The views were beautiful during our trail ride through Rodman's Hollow nature preserve. My boyfriend and I went, never having ridden a horse before. Our guide Jon was beyond helpful and showed us the ropes! He was even kind enough to snap a few pictures for us. It was super beginner friendly and such an amazing experience. Definitely one of the most memorable parts of our Block Island trip! read more

Rustic Rides Farms - Horseback Riding Near Me - Block Island, Rhode Island

Horse riding on Block Island is an unforgettable experience. If you're not familiar with horses, I'd recommend being careful--but that's just horses in general, I suppose, nothing specific to Rustic Rides. I went riding here on July 26, this past summer, on Rodman's Hollow Trail. My horse was mellow. We rode out in a group, and there were no incidents to speak of. It's a basic, solid horse riding place, not a multimillion dollar resort. I would definitely go back. read more

Rustic Rides Farms - Horseback Riding Near Me - Block Island, Rhode Island

Beautiful ride with the family today through Rodman's Hollow Preserve with our guide Jon.The only issue is now the 8 year old wants a horse

Incredibly fun experience on a family owned/family run farm on beautiful Block Island. The wife and I had a blast! Tim and John were great as far as communication before our arrival. John was our guide and was fantastic. The horses we're super chill and incredibly friendly. After our stunning ride, John showed us the ponies the kids ride. They were adorable. Highly recommended this family owned establishment. read more

we went riding with John as our guide through the nature reserve I can't speak highly enough of this wonderful adventure on this beautiful and scenic island. John is a knowledgable, competent and friendly guide! The horses are beautiful If you are considering something different and literally off the beaten path, go for a ride with the Rustic Farm crew you will not be disappointed and you'll make wonderful memories ! read more

I do not recommend rustic rides . My brother and I went to block island for the riding and where picked up by Tim in his super sketchy van and he was 30 min late and had to listen to ramblings about the Illuminati and John Lennon living in his arm . We talked to him over the phone and said we where experienced riders and didn't want a nose to tail ride we wanted the beach ride. When we arrived at the farm which was a dump we where greeted by several very malnourished looking horses with cracked hooves , Ill fitting tack , and several other riders , the horses just look dead in the eyes . Our tour guide was very nice but he literally walked along side us the entire ride and we couldn't go beyond a walk . Not what we paid for . We never got to go to the beach because A child who was on the ride freaked out and Tim wouldn't give our money back or let us go on another ride . Absolutely terrible and not worth $100. Owner seems very mentally unstable and the animals are suffering because of it . His employees openly speak of the abuse he puts them through as well . read more

Rustic Rides Farms - Horseback Riding Near Me - Block Island, Rhode Island

This place needs to be reported the way they treat their horses is unacceptable and is abusive and neglectful. People need to stop complaining about the service and start focusing on the horse's health and well being. Horses need a high level of care and they are not getting that. The times I've went horses are standing tied to a post with tack on all day with no hay or water and look malnourished. These horses are over worked and tired. These poor babies deserve a better life. The owners are just money hungry and do not care about the horses well being. Change needs to happen to help the horses and people need to stop supporting this abusive farm. I'd like for you to put yourself in the horses shoes and see the lack of quality of life they have. These are beautiful animals not machines that can do whatever you want with. Rent a moped. Absolutely disgusting and heartbreaking. Block island you need to step up and take care of these beautiful animals. read more

Jon was our guide, and he was awesome. He told us about our horse's personalities, and how to steer them. I was nervous at first, but his calm demeanor quashed my fears, and he assured me that the horses knew the path well. As he walked along the horses, he answered all of my stupid horse questions as I chatted with him, and it was nice to see how much he really loved the horses. He brought us to Rodman's hollow and took great pictures of us and our horses! When we were done, he was very welcoming and let us see the ponies. It was a really great experience, I really recommended checking them out when you're on the island. read more

Horses and ocean I have to admit I have an uneasy relationship with horses. Exactly why would I want to get on the back of a thousand pound animal with the intellectual capabilities of a rutabaga? Horses are members of the order Perissodactyla and have been around in various forms for at least 50 millions years. The living relatives include such intellectual giants like the tapir and rhinoceroses and in the past the order was much larger, including some absolutely gigantic members. Most were driven into into well deserved extinction by their metal superiors like cows and aardvarks but I have to admit the fossil history is fascinating. Even though I feel that gigantic animals with limited brain power are best admired from a distance, my wife and most of her friends are horse lovers. She even thinks that the fact they are so limited intellectually makes them cute. So I get dragged off to ride horses every once in a while. If you are forced to get on a horse Rustic Farms is certainly a great place to do it. It's a real working farm and a friend of ours who owns a farm said that Rustic Farms smells like a farm is suppose to smell like. In other words it stinks like hell. The people here are extremely nice and have that subtle farmer sense of humor. More than willing to give little bits of wisdom like, "don't worry, that horse you're on hasn't killed anyone in a while", or "if he tries to bite you just bite him back". One young lady told me that if the horse tries to roll in the sand down on the beach I should stop him. Unfortunately she was bit vague on how exactly I stop a thousand pound animal from rolling in the sand. Well, we went on the ride, along the road, though some fields and onto a great beach. I've hiked, biked and yaked every square inch of the island but I have to say that it all looks different and new from the back of a horse. My equine friend didn't even try to bite me, kill me or roll on the beach. Actually, outside of having questionable hygiene, the animals are extremely friendly and well trained. Sure my butt was sore as hell the next day but I had an absolutely great time. One of the people there said I was a natural , although I definitely got the feeling that this was a gratuitous remark saved for the most incompetent riders. It didn't matter, we all still had a wonderful time and I have to admit, given a great place and great people at Rustic Farms, getting on the back of a mentally challenged thousand pound beast can be a lot of fun. read more

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We rode with Briyana and Jada today. It was really awesome! They are super thoughtful and considerate, taking care of us all the time. It was our first time riding a horse, but it was no problem with all their help along the way! Price is really reasonable and it's really fun! Highly recommend! read more

I Took a trip to Block island with my aunt and brother , we where looking through the pamphlet and saw a beautiful advertisement of two horses with riders galloping across a beach at sunset . We gave the number a call and spoke with Tim , we explained we where spending the weekend and wanted to take a beach ride & that we had expeirience . Tim said he could make that happen told us the prices and that he would pick us up for free . Tim Mcabe arrived to pick us up along with a mother and daughter in his super sketchy van . But he was super friendly introduced himself and we got in. Tim assured my aunt , brother and I over the phone we would be able to "gallop on the beach " We talked about horses for awhile , my horse back home , about his life on block island. Again I will emphasize - My Aunt , brother , and myself where all experienced riders we would only do this ride if we could do some cantering etc ( it was expensive I have a horse at home and didn't want to pay for a walk ) again we where assured we would have the time of our lives . We arrived at the farm , filled out paper work , paid for our ride and where told to wait for the guide to get back . We waited about 20 min.... Tim went into his house after we paid never said anything . so we wandered around a bit and loved on the ponies . The guide arrived WHO WAS WALKING!!! ( big surprise I've never seen a guide walk for trail rides ) He Came back with 6 exhausted horses , sweaty horses . He tied them to a post never loosened their girths or let them drink . Just FYI the tack is disgusting and falling apart literally held together by duct tape and is very smelly . I hope Tim invests in some new saddles and bridles . The horses feet are horrendous . The bits are way to harsh The water is a tub of algae . The guide never let the horses drink just tied them back to the post . As for the ride - We mounted our three horses and the guide helped the little girl and her mother who come to find out have never ridden before and are pretty scared . So what does he do ?? Puts them at the front of the line . We proceed to walk single file down the rode . We are all pretty irritated at this point but don't want to ruin the little girls first ride . My horse is chomping at the bit , tossing her head , ears pinned . Just tired and unhappy . We walk some more Some more And some more . Stop a minute because the little girl is scared . We never got to the beach . That pissed me off the most out of anything . I can deal with the walking but we paid for a BEACH RIDE We got back , and Tim was no where to be found . Overall I would say this place is a diamond in the rough and Tim needs to invest in timely farrier visits , decent tack , and have someone on staff cleaning water tubs daily . I would say we will only be returning if our requests are fulfilled like we are told and the horses receive proper care . read more

Rustic Rides Farms - Trail riding on the island . - Horseback Riding Near Me - Block Island, Rhode Island

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Five Stars for our tour guide, Louis. He is an amazing young man who is very passionate and kind. He wanted to make sure we had a great experience- he was patient, friendly, and thoughtful!! However, ONE STAR goes to the owner of this joint, Tim. Tim is absolutely insane, and a very frightening character to say the least. From the very start he was literally screaming and hollering at Louis that he wasn't doing anything right. You could tell that Louis is fairly new to tending to horses, but he was giving it a good try and Tim had absolutely no sympathy or patience for him. Taking orders from Tim, as you could imagine, is very confusing and sporadic. As an experienced rider, I was put on Tim's favorite horse. Said horse was jumping and kicking as soon as I hopped on. I nearly had a panic attack because Tim wouldn't listen to me, saying the horse was "just excited". He was hollering at me to control him and pull on his reins. I don't care if the horse is "just excited". I'm not here paying you good money to get thrown off a horse, and to be yelled at by you!! Anyways, our ride, like I said, was wonderful with Louis as our tour guide. It was relaxing and we didn't even mind that it was raining a bit. Halfway through our ride we came to a newly cleared path by the beach- but the rain has begun to wash the sand away leaving extremely dangerous dips and large rocks everywhere. Not exactly conducive for riding. We asked Louis if it was okay not to take the path and instead head back a different way. He was worried that Tim would be mad at him (I don't blame him) so we told Louis that we would let Tim know it was our decision. Well, 5 minutes later Tim comes FLYING down the road in his Jeep, stops the Jeep in the middle of the road, jumps out and starts screaming at Louis for not taking us down the path. He angrily and violently yanked on our horse's reins, pulling us back around so we would go back to the trail. We, as the customers, were the ones that felt like we had to diffuse Tim's anger. I felt angry and frustrated on Louis's behalf- if anyone screamed at me like that constantly there's no telling how I'd deal with it. To recap... Louis was the hero of the day. I'm surprised Tim is still in business. read more

Boyfriend and I rode our bikes across the island to go horseback riding... As someone who grew up with horses as a kid, there's two kinds of barns. The ones that you can eat food off the floor of and then the ones that are like this. We show up, no one is around. The horses are all lounging, waiting for their next trail ride by a water basin. The water is CLEAN. The horses are well fed, no ribs showing. They are all docile and close together which...oh yeah? They are herd animals. Strange. Some are tied up, some aren't, they are free to walk about. I stood by and petted the soft nose of one while I waited for someone to arrive. (I do not recommend, I felt rude, but I couldn't help myself) They have their tack on. Which makes sense because, they are being ridden all day. Yes the tack looks old AF, but why on earth would they use their good stuff for your strange sweaty butts. The ones with tack on weren't near any food, because they shouldn't be eating with bridals on. They've got helmets. Finally a guide comes out. (We were early and honestly, enjoying the super random casual vibe) The owner shows up in a car. Definitely a character. Loved it. He pairs us with our horses and our guide Noah. Coolest kid ever. We go for a ride up the road, on block island...to the beach...on a horse. Chatting up Noah and listening to all his great stories of the farm owners shenanigans. (He rides his horse to SCHOOL) Yes, Noah warned us some might try to roll in the sand. My boyfriend had never been on a horse before and his horse was the only one who had that habit. Which I found hilarious. When horses get down to roll they'll do it slowly and you'll KNOW. Anyway, Noah hung on to his horse for the beach portion. Took our photos. Kept a close eye on us and the horses for the entire ride. He told us each of their personalities and what they like to do i.e brush you off when they walk by a tree, eat grass..roll...My horse broke out into an excited canter for .5 seconds. They're horses, they have character. They also do these trails constantly. They know what bush they like and that wet sand works great for cooling you off. Just like humans and dogs and cats and so forth. They showed no fear towards humans and the only time they looked aggravated was when another horse got to close to ones bum. All in all, I had a great time. This isn't for people who want robot ponies, who don't like dirt on their shoes or are freaked out easily. It was a quirky adventure and I would/will do it again. Noah was great! Peaches + Bubba (?) were also great. TIP YA GUIDE. PS shortly after we left my boyfriend fell into a ditch with his bike. He forgot how to ride his iron horse I suppose. (: read more

Would be five stars except for the total unprofessionalism of the owner. First of all, we told him we were a group of six but he still showed up to our hotel in a car that could only pick up 4 at once. On the drive to the ranch he went on weird rants. Called a certain political party Nazis and talked about all the things he would do "when he was president." We politely asked that he refrain from talking about politics but he ignored us and started talking about some political scandal on the island. Then he went into graphic detail about how he broke his ribs one time. Didn't even attempt to read us before going off about how he "does crazy stuff." Every time I tried to steer the conversation by asking something like "what kind of horses are we riding?" he'd take it right back to outer space. When we got there I was ready to call it off before I found out that he wouldn't be doing the ride with us. The two younger people who did it were actually normal which was a relief. The ride itself was nice; I don't ride horses and it was fun and easy. When we got back the next group was just getting to the ranch and the weird guy started going off on them about parking their bicycles too close to the horses and how if a horse steps on a bike they'll DIE. Come on man just tell them where to park. read more

For $50 I got a ride through the island streets, a beautiful private beach and then almost died. Yeah you read that correctly. DIED. We'll get to that minor detail later. So the ranch is about a 20 min bike ride from the ferry, not too bad, easy to find with clear signage and the owner, Tim, was really nice. A little talkative but there could be worse things....there was a long story about bunnies. I'm not sure why... it was slightly concerning. I digress. There are a handful of young men working on the ranch, super shy, super helpful, but I'm not super sure they know a lot about horses. The ranch seems well kept, the horses seemed happy and the ride which was supposed to be an hour was a little longer. NOT TOO SHABBY. They even gave a ride back via car to the main drag of the island for 2 ppl in our party... free of charge. The people that work here are really helpful...now let's get to that whole death thing. Right before we went on the beach we were casually told that sometimes, + he used the word RARELY, some horses like to "roll on the beach". Terrified of this I not only had a pep talk with my horse but asked the handler what we should do in case this happens/how will we know before we get crushed. He gave me a quickie run through... he said "if the horse goes on its front knees... it's gonna happen, shoot ur legs out the stirrups and jump off." Easy peasy. Clearly my 1,000 pound horse decided it wanted to ROLL AROUND IN THE SAND LIKE A GIANT DOG + I did exactly what our handler asked + rolled around in some sand myself. It was VERY scary because if I had hesitated, gotten stuck or fell under the horse I would have gotten CRUSHED + although I kept calm the sand shooting in the air from the hoofs of the horse went all in my hair/eyes. FAIL. I did get back on the horse...he was fine other than this minute of insanity. The experience on the beach was really beautiful besides the whole death by horse. I highly recommend rustic rides... but WARN YOU if you GO TO THE BEACH be prepared. The handler told me afterward that it happens almost EVERY TIME. Wow. rarely/every time? If you want a lil' ride on the wild side this is your kinda place. read more

This was simply beautiful! My husband, his friend and I took a spur of the moment sunset horseback ride trip on Block Island and I could not have been more impressed. We were late for our appointment, but it did not matter. It is a family run business and the owner is this foreign, funny man. I do not know if he is trying to be funny, but the way he says things is just hilarious. He has a beautiful selection of horses and his farm made me want to start one of my own! Chickens and goats were running all around and it was just an amazing sight. There were only 5 of us on a tour and then two tour guides. The ride was so nice and although the horses at time got a bit unruly, the staff was professional and helped settle the horses and gave riders confidence and tips on how to gain control of the horses. The guides were great! I got a lot of information about horses and even more about this tiny, rustic island! The prices are reasonable for what you get. I had never seen a more beautiful sunset! read more

Stay away from this dump! A couple of years back I had the unfortunate experience of going to Rustic Rides. I love horseback riding. I've gone horseback riding several times before and after but I have never experienced anything nearly as bad as this place. I got a bad vibe the moment I arrived there. The premises were gross. Most of the horses appeared malnourished and sickly looking. Several had very noticeable mouth, skin and eye infections. The horses my girlfriend (at the time) and I rode on were wild and out of control. The staff was rude, they could barely speak English and they couldn't even control the horses they were riding. In fact, a couple of horses - with novice riders on them - got into a fight on the trail and started kicking and charging into each other. This fighting spooked the other horses, causing several to gallop wildly and uncontrollably through the woods. Needless to say, the riders of these horses were terrified and screamed uncontrollably. My ex-gf is from a rural part of northern California and had many years of horseback riding lessons growing up and even she couldn't control her horse. The horses were clearly unsafe to ride and everyone on the trip demanded to be brought back to the ranch. Our one hour "beginners" horse riding excursion lasted about 15 (very dangerous) minutes. We asked for our money back but the owner of the place, Tim McCabe, was incredibly nasty and obnoxious and refused, immediately citing a no refund policy on the receipt (apparently we weren't the first people to complain and ask for their money back) . Block Island is a beautiful place and the people who live there are wonderful. However, if you want to enjoy your vacation - and return home in one piece - you would be well advised to avoid Rustic Rides. I don't understand how Rustic Rides stays in business. This place should be closed down by the ASPCA! read more

We went with 2 family's and had a great experience on the sunset ride. Don't listen to the haters who have nothing better to do than to disparage a small business. The two guides were very friendly and knowledgeable. The horses were well cared for and seemed happy. It's a horse farm not the Four Seasons. Not sure what some people expect. Highly recommended for family fun. Thanks again read more

Rustic Rides Farms - Horseback Riding Near Me - Block Island, Rhode Island

Had a great time, horses were in good shape and shoes were maintained (saw the earlier review). We took the Rodman's Hollow ride- no sand, so I can report no rolling. A couple of the horses had a little disagreement over who was alpha, so there was a short bit of kick drama, but if you've been around horses, you know that they have brains and personalities, too. Want something that you get on and it just goes? Try a moped. The ride was very pretty, we got to trot along some of the time and our guide was lots of fun. Definitely not one of the most polished attractions, but certainly exhilarating and a lot of fun. read more

Well I guess If I have to start anywhere, it might as well be with the very interesting ride from the ferry to the farm. We got an earful of how sidewalks or lack of them are one of the largest failures of the local government. Of course that wouldn't be the most interesting topic of the daily horse farm commute. Once at the farm we met, what are the owners sons and the girlfriend of one of them, who turned out to be our guild. After reading a fair amount of reviews on Yelp, I'm guessing we should be plenty happy that we did. She was very pleasant and apparently Island Life had not yet effected her. She was very upbeat and helpful while riding. My wife is an experienced rider and I'm pretty much a city slicker, who was a little nervous starting out on this ride. She made both my wife and I very comfortable and after about 10 minutes or so, I felt right at home in the saddle and felt as though I had been riding for years. She was a bit concerned about the horse I had, Blaze, which from what she said likes to roll in the sand on the beach ride. She strapped a leash on Blaze once we approached the beach to keep this from happening. I'm glad they take responsibility and preventive measures for these things. The entire ride was awesome and I felt comfortable enough to let the horse trot and even was comfortable later when Blaze and I got a little bit ahead of our guild and my wife. Once back and on our way back to the ferry, was when the real adventure began. The owner went on a full out rant, which includes his taking over the news media or I might say destroying them, Hitler, John Lennon, the Holy Ghost and how he channels all three, the Holy Grail, some paintings he is mystically given and how he is going to rid the word of this evil. To be honest, if it wasn't for this adventure, I would go back, but both my wife and I were ready to get out of that vehicle in the middle of the island and walk back to the ferry and sleep on a bench until the next one showed up if we had too. I can't say there has been a time in my life where I felt more uncomfortable ever than I had on this ride back. I'm not sure if he does this thinking it's an amusement to people, but I doubt it. I'm pretty sure he genuinely believes it. I know that it will eventually do his business in, if he continues. I gave 4 stars, because you can't give 3 1/2 and the riding experience was very good. Just don't let them pick you up or drop you off. At least not with the owner. read more

My boyfriend and I, both experienced riders, went for the sunset beach trail ride. The experience was underwhelming. Most of the ride was on paved road with about 10 minutes of beach time only. We didn't have this experience but were horrified to read reviews afterwards about the horses tending to roll in the sand with riders on them which can be dangerous and scary. Caution to inexperienced riders, as there was no instruction or questions regarding our riding abilities prior to getting on horses. We weren't even offered helmets. Caution to experienced riders. It isn't much of a trail ride. Our guide walked on foot with a lead line in tow. read more

It was a great time, but be prepared for a left of center adventure. The set up was significantly more rusty than rustic, but that's not really a problem unless you are looking for a high class experience. The horses are in decent shape and well loved. There is a nice selection of trails to choose from. The staff is a unique cast of characters. They are harmless, but certainly be prepared for the unexpected. The owner Tim is by far the most unique character of the bunch. When he gives you a ride back to town: buckle up and get ready for the holy grail of storytelling! read more

The horses are treated well here. We had a great ride. One hour ride to the cliff. Owner Tim is quite unique character. He's been in the island his own life. Ask him about the secret of the island read more

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I have been coming to Rustic Rides every year for about 5 years and I've always had a phenomenal time. Yes, there is a little quirkiness, but it's always been endearing. My most recent experience was a beach ride last summer with a trail guide named Kiara. Kiara was very sweet and incredibly helpful. I'm pretty comfortable on horses, but the friend I brought was a first-time rider. She put my friend at ease and gave us an amazing ride at sunset! My horse rolled at one point, but our guide warned us about the possibility. What a great time, being on the beach of Block Island at sunset with horses rolling around in the sand! Magical to say the least. read more

My wife and I went riding today and it was great. Our guide was very friendly and helpful. I've been on many trail rides and the horse I rode was one of the best trail horses I've riden. Very responsive and gentle. I've read a couple of the not so favorable reviews but that definitely was not my experience. Definitely recommend. read more

Be aware that the beach ride is about 3/4 mile of road and then about 5-10 mins on the actual beach. The total ride is an hour. There is no real "guided tour". Someone from the farm comes with you but they don't talk about the area or give you any information. As someone who hasn't ridden since childhood I was a little nervous. We got there and they immediately put me on a horse (no introduction to the animal or riding tips/tricks). They just put you on and send you off. The "guide" will help you trot or guide you in steering but that is all once you are on the horse. If you are comfortable with horses and want a little jaunt on the island this is great but if you are new to riding, looking for an actual guide to tell you about the area, or for a full beach ride then I wouldn't recommend it. read more

Wanting to step outside our "safe zone" four friends and I decided to go horseback riding at Rustic Rides. We took advantage of their offer of free transportation. The owner, Tim McCabe, picked us up in a farm pick-up truck (is that duct tape holding the side mirror on? what am I stepping on?). He took us on a very round-about route to the farm since he wanted to show us where some actor lived. He talked non-stop about the guard rails, his troubles with the town, etc. Never saw the house. He asked us what we all do for a living, then explained that he wanted to make sure we weren't there to spy on him or report him (paranoid?).By the time we arrived, none of us felt very comfortable going on the ride, but we did it anyway (lesson learned). Although none of us were hurt or injured, it was a very unsettling ride. IMHO the roads were too narrow, the horses unruly (I've been on many trail rides, and never ever had any trouble). The guides were great, but outnumbered by issues with riders and horses. The guides were local high school students. Very knowledgeable and courteous. I wish I had more money to tip them better. We felt relieved that we survived the horseback ride. We still needed a ride back to town. We hoped that one of the students would drive us, but Tim returned with the truck before they could find the keys to the other vehicle. The ride back with Tim was more unsettling than the ride there. He took us by the airport, which is clear across the island from where were staying. He passed many turns that would have taken us back more quickly. The entire ride we listened to a monologue about his discovery of the Holy Grail, Viking tablets, Indian artifacts, a movie he made, how people are trying to shut down his business, etc., etc., etc. and guard rails, don't forget the guard rails. Google Tim McCabe and the Holy Grail for a bit of his flavor. read more

Awesome experience. Horses & crew took care of us. Highly recommend. Took us down to the beach, which was just incredible. They matched us with horses that fit our skill level. read more

My kids love this farm and so do I The owner Tim is always friendly and eager to set your mind at ease making sure that you are on the right horse for your level and comfort. The horses are well taken care of despite what other reviewers have said. They all had on shoes for our rides and have for every ride over our ten years of experiences with them. Considering that most vacationers in the island are novice riders , the guides walk or eagerly run alongside group rather than ride a horse. The reason for this is very clear. They want to be able to attend to any rider without the added time of a dismount. The rides are so picturesque that it would be missing the point to take them at a fast pace. If the group wants to trot the guides gladly let you at the best spots. Our guides have all been well informed ,friendly and attentive. They gauge levels and treat each ride accordingly. We have ridden the beach trail many times and yes the guides warn of the risk of horses wanting to roll in the sand on the beach but they NEVER have . It is simply a warning because they are ANIMALS! It would be irresponsible for them not to point out that it is simply a POSSIBILITY. With the warning which is given with a relaxed delivery( as it should be) comes the direction on what to do. It's simple logic. Do not worry and instead enjoy your ride. Is Tim eccentric? Yes he is but in the most entertaining and harmless of ways. He is a kind gentle and informed owner of a fine establishment. I am from NYC so a little eccentric is what I hope for. It's authentic! Oh and we had the best guide ever this past week. Kiara Is a spark plug and was so informed ,friendly engaging ,high energy, athletic and was so sweet to both 12 year old boys on the ride. She ran along side our horses on the trotting . She asked frequently if we wanted to trot and each time we said yes( every time) ,she eagerly led the horses to do so and ran along with us keeping a pretty nice clip along with us. A very enjoyable ride. It's a Block island tradition. read more

Took the family tonight for the one hour sunset beach ride. I was skeptical given the mixed reviews and the place is not set up to visually impress. I lack expertise to speak to the quality of life and health of the horses (addressing references in the other reviews) but to my layman eyes, there were no red flags. The place is run very low-key but in some ways, it jives with the vibe of the island. Also, we drove our own car there so I cannot speak to their transportation services. Jacob took our money ($65 per) and handled the paperwork; nice and friendly enough and made sure we got started on-time. Chris was our guide who was mellow, easy-going, and engaged when we engaged. He was extremely tolerant, nice, and responsive to our two young boys who had tons of questions. We were the only ones on the trip and given the slow pace ride (which is what we chose), Chris walked alongside of us and the horses. The approach was different than what I had experienced elsewhere in the past but it worked. As someone mentioned below, it was a fair amount of time walking (and some trotting) to the beach but the route was scenic (trees, nice homes, etc.). We probably spent 20-30 minutes on the beach but it was timed perfectly with the sunset and Chris did a great job lining up the horses and taking family photos for us; he offered. I also noticed Chris picking up garbage off of the beach (cups and such) every now and then which I thought was quite commendable. No issues whatsoever about our horses trying to lie in the sand as some folks mentioned below (which scared the jeepers out of me and almost had me backing out of going). We were not warned nor did any of our four horse try. I repeat, our horses did not try to lie down in the sand. Actually, each of us (2 first time riders, 2 experienced riders) liked our horses very much. Upon getting back at the ranch, Chris and Owen were very nice to our boys (8 and 10), answering yet more questions, letting them tie their respective horses to the post, and help remove the saddle. So, we had a very nice visit and our two first-time riders (my 8yo and my wife) both want to ride again which I think is a good indication that they really enjoyed. We would return and we would recommend Rustic to friends/family. No regrets. read more

Let me preface this by saying this was one year ago. I went for a beach ride with my three girls. We all ride and have our own pony at home. He's the second horse I've owned and I've been riding for 20 years. I was appalled at the condition of the feet on one of these horses. She had one shoe on and one shoe off her front feet creating a situation where the angles of the front hooves were different. And the angles of both weren't good and look like a farrier was due out at LEAST a month or two prior. Very long in the front and very worn down in the back from all the walking on the pavement. If she wasn't already in pain it was imminent as this situation is a major problem waiting to happen. It was painful to look at. Had I noticed this before we were already on the road I would have walked out. I curse myself for not looking them over first. All of the horses looked in serious need of a farrier. I understand that it must cost a fortune to get a farrier out here regularly, etc. However, if you can't afford to properly care for horses, which are VERY expensive to own, then you shouldn't have them. They look a little underweight but not excessively. Can't be cheap to get good hay out here either. It's fine to make horses work... it's good for them to have a job. But don't put them behind the 8 ball with bad feet - the worst neglect to a horse. I shudder to think about the last time any of them saw an equine dentist which is about $100 a pop. The ride consisted of walking on the road for 15 minutes, 5 minutes on the beach for photos while the guide freaked out worried the horses would roll, and 15 minutes back on the road. The helmets provided were a sorry excuse with most being cracked bike helmets and the like. Helmets weren't required which to me is irresponsible in itself. The owner is weird but who cares, most horse people are! It's when I see irresponsible horse care that I have a problem. I will never go back. I did report the neglect to the appropriate authorities, but I'm sure nothing will be done. Yes, this was a year ago, but I sincerely doubt there have been significant improvements... it's just not how it goes in these types of situations. read more

We were told they would pick us up at the ferry upon arrival. I called when we arrived and was told they were on the way. 30 minutes later when I called back (since they had not shown up) I was told that they would not be able to accommodate us. When I asked to talk to the owner, who I heard in the background, I was told he was too busy. I was then hung up on. And I have left a message. I will edit my review if I hear back from them. Getting to the island is not super easy and this was the reason we chose the day we did. Very dissapointing. read more

This place is pretty close to an absolute dump. I've been riding my whole life, own horses myself (at home) rode competitively, etc. I showed up with my mom and my two first graders for a trail ride, for which we had a reservation. They had gotten the reservation wrong, first of all. Thought it was for two adults, even though the person that took my reservation had specifically mentioned that they had ponies for the kids. The equipment is falling apart. The saddles are literally taped together. the helmets are the same, as well as full of dust. Wouldn't put it on my head if you paid me. Brought my own, thank goodness. One of the ponies for my kids was a mini, with a huge saddle and very severe bit that hung down in the middle of its mouth. I pointed out that one of the ponies was in desperate need of a farrier, as her feet were severely overgrown. As in, similar to cases you see on Animal Cops. They said, oh, our season just started... So this leads me to believe that the farrier only comes during "the season". Several or the horses were underweight, and others on the verge. Coats in awful condition. Horses seemed lifeless. No hay to be seen, and no grass. Guides walk along with you. Never heard of such a thing, though I guess that is god if you need help. Not so much if a horse gets spooked and takes off. We decided to take a pass on the riding. Couln't bear to put those animals through it. As for the person that wrote that they used to work there, a) you are completely biased, and b) I was not expecting perfection. Just well-kept horses and equipment. Not so much to ask. For the person who commented on the lack of intelligence of horses, you couldn't be more wrong. Horses are extremely intelligent. Go to a competition, in dressage, showjumping, eventing, driving, etc, or even just watch one well-trained horse go through it's paces, and you will see what extraordinary animals they are. They deserve respect, and the animals at Rustic Rides are not respected. Working on reporting this place. read more

This isn't the most professional horse-riding place. I'd suggest not getting picked up, because it's kind of sketchy. One of the employees mentioned how the owner of the horse-riding place was a bit mean and unfair to his employees. Therefore, I don't think I'll be going back. read more

Great great great experience. Would recommend it to everyone to try this place. The car that picks you up is a little rough around the edges but the experience is amazing. After this experience horseback riding has become my new hobby. I forgot the person who was our guide but he only works there one the weekends and he was great! When I get back I will DEFINITELY be back!!!! Make sure you visit this place. read more

If I could give this less than a star I would. My friend has done this for a few years and the whole day she was talking about how much fun it is and all of that jazz. We pull into the "farm" and it's a complete shit show. The horses are tied up with their tack on. Horses are loose and walking around with their tack on. There seems to be nobody in charge, just a few young kids who were really nice. The horses were filthy and looked very malnourished. I could see bones jabbing out from their skin. The tack was sad, most was taped together. At this point we wait around almost 30 minutes until the owner gets there from picking someone up. Creepy car to say the least, you couldn't pay me money to get into the car. They finally bring out the horses and help people up. The owner asked if anyone of us had riding experience, I did. I've been riding for 18 years, I show competitively along the east coast so I know what I'm doing when it comes to horse basics. I could not believe how rude the guy helper was. I'm not sure his name but he was from Texas. For the less experiences riders, aka first timers, no instructions were given. We get onto the road, that's fine. My horse started immediately acting up. I'm not stupid, I know he was pissed off. We continue walking and we get to the beach. As we are about to walk onto the beach we are quickly told that some of the horses like to roll on the beach. Are you kidding me?! Why no warning before hand? That's ridiculous! The Texan man kept yelling at the women for not knowing exactly what to do. We get to the beach, one of the horses rolls, the girl gets off and she's fine. My horse stands up on me, two front feet are in the air. What happens? I get yelled at. Excuse me sir, but if the horse is standing up on me, I'm not going to pull this horses face so he falls backwards on to me. I yelled back at him, and he immediately shut up. But instead blew up on my friend who was in front of me because her horse started to freak out. SO RUDE. He apologized but wow. I could not believe what I was hearing. We hurry back from the beach, my horse continues to act up and rear up. We get back to the farm, I ask the asshole helper to hold my horses head because I knew he was going to freak when I got off. The man continues to ask me about four times what was wrong with me and if I was okay. Overall, this was horrible. Absolutely the worst experience anyone could ever have. Don't go, save your money. Or even better buy one of the horses and get them out of hell. Horrible experience read more

Family and tour guide was very nice. We took our bicycles from the hotel we were staying in, and didn't realize how far of a trip it was to the ranch (~5mi). We asked the family if they could drive us back to our hotel-- and they did, no questions asked! This was a huge help because we didn't want to bicycle back in the dark, already feeling tired. Only drawback was the nervousness of knowing that the horse I was on was one that had a high chance of rolling in the sand-- and I wasn't told this until we were about to reach the sand. Luckily, my horse didn't roll, but it didn't help me enjoy the sunset. Also, we weren't able to get good pictures from the tour guide because she was worried about another member's horse rolling (which had a younger boy on it). However, the family was very nice and and they made for an overall pleasant, enjoyable ride-- with the added benefit of a free ride back into town, which was a HUGE help! read more

If any part of you supports animal welfare, you will not frequent this establishment. I am an experienced, lifelong horseback rider who grew up around these animals and their caretakers. Lured by the promise of this "reputed working farm" and its "beautiful steeds" acclaimed by the likes of Travel and Leisure, Trip Advisor, and Yankee Magazine, two friends and I booked a sunset ride with Mr. McCabe for Sunday, August 23, at 6:45 pm. Before arriving at the premises we were greeted by a smell more akin to raw sewage and urine than horse manure or hay, typical of a farm. Here is what I, along with my two friends and a visiting family of riders, saw: - Malnourished animals, evidenced by lack of muscle tone, dull, patchy coats, weak legs, and bones jutting out sharply, especially at the shoulders, withers, and haunches - Filthy, sweaty coats that had not been groomed, caked with mud, sand, and sweat - One emaciated mare named "Stupendous" collapsed in front of us from apparent exhaustion. She was standing when we arrived, but ten minutes into our visit, she could not support her own weight. She remained tied to a fence the entire time, such that her head twisted awkwardly as she lay on the ground. - A tub full of black water covered in algae, meant to serve as drinking water. No other water source suitable for consumption was identified. - Long, cracked, untrimmed hooves, uneven and missing shoes, hooves caked with feces, rocks and debris. Hoof health is critical to a horse's survival. They conduct their lives on all four feet, even when they are sleeping. - Painful saddle sores, indicative of ill-fitting equipment left on the animals for long periods - Poor dental health in the form of long, sensitive teeth that had not been filed or treated. - Shapeless, wet feces with a reddish hue, indicating poor diet and digestive health - No fresh hay on the premises, a critical component of any horse's diet - Frequent urination during the ride, yet none of the dozen horses was seen drinking water over the duration of the entire experience. Six of the seven horses stopped to relieve themselves during the ride. Their urine stream was heavy and lasted atypically long. Three of the seven stopped more than once to urinate, which calls into question kidney health and diet. - Runny eyes and noses - I was told that the horses averaged six rides per day in the busy season. Rides average one to three hours. Weather the weekend of August 22 to 23 was mostly sunny with temperatures in the high 80s, hotter in the sun. All of the trail rides are conducted in open, sunny areas with little shade. Lack of care was also evidenced by inexperienced personnel: two "guides," who exhibited little knowledge of horses or deference to their well being (or the customers', for that matter). On had worked at a golf course and been a ski instructor. He was in charge of the leading the group of riders on foot, walking alongside the first horse. He was absent for portions of the ride, distracted and uncommunicative, leaving the first horse, ridden by a novice rider, alone and unattended in the dark on a street with passing traffic. The other, a young man, exhibited a total inability to help the aforementioned mare "Stupendous," when she collapsed. He left her lying on the ground after tugging on her reins. Safety for both horses and riders was also ignored. Helmets onsite offered little protection: they were cracked, filthy, broken bicycle helmets. Riders were given little to no equestrian instruction prior to departure. When we arrived at the beach for "sunset" and a photo opportunity, guides lacked the ability and wherewithal to control or maneuver the horses. We were promised photographs on the beach, but the guides could not corral the horses safely into position. If I had not pulled my horse away from the group, chaos would have ensued: seven horses, two guides on foot, and six riders with no experience. One cannot expect horses to behave perfectly, but the inexperience and lack of professionalism on behalf of the personnel entrusted with the safety of paying customers were alarming. The ride, which was supposed to take place as the sun was setting, started late. Aside from missing the sunset we were promised and which we paid to see, the return trip to the barn took place in the dark. Horses and riders rode along the roadside in the total darkness of night, with oncoming traffic and no shoulder on the road to offer a buffer. No measures, such as reflective gear, frequent stops, or an alternate route, were introduced to improve safety. As mentioned above, the guide charged with leading the group was unreliable and did not lead us for portions of the return trip. We were literally alone in the dark with our horses. This complaint is first and foremost intended to illuminate the severe mistreatment of animals. Rustic Rides Farm continues to advertise its services falsely and deceive paying customers at the expense of innocent animals. read more

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Horrible service. We set up a pick up time and called time and time again as we waited over 20 minutes passed the time agreed upon. The last time we called I got hung up on. They had us moving from location to location. Very disappointing as it was one of the things we were looking forward to doing for our anniversary. read more

On 9/5/15 we were visiting Block Island for the day. As part of our day, we decided to take a sunset beach horseback ride. When we contacted Rustic Rides Farm horseback rides, they told us that they'd pick us up by the ferries and drop us back off. We confirmed with them several that if we took the 6:30-7:30 ride that they would have us to the last ferry on time at 8pm. After several reassurances, we confirmed our reservation. Around 6:25, a car showed up to the chamber of commerce building to pick us up. To say that the car was dirty would be an understatement. The windshield was so dirty that the driver had to stick his head out the window several times to see. But that wasn't the worst part of the ride. We passed a restaurant/bar with music. The driver (I think he was the ranch owner) told us he wanted Paul McCartney to visit for a horseback ride. We casually said "you never know". He then went into a crazy rant that Paul McCartney would show up once he found out what the driver had. He said he had a 1000 year old painting predicting how John Lennon would die and that he found the Holy Grail on Block Island. He literally rambled nonstop for the rest of the ride. We just looked at each other in disbelief with what was going on and to be honest a little fear on where it might go. When we arrived at the ranch, we quickly got out of the car. We must have had some look on our face as one of the ranch hands quickly said to us "I don't know what he said to you in the car but I'm normal and I'll be going out with you." That put us somewhat at ease. When we got on the horses, they lined us up for the ride. A family with their children was also going with us. They arranged the horses so that we were separated. We asked several times to be together but they crazy driver kept telling us that the horses had to be in a specific order. So much for our romantic sunset ride! We'd do most of is nowhere near each other. When we got to the beach, my horse Blaze started acting a little funny. The one guide said something to the other about Blaze and he came over and grabbed the Raines right near its mouth and held on the entire time we were on the beach. When we got off the beach we were finally able to convince them to let us ride near each other so that we could experience a little of it together. While he was repositioning the horses, we asked why he held my horse on the beach. He said "Blaze likes to rollover on the beach. I didn't want to tell you that until after we were off the beach. But if I don't hold on, that one will rollover every time!" We had read some review about horses rolling and this confirmed it for us. As we were going back we noticed the time getting close to the last ferry. It was 7:45 and we weren't back yet. We called the guide and he said again, don't worry we will get you there. When we got back to the ranch it was getting really close to time to make the ferry. Of course the crazy driver was now off giving his crazy talk to one of the other customers. Apparently he had to give that guy a copy of his movie. We yelled from the dirty car that we really needed to go. Once again rambling, the driver took us to the ferry. He was initially taking his time until we started insisting that he needed to hurry so we would make the ferry. He again told us "Don't worry I'm used to running for the ferry!" And of course he started his crazy ramble again. We pulled up by the ferry and we bolted out of the car only to see the ferry pulling away. We had missed the last ferry by a few minutes. We turned around and the dirty car we came in was nowhere to be found. We asked at the dock and they told us we were stuck there until the morning. As this was Labor Day weekend, we had no shot at finding a room. Luckily for us, we found a nice state trooper and receive some fantastic help from New England Airlines and were able to get a flight off the island. With the amazing help from these people we would have been sleeping out in the cold. Block Island was great but I would recommend against the Rustic Rides Farm horseback riding. The 30 seconds on the beach seeing the sunset is so not worth the rest of the experience. read more