We live on Oahu and frequently pass the Gunstock Ranch, so when we had a chance to buy discounted tickets at Amazon Local,we decided to go for it. There was an unexpected booking and tax fee, but it turned out to be worth it. We appreciated the pre-trip email, so we knew what to bring. Chris, our guide was experienced and accomodating. He made sure everyone in the group was comfortable and included. The views near the top were sensational. The horses were well matched to our inexperience, They didn't balk, try to graze or race home. We had plenty of chances to take pictures and our guide took everybody's picture at the top. A really great way to spend a morning.
My family and I had a dinner/sunset ride at Gunstock, and in a word, it was Amazing! The property has something like 60 miles of trails, and the trail we rode was beautiful. My son was too young for that ride, so the hosts brought him up in a truck. My wife chickened out on riding the horse up, so they even came back to get her. That left myself and my guide, Cameron. Cameron is a real cowboy from Utah, going to school in Hawaii, and wanted a ranch job. He is studying the history of the land and people of the region so he was incredibly educational on the ride up. Dinner was fantastic, and we made smores over the fure after dinner. The view from the top is something you can't make up, its unreal how beautiful it all is. This horseback ride up a Hawaiian mountain is one of those bucket list kind of adventures!
Thankyou Gunstock Ranch for making my daughters Hawaiian holiday. Ok, so I don't quite understand how a canter through the hills is an important part of a tropical beach holiday, but apparently it is for an 11yo horse mad girl and these guys provided the answer superbly!From the opening enquiry they were very understanding. 11yo girl looking for trotting cantering and maybe a small log to jump. Parent who's riding experience amounts to trail rides and paying for her lessons, so accompanying her on that type of ride not an option. A quick diary check and we booked an Advanced Group ride with a female wrangler which actually turned out to be a private ride. The staff were professional and safe during saddle up and initial assessment of riding ability, then the girls took off into the hills and the smiles on return said it all.Oh, and Gunstock Ranch was close enough to Turtle Bay for a quick coffee & cake in comfort while the equestrian adventure went on :-DThanks Gunstock. Top marks from us.
My wife and I went on the scenic ride. Wow! The views were impressive. Our guide was great. She told us a little about the history of the area and was more knowledgeable than expected about the local plants. We had a really great time and were more than satisfied. We would/will do it again if we get back to Laie.When I came to this website to review it, I was surprised at the comments. We were instructed exactly how to sit, how to control the horse and given continued instruction during the ride. Do not listen to those reviews from several years ago.
During the week of December 1st, 2014, my daughter took me a riding adventure at Gunstock Ranch in Hawaii. I have zero experience in riding horses and I pointed this out to our guide, Kenzie. She assured me that she would take my reigns if I needed it. She was more than patient and assured me that my horse would be able to feel my inexperience. She was right. My horse, Cowboy :) was so good; he was slow and steady. The trail was so beautiful during our sunset ride and our guide was very knowledgeable about the trail and the horses. I say wholeheartedly that if you are in Hawaii and you want to go on a trail ride, Gunstock Ranch is the absolute BEST choice to go with!!!!KMc
I booked an advanced trail ride, and as nobody else showed up, it was just myself and the wrangler, Kenzie. She was laid back and great. We trotted and cantered our way up the mountain, stopped to pick strawberry guavas for ourselves and the horses, encountered dozens of birds, passed volkswagon sized agaves and ended up at the top with an amazing view of the ocean. Kenzie also had good tips on where to go to get great local food. It was a great way to spend an hour! Thanks.
A couple of weeks ago we took our Granddaughter (and our daughter) for a Hawaian holiday to celebrate her 12th birthday. When we asked her which activity she would be most interested in doing, she immediately said horseback riding. She has been an avid rider since she was 5 years old! After checking out the various options on Oahu, we chose Gunstock Ranch for our ride. We liked the fact that it was a trail ride for all different levels of expertise. I was especially concerned, because I hadn't been on a horse since I was thrown off one 52 years ago and had never gotten on one since! But Mike and David were such great guides, and they made me feel safe, secure, and well-cared for. Mike was very patient, kind and understanding of my inexperience. He was also a very knowledgable and interesting guide. My Granddaughter and daughter would have liked to have cantered and/or galloped, but knew I wouldn't have been comfortable doing that. The other thing that impressed me was that they required my Granddaughter to wear a helmet (not all the riding places do that as we found out later with another riding excursion), and they suggested the helmet for all riders. Thanks Mike and David for a great ride and helping me to get back on a horse again:)
My daughter 12 and I had the advanced ride tour in February 2015, and we were very satisfied. Brooke, the tour guide,let us trott and gallop, and the horses had more speed in them than most horses I've experienced in other stables before. Gunstock Ranch gets my recommendation!
We decided on the spur of the moment to go horseback riding and chose this place with no previous knowledge/reviews. There were six of us in our group and were impressed with their taking the time to choose horses to match the riders. We had a bit of rain when we got to the ranch but were still able to have a great ride despite the wet ground. The sun did come out of the clouds for a while during our ride. The guides were very friendly, welcoming and informative which made for a great afternoon. The scenic views were beautiful in addition to seeing the free roaming cattle and horses on this 600 acre ranch. Not only did we have a great experience on the ranch, but we stopped at a small strip mall for a quick bite and ran into the staff at the mall who were also grabbing a quick bite. I would recommend this place to anyone considering horseback riding during their stay in Hawaii.
We did the sweetheart trail. 2h incl a private picnic. We both experienced riders, so we booked a tour where it was just us and our guide. She did great! Nice tour, beautiful views, some nice galloping and a great picnic on top of the hill.