My boyfriend and I had the most amazing first time experience riding two wonderful horses named Will and McGuiness. Melissa White made the experience so comfortable and enjoyable. The horseback experience will never be forgotten!! Thank you Melissa for the awesome time! S & A
My boyfriend and I did a sunset ride with Melissa and I could not have been happier with the experience. Melissa is a real cow girl that loves her horses dearly! It's beautiful to watch her with her "boys." The trail is serene, relaxing and the horses are so calm. Melissa is a true professional with so much knowledge about the horses, the land, the fauna/flora and the town of Ojai. The three of us had such a great time talking, laughing and taking in the gorgeous scenery. The landscape is just stunning with the sun setting behind the mountains and turning the adjacent mountains a light pink hue. It was also my birthday and Melissa even called me earlier in the day to wish me a happy birthday! Who does that! Melissa also checked in with us during the ride to make sure we were comfortable and happy. Such a memorable way to spend my birthday. Thank you to Melissa for helping make my day even better.
My bf and I were there with Melissa this past weekend, and we had a great time. It was my bf's first time riding a horse so we just walked arround and didn't go far. will go further next time. the only down side is it's a little expensive for us..
I have made it a rule that when I go to Ojai I stop by the wonderful little ranch called Western Trail Rides. Couple of things: my Uncle Jim and cousin Kathy had an excellent day riding and it reminded him of his childhood in South Dakota. About the Lord: God is a daily part of my life, and I appreciate the little reminders about faith there. It is a meditative and quiet place to enjoy horses, riding and education about how to ride.
I was in Ojai for a brief birthday getaway, and had limited time to squeeze in all the things I wanted to do...one of which was a trail ride. From the first time I talked to Melissa on the phone, I knew I was in the right hands! She was so full of good energy, and even though it was last-minute, she made time for me to ride on my birthday. It was an absolutely gorgeous day, and she is such a relaxed, yet knowledgable person, that the whole experience was just wonderful! She provided gentle instruction on handling the horses, and also pointed out so many interesting things in nature during the ride. She is definitely the person to go to if you are interested in a trail ride in the Ojai area!!!!
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.
I called Western Trail Rides today and inquired about arranging for a group of women (between 5 and 10 people) for a trail ride. The woman who answered my call informed me that she only takes one or two people at a time. However, on Western Trail Rides website they state, "Tell us how many are in your group (just yourself or enjoy a private trail ride with family and friends), your riding interests and your skill level and we'll create the perfect trail ride." Clearly, this is not true. Suffice it to say, I will not contact nor recommend this business to family, friends or acquaintances.
Fantastic, scenic, relaxing ride with a true cowgirl and horse lover! The horses are beautiful, the surroundings gorgeous and Melissa is a delight.
I simply can't recommend. I am confident that there are better options available in this horse friendly area. Do your research.
Sunset ride on the most beautiful, well mannered horse named Trigger, loved the area, Melissa was a great guide despite her being horseless. Unfortunately my friend was quite uncomfortable and uneasy on her horse so we had to cut our ride short so a bit of a financial loss since no partial refund but it is what it is. Beautiful place to ride.