I signed up for the Unforgettable Riding Experience at Rusty Bar Ranch this past spring, and it was amazing! I was a bit nervous, having little to no prior experience. We started inside on Sheena the Wonder Horse. I have to say, the state-of-the-art simulator really helps to get comfortable in a number of ways. After that, it was on to the arena & Valentine, a real horse Rusty Bar Ranch owner and trainer, Kathy really knows horses & also cares about them. She was such a kind & patient teacher. I felt totally comfortable & at ease. She teaches at every level, depending on the student. I'm clearly a beginner & if you've been on the fence about horseback riding, I highly recommend this experience. You're NEVER to old to learn something new! Go to the website & sign up. It was definitely an unforgettable experience for me. read more

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I chose the Rusty Bar Ranch for an extended stay location the whole environment there is family oriented and I loved every minute of it. Please check out Rusty Bar Ranch if you are intending on staying in the area. read more

This horse ranch is one of my favorite places to be. I have taken riding lessons which involved truly knowing horses. You and the horse must work as a team. There are rules for the rider and the horse. You will learn them and , therefore, have a wondrous experience. They rescue horses, heal them and teach them to excel as trained, well-mannered beings. Just being at Rusty Bar Ranch makes me feel good! Adults or young people or kids (they have small horses just their size), will learn the best teachings and leave with a smile of accomplishment. read more

What a fun time! The kids got introduced to miniature horses and ponies. They learned how to approach them, lead them, brush them, and take them through obstacles . A wonderful experience. You can tell the owners are very knowledgeable and love their animals. We can't wait to go again soon! read more

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Absolutely fantastic business. I was very impressed with their friendliness and their ability to work with my changing schedule. I highly recommend them! read more

Kathy and Ray hosted our Girl Scout troop for a day of amazing horse education and riding. I grew up riding horses and personally learned a ton that I never knew previously! They did an amazing job of making the girls (ages 4th grade thru 6th grade) feel comfortable around the horses with demonstrations, discussions and best of all repetitive exercises that each girl did. The girls understood why their actions were important and how they had to respect the horses as much as the horses should respect them. Kathy and Ray clearly love all their horses and hearing stories about earlier abuse prior to coming to Rusty Bar backed up with pictures just made you want to weep for their beautiful horses. All of our girls had a great time, and even the ones most terrified at first were comfortable at the end of day and were saying their good byes to their new horse friends. What most impressed me, was the completeness of the education. It wasn't just learn how to approach a horse, saddle it up and ride it. The girls learned about horse health care for their mind and body. An amazing experience that I highly recommend! read more

AS a person who has had horses for several decades, and has run her own professional facility, I was super hesitant to put my horses back into boarding. When I heard we were moving to WA, I began to scour locations to bring my horses. I came upon Rusty Bar, and after speaking with Kathy (the owner), I knew I was making an excellent decision. I sent my horses to her facility (sight unseen) and have been thrilled with them ever since ( year and a half ago). The facility boasts both indoor and outdoor arenas of a generous size. They also have a round pen, a trail obstacle course, and a small series of trails on the property. Horses are turned out daily -- and all day. Stalls consist of individualized paddocks with small runs for the night. Horses are well fed, and on a farrier, vet and deworming schedule. Proper fly maintenance is followed, and horses are rarely bothered by flies. Other amenities include a heated viewing room, individual tack lockers and a bathroom. I have been impressed with everything at Rusty Bar Ranch and have no complaints. For those of you in the military who might be shipping horses without being present, Kathy and Ray do an amazing job of making sure horses are set up for delivery. FABULOUS PLACE!!!! UPDATE (12/13/15) We have been in TX a year and a half and my horses remain in WA. TX is not a good location for my babies. I receive updates every other week (sometimes more -- along with photos). If I feel the horses need anything, Kathy and Ray make sure it happens. The only downer -- both are complete pasture pets right now and lack muscle tone. Can't blame anyone but me for that one! Kathy and Ray will continue to keep them until our return to WA in 2 1/2 years. I trust them with keeping both my retired endurance horse and my national-level hunter show mare. UPDATE 2/2/18 Horses are still in WA while I'm still in TX. I was in mid-September 2017 and did an unplanned pop in. Horses are still splendidly in good weight and handling. I still get updates good and bad (haven't had a bad in a long time, but one of my horses was apparently suicidal at the time). I never worry. Still recommending them. read more

I love Rusty Bar Ranch! The ranch is clean and we'll taken care of. The staff is super friendly and kind. Cathy's teaching methods are easy to follow and brings handling horses into perspective. She is truly fair and firm so nobody gets hurt. I had a previous bad experience with a different barn and Cathy works well with me and my own hang ups. Sandy and Angel are the lesson horses I work with and they are so sweet and healthy. Cathy really goes above and beyond for her horses and students. I don't have enough good things to say about Cathy or the Rusty Bar Ranch! read more

I've been a lesson student at Rusty Bar for a few years now and I just adore her teaching methods! I had rode English hunter/jumper but was looking for a western instructor. I was excited to hear Kathy (the horse trainer / riding instructor) grew up riding hunt seat and that she sometimes shows. (I wanted to learn to Barrel race!) She is certified both English and Western and teaches from the ground up. (First trainer I've ever met who dose that!) So all her students learn ground work, equine saftey, and how to tack up. All her schooling horses are bombproff and are the most well trained horses in all of Washington. I've seen car alarms go off and her horse (Ally) was the only one to NOT spook! Haha!!! She has gaming horses, dressage, hunter/jumpers, pretty much anything. She also teaches how to ride with YOUR SET AND LEG!!!!!!!! She can teach you (or your horse) anything from ground manners to trail riding to show etiquette. She's an amazing trainer and instructor who really is passionate about her horses and bettering the bond between horse and rider. Also her husband, Ray and her hoast Birthday Parties and Girl/Boy Scout events. I've worked both and I can 100 testify that they're a blast for horse- crazy kids! Birthday parties includ: rodeo races (with stick horses), shake hands with Ghost the mini, cart ride, and pony rides. Scout Events: barn tour, horse anatomy gane, safety walking behind a horse (Non of Kathy's horses have EVER kicked ANYONE!!!), horse safety and learning about different breeds and colors, tacking up and leading horses, grooming, stall cleaning, cart ride, and pony rides. read more

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Before deciding to board my horse at Rusty Bar Ranch I looked at close to 10 other facilities in the area. My checklist of what I was looking for included stalls with attached runs, an indoor riding area, turnout access, a welcoming atmosphere, the ability to get arena ride time in, and a safe and clean facility. When I first visited Rusty Bar, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it not only met all the above criteria but it also offered diversity in riding areas including an outdoor arena, roundpen, outdoor and indoor obstacles, access to trails, and a large grassy field all in addition to the indoor. Other perks included an "instant" hot water wash rack, a heated viewing room with kitchen, an enclosed climate controlled tack room with individual lockers, well-kept arena footing, and virtually no mud (I visited on a rainy day at the end of a long stretch of rainy days!). I stopped searching for a boarding barn after visiting Rusty Bar and immediately decided that it was where I wanted my horse to call home. The owners/operators, Kathy and Ray truly watch out for the well-being of all the horses on their property. When I moved my horse in, we were dealing with an abscess. Kathy moved one of her own horses out of the lower barn to open a stall for my horse so that she could keep a better eye on her. In addition, my horse was unable to be turned out. When my mare became upset with being left in her stall while the other horses were turned out, Kathy and Ray moved her into a larger stall and paddock abbutting one of the turnouts. They kept her there during the day so that she remained calm and moved her back to her stall at night. When the abscess was healed and we were ok'd for turnout, they made sure that my horse was turned out in a group that she would get along with. Even once we were in the normal routine of things, Kathy and Ray never stopped keeping a close eye on my horse. At one point, they noticed a change in the behavior of my mare. When they were unable to reach me and the horse continued to show no improvement, a call was made to the vet. The vet would not come out without a guarantee of payment. Still not able to reach me, Kathy paid for the vet's bill upfront and made sure that the vet came out because it is what my horse needed. Kathy had caught the very beginning signs of what might have turned into a very serious colic. I am so thankful that my mare was in such good hands while I was unreachable at work. After the vet visit, Kathy kept my horse in the indoor arena where she could continue to watch for any warning signs. Over the next few days, Kathy kept me abreast of how my horse was doing with text updates which I could check while on breaks at work. At Rusty Bar Ranch the horses are given individualized care. Hay is fed as needed in the amount appropriate to each horse; horses are not lumped in to a generic feeding program such as 2 flakes 2x/day. All owner supplied supplements are fed daily without the need to bag everything up and medications are administered as needed. All horses are required to be up to date on vaccinations. Kathy will not only helped us get scheduled with a vet (we were new to the area and did not have a preexisting relationship with a local vet) but she also helped us keep track of wormings and hoofcare. On the human side of things, once we moved in, I was quickly invited to be part of the barn community. Boarders and lesson students alike were always courteous and helpful. I was invited on trail rides, to clinics, and other events. I did not have a trailer of my own and without these invitations I never would have left the property. The events both on and off site helped my horse and I bond as well as expand our comfort zone. When I was working with my horse, if Kathy saw us running into particular difficulty with an obstacle she was happy to offer advice or demonstrate how to work through it; she was never pushy though and always asked first if I would like assistance. I have seen how Kathy and Ray put the horses first time and time again as they allow their schedules and routines to be modified by the special needs of the horses in their care. Whether it be a short term or long term adjustment, they do it because it is the best thing for the horse even when it may not be the easiest thing to accomplish. I've been in and out of many barns over the years with different life changes. Never before have I been truly sad to leave one. The only reason I left is because we moved and I was able to bring my horse to live at home with me. I highly recommend Rusty Bar Ranch for boarding. I even more highly recommend Kathy and Ray to take care of your horses. read more

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