started riding here with megan, when she first started up in '22. she is very warm, accommodating,…read moreand attentive, qualities that are hugely beneficial for a trail guide to assure a GREAT visit. megan grew up on this property, and with the ride comes the stories as such, which i love to hear when she tells them at certain landmarks. horses are very well mannered, stalls and stables, spotlessly clean, which is NOT an easy task when one keeps horses, lol. she uses fleece lined hackamore bits, which are effective, yet gentle on the horse's mouth. BONUS: she offers a quick, yet effective mini-lesson in the arena prior to hitting the trails, which is a great way to encourage confidence to apprehensive riders. after the lesson, we proceed outside, where other horses seem to be wishing us well on our journey. how i love seeing them running up, and whinnying! the trails are breathtaking, and variable....one minute you are on a wooded path where you might see a deer, and few moments later, on a huge open field-where suddenly FREEEEEDOMMMM! seems to "possess" you-i always feel like i want to just run wild and free, full speed through the vast openness, which of course i don't, because i can only walk and trot-and for safety/insurance reasons, walk and trot is pretty much what is allowed. the price for a 2 hr. ride is absolutely reasonable, and unique to our area. i highly recommend ANYONE with an interest or curiosity about horseback riding, to def. check out BLAZING TRAIL RIDES. (and please remember to TIP your trail guide) . you can thank me later. :) HAPPY TRAILS!

From the owner: Blazing Trail Rides offers guided horseback trail rides through the farm every Saturday and Sunday,…read moreJune through October. Located at the Van Etten Farm in the beautiful Helderberg Mountains of Knox, NY. 1999 Berne Altamont Road, Altamont, NY 12009 518-424-9086

This was by far the most meaningful riding lesson that I have had. Gil was absolutely fantastic and…read moreis a natural instructor. He immediately makes you feel at ease and spends time going over not just safety protocol but also shows you how to connect with the horses, develop an understanding. As a result the ride itself was absolutely fantastic. I learned a lot about technique and even more about the things to improve on. The ride itself was almost therapeutic. You learn how to be just in the moment. The sound of the horse's hooves on the earth is a memory that keeps coming back to me over and over again. If you are in saratoga, and you have an interest in horses, this is the place to be. In the last 15-18 years of annual or biannual trail rides, i have never gotten as much out of an experience as I did here.

Gilly and Diamond have need volunteering for Operation Adopt a Soldier for years as our Headless…read moreHorseman and does a GREAT job. Gilly is a very caring person and respects is horse (Diamond) and ALL his horse. I highly recommend him for all your riding and caring for horses you need.......

My boyfriend Shane and I had such an amazing experience today with GI Joe. I'm an experienced rider…read morewhile my boyfriend is a beginner, yet both of us were galloping by the end of it. We even shared a beer with Joe after the tour. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back. We seriously can't stop talking about our time with the horses.

We drove all the way from Long Island and we are so glad we made the trek. This was such an…read moreauthentic experience. This ranch is like no other.. Joe is incredible and has so much hospitality. He really knows his stuff and is an excellent riding guide. His horses are so well trained and really listen to you. From experienced riders to beginners, he really offers a one of a kind experience. Especially for people who have years of riding experience (like me) and are tired of those mundane boring trail rides than Rough riders is for you!! It is full of adventure and thrill!

Loved my daughters first lesson back! My 11 year old has been riding for 3 years and took a break…read moreat her old barn before starting at New Horizons. They are friendly and welcoming. They're goups lessons only allow 4 -5 horses riding at a time, so they were really able to give my daughter enough time and attention during the lesson. The lesson horses seem very seasoned and friendly. My daughter said she felt very comfortable with the trainer and horses. highly recommend, we love it here.

Dangerous for rider and horse. I would not recommend boarding here; paddocks are muddy and not…read moremaintained. Numerous horses have incurred injury while in paddocks. Horses are left outside overnight. Why did I pay for a stall if my horse wasn't using it. Riders are regularly placed on horses unsuitable for their experience level. Have heard numerous stories off family member in charge of feeding skipping mid-day or evening meals. Last but not least, why would an instructor ride without a helmet..and in front of children!

This was so much fun!! We made a last-minute decision to check out the horseback riding, and…read moresomehow luck was on our side -- they had an opening later in the day! The horses all had their own names and personalities (some clearly knew they were the stars of the show ), and it was so fun watching how they interacted and handled the trail. The ride itself was actually a bit of a challenge in the best way -- beautiful, exciting, and lots of fun! We had such a great time and would highly recommend it!!

Colby & Cowboy Pete are truly the BEST! We brought along two 13-year-olds who had never ridden…read morehorses before, and from the moment we arrived, they made the experience unforgettable. The horses were calm, gentle, and absolutely beautiful. Cowboy Pete was an incredible guide, leading us through trails that were peaceful, scenic, and breathtaking. What stood out most was their patience and kindness -- they immediately put our teens at ease and made them feel comfortable and confident. Thanks to Colby & Cowboy Pete, their very first horseback riding experience became a joyful memory they'll cherish forever. Thank you both so much for such an amazing adventure and for creating a moment they will always remember!

Fantastic facility with beautiful, well-kept horses. Always clean, beautiful, well run barn &…read moreriding arena. Victoria Acres does incredible work with their therapeutic riding programs & lessons.

The horses are very well cared for and the stables are kept clean to a very high standard. It's…read morehonestly so very much appreciated that I can tell the horses are loved and cared for and not just seen as a commodity

This is a beautiful and peaceful property! You could sit on the deck all day with not a worry in…read morethe world. We went there specifically for the horseback riding. The people at the barn were very friendly and helpful. The trails could have been a little clearer, but it was still an enjoyable ride. There are many other activities you could do, like kayaking, hiking, ziplining, jungle rope, three pools, tennis, pickleball, volleyball, and more. The main lodge was a log cabin, with beautiful views and a couple of fireplaces. I had expected the decor inside to be more rustic (Yellowstone-ish), but some areas were not, which was a little disappointing. The food was nicely presented and delicious. But the time it took from ordering to actually getting the food was very long. The meals, I thought, were pricey for what you got. Also, there are two different menus. Ours was the same 3 or 4 entrees for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner for the entire 4-day stay. We went off the property for a couple of meals to have something different. There is a gift store on the property, which is in great need of a facelift. The people who work there were very nice and went out of their way to make our stay enjoyable. Check-in and check-out were easy.

The website makes this place look amazing but when you get there you realize you got a bait and…read moreswitch. As you arrive you are greeted by the huge barn that says "1000 Acres" The place screams dude Ranch. The resort is cut in half by the road. The horses on one side and the resort on the other. The resort is undergoing some work, but is fully usable with just some rooms being renovated. The barn needs work and it is obvious that it is being neglected. There is a arena for rodeos that goes unused but was busy in the past. The petting zoo is more like look at animals in the fenced in area. The riding is enjoyable, Hedi who handles everything horses, is incredible, but has to deal with promises made by management that cannot be fulfilled. She is knowledgeable, friendly and willing to explain anything despite her busy schedule. Five stars for her and the other barn staff, but then you get to the resort. This place has a reputation as a dude ranch. They advertise a multitude of rides and ride types. They advertise a rich menu (Kosher). "After a full day of ranchin', you're going to be hungry! Our evening dinners offer a variety of delicious menu options to get you ready for tomorrow's adventures." The variety of delicious menu options for dinner is completely false. You have basically 2 options, take it or leave it. We were given Beef every night, if you didn't want that, they would go back to the kitchen to see if anything else was available. I get it, it's a Kosher kitchen, but there is far more than the same cut of beef that is kosher. There is not even courses to dinner. No salad, no bread, just the main dish if you want to eat the same thing every day for a week. That said the Beef was delicious, just not every day. Your lunch options are Tuna wrap, Egg Wrap, Salad and maybe if you are lucky a 4th option that changes. The food is delicious, but the menu needs a ton of work. BBQ Chicken, hamburger or Hotdogs would be welcome additions for a Dude ranch. The truth is Management has no idea what they are doing. The manager Joseph, who gladly introduces himself as the owner, has no knowledge and no desire to learn about horses, barn animals or anything this place is known for. The manager proudly tells you the resort was headed in the wrong direction then he took over. His direction as he states "to make this a place where jews going between Montreal and NYC can stop to rest and get a Kosher meal." That's great then advertise it as such. There is no posted schedule for activities. You have to ask as they are only open at certain times. The pools are open, there are kayaks and River tubes available at the shore. Everything else you have to ask when you can do it, that is if they even know. The staff is excellent. They are friendly, and do their able best to make sure you enjoy yourselves. It is obvious that they are hindered in this by management. Quite a few staff members told us that our concerns were common and constantly brought up to management. Management then turns a deaf ear. The resort has so much potential. It is on beautiful property. Again they need to decide are they a dude ranch or a Kosher resort that happens to have horses. As a side note, there is no cellular service on the property. The nearest signal is 2.5 miles away in either direction. They claim the Wi-Fi covers the whole resort however the guest Wi-Fi is spotty at best and only works when near the main resort building. If you rely on a cell phone for anything or need to be constantly connected, you are out of luck here.