Six of us from San Diego were on vacation in the Black Hills in early May. We were strapped for time but really wanted a guided horseback ride on the mountain. It is off season, but Andy agreed to guide us even though he was closed on that Friday. We opted for the 2 hour ride and Andy did everything possible to make our ride pleasant. There were two experienced riders and four novices in our group. Two of us are old farts (75) and Andy perfectly suited our needs - energy horses for the experienced and well trained plodders for us old folks. It was a memorable, truly enjoyable experience on a beautiful day in the back country. We rode to the top of a mountain and could see Wyoming 85 miles away. Andy told us the history of the area and the gold mining. We would absolutely do it again - reasonably priced with a perfect guide - truly outstanding. An added plus - we were greeted by "Claws", the friendliest barn cat you will ever meet! read more

0 stars if possible. He was a jerk as soon as we showed up. WE DIDNT EVEN END UP GOING ON THE RIDE IT WAS THAT UNPROFESSIONAL. We were making a travel video of experiences and adventures in South Dakota and he then immediately demanded we take no photo or video and we could not mention his company. Didn't want any free advertising from our humble travel video/recap and wouldn't hear us out explaining we posed no risk to him. Luckily we got our deposit back in cash but just a mess of an experience. read more

When we first got there he was incredibly rude to us. We booked this to show off fun things to do around South Dakota, and as soon as we mentioned this to him he started yelling at us and accused us of trying to scam him. This trip was suppose to be for work, and although we drove out here for this experience, my friend and I debated if we should still do the ride even if it would just be for personal enjoyment. Overall, we ended up canceling right at the door because of how belittling the man was to us. I will give him this, he refunded our down payment and I appreciate that. I was very excited for this experience, and extremely disappointed in how it ended up. read more

My mom loves horses so no trip to the Black Hills would be complete without straddling some beasts of burden around the area. I really appreciated that the guides really know the horses, including their lineage ("You're riding 'so-and-so,' that's the son of 'other horse's name'"), which means that they aren't just seen as bags of meat to make money off of, they actually care about the animals. There's a lot of other places that can't say the same. Andy helped get us set up, but Elizabeth was our guide. Andy seemed a bit surly, but Elizabeth could not have been sweeter. She gave us some background and history, both current (a big storm just came through) and less so (the land is still owned by the mining company) of the area as we walked. At one point we stopped and she took pictures of us, which was great for looking back at our adventures later. There really wasn't a whole lot to see during our ride, but it was still a nice time. One of our horses, Sasha, was very lazy, and one of the members of our party was very sore the next day from all the kicking he had to do to get her to go, without much success! read more

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My experience 1 star should be 0 Stay away from this place! They are nice till they get your deposit then it's screw you even if your with the cancellation period. His website is deceptive cause what you see is not what you get. The horses are tied to trees during the day with no supervision. I saw this first hand! Please Andy or anyone from this business tell me I'm not being truthful...you can't! read more

Andy's Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Lead, South Dakota

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Andy's Trail Rides...or maybe a better fit is "Andy's Last Resort". We had the time of our life riding horses with Andy. Some in our group were 1st time riders, others in group were more experienced... however, in instructions from Andy, you do need to know his left vs your left... We enjoyed hearing about the land rich in gold and the history of it being mined while we were horseback riding... but if you have hearing problems or didn't listen to Andy's original commentary being yelled, because you may have been focusing on his left vs your left or trying to focus on being on a horse..and ask a question he may of already answered ...then no worries, Andy will yell again to make sure you hear correctly. As a group, we couldn't say enough great things about Andy. Very rare find of a horse guide..and behind his tough cowboy facade, there are no dumb questions...he is more then happy to answer or repeat answers..if you want to experience a genuine cowboy leading you on a trail ride; that will yell, reprimand, or laugh with you...then this is your guy. Very authentic experience. read more

we got there early because it snowed. he had no idea we had already paid for our reservation. told us it would be an hour wait. 30 min past our reservation time. and then said stay out of their way. grumpy AF. at that point there was no way I was going to be around him for two hours. told him we were leaving. no refund offer or apology. I haven't been this mad in a long time. last day of our vacation. read more

Very fun scenic 4 hour ride with multiple river crossings. Our horses were spirited and smooth to ride. We are experienced riders and always request private rides that are not nose to tail. This ride exceeded our expectations. Toni and Bethany were our trail guides and they were great. If you love to ride, this is a great company to go out with. They have easier and shorter rides for people who are not experienced riders. read more

If you're in the area, Andy's is a must! Absolutely wonderful experience! My husband had back surgery a year ago and we wanted to give horse riding a try as an activity option. The guides were knowledgeable, accommodating, and led us on an excellent trail, checking to make sure we we were doing well. Will definitely be returning! read more

Having had a very nice ride while in Wyoming last year my husband and I decided we wanted to repeat the experience while in South Dakota. Unfortunately this ride was simply not the same. It was very fast paced and in no way was it relaxing.....we really didn't have a chance to enjoy the views because the horses were made to trot most of the time. I seriously had a hard time keeping up. Having said that, I do appreciate the fact that Andy had his guide ride beside me so I didn't have to try and keep up with the others. I'm disappointed that the ride just wasn't what I expected it to be after reading the other reviews. I absolutely did not enjoy myself and couldn't wait to get off my horse. If you want something fast paced this is definitely for you. If you don't want to feel like you are in a race you might want to think about looking elsewhere. read more

Andy & Jasmine were great! Andy helped match horses up to the riders. Jasmine was our guide. We joined a group of 3 other riders to make a group of 5 going with Jasmine. It decided to snow which made me nervous as I have basically zero experience on a horse. Absolutely zero experience on a horse I have to control myself. These horses were really good. Jasmine was patient & fun & knowledgeable about the horses, the trail, and the area. The snow make the views even more beautiful! Definitely worth going!! read more

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Our girls (8 & 12) were begging to go on a trail ride during our visit to the area. I chose Andy's specifically based on the positive feedback that it was not a "typical" slow trail ride. We did the 2-hour ride starting at 5pm and it was a total blast!! First off, Andy is a great guide. Second, the ride is through unbelievably beautiful terrain (we saw several deer). Third, the horses are awesome. Andy has each girl take charge in leading us on our ride, which was awesome. It was honestly the highlight of our trip! Can not recommend enough!!! We hope to return so we can take the 4-hour ride!! read more

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Andy's is amazing not your typical butt to butt trail ride on flat ground. This was a great mixture of walking, trotting and cantering. We climbed altitudes and terrains that seem impossible on horseback. 20 minutes into the trip we saw 2 bull elk, plenty of deer and unmatchable scenery. Andy is a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable, pleasant and accommodating. Best part is Andy's Trail Rides will accommodate larger size riders, he has beautiful well cared for and safe horses. This is a MUST on your South Dakota trip! read more

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One of the best trail rides I have ever been on. Andy and Carina (not sure on spelling) were awesome guides. There was so much history Andy talked about with the area. Enjoyed being able to ride freely with the family and even got to do a little running and have fun on the horses rather than just slowly meandering and walking. Definitely will come back in the future to ride with Andy and his horses again. read more

I have been on over a dozen trail rides of 1 to 2 hours in length and I can say hands down that this one was the best. Andy and his horses are fantastic! We called the day before we wanted to ride and he was able to squeeze us in (there were four of us). We got there, saddled up, and headed out. The ride itself was incredibly authentic and traversed the most beautiful landscape. Andy really takes the horses off the trails through some rough terrain - this is not some lame-ass walk along a dirt road! Andy takes time to explain the history of the area and is extremely knowledgeable. The price is also very, very reasonable. I highly recommend Andy and his horses; we cannot wait to do it again. We rode on Saturday, October 31st 2020; we were visiting the Black Hills from Northern Virginia. read more

I took my dad on vacation to Deadwood this week and wanted to do a trail ride. I found Andy's Trail Rides on yelp and booked a one hour ride. I can't tell you how impressed I was with our guides and our horses. Super friendly staff and very attentive to our needs as riders with very little prior knowledge of riding. The property they take you on is incredibly gorgeous. Also, thought it was an extremely great value for the price they charge. Next time I'm back in that area I will definitely be back for another ride and would highly recommend them for anyone wanting a fun and memorable time. Thanks so much Andy's Trail Rides and all your wonderful staff! read more

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We had the pleasure of booking the sleigh ride with Andy and his crew. It was a memorable late afternoon sleigh ride complete with snow and hot chocolate over an open fire. Our large family all agreed it was the best Christmas gift ever! Nothing could have made it more perfect. read more

My wife and I scheduled a one-hour ride with Andy. The scenery was fabulous! Since my wife is concerned around horses, Andy had her ride a very calm, smaller horse. She was totally at ease and wants to go again. I had a great time as Andy pointed out some landmarks and history of the area. read more

Really can't say enough great things about our experience today. Andy was FANTASTIC! He paired us perfectly with our horses. He was patient in leading our 8 yrs old out for a bit to make sure she was comfortable first before she was on her own. The trail was fun and 2 hours flew by. Andy was very attentive and would love to do this again. If you're looking...stop right here and give them a call!!! You won't regret it. read more

Andy did a wonderful job of handling a very inexperienced rider along with someone who is quite comfortable horseback. We both had a great time, saw beautiful scenery, and felt safe. The horses we were given we well-matched to our ability and style. I emphatically recommend Andy's Trail Rides. read more

We did a ride two years ago and it was such fun we decided to go again. We took a different trail and got to canter six times (we did two last time). An amazing experience and for those in the group who found such speeds a little too intimidating, Andy was most accommodating and stayed back with them, letting them catch up as our horses caught their breath. Our guides both provided tons of great stories and information as we wandered through the forests and the horses were superb. The statement that 'This is not a typical head-to-tail trail ride.' is 100% accurate and we will definitely be returning for more. read more

I highly recommend Andy's. We took the 1 hour trail ride and he took us through a beautiful scenic ride. It was also nice that he allowed some trotting and loping in the ride. They will cater the ride for you and they know what they are doing. I also appreciated the history of the trail which we rode on. As a person who rides and owns a horse I was very happy of the ride he took us on. I would definitely go back next time I'm in South Dakota. If you got a camera Andy will also take many good shots of your experience. Very nice people and good looking healthy horses. read more

As much as I was looking forward to trail riding here, being our first trip to South Dakota and having beautiful scenery, we ended up being very disappointed with the experience. My mom ended up being put on a mule. When you pay for horseback riding, that's what you expect to get. My experience was fine, but my mom was miserable the whole time and rightfully so. It should say online or over the phone that you may end up riding a mule for the same price you are quoted to ride a horse. We won't be returning or recommending Andy's to anyone in the future. read more

We went for a two-hour ride ($60/person), and it was great! It was just us and our guide, Melissa. We trotted and loped (ran) plenty and had an epic view of the Black Hills. read more

Did the 2 hour ride with our kids (7 & 9). Great experience, well organized and terrific service all around. They talked us out of the half day due to the kids ages. Truth be told, my rear would have given out far sooner than the kids; two hours was about perfect. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous than your typical head to tail flat ramble, this is your ticket. Also, not tough to find, just keep you eyes peeled a few miles after you clear Lead heading south on 14A you will see two signs on your right. read more

Took the 1hr ride with my 2 kids and my mother (60) who was a beginner rider. This is by far the best trail ride I have ever been on and I have been on a whole lot. Not your average nose-to-tail guided ride. My husband and I were put on huge draft horses, which I first I thought was weird, but they were both gentle as well as enthusiastic. This is the first trail ride we have been on where we were allowed to move faster than a slow plodding one behind the other. In several areas we were running with the horses, which everyone found extremely exhilarating. Andy was kind enough to take my camera and snap a few photos of us all on the trail. Beautiful ride up the mountain and back down, saw a whole lot of deer munching on grass not minding us at all. Everyone had a great time, even the horses. Thanks much to Andy and crew! We will definitely come visit again next time we are out that way! read more

Andy's rides is a must do if you love the out doors and horses!! Andy is a great guide and very friendly. The horses are very friendly and the trails are beautiful. We went in the snow, spring was not quite here yet, however Andy was great and we had an amazing time. read more

We just spent the last two hours on a Trail Ride with Andy's Trailride/ Andy's Horses. We had a blast. Our two Wrangler's were Taryn and the Lead Wrangler, Carolyn. Both girls were very knowledgable and fun. We got the Canter quite a few times, which is unusual for today's Trail Rides. The horses we rode were very capable and willing. It wasn't the usual nose to tail trail ride with the horses farting up the hills. The terrain we covered was gorgeous with breathtaking views, up mountain trails and open meadows. We saw deer, wild turkeys and our guide even spotted a Coyote. We even got to spend some time with their new colt, Chiquita, who loves to be loved on! It was quite a wonderful experience. Thank You, Girls! And Thank you, Trigger, Babe, Blondie ( Diva), George, and Cody (?). There were a few others that so didn't catch their names! I highly recommend! read more

This was an incredible experience! Lovely ride and really nice horses and people! We'll be back again!

If you go to this place to ride a "horse" make sure you specify that you are there to ride a horse. They have both mules and horses and tell you that they have used their horses on too many rides and that you will have to ride a mule. This is nice considering you pay the same price. Don't get sucked in. I'm sure there are other places to ride that won't pull this. Don't get scammed. Try elsewhere. read more