Incredibly peaceful and affordable place to come and visit…read more For literally 23 years my family went to this ranch until it was sold to the current owners. We missed it so much that we decided to come back and visit, and we were not disappointed! There have been a few much needed changes and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I created a video that should show you just a taste of what it's like to visit. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpJCNIGGHb8

I had stayed here 3 years ago when it was known as Highland Ranch, and had an exceptional…read moreexperience back then. When I booked a couple of nights at the now Blackbird Farms for this month, I was hoping that it would be the way I remembered it. I was not disappointed! We came for the horseback riding and were pleased to ride well-trained horses that were clearly well cared for. All the meals were delicious and fresh, as BF now grows all their own vegetables and fruits, and they purchase meat from local sources. The cabins were freshened up with some paint and A/C. A wonderful place to go for a little R & R.

So much fun! Went on the beach ride near our Airbnb. Feel comfortable with my 10-year-old going on…read morehorses for the first time, they did great. The ride was beautiful, even though it was a little bit overcast and foggy. A very special and fun memory for our family. We still talk about Buddy, Rock, Pepper & Tank!!

Amazing experience. The trail down was perfect. It wasn't just a simple flat trail, it made you…read moreactually ride a horse with some skill that our guide went over very clearly. 10 out of 10 will do it again when we return to the area. It was such a relaxing beautiful experience!! Molly and Buddy were our horses! Our guide knew so much about the horses that she could even predict where they would eat and or pee while on the tour.

I'm surprised by the 5 star reviews. Nobody picked up the phone or returned my messages, do better.read more

My boyfriend surprised me for my birthday by taking us to Sonoma for the weekend. The highlight was…read morewaking up Sunday morning for a horseback ride with one of the most beautiful views. Our guide was wonderful and friendly, the horses were absolute gems, and overall this is one of the best trail ride experiences I've ever had. Getting the mountains, water, and some redwoods was fantastic! We were fortunate to be in a small group (us and two others). It made the ride feel more intimate. I rode El Negro and highly recommend. His gait is smooth! (He is a walking horse after all). My boyfriend rode Leslie who was a bit slow and liked to trail at the back but sure footed and a sweetheart. We ended the ride with a glass of wine overlooking the lake. This space is often use for weddings as well and I can absolutely see the appeal! I would love to go back some day!!

I found my home here at farm camp. AS long as your kid doesn't mind a little dirt or poop, this is…read morea perfect home away from home.

I have been going to this sleepaway camp and it is my favorite place in the world. I have friends…read morethere that I see every summer and the food and activities are also so fun. I highly recommend this camp to anyone who loves animals and is not afraid of a little dirt. This camp has taught me independence, gotten me to eat a bigger variety of foods, and just been overall awesome. Going back for my fifth year this Summer!

We took the one hour beach ride and it was great. The horses were well behaved - absolutely no…read moreproblems. The guide, Azalea, was friendly & patient. The 5 of us were all horse people during our lives ranging from 10 years ago to a few days ago. Azalea was nice and didn't laugh at our old bones climbing up on the horses. I had Walter and he was a good boy. The gentleman that I spoke with on the phone, Russ, before making our reservation was understanding with my questions ie. "I'm old, do you have a mounting block?" I would go to Ricochet Ranch again, for a longer ride next time. Highly recommended!

What can I say? This experience was amazing!…read more Booked online with no troubles and received a confirmation e-mail shortly after. We didn't have a hard time finding the place, but just as a heads up, someone stole the business sign so as soon as you turn on to the correct street it is the first ranch on the corner! We were quickly greeted by Russ and were pleased to find out that my friend and I were the only ones who made a reservation for the day so it made our first horse back riding experience that much better! Russ was informative and shared previous experiences from past riders to help us feel more at ease for our first time. You do have the option to wear a helmet. You can bring your own, use one of theirs or opt out. Regardless of choice you will have to sign a waiver. Once the waiver was complete we picked a helmet and a horse. I chose Walter my friend chose, Zez. Russ demonstrated how to properly get on and off the horses as well as how to halt and guide the horse while riding. This was so helpful to us! There is a stool to help you on and off the horse especially for shorties (like myself). We chose the ocean ride. To get there we crossed the road and went into the woods for a bit and took the same way back. Russ was patient with the both of us and helped to make this experience unforgettable. Walter was patient with me and I was so grateful to have gotten to ride him! Zez has a sassy personality of her own and fit very well with my friend lol! Once we got back to the ranch Russ and his son Andy introduced us to some of the other horses on the ranch as well as the ranch cat, Thor and the two ranch ravens. The whole experience was great. Thank you Russ helping us knock this off our bucket list!

I absolutely recommend Cloverleaf Ranch to any family considering horseback lessons for themselves…read moreor their children. We've been at their ranch since September 2024, and every single staff member we've encountered (including office, groundskeeping, and instructional staff) has presented themselves with the utmost professionalism, kindness, and enthusiasm. They've taught our boys how to ride and care for horses in a safe and skilled manner, all while exhibiting patience, dignity, and grace. They are friendly and welcoming at all times, and I feel no hesitation to trust our instructors with the safety of my children. The safety of their students and horses are of primary concern here--as it should be. I must offer an extra special thank you to Mia and Izzy, who have always made it their goal to teach my kids everything they possibly can about riding and equestrian care. It has been a blessing and a joy to work with them, and we love them both dearly! Thank you, ladies, for your dedicated work, and for always bringing upbeat smiles, wisdom, and positive attitudes to your students. I'd be remiss if I didn't also give honorable mention to Carley, who is not our instructor, but who is often on the training grounds during our appointment time. She makes us feel welcome, and goes out of her way to be friendly and encouraging while we are there. Thank you, Cloverleaf. Your pursuit of excellence in your craft has been of great benefit to our family. Keep up the good work!

Everyone here was so nice. Cassie was an awesome instructor for the lesson and trail ride for my…read moredaughter. She also took some nice photos from me and sent them along right after. Really great place and people!

This is what small independent stores are all about! The owner is extremely welcoming and helpful…read more I tried a saddle for a couple of days and it ended up not fitting my horse. I brought it back during the trial period and complained how hard it has been to find a saddle to fit my horse. After I left she called and told me of a few websites that give really good pointers on saddle fitting. Would highly recommend buying anything horsey from The Black Horse.

This is a really great little Mom and Pop store. My granddaughter loves to ride horses and I don't…read moreknow a lot about them, but the staff there was so helpful! They recommended some items to keep her safe while riding, yet still look cute, just what every girl wants!!

I loved coming here for our new years trip. Many things to do short distance walk to the beach. We…read moresaw deer in the middle of the night. Spacious and cozy. Can't wait to go back.

From the owner: Vacation Cottage is Mendocino's premier property ten feet away MacKerricher State Park Ten Mile…read moreBeach Trail from Laguna Point to Ten Mile River is about a 10 miles hike round trip. Sandy Clove cottage just north of the Fort Bragg city limits to Ten Mile River. This home offers the walker a chance to explore headlands and wetlands, sand dunes, forest and meadowland. There is hiking and sight seeing, and horseback riding.

My son and niece had the best week last week at A-1 Horse Programs at Owen Ranch in Middletown…read more Helen, the ranch owner, and the instructor knew what each kid needed to be successful in their horsemanship journey, whether it was confidence, courage, encouragement, discipline, etc, she was there to provide what each kid needed to succeed. I was so impressed with her innate ability to understand the needs of the kids and provide what was needed at the moment to get the best results. It was really hot while we were there, like triple digits hot! The kids were hot and tired after each day, but they were still excited about camp and eager to go back each morning. Helen and her assistant Sam were good about keeping an eye on the kids and cooling them down frequently with a hose down, which the kids loved, lol. The kids also absolutely adored their horses. Both horses were very sweet and gentle. The kids loved rewarding their horses at the end of each day with an apple. From day one the kids were hands-on learning how to properly care for their horse and prepare it for a ride. On the very first day they learned how to securely tie it to a post when not being ridden and not in a pen, they learned how to harness and lead their horse out of the pen, they learned how to brush their horse before saddling, they learned how to bridle and saddle their horses. They learned how to walk their horses to warm them up before a ride, they learned how to properly hose a hot horse down to cool it down after a ride in hot temps. They did all that and still had some arena time so that they were also able to learn how to properly control their horse. Day 2 they did all their horse prep and care then had some arena time to strengthen riding skills and then they were off for a trail ride that was about an hour long. The rest of the week was about the same with the kids in the saddle a good 2 hours each day. On the 4th day they learned how to wash the horses and the last day was dedicated to a show the kids put on for the parents to show how well they had learned to direct their horses. On his first day my son was slouching in his saddle and saying he couldn't do a lot of what was asked of him. By mid-week his riding posture was greatly improved and Helen had him saying "I can, instead of I can't" She told him if he could control a 1000 lb horse at just 7 years old, he could do anything! I hope he remembers that forever! He was even excited to carry his horse's rather heavy saddle by himself by the end of the week because he knew he could do anything. Thank you Helen for the best week we had all summer, we will be back.

This place exceeded our expectations! Our non-equestrian family had an amazing time at the ranch…read more Helen was a patient, well versed trainer. She welcomed us to play with the goats while she saddled the horses. She matched us perfectly with the horses, from my 6'4" husband, my 60+ yr old mother, and my elementary age children. She was great with instruction and safety, and the trail ride, which included a walk through the running water was an hour perfectly spent. She even took photos that she shared with us at the end of the experience. Incredible customer service. Absolutely worth every penny!

Truly the best all around boarding and training center in Lake County. Gorgeous. First of all,…read morethe owners truly care about all the horses in their care. Excellent hay quality, water is kept clean for the horses, and all stalls and paddocks ample & kept clean. Very low incidence of equine colic. All fencing is kept maintained and in good condition. No broken down fencing anywhere, no barbed wire. Lovely trails and meadows to explore with your horse. The arena is Olympic in size and some of the best quality footing in the world. The owners really DO care about their facility and the care of the horses. Also, they have regular educational clinics in dressage, general horsemanship, cowboy dressage and etc. They encourage learning and are most supportive of their clientele. Worth it!