dates, festivals, and Christmas events can book well in advance.
We occasionally have last-minute availability, so it never hurts to ask.
Does submitting an inquiry reserve my date?
No.
Submitting an inquiry allows our team to check availability and prepare options for your event.
Your event is not officially reserved until all applicable booking requirements have been completed and your required retainer has been received.
Do you require a retainer?
Yes.
A 50% non-refundable retainer is required to reserve your event date unless otherwise specified in your agreement.
When is the remaining balance due?
Unless otherwise stated in your booking agreement, the remaining event balance is due 72 hours before your scheduled event.
Can I add more time to my event?
Additional event time may be available depending on our schedule, staffing, animal requirements, and other bookings that day.
Any additional time must be arranged and paid for before the extension begins.
If you think you may need more time, we recommend arranging it before your event date.
Pricing
How much does a mobile petting zoo cost?
Every event is quoted individually.
Pricing depends on factors including your event type, date, location, expected attendance, duration, selected experience, staffing requirements, travel, and setup needs.
Submit your event details and we'll recommend the options that make the most sense for your event.
Why don't you list prices online?
Because a backyard birthday for 25 guests and a city festival for 2,000 people shouldn't be priced or staffed the same way.
Our team reviews the actual requirements of your event before recommending an experience and providing a quote.
Is travel included?
Travel requirements depend on your event location and selected experience.
Your quote will include any applicable travel charges so you know the total before booking.
Mobile Petting Zoos
What animals do you bring?
Our mobile petting zoos feature a rotating selection of Barnyard animals that may include goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, miniature donkeys, ponies, and other farm animals.
Animal selection varies based on availability, weather, health, temperament, transportation, event conditions, and appropriate rest.
Can I choose specific animals?
You can absolutely tell us which animals you're most excited about.
We'll do our best to build an experience around your preferences, but we cannot guarantee every individual animal for every event.
Animal welfare and appropriate scheduling always come first.
Do you bring a Highland cow with the petting zoo?
Highland cows can be incorporated into select experiences based on availability and event conditions.
If having a Highland is important to you, make sure you select the Highland option on your inquiry rather than assuming one is automatically included.
Do you offer pony rides?
No.
Our pony experiences are interaction, photography, and specialty event experiences rather than riding services.
Do you provide feed for guests?
When guest feeding is appropriate for the selected animals and experience, our team will provide approved feed.
Please don't feed our animals outside food unless a Barnyard handler specifically approves it.
Highland Cow Experiences
Can I have a Highland cow at my event?
Absolutely.
We provide professionally handled Highland cow experiences for birthdays, weddings, corporate events, schools, community events, photo sessions, holiday events, and other celebrations.
Can guests pet the Highland?
Supervised interaction may be available depending on the animal, event conditions, setup, and handler guidance.
Can we take photos with the Highland?
Absolutely.
Photography is one of the biggest parts of our Highland experiences.
Do you offer Highland cows for weddings?
Yes.
Our dedicated wedding experiences include Highland appearances as well as specialty options such as The Highland Pour™.
Visit our Wedding Animal Experiences page for wedding-specific options.
Beer Burro, Pony Keg & The Highland Pour™
Do you provide the alcohol?
No.
The Barnyard provides and professionally handles the animal and applicable specialty setup.
Alcohol and other beverages must be supplied and controlled by the event host, venue, bartender, caterer, or another appropriate party.
Does a handler stay with the animal?
Always.
A Barnyard handler remains responsible for the animal throughout the scheduled experience.
Does it have to be beer?
No.
Despite names like Beer Burro and Pony Keg, appropriate non-alcoholic or alternative beverages may be incorporated depending on the experience and event.
What is The Highland Pour™?
The Highland Pour™ is a signature experience from The Barnyard at 2R Ranch that combines a professionally handled Highland cow with an interactive beverage presentation and photo opportunity.
It's especially popular for weddings, cocktail hours, corporate events, and upscale celebrations.
Setup & Space
How much space do you need?
It depends on the experience.
A Highland photo experience requires a very different setup than a mobile petting zoo designed for hundreds of guests.
Tell us about your available space when submitting your inquiry and we'll help determine what will work.
Do you need grass?
Grass is preferred for many animal experiences, but select setups may be possible on concrete, pavement, or other surfaces.
Surface requirements depend on the animals, event duration, temperature, weather, and experience.
Can you set up indoors?
Select animal experiences may be possible indoors.
We'll need to review building access, flooring, available space, ventilation, animal selection, venue rules, and other relevant conditions before approving an indoor setup.
How do the animals get to the event?
Our animals travel in appropriate livestock trailers and transportation setups.
Safe trailer access is an important part of determining whether a location can accommodate an experience.
If your venue has unusual access, gates, parking restrictions, loading docks, or limited trailer space, please tell us when submitting your inquiry.
Do you provide the fencing?
For mobile petting zoo experiences requiring portable enclosures, our team provides the applicable Barnyard setup.
Requirements vary for specialty animal experiences.
Weather
What happens if it rains?
Animal transportation and outdoor events may be affected by rain, storms, unsafe road conditions, lightning, mud, or other weather conditions.
We do not transport animals in conditions we determine to be unsafe.
Your specific rescheduling and weather terms are outlined in your booking agreement.
What if it's too hot?
Texas gets hot.
We monitor temperature and event conditions closely and use appropriate animal-care practices such as shade, water, cooling, and rest.
Extreme temperatures or unsafe conditions may require modifications to the experience.
What if it's too cold?
Certain cold-weather conditions may require a protected or indoor setup.
Our team will communicate applicable requirements based on the animals and forecast.
What temperatures can the animals work in?
As a general operating guideline, many Barnyard experiences are planned within approximately 40°F–99°F.
However, temperature alone does not determine whether an event is safe.
Humidity, direct sun, wind, precipitation, transportation time, shade, event duration, animal type, and other conditions are also considered.
The Barnyard reserves the right to modify an experience when conditions aren't appropriate for the animals.
Animal Welfare & Safety
Are the animals supervised?
Yes.
Barnyard handlers remain responsible for the animals and supervise guest interaction throughout the experience.
Are your animals friendly?
Animals selected for interactive experiences are chosen with temperament in mind.
However, they're still animals.
Guests must follow handler instructions and treat the animals respectfully throughout the event.
Can children pick up the animals?
Handling depends on the individual animal and experience.
Guests should never pick up or handle an animal without permission from a Barnyard team member.
What if an animal isn't available on the day of my event?
Animal health and welfare come first.
Individual animals may occasionally need to be substituted or removed from an event due to health, temperament, weather, scheduling, transportation, or other welfare considerations.
We'll make reasonable efforts to maintain the overall experience you booked.
Schools, Daycares & Large Events
Can you accommodate large groups?
Yes.
For higher-attendance events, we may recommend additional event time, staffing, animal areas, or a guest-rotation plan.
Tell us your estimated attendance when requesting a quote so we can recommend an appropriate setup.
Can classes rotate through the petting zoo?
Absolutely.
For schools and childcare centers, rotating smaller groups through the Barnyard can create a much better experience than having every student enter at once.
Do you work with multiple school or daycare locations?
Yes.
We can coordinate multi-campus and recurring experiences for school districts, childcare groups, preschools, and other organizations.
Can you work with cities, HOAs and companies throughout the year?
Yes.
Select organizations can arrange multi-event or annual Barnyard partnerships.
If you're planning several events throughout the year, tell us approximately how many dates you're considering when you contact us.
Venues & Event Professionals
Do you work with wedding venues and planners?
Absolutely.
We regularly coordinate animal experiences around venue requirements and wedding timelines.
Wedding planners, venues, and professional event planners interested in recurring partnerships are encouraged to contact us.
Can you provide insurance documentation?
If your venue, company, school, city, or organization has specific vendor or insurance requirements, send them to us as early as possible so we can review them.
Can my venue say no to animals?
Yes.
Your venue ultimately determines what it allows on its property.
We recommend confirming animal policies with your venue before booking, particularly for weddings and indoor events.
Travel
What areas do you serve?
The Barnyard at 2R Ranch primarily serves North Texas, including Sherman, Denison, Pottsboro, Whitesboro, Gainesville, Gunter, Howe, Van Alstyne, Anna, Melissa, Celina, Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Little Elm, Aubrey, Denton, and surrounding communities.
Select experiences are also available throughout the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area and Southern Oklahoma.
Will you travel farther?
Possibly.
Extended travel depends on the date, experience, staffing, transportation requirements, animal scheduling, and event value.
Send us the event location and we'll determine what's possible.
After Your Event
Can we share our photos with you?
Please do.
We love seeing the Barnyard through our clients' cameras.
You can tag The Barnyard at 2R Ranch on social media or send your favorite photos and videos to our team.
Where can I leave a review?
We greatly appreciate client reviews.
After your event, our team may send you a direct link where you can share your experience.
Can I book you again next year?
Absolutely- and you don't have to wait until next year to reach out.
Schools, HOAs, cities, companies, churches, venues, and other recurring clients are encouraged to discuss future dates or annual event plans with our team.
Still Have Questions?
If you don't see your question here, send it with your event inquiry.
Tell us what you're planning, when it's happening, where you're located, and approximately how many guests you're expecting.
We'll help you figure out the rest.