Maverick is an awesome experience for all ages, but young children get especially good treatment!…read more JM (Joan Marie) is tough, but kind, strict but helpful. The horses and gear are all top notch, the land and facilities are incredible, and the two helping teenagers were very sweet and encouraging to the two 6 year olds, and two 8 year olds that we brought. Not bad for the old farts, either! We had a great time! thanks, JM!

Our outing with Maverick Horseback Riding was the highlight of our entire vacation. My family of…read morefour are wholly inexperienced riders; Joan Marie and her team were superb guides with the right balance of instruction, independence, and fun. Joan Marie did us an immense favor, too, by allowing us to start our ride a couple hours early in order to avoid an incoming thunderstorm. I'm sure she saved our weekend! And a final kudos for an excellent BBQ joint recommendation; we went straight there for lunch after our ride and got a "full" Lockhart experience! Strongly recommend Maverick for an excellent equestrian experience!

Ok, we are horse people, and horses to our family are just as important as the humans in our…read morefamily. Our daughter's Barrel horse has been with Sonador for a year now and I cannot say with the amount of gratitude and respect enough about how incredible the care is here. Allison the owner is beyond incredible, she goes up and beyond what our last farm did for our horse and her knowledge is unmatched by anyone i have yet to meet at other farms. Along with Alllison , her staff is not only caring, but knowledgeable and willing to help when asked. The property is a horses heaven for living, she has an arena for practicing and they drag all the time without anyone ever asking. Ya'll, I'd if you are looking for a quiet haven for your horse and a place that cares for your horse better than anyone I know, this is your place.

Great place for self care....if barn help is off....chances are...horse not getting fed or…read morewatered....multiple sick horses brought in with no quarantine in place....be mindful, you get what you pay for.....

My daughter, now 9, has been riding at Charlie Horse for two and a half years and I truly wish I…read morecould give it even more than 5 stars! Marie (owner and primary trainer) is amazing with her students. Her number one concern is safety and she works carefully with each child to teach them at their pace and ability. She has several horses in her lesson program and they are all reliable and skilled. She will match the student with the horse she thinks is the best fit. We do not own a horse but if we did we would board it there. The horses are not kept in a stable (unless they are injured or ill), instead they are able to roam over her large property. She has several arenas for both Western and English riding. Marie is like family to us and we can't imagine ever going anywhere else!

I don't know how many people are looking for a good stable out there, but when you have a 9 year…read moreold horse crazed girl, it can be a full time job. You see, she has been crazy about horses since we took her for her first lesson when she was 5. We thought it was just a phase. Not so much. So she has hopped around the local horse stables looking for the perfect fit. Now we have finally found it. It is called Charlie Horse Equestrian Center. It is just outside Hutto, in Taylor, Texas. What we like about this stable is #1, the people. All summer I called around to different places only to be talked to rudely, not get called back, etc. Well, Marie and Jeff are different. They aim to please. They are extra friendly, great with kids and adults alike. The kids absolutely love them. Second, is, well, the cleanliness aspect. Now I know it is a "stable", which usually indicates "unclean.:" But the staff does their best to keep it as clean as possible. No barn cats jumping all over you. Few bugs. You get the picture. Third, it is a beautiful location. Well kept pasture. Green grass. Big shade trees for relaxing under while watching a lesson. I look forward to coming out to Charlie Horse Equestrian Center every Wednesday. It is the perfect location for your horse crazy kid.

Coraggio is a fantastic place to keep your horse. Extremely knowledgeable staff combined with top…read morenotch facilities and a dedicated trainer means I have improved tremendously over the 3+ years I've been with Paige at Coraggio. The horses are extremely well cared for, and their welfare always comes first. The facilities are fantastic, with a gigantic lighted outdoor ring, covered round pen, and miles of trails, plus lots of grass to hand-graze your horse on. Paige is a great trainer who focuses on both the rider and the horse. She explains concepts in a way that is easy to understand, and took me from barely having jumped to competing in the jumpers at A shows. I have also used her to help buy and sell my horse, and she was extremely professional and upfront about what is realistic during those processes. The assistant trainer Cathy is also just as good, and I've benefited from having two quality trainers to improve my riding skills. There's a great group of people at Coraggio - no barn drama here! It's a nice mix of kids and adults. I would highly recommend this barn if you're looking to board your horse, develop your skills as a rider, or get started with showing on the local or A circuits.

As a 30-something professional woman wanting to revisit my youthful days of riding horses…read morecompetitively, I began my quest to find the best trainer to fit me.  Not just any trainer would do.  A trainer who listened and understood my objectives; who exuded good character; and who exemplified great stewardship in the care of our beloved equestrian partners.    After interviewing several trainers in the Austin area, I found Paige Barnett Irwin.   You can trust Coraggio with your riding aspirations - Paige took the time to carefully assess my ever advancing skills and then re-customized my lesson plans to continue to strengthen my weaknesses with new ever more challenging obstacles.  Success in the show ring soon followed. You can trust Coraggio with the care of your horses - The horses in Paige's care always looked like show horses and simply impressive.  No one could guess my own personal horse's senior age as he looked and rode like a horse half his age.  They are the center of attention at Coraggio and the best care is provided.  Through meticulous barn management, high quality veterinary care and shoeing, careful feeding, and pure love, Paige's horses were clearly physically and emotionally healthy - clean barn, clean buckets, and super shiny coats. There was no mistaking - Absolute Athletes. You can trust the Coraggio Team environment - Perhaps the most important attribute I found in Paige was her character.  Paige is true class; a successful female entrepreneur; and a great mentor to the next generation of up and coming young women. She was never condescending or judgmental, but always supportive and motivating. That spirit is carried throughout Team Coraggio whose members, pridefully bearing the black and gold insignia Coraggio shirts, are all very supportive of one another in and out of the show ring. I think if you invest the time to visit Coraggio, you'll discover all this and more!

Phenomenal Experience -- We'll Be Back!…read more My sister and I booked the last two available spots for a completely spur-of-the-moment horseback ride with @texastrailrides at @lonestarranchtexas, and wow... it was absolutely phenomenal. What a perfect way to start our first adventure of the year, especially in the Year of the Horse This year, we've decided to create moments instead of buying things, and this experience was everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we arrived, everything felt easy and welcoming. The instructions were clear and simple, making the ride comfortable even if you haven't been on a horse in a while. Our instructor, Annabelle, was AMAZING -- knowledgeable, calm, kind, and truly attentive the entire time. I had the honor of riding Poncho, a strong, steady, and beautiful horse. There was something incredibly grounding about simply walking the trails, crossing through water, and fully trusting him to guide us safely -- and he absolutely did. That connection, that peace, that trust... unforgettable. We enjoyed this experience so much that we already know we'll be back in March, and we plan to end this year the same way we started it -- on horseback, making memories together. If you're looking for horseback riding in Texas, I highly recommend this trail ride. It's peaceful, empowering, well-guided, and truly soul-filling. Thank you @texastrailrides, @lonestarranchtexas, Annabelle, and Poncho -- we can't wait to ride again

One of the best places for trail riding. Horses were well…read morebehaved and friendly. The wranglers were great with communicating everything we needed to know. Plenty of space to ride around and great scenery.

Had such a great time today with Paige and Alicia! Me and my friend on a whim decided to go on a…read moretrail ride together and had such a good experience and we'll definitely be back! We rode Sonny and Dolly and they were both sweethearts!

We didn't do the trail rides which I assume is where they get better reviews, but the cow cuddling…read moreexperience was disappointing. There wasn't actually any place to "cuddle" the cows; you simply stand around and pet them. We got a small cup of pellets, and once those were gone, the cows had little interest in interacting with people. One cow had large horns and was much bigger than expected based on the photos and "mini cow" advertising. That cow specifically seemed pretty over the whole experience. The other two were much smaller, and they were all very cute. There was also no place to wash your hands, only wipes, which is understandable. However, when we asked where the trash can had been moved so we could throw the wipes away, one of the ranch hands responded with an attitude. The lady leading the experience was very kind though. While petting the cows was enjoyable, the experience felt worth closer to $20 than the $50 charged. That's the main reason for the low rating. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it.

Took my family out for a lesson and we had a blast. The horses were amazing and responsive to each…read moreof our riding abilities. My 11 year old rode for her first time ever and was ecstatic to be able to trot by the end.

Lil Pease of Texas is a new family friendly relaxed boarding facility between Bastrop and Elgin…read more I love these folks. I have my 23 gelding living here and couldn't be happier. I believe in giving horses lots of room and here there's a great multi acre pasture below a great shaded hillside. There's a nice round pen and really nice level arena with great footing. It's really healthy for the horses. Ashley is very caring and will work with you to ensure the best care for your horse! I certainly recommend Lil Pease if Texas!

A family-oriented boarding stable that clearly takes pride in giving horses the best care. The…read morehorses here are treated like family by Ashley and Daniel - who are friendly, caring owners that are always happy to help. The horses get something you rarely find at a boarding stable anymore - individual care - so no sleepless nights worrying about your horse and you can travel without worrying too. It isn't a show barn, so the attitude isn't there - the atmosphere is quiet and relaxed. Another big plus - pasture turnout in wonderful Elgin sandy loam rich soil. This animal-loving family works hard to keep the farm in good order, the horses happy, and provide a wonderful place to enjoy spending time with your horsey partner.