This is definitely one of those reviews that I hesitate to write. This little gem of a horseback riding business has been in Albuquerque's backyard since 1989, and until last week, I had no idea it existed. During the Great Bathroom Tissue Famine, we'd pulled our hair out trying to find something, anything, for our kiddo to DO on the weekend, what with the masking and the distancing and the rest. Following just one visit, I'm very confident we've found our southwestern huckleberry.
First, ya gotta sit down with the owner of this place, Margo(t?). She's a card. Running this ranch out of a comfortable double-wide on the high plains of Corrales, she's been there, done that and watched the area morph, over the years, from rags to riches. All the while, she's taken in rich and poor kids -- girls, mainly -- and turned them into equine stewards. As opposed to other ranches around the 505 (we've explored), High C Acres begins by teaching kids to groom, saddle and care for the horses. Our daughter's first lesson ran more than two and a half hours, and I won't quote the incredible price.
Margo says she generally has between 30-40 students, of all ages and walks of life, at any given time. These people arrange regular, hour-long visits, to ride and care for the beautiful beasts. She's quick to explain the actual costs of horse ownership, particularly following a mild winter when feed costs are bound to escalate. My kid enjoyed a distanced, masked introduction to this way of life, alongside one of her good friends. It's likely the best money we've spent on Famine entertainment since we all began hoarding. Don't be surprised if there's simply no room at the stable when you call. read more