My fiancé (then boyfriend) surprised me with a sunset beach horseback ride, where he ended up…read moreproposing. Our guide Lukas was great! Friendly and made the experience even more memorable for us. He took a ton of photos without us needing to ask him to and captured a wonderful video of the proposal. We had such a great time and we will definitely be back! Incredible experience.

Pure MAGIC! The sunset ride is a great mix of…read moretrail/orchard scenery and a good amount of beach time! Lukas was our guide and was very helpful- even took a ton of pics for us! He also knew the horses all very well in regards to their personalities. Definitely worth it as a bucket list adventure.

This trail ride was perhaps the worst I've ever experienced for multiple reasons. Two of the…read moreemployees in particular were so rude, uptight, and condescending. I brought a water bottle attached to a lanyard and both of these employees felt the need to judgmentally ask me if I "really needed that water bottle" and "are you sure that won't fall off?" Of course, the water bottle did fall off. When we got back, the man rudely and unnecessarily remarked "I told you it would fall off." I was paired with a terrible horse who did not follow any of my commands, constantly ate the vegetation, pinned his ears at and would try to bite the other horses for no reason, etc. I have some experience riding horses and I was doing my absolute best with this out-of-control horse. In turn, I was continually being barked at by the guides to "pull up on the reins and release, don't let him eat, kick him, go to the back, catch up to the rest of the group, keep him away from the other horses" etc. In addition, we rode through a very busy freeway overpass with multiple onramps/offramps and cars everywhere. We also passed right next to an active railroad. Of course, a train roared past a mere ten feet away from us. The horses spooked and it was a miracle that no one was thrown off. We were not given any prior warning that we would be riding in the middle of these very dangerous environments. If there was a warning in the waiver, I wouldn't have known because we were so rushed to sign it and had no time to read it. We finally made it to the actual beach and spent a mere 20 minutes on the shore before riding back through the danger zones towards home. I spent the entire ride pissed off, disappointed and feeling unsafe.

Amazing ride, amazing views, went on the sunset beach ride, the sunset was beautiful, horses were…read moreshiny and beautiful, leaders are so nice (: Definitely recommend. I love this place, definitely going back to here! Good for beginners and intermediate!

I am an extremely happy customer of Los Padres Outfitters! I had been planning a surprise…read moreengagement for my now-fiancée and wanted to propose during a horseback ride along the beach, something neither of us had ever done before. I spent quite a bit of time researching businesses in the Santa Barbara/Montecito area because I wanted everything to go as smoothly as possible. After reading some mixed reviews elsewhere, I expanded my search and came across Los Padres Outfitters. Their reviews were consistently great, and after experiencing it myself, I completely understand why. Planning a surprise proposal like this involves more than just finding someone to take you on a guided horseback ride. I also needed a photographer and, most importantly, a way to coordinate everything without ruining the surprise. Thankfully, Los Padres offered a package that handled all of it. We had a private guided ride with Shaeli, who was awesome, and they coordinated the photographer as well as another gentleman who helped secretly set everything up on the beach ahead of our arrival. The horses were also great! Rootbeer (Rupert) and Montana were very easy to work with and were a great time on the beach. Having Los Padres manage all of the communication and make sure everyone was on the same page took so much stress out of the planning process. Everything came together perfectly, and it was absolutely worth it to have one business coordinate the entire experience. They helped make an incredibly important moment in our lives feel effortless and unforgettable. I couldn't recommend Los Padres Outfitters enough. If you are thinking of doing horseback ride along the beach, a trail ride, or an engagement. Look no further than this group here, see the photos for yourself of the experience.

Loved this experience. My partner took me for a little anniversary surprise and was unforgettable…read moreadventure! The horses were very calm & comfortable the whole time! The trainers with us were also calm and informative. I never felt unsafe or scared. It drizzled a bit, however, still had a great time! We stopped to have a little picnic that they prepared for us! Overall very professional & great experience

What an amazing experience we had we rode horses for an hour and a half. The horses were all so…read morebeautiful and well taken care of everyone was so welcoming and helpful during the full experience. Our guide was Jimmy he was so great told us stories and some background of the horses and the ranch. After we went to their bar and had some drinks, they were a 10 out of 10. I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for some fun or romantic experience. Thank you so much :)

Went horseback riding for a friend's birthday on Saturday and it was wonderful! Driving to the…read moreranch felt like entering a fairytale! The road was filled with streams, shady trees, birdsong, and gorgeous green countryside. We brought produce for the horses to snack on and got to feed them! We did the 1.5 hour trail ride and there were only 4 of us in our group, making it comfortable with fun conversation. It was such a beautiful day and beautiful trail. Our guide was funny and kind, and helpful when some of the horses were going a bit slow (shout out to Tot and 530, the horses!). Every cowboy we encountered were also funny and kind. We truly had a wonderful experience and wish we could've stayed the whole day just hanging out at the ranch!

I love this place just for spending time with the animals, even though I haven't gone horseback…read moreriding yet. The kids love seeing the horses, goats, llamas, and much more up close. I know it's America and other places might see it as a liability, but I hope they continue to let people come and roam free!

This whole experience with Ojai Valley Trail riding Co has been amazing. Susan was great helping me…read moreschedule our trail ride. Then when we got there we met Dillon. He was our guide but even before that he was great. Super friendly and helpful. We walked around the ranch prior to our ride. All the horses seemed so happy and friendly. They all wanted to chat. The ride was great. Again, Dillon was super helpful on the ride. My son rode Dutch and I rode Mira. Amazing horses. My son cannot stop talking about Dutch. I cannot recommend this company enough.

Rachel is awesome! Super knowledgeable of the ocean, water, marine life, and history of the area…read more What a rad human being to have guiding the tour. As it turns out, all of the harbor seals, and sealions have names. We befriended one named Steve, he is much better at swimming than I am. He also taught me secret techniques to paddling. This one Pelican named Parry got into a barking match with some sealions, which is a fight he wasn't gonna win, let's be honest. Though I was hoping to see an M-A-N-A-T-E-E ... next time! If you're gonna go down on Haley street, where the dogs are easy and the sun is cheap, you never know just who you'll meet, on Haley. (But hopefully it's Rachel from the Santa Barbara Adventure Company, and you get her kayak tour; shout out!)

A heartfelt thank you to Santa Barbara Adventure Company for creating such a memorable birthday…read moreexperience for our daughter. From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. We had a fun ferry ride to the islands and even got to slow down to watch a large Sunfish (Mola Mola) snacking on some jellies. I recommend getting in line early to secure the best view seating on the ferry. Our kayak guides, Chuck and Adam, were exceptional--knowledgeable, engaging, and genuinely passionate about what they do. They made the entire trip both fun and informative, while ensuring we always felt safe and well cared for. We were fortunate to have perfect weather and warm water, which allowed us to explore all seven sea caves--many of which are inaccessible during high tide or rougher conditions. It made the experience even more special. Having lived in Santa Barbara for 22 years, this was my first time visiting the islands, and it was truly unforgettable. The pristine landscapes, abundant sea life, and even spotting several tiny island foxes while enjoying our picnic lunch, made it an unforgettable adventure. We can't wait to do it again--highly recommend to anyone looking for a unique and exceptional experience!

Christine at Equine Xscape is an honest, easy to work with horse seller. I'm highly recommend…read morecontacting her with any of your horse purchasing needs. During the purchase process Christine is excellent with communication. She gives you details, explains things clearly, and makes purchasing a horse stress free and easy. I purchased a horse from her sight, unseen, a few years back. He was and still is everything she promised me! Throughout his journey to me, she checked in frequently, showing me she cared beyond just getting the money. In the current horse market, she is someone you can trust!

Christy is the kindest woman with an awesome team. There is no one more thoughtful with her animals…read morethan this beautiful soul. It is not about the business for her, it is about the animals and the joy of sharing her safe space. The trail ride was awesome and the perfect length for my friend and me. It was my friend's birthday, and she is more well versed in horseback riding than I am, and she also had high praise for the whole experience. I learned a lot! Christy really deserves the world, and I will be back because it was one of the best days we have had in a while.

We had a really nice time at Vino Vaqueros. Our group did the 9am ride, which ended up being a…read moregreat call as the weather was cool and comfortable, and it made the whole experience more enjoyable. Char was our guide, and she struck a good balance of keeping things relaxed while still making sure everyone felt comfortable, especially since a few people in our group hadn't been horseback riding before. I rode Boomer, who was steady and easy to ride, and we appreciated that they gave a simple safety overview before heading out. After the ride, we did a casual tasting of both a red and white wine and then chose a glass of our favorite to hang with. The setting was quiet and pretty, and it felt low-key in the best possible way. One of the dogs Nana even joined us for the ride. Overall, it was a calm, well-paced outing that felt thoughtfully run without being overly structured.

Had a lovely time on our trail ride! Some of the horses were a bit stubborn at times, but whatcha…read moregonna do? Just added some amusement and laughs to the experience hahaha. Our two guides were great and one took plenty of pictures during the ride, which was really nice because we got to have those memories documented without worrying about having our phones out while on horseback. The trail itself was a beautiful view of the springtime flower blooms on the hills. I'd recommend bringing a hat or sunglasses because it can be a bit bright, and there's room for a water bottle in the saddle bags.

I honestly had high hopes for this experience, especially since I've been eager to learn more about…read morehorses. I read the glowing reviews and expected a warm, educational, and patient environment because everyone seemed to love it. Unfortunately, that's not what I got. From the beginning, communication was confusing and inconsistent. When we called, we were told we'd get to groom and saddle the horses ourselves, which I was really excited about since I'd only learned grooming in the past. we did groom the horses, but with putting the saddle on, that part was completely skipped and she did it all herself. I asked about it and was brushed off with a vague "let's stay in the present moment" comment--something she repeated often to avoid directly answering questions. It came off dismissive, not peaceful. The ride itself was stressful. I'd told her it was my first time riding without a lead guide and this is my first time having full control. She didn't offer any instruction on how to stop or control the horse before mounting. The horses clearly had a strong bond with her and would follow her no matter what, even when I tried using the reins. I was told to "have control" but wasn't shown how to do that properly and beforehand. I had no control because the horses were trained to follow her--not us. And then I got blamed for it. At one point, my horse started walking off and I didn't know how to stop him. Instead of calmly helping me and telling me what to do, the guide stood there silently with her arms crossed and an annoyed or pissed off expression followed with annoyed sighing and rude comments like "oh gosh help me" acting like I was supposed to know everything even though it was known I'm a beginner at this. Later, when I finally got a basic instruction ("pull the reins to your stomach and say hooo"), I followed it--but the horse still didn't respond fully, because again, it was just fixated on her. That's not a beginner rider's fault. She also snapped at us multiple times over small misunderstandings--like which halter to grab--and never took the time to clearly explain what we were doing wrong, or how to do it better. My mom even asked a question after the ride, and the guide cut my mom off followed by an annoyed "Anyways...." and no question was answered. It was hard to enjoy the experience when the environment didn't feel calm, or respectful. For someone who talks a lot about peace and presence, she was surprisingly impatient, reactive, and dismissive. If you're a total beginner, I'd strongly suggest finding a place that's more beginner-friendly--where the horses are better trained for guests, and the instructor actually takes time to teach, guide, and support you with patience. Seems like i'm not the only one with this problem and I wish I read the reviews on a proper website beforehand. Super unprofessional and bipolar behavior. Honestly felt like a big scam. She has us do the hard work for the majority of the time but once it was time to start riding, we immediately got scolded and rode for not even 20 minutes? This experience wasn't it.

Enrolled my eight year old daughter in Western Trail Rides weeklong long "Horse Camp" during spring…read morebreak. She enjoyed it immensely. Melissa's a former teacher, and with children, she maintains the structure similar to a classroom curriculum. This structure allowed for a more enriching experience for the kids. Rather than just a meandering three hours each day, lessons were taught throughout. The camp was limited to four kids, all happened to be girls, all 7-8 years of age. Mornings started with the Pledge of Allegiance, then a team exercise, usually puzzles, to build comraderie. Plenty of hands on experience with horses, including the proper care and respect for the horses...And of course horse back rides. Arts and crafts as well as general horse education were included. Thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all the girls. My daughter couldn't wait to rise and get there to care for the animals, but also to spend time with her new friends. Melissa was nothing but kind and caring towards the girls and clearly understands why she has these horses, and uses them to enhance the perspective of others via Western Trail Rides. I'm glad my daughter was there for a week. That Melissa is of the Christian faith, would threaten only the littlest of men.

Took my parents up here for a visit and we loved it. Katie was really wonderful. She was kind,…read moreaccommodating, and made the whole experience really enjoyable. A great way to spend a relaxing morning while seeing the gorgeous rolling hills. Would definitely recommend. I'll be making sure to stop by again when I'm back that way.

The most amazing experience! The land is beautiful. Our guide was so informative and we even got to…read moresee all the animals on their land. We finished off our time at Fess Parker with a great win tasting! Would recommend to everyone looking for a more personal experience.