I honestly had high hopes for this experience, especially since I've been eager to learn more about horses. 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. read more

My daughter and I spent a wonderful and amazing evening at Western Trail Rides for her birthday this September. The horses Trigger, Oliver and Levi were all so therapuetic, calm, and seemed happy to help us on our 1st meeting and trail ride. Melissa was a fantastic coach as well and you can really tell she absolutely loves her boys (horses). She had a very caring, calm and patient energy as well which made us feel at home. We both left with the biggest smiles after feeding the horses some carrots at the end of our evening. I would recommend completely for anyone or any families looking to try something new and or just down to earth petting and grooming of these majestic animals. Absolutely going back and thankful it was within our budget to go back again. read more

See all

Enrolled my eight year old daughter in Western Trail Rides weeklong long "Horse Camp" during spring break. 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. read more

Western Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me

One of the first and funnest experience I ever had, bonding and getting to know about the horse I was going to ride, "Oliver" was such an experience thank you read more

Western Trail Rides - Oliver - Horseback Riding Near Me

See all

Weird religious-agenda pushing people with an unfriendly demeanor. Uncomfortable communication and unwillingness to help. There are SO MANY other better options in the area, that take great care of our beautiful equine friends. Save yourself a trip and avoid this questionable establishment! read more

We have had a wonderful experience taking my daughter to Ms. Melissa for horseback riding lessons. She is extremely kind, gentle, and patient introducing you to "the boys" (her horses). She meets you where you are in your comfort and knowledge and guides you into learning more about the care of horses and riding. You feel ownership of the horses while there as if they are yours. My daughter has enjoyed learning more about how to care for horses and ride because of Ms. Melissa. Her horses reside on a beautiful property that is breathtaking in Ojai. Highly recommend Western Trial Rides! read more

See all

Melissa is so kind and patient. The scenery is thee most beautiful! What a special place. My son sensed Melissa is the horse whisperer, he wanted to hold her hand and wanted to meet her horses in her arms. Such a special experience with a special woman in an extraordinary location. read more

See all

Western Trail Rides with Melissa! Through her kind and firm direction. Cameron's confidence has grown. It's not all about the riding but about the experience. read more

Western Trail Rides - Western Trail Rides with Melissa! Through her kind and firm direction. Cameron’s confidence has grown. Thank you. - Horseback Riding Near Me

My 7-year-old son and I have been taking horseback riding lessons from Melissa, and I would recommend her to anyone looking to take lessons or go for a ride. She is so patient and kind, and she has done a great job getting my son, who can be a little shy at first (and myself too!), to warm up and feel more comfortable and independent on the ranch. I love watching him progress and pick up new skills each lesson. While I took English-style lessons growing up (and now prefer Western), I had not ridden regularly as an adult and have learned so much from Melissa. The ranch is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen with panoramic views of the mountains from east of Chief's Peak circling around west to the Ventura River Preserve. A beautiful place for a horse ride. Pictures do not do it justice. read more

See all

My girlfriend and I thought that taking a horseback ride with Western Trail Rides would be a fun thing to do on our first trip to Ojai, and we were not disappointed! Melissa was extremely friendly and such a charming host. The horses themselves were well trained and full of personality. I will tell you to expect a relaxing trail ride that is very laid back, as Melissa herself will guide you on foot across the trails as you follow on horseback. However, this gives you a great opportunity to take the time to marvel at the picturesque beauty of the Ojai Valley, as the views are nothing short of spectacular. At the end of the ride, we even got to feed carrots and take pictures with the horses. Thank you to Melissa, Trigger and Willing Spirit for a wonderful experience! Please note: Helmets are required to be worn while riding. Payment must be made by cash or check. read more

See all

I had a wonderful time with Melissa and Willing Spirit today. I used to ride, but I had been out of the saddle for a very long time. Melissa was very accomodating to my needs including helping me with the best way of getting on my horse, to teaching me correct seating, and how to position my feet, as well as how to hold the reins and so on. It is apparent she is about safety first and communicates her intentions well. For me, it was enough of a challenge going on the trail with some downgrades and uphill areas with rocks even though we were just walking. She reminded me to take mastery of the horse and to be conscious of my positioning. Eventually it will become second nature I am sure! I do plan on going back to ride with Melissa. She is a very kind and competent teacher, and the area is gorgeous! read more

Western Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me

My son got a gift certificate for his 8th birthday so I decided to take my 6 year old daughter as well and purchase a lesson for her We had the loviest morning with Melissa and her horses. She is so gentle and kind with the children yet very safely oriented. This is a precious experience for small children. I learned a lot too! We are looking forward to spending more time with Melissa, Willing Spirit, Trigger and especially Levi ( he was the kids favorite). Thank you again Melissa for such a wonderful day!!!!! read more

I am an adult who has personally taken several lessons from Melissa to learn about caring for horses. She is gentle and wise and gives great information. I have learned how to groom and and maintain and feed, I have learned about saddles and bridles and halters, from an extremely organized and kind teacher. She shows great caring for horses, children, all people! I couldn't thank her enough and highly recommend her for adults and children who want to know about horses. read more

Melissa owns Western Trail Rides and she is terrific. My boyfriend and I went to Ojai for our anniversary and made reservations for a 1 hour horseback ride with Melissa. First of all let me say that we are not athletic people. We didn't grow up on farms, and we don't know the first thing about riding horses. Melissa was great. She walked us through everything from getting on the horse, to "steering", stopping, speeding up, and braking. We went on an easy one hour ride on the plains. We saw beautiful wildflowers, the watering hole, and great views of the mountains. It was fabulous - we were very well taken care of. read more

Melissa with Western Trail Rides is fantastic! She custom created a horse camp for my daughters when we were in town for a week, and they absolutely loved it. Melissa is kind and caring and great with children and horses. I highly recommend Western Trail Rides to anyone looking for lessons or horse camp in Ojai. read more

We took our daughter here yesterday for her first horse experience. Our daughter is almost 3 and she absolutely loved it! She was a natural and felt very comfortable on gentle Trigger, and Melissa guided her around the arena on saddle. It was fantastic! I was so touched to see my daughter ride for the first time, because I know how important horses can be in a woman's lifetime. I'm so excited to get back and do a trail ride with Melissa myself! Fantastic ranch, incredible views and photo opportunities, gentle and kind horses with a very gracious Host, we'll be back for more! read more

Such a relaxing and wonderful ride! Check out the website for pictures and a short bio on each horse. The rides are relaxing and intimate, the park that the trails go through is just breathtaking. Melissa is an excellent and patient teacher for those with little or no experience with horses. You absolutely couldn't be safer. The only drawback is that if you are an experienced rider, there is no trot/jogging or canter/loping or challenging obstacles. But this is what makes it so safe and comfortable for beginners. Melissa truly loves her horses and her riders and takes wonderful care of both. read more

A real pleasure. My mom and I went for a ride with Melissa this past weekend, and had a wonderful time taking in the beauty of Ojai and chatting with Melissa on our ride. The horses were sweet, the pace was mellow, and we enjoyed it all. Would definitely do it all over again. read more

I chose Western Trail Rides over other horseback riding services because their Yelp reviews are the best. I was not disappointed. I chose the one-hour ride on the river bed, and I enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend Western Trail Rides. read more

Melissa is a wonderful instructor for children. My 4 year old grandson had the pleasure of his first riding experience with Melissa and according to Cameron it was his favorite experience at Yaya's house. When he visits again we will be back riding at western Trails! read more

I can't wait to go back and visit Melissa, Beau, Willy and Hank! I am looking forward to taking the 3 hour ride with Melissa in the mountains. Melissa is wonderful and you can tell she truly loves her horses and sharing them with people. My boyfriend and I went out for an hour ride. He is not really and experienced rider and Melissa matched him perfectly with Beau. He truly enjoyed the ride and the time spent on the trail. I love being on horseback and this was such a treat. Melissa was not only an incredible guide but, she lead us on a journey of discover y of the beautiful landscape and history of the land. Give yourself a treat and go visit Melissa and her boys at Western Trail Rides. read more

My husband and I went to visit Melissa and her horses today for a 1 hour trail ride. We were looking for something fun to do while we celebrated out 5 year anniversary. Melissa was so sweet and very patient as it was my first time horseback riding. She let me ride a very friendly horse McGuiness. She was very clear with instructions on how to properly ride the horse. The trail we went on was beautiful. You could see the sweeping mountains and the gorgeous terrain. I highly recommend Western Trail Rides for anyone who's first time riding a horse. She is also reasonably priced. read more

Do I recommend "Western Trail Rides"? Hell No!! If you are a beginner as my girlfriend is and need someone patient and helpful to guide you on a first time experience, DO NOT GO THERE. Melissa (the owner I think) was rude and impatient knowing she never rode before. I couldn't stand the criticism and lack of patience being spew at her so I cancelled the ride before we even left the stall. She still had the nerve to demand full payment. Yeah, I think not.....Trust me! read more

The wife booked a 2hr ride for my son and I. We both had a awesome time while on the trails. Melissa was very friendly and great host during the whole ride. The horses were very welled trained and had lots of personality especially Will who i had the pleasure to ride. Great place to take your kids to go for a ride. I will definitely visit again and ride the beautiful trails. read more

Can't recommend. I am confident that there are better options in this horse loving area.

Melissa was an excellent host- so friendly and accommodating! She exhibits great knowledge of local history, plant life, and was extremely willing to share all of this information with us. She seemed very concerned with making sure we were comfortable and having a good time. The horses are well-groomed, fed, and loved, and are easily ridden by any level. read more

Not sure where my previous review went but it must have been removed somehow. But once again I need to let people know what to expect with "Western Trail Rides". I'll sum it up this time: Thumb down. Why? Owner "Melissa" not friendly to inexperienced riders and will still charge you full price if the horse doesn't move. Sound fair? Thought not..... read more

Melissa was friendly, educational , and made my wife and I experience comfortable on those beautiful horses. I had the luxury of riding Beau. He was a handful at first, but that is what I wanted, a "Real" riding experience. He was like driving a race car, not sitting in a VW. My wifes horse did all the work, which was good since it was only her second time on a horse. The view was great and my wife and I had a great time. We will be back every year and we will always take a ride with Melissa and friends... read more

Fantastic date idea!! This was my first valentines day with my girlfriend and I wanted to do something special and a friend pointed me to western trail rides. This was the first time Id ever tried to ride a horse and the idea scared me. Her coaching and positive attitude saved the day and allowed me to look cool and have fun with my girlfriend at the same time! Thanks Melissa! read more

My daughter struggles with memory and has an IEP. I communicated this to Melissa thoroughly, multiple times, before and during the several months of lessons. Melissa, while good with my daughter, was often short with me. I let it go, as my daughter seemed to enjoy the lessons and made no complaint. That was until our last class, which strangely finished early. Upon finishing the last session, my daughter was acting distraught, begged not to return, and suggested we give Melissa a "break." I turned around and drove back to the ranch. When politely questioned, Melissa was very defensive but offered no explanation for my daughter's obvious upset. My, horse-obsessed, little girl didn't want to go back to the class of her dreams. My daughter eventually was able to communicate that she had struggled to remember instructions that day, Melissa had been snappy with her, and that she felt Melissa was mad at her. read more

I took my boyfriend for his first horseback ride for our 3rd anniversary. Melissa was very patient and encouraging since I told her it was his first riding experience. She set us up with a gorgeous sunset ride, with the setting sunlight streaming through the tree branches and tall grasses swaying in the breeze. She walked in front of us and there was another person on horseback behind us, for safety. Melissa chatted with us along the way, telling us about the area and pointing out various natural aspects. We saw a lot of rabbits and even a deer! I loved Will (Willing Spirit) and McGinnis was perfect for my BF (not only was McGinnis an easy ride, they are both redheads! And my boyfriend had just done an animation project on Terry McGinnis from Batman Beyond.) We had a beautiful hour-long ride, and I would definitely go back! The prices are reasonable, too. One caution: if you want photos, bring your own camera and ask Melissa to take pictures. She had a camera but when I asked if she could send me photos after the ride, she said she doesn't email! Luckily my boyfriend's laptop has a built-in card reader and Melissa was nice enough to let us interrupt her dinner to download the photos. read more

Called Melissa and arranged for a solo ride the same evening. She was very thoughtful in everything she did, ranging from leaving the ranch address on my voicemail because I didn't have a pen handy, to selecting the right horse (Willing Spirit) for my experience and riding ability. It is clear that she deeply loves these horses. We went on a very mellow evening ride around the adjacent conservation land. She gave me apples and carrots to feed to Will afterwards, which was a nice touch. read more

My husband and I went horseback riding for our 5th anniversary. It was a wonderful experience! Melissa was so patient, encouraging, and accommodating, and knowledgable of the area. We had a blast! read more

Boss. Best valentines day trail ride ever! I just cannot wait to go again and ride Spirit, and this time I am going to bring my cowgirl hat! Melissa is amazing and taught me and my boyfriend to ride the horses like pros even though we have only rode horses once before. We had a great time at the ranch and I highly recommend Western Trail Rides as an original and unique experience that you will remember forever. read more

My daughters and I had a wonderful ride. Having never been on a horse, Melissa guided us easily through this new experience. She is a wonderful guide and we would be happy to visit again for another ride. read more

My husband surprised me on my birthday with a horseback ride at Western Trail Rides. Horses and Ojai.. what a great gift!! When we arrived, Melissa greeted us with a warm welcome and got us situated on our horses. My husband and I have some riding experience, so it was an easy start. She took us on a private ride along some beautiful trails with amazing scenery! She even supplied us with a bottle of water for the ride, which we thought was a nice touch. Melissa and her "Staff" of horses gave us a such wonderful experience!! She really loves what she does and wants to make sure that your ride is memorable. I can't thank her enough! We are already thinking about going back to take a longer ride next time! read more