This is a wonderful place for lessons for both kids and seniors. They also offer corporate volunteer opportunities, making it a great option for team events. The staff truly care about the horses, and it's a peaceful escape from the city. read more

The facilities are fine. That's about where the positives end. Not worth the price, and the ownership is something else. I personally witnessed aggressive and unprofessional behavior toward volunteers. If you do go here, pay very close attention to what you sign. I say again, pay very very close attention to what you sign. Oh, and the business uses AI-generated content for review responses and marketing materials, so don't let the polished online presence fool you. Corners get cut. Honestly, it's become a life experience at this point. Iconic, even, just not for the reasons they'd want. read more

This is not a place I would seek therapy from, and as a volunteer, it was an extremely off-putting work environment. During my short time there I heard nothing but complaints from one of the front facing employees as well as many volunteers. There seems to be a lot of employee and volunteer turnover and the communications I receive from the owner are rather unprofessional, and as an equine assisted skills professional myself, I was really concerned about the personal details the owner is willing to share about staff- privacy doesn't seem important to them. When I brought this to the owner's attention and asked to be removed from their volunteer list, I was given a laundry list of excuses on why members of the public need to know about their staff dynamics, which felt like doubling down on the toxic environment. I STILL have not been removed from their list despite telling them more than 3 times that I am NOT interested in their program. The ethics of this program don't align with a therapeutic environment. Even after leaving this review on their google page, the owner emailed me AGAIN with some extremely inappropriate language. Get your therapy elsewhere. read more

If your looking for an opportunity to volunteer, this place is great! I try to come as often as I can. Everyone that works here is awesome, they have so much knowledge about horses it's crazy. There are many opportunities for learning, they offer a lot of different kinds of classes. I wish they were a little more descriptive but I have taken a few and it's really helped. I had a bunch of anxiety about it when I first started but with coming here, it has really helped my confidence. The staff is very patient and not pushy, they are very understanding with volunteers, they truly appreciate what they can get. It's a lot of hard work but it is truly rewarding. read more

Zuma's Rescue Ranch - Front gate - Horseback Riding Near Me - Littleton, Colorado

Honestly this place is a mess. I was a working student and rider here for quite some time. The horses are not cared for probably. Hay is low quality, the horses are not retired or euthanized when they clearly should be, and health issues are ignored. I was riding a horse that was clearly in need of some adjustments in diet and riding load but they ignored me until she was too dangerous to get out of her paddock, kicking, bitting, and chasing no matter what we did. Also if you want to jump this is not the place. They don't really jump higher than a few inches. They are a rescue so I understand that limitation with jumping since they don't have horses that are able. It's a good place to get a start or to just relax but not for progression or boarding. read more

A beautiful barn but the owner of the barn is very difficult and a bully to children and adults. I don't recommend riding here especially if you are a beginner or kid. The staff changes frequently. Edit: Adding to this post based on Jodi's comment. The full story is we leased a horse at Zumas and it was a great experience until he started acting strange. I asked Jodi about his behavior and she looked at the horse and said, "Wizard, stop acting stupid!" She laughed and walked away. I wouldn't let my daughter get on the horse. He continued to act strange and everyone saw this. He also bucked a child off and when I asked about that she lied and said the rider fell. When I tried to talk to the owner again she told us to take more classes and bond with the horse. We took ALL the classes, she just wanted more money and was not holding up her end of the lease by helping us out. We did not receive professional advice from the owner, just the trainers who were all amazing but unfortunately left because of Jodi. She continued to blame this situation on me and my daughter and after a lot of tears from my daughter, we left. Also, week after week we would show up for lessons and the staff would be injured (broken nose, broken foot, concussion, etc.). Also several of the staff told me she wasn't paying them so it was hard for me to support the barn knowing this information. One of the instructors told me none of the horses should be in a riding program. I didn't want to post all of this initially but Jodi continues to tell me it's my daughter's fault. My daughter was 9 years old at the time. She also tried to tell me how to parent my child by telling me I wasn't doing a good job parenting her and she wasn't going to be a successful adult. She continued to insist my daughter was the problem. Stay away from this place, it's a mess as another review said. I originally posted something similar to this on their social media page but Jodi immediately blocked me so I couldn't post. read more

If you're a small business working for Jodi at Zumas Rescue Ranch STAY AWAY. Jodi has not paid me or ANY other businesses that have worked for her. After multiple attempts to contact Jodi with invoices she continues to ignore. Absolutely disgusting. read more

Unbelievable lies from the 1-star post below because I can't count it as a review. We have been at Zuma's for almost 3 years now and the love and dedication Jody, Paul, Liz, all the instructors and staff have for all their animals is heartwarming to see. In a world where there is so much pain, Zuma's is a ray of light and a sanctuary not only for the horses but for the humans that love them. read more

You guys are so nice and that is the best place I have been to and y'all are so nice! Definitely go here

Staff are very nice here. Unfortunately they have weight rule of 165 pounds and English only that makes it a place that parents bring their little girls to ride those horses that can be used for lessons. The also pay for expensive lesson fees for the trainers and hired help to lead them around. There are some horses that they seem to allow women to ride that are over the weight limit. The owner Jodi had me removed from the volunteer list, as she and I am over the limit, but she did agree that the grand pre jumping she did for 20 years was probably hurting the horses. Lessons and jumps are very small. They have lots of shows to do fund raising and to get the parents to come watch their kids. Once the parents or other horse lovers "volunteer", they pay for a orientation, then pay for a horsemanship 101 which allows them to led horses around for exercise. They have to hire minimum wage students to do what the "volunteers" are supposed to do. read more

If you're looking to escape your daily grind of giving without return, this majestic ranch is looking for you. I've only been volunteering for a week here and life is so much better as there is so much opportunity to grow whether you want to learn to ride, feeding and grooming the horses or building, planting and over all ranch hand! Every animal on this ranch has a history and for most this is the first time they are receiving love for who they are not what they can give. Jodi leads by example and works hard every day to make the ranch a better place than yesterday and each day grows immensely. The volunteers on the ranch are like minded and want the best for not only the horses, mini's donkeys but for all the surroundings as buildings, roads pastures etc. I can't imagine how much fuller my life will be as the months come to years of volunteering here. I'm indebted to Jodi and Paul for sharing in their dream with everyone. read more

Several moons ago, I was at a transitional period in my life, and found my therapy volunteering with horses every Sunday. I called it my Church of Equus. It only seems fitting that my husband, our kids and I are adopting our new bundle of joy, a boxer bulldog girl, from the place that helped me feel like a whole human a great while back. If you Google Paul and Jodi Messinch and Zuma's Rescue Ranch, Google would even say why they are such a big deal. They go beyond just rescuing neglected creatures - they genuinely care about helping people. Our babe's mama was rescued by Jodi and Paul, and had to have a c-section, delivering 10 puppies December 1st. Primarily the ranch's business is horses, but their love for life in general surpasses just about everyone I know. read more

I took my 6 year old daughter for a riding lesson for her birthday. Unfortunately, the weather didn't cooperate. But rather than send us on our way, my daughter was shown around the stables, introduced to most of the horses (and many other wonderful animals they have on site), and then Carmen proceeded to give my daughter a wonderful 30+ minute horse grooming lesson and tutorial. The level of care and thoughtfulness displayed not just to my daughter and I, but to the amazing animals onsite was extraordinary. It goes without saying, I will be bringing my daughter back (to make good on my horseback riding lesson and to learn more about the wonderful programs Zuma's offers) very very soon. read more

Upon arrival we were very rudely greeted, whomever scheduled our meeting gave us the wrong information. The owner was very quick to judge and if your opinion is different from hers in training or care don't expect to take a horse home. She made us feel like the application process was near to impossible to pass! The way she talked to us was very degrading and made us feel like we were a waste of her time! The property was very nice but she made a point to come across as though we didn't have enough money or knowledge to properly care for them as well as she does. In conclusion if you want to rescue a horse go somewhere else where your opinions and you will be respected. read more

When you live in a glass house, it's unwise to throw stones. I'm not one to leave a review, let alone a bad one. I don't even have a "Facebook," so I am posting here. I worked and volunteered at Zuma's several years ago, and after being kicked out as a 17 year old for a string of supposed violations including killing chickens (I switched work shifts with a girl who left the chicken coop open, chickens died, and I, the only vegetarian among the sorry group, was blamed). I worked my butt off to have my horse live at Zumas and to take riding lessons in exchange for all the volunteering/work. Some of the time was actually considered work and some volunteering. During a time that I had just moved to Colorado, and was struggling with depression and anxiety, I found a haven at Zuma's. I spent all the time that I could there, and met people I am still close friends with today. Over a period of more than a year, I only received three lessons when I was supposed to be getting one a week. I have known a string of people to leave disgruntled, feelings hurt, and absolutely put out by the operation's owners. Their unfortunately impossible expectations and practices of watching and judging their volunteers and workers have driven many away. It caused a sense of walking on egg shells any time they were around--oh that is if they aren't watching the cameras strategically installed all over the property. They hardly ever helped with the work but boy they sure had a lot to say about everyone else. Now, they are rescuing horses--so of course that gives them some points, but they sure make it known what lovely, wonderful people they are and how much they've sacrificed any chance they get. Over my years in college and now working at some really great non-profits, I've realized that sometimes animal rescuing breeds crazy. I am still really passionate about animal rescue and activism, and remember a lot of my time at Zuma's fondly. All I'm saying is, buyer beware. There are a lot of truly wonderful and fantastic people involved with Zuma's, so don't write it off, but know what you're getting into with the owners before you start taking lessons or anything else at Zuma's. read more

I started taking my kids to Zuma's over 6 years ago, initially, for my daughter who has Sensory Processing Disorder. The work that she did at Zuma's not only helped her immensely with her SPD, but it has contributed to a (hopefully life-long) love affair with animals! The connection she has with the horses is awe inspiring. We now go to Zuma's for my 7 year old because of behavioral issues that he has at school. It's been an incredible experience for all of us. I now volunteer when my son is working with one of the Zuma's staff and I am shocked at how much I love mucking! It's meditative and rewarding for me. Zuma's is one of the most peaceful and beautiful places that I have ever known. We are truly lucky to have found such a wonderful place that not only helps the animals but our children as well. read more