Tobi met us at the gate along with five others. There were 7 of us going, so Tobi walked along side. Since this was a trail ride to the beach, I was fine with that. I asked Tobi when I booked the ride if it was two hours. She said the ride itself would be about an hour and a half and the rest would be mounting and dismounting at the end. The trail down to the ocean is a bit steep, but the horses are well matched for it and there is no danger. It was a pleasant ride along the surf line. We were not allowed to cantor the horses, but they did have free rein to walk where they wanted. If we would have been able to ride faster and freer, I would give them a five star. Overall it was a pleasant experience and my sweetheart got to take one more thing off her wish list. read more

I was cheated. My major disappointment was that our ride, including mounting and dismounting was less than an hour and a half. I mentioned to our guide, their daughter, the rate and time listed on their site and was still charged for two hours. I can't imagine that saddling the horses wouldn't have been built into the cost. The ride was advertised as 2 hours, my partner and I were cheated. read more

I surprised my fiancée with a weekend get away to Whale Watching Inn in Gualala, CA. I tried to find something romantic to do on Valentines Day and came across Ross Ranch beach horseback ride. We arrived in Gualala, CA on the Sunday, the day before V-Day around noon and the weather was OUTSTANDING. Rain was expected on V-Day which was the day of our ride. Tobi went out of her way to accomadate my fiancee and I as well as another couple that came with us. She let us ride on Sunday at 3:00 so we could enjoy the beautiful weather and not risk having our V-day ride cancelled due to rain. The ride was absolutely amazing and my fiancee was at a lost for words and can not stop talking about hour ride. She said it was one of the best days of her life. The weather was perfect (felt like 70 degrees). Sun was beginning to set as we started so it made the ride perfect. Tobi paired us with our horse and led the way. Not much instructions were needed because the horses are well mannered, know the path, and are well groomed. Tobi is the sweetest person. She talked to us about the area wildlife and other things along our private beach ride. She made the experience that much better. If your in the area there should be no other choice but to go with Ross Ranch private beach ride. This horseback ride was definitely one of the best days of my life spending it with my fiancée and the other couple that joined us. The sunset and the weather made it that much better. The other couple with us enjoyed it as well. There was absolutely no one on the beach. Actually there was one other couple on the beach that lived in the beach homes on the beach. No one has access to the beach but the private homes on the hill. The experience can not be describe in words. This is something you have to experience for yourself. Ive included a few pics but it does no justice. If your reading this with the intent to schedule are ride with Ross Ranch, JUST DO IT!!! You will not regret it!!! read more

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Quite a nice experience for this family of four. Tobi was an experienced, engaged and friendly guide. They were generous with the time for the beach ride. Our horses were well trained and a joy. Nice memory made here. We had Cadi, Rock, Hemmi and Teddy as our horses. Thanks. read more

The lady in charge of our ride was very knowledgeable but didn't have a lot of patience. My husband and I have ridden before and knew what to do but we rode with 2 friends that had never been on horses. In past experiences, the person in charge matches the horses to the people. Like which horses personality would match the experience level of the person. She didn't. She pulled up horses and said, "who wants this one." My inexperienced friends rode two horses that were not good for their first time. My male friend got a mule (horse/donkey mix) that was obviously stubborn and wanted to do her own thing. My female friend got an older horse that was called "opinionated". My female friend was shouted at to keep control of her horse and to tell the horse where to go. Whereas other people with more tame horses barely had to do anything. It wasn't a good experience for them and I doubt they will ride again anytime soon. read more

I literally planned this trip a day prior (since my other plans fell off) as a birthday surprise for my boyfriend. I called Friday morning, booked the reservation, and Tobi did the rest. She even went out of her way to text us specific directions on what routes to take to get there safely. My bf and I had no experience in riding, but Tobi & John made us feel extremely comfortable. They are quite friendly and easy-going, nothing to be intimidated of (for those who can't ride). You will literally learn how to ride a horse in 10-15 minutes, not too complicated as it seems. Let me tell you that it was much more than I could've asked for. My bf loved it and was definitely surprised, despite thinking he wouldn't because we usually do much more active adventures. It was an amazing 2 hour experience at a great price of $60 per person. They also offer to take pictures of your party (w/ your device) instead of charging you to buy pictures they take, as many other businesses do. Don't hesitate, everyone deserves a chance to ride a horse, especially alongside the beach :) read more

We scheduled a forest ride for two adults and two children. Had a great time. The horses were well matched to our abilities. None of us are experienced and were able to ride with guidance from Tobi. Would definitely schedule another ride if we are ever in the area. read more

Tobi was an excellent guide on our horseback ride! She was very accommodating and provided a very pleasant ride. We all felt very safe and prepared with her. Very affordable and worth every penny!! read more

My friend and I rode with Tobi from Ross Ranch this weekend and couldn't have asked for a nicer experience. As noted in other reviews, these are walking only trail rides. Unlike so many other head to tail trail rides, what was really nice about the beach ride was you could ride abreast and talk to your friend on the ride instead of trying to shout up or down a string of horses. The horses were clearly part of the family unlike so many rental strings and tack was well maintained. Gloves and nice, clean helmets were provided. The beach was beautiful and deserted. We saw 2-4 other people on the entire ride on the wide open beach. We also happened to be riding as the seals were playing in the surf and a sea otter was spotted as well. The horses were great - solid and unflappable in their job and happy to do it. It was so relaxing to wander down the beach watching the seals. There were a couple of spots for photos that Tobi took, but the horses were solid enough that you could take photos without a concern while riding. It was nicely coordinated and very professional. I'd go try their other ride if I'm back in the area. read more

Such a fun day!! We are a family of 6 and have one that LOVES horses. We did this for her. After, we all agreed it was our favorite day of vacation. Huge thanks to Tobi for her kindness and patience with each of us. The beach was gorgeous and the ride was fun. We will be back! Thank you Tobi and John!! read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Ross Ranch is a great outfit if you want to ride horses. Amazing guide, had patience and very interactive. We had Gus and Magic as horses and were easy to handle. We did beach ride and was a great ride. We had incredible weather, sunny and no wind. Great wildlife as we saw a bobcat, breaching dolphins, ospreys and other birds. Unbelievable. Super highly recommend. read more

Took 5 girls ages between 10 and 15. They all had so much fun riding on the beach with Tobi. Everything was very easy from making the appointment to payment and was very close to the KOA campground. If we are ever back up this way we will definitely come back for another ride. read more

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We went as a group of six and had a great time. Tobi and her daughter Allie were really helpful explaining how to ride, what each of our horse's personality was like and what their body language meant. The ride was slow, which was fine with me, as I have never rode a horse before and wanted to feel safe. read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Highly recommend, Tobi the owner provided excellent communication. Terrific prices for a beautiful beach ride. Unbeatable in my opinion. Horses were very well behaved. Must do when visiting the area. Never felt unsafe. Also made sure our ride happened during good weather and let us reschedule at no extra cost. read more

Very fun tour through the redwoods. John is very nice and fun to have around. The horses are great and very easy to ride. Definitely recommend read more

On my wedding anniversary vacation in Mendocino. I had planned events every day for us to enjoy and have memories. I ride a horse when I was twelve years old and felt this experience needed to occur as an adult. A ride on the beach sounded very romantic for our anniversary. These horses are so beautiful. However when our group of 13 was ready to saddle up and start our adventure, we were told of the "warnings": horses ears back, "dirty looks", anger at passing others, eating brush on the way down to the beach...wow, I didn't know about this! That scared me of possible control issues. Well, there was two very knowledgeable cowgirls running the show and always with us watching and instructing. The beach ride starts off having to ride down a steep hill on a wide path. I'm afraid of heights and this gave me anxiety....watching for ears back and dirty looks the whole time was overwhelming for me. When a cowgirl told me my horse rhode this trail for 12 years, that calmed me a bit. The beach ride was just beautiful. It was a very foggy day, but surprisingly not cold. I had to work hard to overcome my fear and enjoy the ride and the beauty. Staying a ways back from the other riders helped me relax and enjoy. We made it back up the cliff from the beach without incident of ears back and dirty looks. It was beautiful and scenic, but at my age maybe too stressful to go through. It was difficult to relax for fear of my horse misbehaving. If you are fearful of large animals.....maybe think twice before embarking on this excursion. If you really want to, just know the cowgirls are right there. read more

Our family took the 10am Ross Ranch beach horse ride. We're inexperienced horse riders but had no problem riding with John and Tobi's simple, no-nonsense instructions. John was our guide and took us in one direction along the beach, while Tobi took another family in the opposite direction. It was a peaceful and relaxing 1-1/2 hour ride - a highlight of our 2-week road trip from Seattle to Monterey. We highly recommend it! read more

My husband and I recently went to Mendocino and did a horseback ride on the beach with Ross Ranch. Overall, it was a great experience and I recommend Ross Ranch. John and his wife have 18 horses in this family run operation. They were friendly, the horses were well trained and seemed very healthy and well taken care of, and everything worked out as planned. However, there are just a few things to keep in mind. As the other review notes, you will likely not do anything other than walk your horses on the beach - there will be no trotting along the trails. John said he does this so that the horses do not get used to trotting - beginner riders could get very nervous if a horse took off while they were on them. Seeing as how familiar the horses were with the beach trail (they knew when to turn around, they knew when to head back inland), I can see how this is a valid concern. You may want to look elsewhere if you want to trot, but for a leisurely walk on the beach the horses are great. We chose Ross Ranch over their competitor, Ricochet Ridge Ranch, which I think is more highly esteemed, because the Ross Ranch website says that all the rides are private, whereas Ricochet has standard group rides and an option for private rides for an additional cost. Our ride with Ross Ranch was indeed private. There was another group of riders other than me and my husband, but John took us one way on the beach while his wife took the other group in the opposite direction. I'm really glad it worked out that way, but we were told when we made the reservation that it was possible that we could have additional riders with us if people booked later on. So, just something to keep in mind that based on the number of bookings, the "private" rides seem usually to end up private, but if you want to guarantee it to be private, I would emphasize this with Ross Ranch and get their assurances, or I would consider the higher cost private ride at Ricochet. read more

Great time riding w kids and adults- some with almost no horse experience. Very clear instructions ahead of time. Felt safe the whole time. Sweet horses (and one very tall mule!!) Gorgeous scenery and an easy and informative ride with Alli. Quiet beach with almost no one else on it. Time and money week spent!! read more

Rode horses today and it was a wonderful beach ride. Allie was very knowledgeable and helped my first time kids figure out the animals. It was a good hour and half ride up and down the coast which was beautiful. I got Molly the mule who liked to keep up front. Ha! Highly recommended. read more

My wife and I went for a beach ride on Monday. Tobi was our guide and did a great job. We are not experienced riders and this walking ride was plenty for us. Wind was blowing strong, as it usually does on the coast there, but Tobi loaned my wife a wind breaker and gave us both gloves. Other than our hats blowing off, the wind was just exhilarating. The horses were well behaved, sometimes trotting a bit on their own to catch up with the other two. The horses weren't old, tired ones we've had on rides at other places. They had just enough spirit, but were obedient (if not patient) with inexperienced riders like us. Tobi is a great conversationalist and knowledgeable about the area. Yes, the trail down to the beach was a bit steep, but nothing the horses had any difficulty with. Thoroughly recommend Ross Ranch. Would go back if we get the chance. read more

John was our guide. He seemed bored with and even slightly annoyed with us. It was clear that he was not interested in whether or not we had a good time. We went noes-to-tail back and forth on the beach. We'd ridden with other outfitters before, and Ross Ranch was the worst. We would never go with them again. read more

My 9 yr old. twin grandchildren and I ( in my 70s) went on the beach ride. It was a wonderful experience. We have all ridden...a very little bit...so Tobi and John matched us well to the horses. My horse was the slowest of them so I got to be in the back and watch my grandchildren have a great time walking through the surf. When I commented to Tobi that Caddie, my horse, was slow she said he just liked being in the back. That was perfect for me. One other family was with us and Tobi was great with all 4 kids. Not for those who want to trot but great for those who want to walk through the surf on comfortable horses and enjoy the beautiful beach. Next time it might be fun to go on the forest trip. read more

We met Tobi at Manchester Beach for an unforgettable and amazing horseback ride on the beach. Tobi was extremely helpful and a wonderful guide for the afternoon. This was my husband's first time ever on a horse and he felt very comfortable on Cowboy. I was super happy with Caddy, who liked to linger back and then trot to catch up. The whole experience lasted two hours, which was plenty long for us newbies. All previous rides I've been on only lasted barely an hour so we felt very fortunate. You begin the ride through a meadow full of cows, head down the cliff trail that provides an incredible view of the ocean, and then ride up and down a very long stretch of beach. Tobi was kind enough to take pictures of us on the beach a top our horsey friends. The horses were wonderful and you could tell that they knew the drill. Thanks Ross Ranch for helping us cross an unforgettable adventure off our bucket list! read more

We had a great experience with Ross Ranch. Tobi is great, everything well organized, the horses are super calm. Very kids friendly. We did both the forest and the beach trips and both are recommended. read more

Absolutely the best gift I could have ever given my grand daughter. She has been wanting to ride on the beach since forever. I have been looking for a place that would allow 6 yr. olds. And finally Ross Ranch/ Manchester beach was the perfect setting she felt so grown up in control of her own Horse (Teddy). Warning! She hasn't stopped asking her daddy to buy her a horse since her ride. Thank you Ross Ranch for making our dream come true! read more

this horseback ride on the beach was a highlight of an anniversary weekend for my husband and I. we highly recommend it! our guide was Tobi and she was great, very calm and friendly and made us feel comfortable. our horses gus and legend were great, too, very easy going. it was even a perfect activity when the sky stayed cloudy and grey, making for some mystical photos. completely worth the price! read more

We were beyond disappointed. I took my daughter on the beach ride expecting an amazing time. I have never written a review on YELP, but I feel an obligation to let other people know what a waste of money this. My daughter and I went on the beach ride ($60 each) and thought we would get out money's worth. What happened was this.... We arrive, leave our car on the side of the road and are let in through the gate to where the ride begins. Tobi, the owner is nice enough, not openly friendly. The horses are tied to the trailer. The horses are heathy, which is a plus for the trip. My daughter, myself as a couple get on our assigned horse and head down to a PRIVATE beach. We are instructed to walk single file towards one end of the beach. When we reached the end we turned and walked to the other end of the beach. No jogging, no trotting, NOTHING. I would compare this to a pony merry-go-round but allowing adults to participate. The worst money I have ever spent. I make a mediocre wage and this was a special investment for my daughter and I. Do something else if you are looking for a good time w a sense of adventure. read more