My husband and I had a date day and came to A&a. We ran into a lot of traffic on the way up and were running late. Mazie, the owner was very accommodating and understanding. Our guide was Katie, a 17 year old young lady who was incredibly engaged with us, pleasant and shared historical information on the mining days in Central City and pointed out interesting things along our ride. The entire ride was beautiful, often through trees and remnants of the mining days. Definitely historical! At the top of the trail ( we went on the 1.5 hour ride) there was a majestic view of Mount Evans and the Colorado landscape in all its beauty. We don't horseback ride a lot but we will come here again and recommend A&a Stables to everyone! read more

A&a Historic Trails - Remnants of the mining days - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

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We enjoyed ourselves! We really wanted a chill paced ride and we got it. Staff very friendly and got some great views. read more

A&a Historic Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

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We took our 3 daughters yesterday 5, 8 & 12. This was by far the best trail riding experience we ever had! We had a young guide Izzie, who made everything so fun for our girls! She let our 8 year old lead the trail for a short while, because it was her birthday, which my daughter LOVED!! Then my 12 year old got to lead. Izzie knew so much about the area and gave us some great information about the old mines as we rode. The scenery is stunning, that trail is beautiful!!! We all really enjoyed riding with her and she was so intuitive about how to make the trail exciting for my kids. When the trail was more flat and smooth, all of us got to trot the horses and the giggles and smiles from our girls were priceless. We will definitely return and highly recommend A&A *Side note, we picked A&A originally because we were able to do a ride with just our family and not a large group of people we didn't know. Also, because they allowed our 5 year old to ride double, since we didn't feel she was ready to be on her own. The team we met at A&A were very welcoming. It is a casual environment, with outstanding service. And we loved all the happy dogs running around, living their best lives. read more

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We had a wonderful time , great tour guide friendly and knowledgeable. We are from Wisconsin little experience with horses they matched us up perfectly to our horses , Jamba my horse was a gentle giant ! Thank you so much for the beautiful horse back tour read more

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6-21-21 Ride. The ride was fine, about what I expected in terms of visuals. Went through some woods and hit a couple of crests with some nice views. The guide was friendly and made conversation the entire ride and stopped for opportunities for photos. The negative- there was no quick brush up on how to ride a horse. How to hold the reins, for example, would have been helpful. Maybe an opportunity to take the horse around the yard for a second to get familiar. Second, and my biggest gripe, and why I gave 2 stars- I paid for 2 hours. We left at 11:30 am and returned just before 1:00 pm. So I was shorted 30 minutes. I couldn't believe it. Would you pay for a 2 hour massage and be okay if it ended 30 minutes early? Would you be okay if you paid to see a 2 hour movie and they shut it off 30 minutes early? read more

A&a Historic Trails - The route we took. This is an example of what you will see. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

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I showed up for a 2 hour trail ride, and was told the guide would be back about 5 minutes late. I walked the small parking lot and eventually came back to check in, but there was nobody in sight. I waited at the gate for 30 minutes. Not a single person came out. Needless to say, I left. Only heading down the drive, did someone inquire if I was there for a ride. I told her I was, but it's 30 past my ride time so was heading out. I received a "sorry" as the only response. I have been calling and emailing for a refund, but receive 0 response. I do not recommend. read more

This is a great place to go horseback riding. We booked a two hour ride but decided to cut it short because of the rain. It was too cold for us! Staff is very nice and helpful. Really enjoyed the ride. read more

Cruel to Horses. New owner leaves horses out in sub-zero weather with no shelter or blankets.

We went on a ride with beautiful views and healthy horses that were literally "bomb proof" meaning anyone can safely ride them and they are very responsive. The guide was super friendly and knowledgeable about the history of the area and she loves what she does! Yes I tipped her well as you should too:) So much fun and well worth the money and the trip. Be sure to follow the exact directions to the location. Well done ladies- I appreciate seeing the horses well fed and well cared for hooves. read more

Had a great time! Four of us went out on a last-minute trip. We had two guides with us because art of the group was out for two hours, and the four of us just went 90 minutes. We had a newer guide who said she'd known Ginger for years, and that Ginger takes better care of her horses than any tour company around. Her horses all seemed strong and healthy, and had plenty of room to romp around and enjoy themselves. We paid in cash before the rise started, and tipped the guide at the end. We all enjoyed ourselves and thought it was well worth it! We saw some really nice views that we wouldn't have been able to reach on foot (were not big hikers) and got to see a lot of old mines and ruins. Not a full history lesson or anything, but we had a great time. The aspen trees in July were absolutely breathtaking! read more

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8/4/21 ride The ride itself was fine and the horses were well trained. Our issue was with our guide Izzy. She was not friendly at all, and spent the entire time looking at her phone. Never spoke to us except a couple of times to give instructions, and once when we asked about the mine and historical building we saw. Had we not asked, she wouldn't have told us what those structures were. Very disappointing as we were expecting to learn something since it is called "historic trails." Then, at one point, her hat blew off of her head and she got off of her horse to retrieve it. Her horse walked away from her and when she caught up to the horse, she smacked it, causing her horse to trot a little further away from her. She ran right up behind her horse and it kicked at her. She was very rough and hollered at him. She didn't even speak to us when she was lining everyone up for pictures. She just jumped off of her horse and started pushing the horses into place. It was very obvious from the get go that she was annoyed and didn't want to be doing a guided ride. Sad and not a good reflection on this business. read more

Loved this experience. Ginger is so knowledgeable and is full of fun facts about the area. We did a two hour ride and it was the right amount - we got to see beautiful views of the mountains (Ginger explained what each one was), we rode past old gold mines and learned about mining in general, we went up and down lots of paths and even went off trail a bit to avoid a fallen tree. Overall very authentic and fun. Ginger knows what she's doing and will answer any question you have related to horses or about the area. I would highly recommend this experience! read more

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We payed online, called three times to confirm (it looked like it might rain) and the calls went to voicemail. We showed up and the property looked pretty sketchy. Two younger people around that looked us straight in the eye, didn't respond to us and then left in a hurry. Four dogs that ran wild (they were friendly in the end but still) and no person in sight. We waited a while and then left. Very sad that the business is run this way. Things happen, I get it, but at least communicate... would NOT recommend. read more

We had a fantastic experience. Our hosts were very accommodating and attentive to our children. The young lady that lead the tour was informative, helpful and had a great personality. Highly recommend!! read more

My boyfriend and I went on a two hour ride today with Barb. She was a great tour guide , very knowledgeable about the surroundings. The trail goes through some awesome aspen groves, we saw some really cool old mining sites and ruins. Amazing views even better with the fall colors at their peak. All the horses were very friendly and gentle. The only reason I gave 4 stars is because the cost for the 2 hour is a bit higher then some places, but i really wanted to go see the old mines and fall colors, so it was worth it! I highly recommend going while the colors are still in full bloom. read more

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We went for a girls day ride and had the best time! Ginger was ready for us when we arrived and we were on horses and riding within a few minutes! Our guide Leslie was wonderful. Shared lots of the areas history with us and helped us get to know the horses we were riding. We rode in the fall and the golden Aspen leaves were a beautiful sight on our ride! Looking forward to riding with them again! read more

I've been to other stables where the workers dick around for 30-45 min before we get on the trail. Not these guys. Quick overview on how to handle the horse (left, right, stop), up on the saddle, and off you go. Great trail, beautiful views. If you're coming up Virgina Canyon Rd, it is a dirt road the last part of the way, shortly past Bellevue Mtn Road. Skidded a bit and had to change over to AWD. It was a little tricky to figure out where to park, and where to head once you've parked, maybe could have had some signs up to better direct people. You'll park in a clearing on the left side, then walk back, cross the street to go in the fence where the horses are. Even with the elevation, it wasn't particularly cold on the ride itself, but at the stable, the St Mary's Wind off the glacier was biting. Gloves were the only thing I wished I had along. Other things to consider: - Sunglasses & sun protectant - Hat with drawstring to prevent it from blowing away - Face covering for dust (we went during Covid-19 so our masks did double-duty) - Windproof clothes that are ok to get dusty (dust washed off my clothes fine) - Lanyard case for phone so you don't have to worry about dropping it off the horse but keep handy for pics. (I got some on amazon meant for snorkeling) There are some great mountain and forest views. The wind was significantly less once we got on the trail and were in the forest. There was an old mine shaft and some miner's cabin ruins alongside the trail. A couple spots the trail was very tight between trails, to the point that trunks were brushing along my pants and I worried they'd tear (all was fine). Staff was fine, I didn't think anyone was rude. My horse was a little slow, maybe had already had several riders that day or something, but well-behaved. Our guide stopped us maybe 1/3 into the trail and had us change order of the horses, which I thought could've been done before we left the stable area. My horse stood behind another horse at one point and the guide told me to move, as if I should have already known that, but it wasn't mentioned prior to the ride nor had I heard any other horse-handling tips apart from left/right/stop. It was fine, didn't take it personally, just something I wish I had known before we started so I wouldn't have let it do that in the first place. Docked 1 star because of mount/dismount. Def a beginner, I've done trail rides 6-7 times before but am not skilled in mounting or dismounting by myself and I'm pretty short. They gave me a stool to get on by myself but getting off was left to my own devices and very intimidating. I ended up hoisting one leg over and then slid the rest of the way, which I don't think you're supposed to do. All in all... Very fun! read more

Beautiful day for a horseback ride today and my kids thoroughly enjoyed their first time riding a horse! That is the reason for 3 stars. I docked two stars because: 1. I paid for a 2 hour ride for my kids and me, which adds up fast expense wise, and we ended up finishing at the same time as people who paid for a 90 minute ride. Something about that doesn't make sense to me. They started at the same time we did, so either I got robbed out of a good amount of money, or these other people got a great deal. Either way, we got the short end of the stick there. 2. Our guide (Izzy I think was her name) was on her phone a majority of the time after the owner Ginger separated from our group. Not professional and definitely not safe to be looking at your phone for a good length of time while she's supposed to be safely leading me and my children. This was disappointing to see. That being said, the horses were great and so was the trail. read more

The owner Ginger is quite curt and honestly rude when someone didn't do exactly how she instructed to do-so. I would not return to this barn for that specific reason. She got upset multiple times over things she only explained minutes earlier. The trail was an in-and-out trail so it was a bit disappointing there wasn't new scenery on the way back. The horses did seem very well cared for though which was a plus. I would never give her my money again. read more

Brilliant ride at A&A Historical Trails with Ginger. We arrived early and Ginger called us over. The horses were all tacked up and ready to go. We did a two hour ride and got the most stunning and beautiful views over Colorado. We climbed over old mines, strolled through the forest and chatted happily for the whole time. The horses were great, we are experienced riders and my horse Jimmy had plenty of Go to keep me happy. We didn't do more than a few little trots but to be honest the views made you want to keep at a sedate pace and Ginger was relaxed and happy for us to do our own thing. Ginger obviously loves her horses and enjoys showing people her beautiful surroundings. There were total beginners in our groups too and they enjoyed the ride just as much as we did. Definite thumbs up! read more

A&a Historic Trails - On top of the mountain! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

FALSE ADVERTISING! First off let me start by saying that I grew up on the back of a horse and my husband started riding once he met me. We are experienced horse riders and enjoy riding when on vacation. We rode while on our honeymoon in Utah, it was unguided and amazing! I was expecting the same type of service from here; sadly it was a waste of our money. The place is advertised as a "stable", sorry but a shed in the middle of your lot is not a stable to me. I am not saying this really matters, but it was my first "sign" that we were going to regret this. Needless to say we found out that it was your typical dead head horses in a line walking down a trail with a guide. I was told on the phone that, "Well you can't ride unguided because you don't know my trails." So why do you advertise offering unguided rides?? We could have gone to the grocery store and rode a machine quarter horse to get the same experience. We get home and come to find out, the pictures she took of us were terrible, one having mostly her finger in the shot. Oh well, it's probably best we forget this experience anyways. Experienced horse people, stay away, this place left me angry that I wasted my money on such a lousy experience. read more

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE We arrived 40 minutes early and had plans to eat our lunch for 10 minutes and then walk up to the stable. However, we started eating and immediately got yelled at to come up to the stable. We walked up to the stable and were greeted by a very stressed out woman. She made us sign papers while she was giving us very hasty instructions on how to ride the horse. When we got up on the horse we started asking questions that weren't clear and she yelled very confusing instructions back to us impatiently. The entire ride she scolded us over and over and was talking very loud on her cell phone. We stopped at a graveyard, but never made it to the views of St Mary's Glacier or the old gold mine as described. In fact, our ride was not 90 minutes, but under an hour. We also never got the souvenir horse shoe. The horses were great, but our guide was horrible and rude, and probably were only on the horse for about 40-45 minutes because of the break. A ride that based on the description should have been relaxing and scenic, was unfortunately stressful because of our guide who I believe was the owner. read more

I didn't have time to catch the rude woman's name. I can assume from other reviews that her name is Ginger. My 8 year old daughter and I have been looking forward to this for weeks. We get lost a few minutes away, and arrive at 10:36. Which would put me at being 6 minutes late for my arriving 30 minutes early instructions. At 10:32 I get a text from them asking if Im nearby because her other riders are ready. The ride doesn't start till 11, so I'm immediately sensing some crazy. When I arrive she's extremely agitated, and quiet disrespectful. Literally making my daughter and I feel like we need to run. I paid for 2 horses, and she's trying to convince me that we will ride double. I finally look at her and ask "The ride starts at 11, right?" Yes. "Ok, I'm confused at your anger towards me, I was 6 minutes late to being 30 minutes early. She proceeds to tell me that it takes awhile to get everyone ready. We were the last ones and she actually embarrassed us by screaming to everyone that we are just waiting for them to hurry up. She gave my daughter the quickest, generic instruction, and sent us on our way. All of this happened in a matter of 5 minutes. It was a terrible was to start off my relaxing ride. We did not go by an old cemetary. The ride is definitely not as advertised. Our horses got super spooked by and ATV, and they got fiestly with each other often. Our actual tour guides were nice. Upon arrival I was hoping to get a picture with my daughter and I on our horses. Thats was completely out of the question. The end of the tour was just as stressful as the beginning. The guide jumps off and taught us all how to get off as we are approaching Ginger. She seemed very agitated again, and is rushing us off and out of there. I felt like I was being rushed off a ferris wheel. I ask our guide if she can at least take a picture of us standing with a horse. She now also seemed very stressed and she says "I have to get this horse to the next ride" and runs towards ginger. The vibe I got as I left was honestly disturbing. I wanted to go back in autumn because the trail is gorgeous, full of aspen trees. However, I would never give this woman my money again. I would have went even after reading bad reviews, they didn't seem too bad. I too almost watched a woman fall off her horse. Her saddle kept falling, and the guides made it feel like it was her doing it. I only get on yelp when I think something is incredible, or incredibly disappointing. I haven't felt that uncomfortable in a long time. DO NOT RECOMMEND! There are plenty of other places, that will treat you kind, and make sure your safe on their horses. The 1 star is strictly for the natural beauty of the ride which is also something you can get elsewhere. read more

My son and I had a great time. It's a little tricky to find, but Siri got me close, and her directions (from her website) got me the rest of the way. Ginger called me the day before to let me know that I-70 was going to be closed and gave me an alternate route. Great sites,and great guides. The horses are well mannered. I'd definitely use them again. read more

The best riding experience. We have done 3 other rides in Colorado. This was great. The owner was awesome. The views were amazing. Mountains, old mines, nature all were breathtaking. Best ride our family has had. read more

A&a Historic Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

We did a 3 hour ride with Barb and it was absolutely amazing! We got lucky with the weather which helped a lot. We were comfortable the entire time and even the next day was not sore at all. The views were incredible and Barb was a wonderful guide. I seriously recommend doing this! Such great value and a perfect date activity. Great spot for like a stay-cation to go on a long ride then stay in Central City CO. read more

After a white knuckle drive thru the back country we arrived at A&A stables. What a magnificent place. Ginger was awesome. The trail ride is fantastic. Ginger gives you a history lesson of the trail as you ride. The horses are mild mannered and sure footed. Worth every penny. My husband & my boys (6&9) had never been on a horse, Ginger gave great verbal cues the whole time. Anyone can enjoy the activity. read more

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My husband took our daughter here for their annual Daddy/Daughter trail ride. They usually go elsewhere, but thought they'd try this one. Staff was rude from the get-go. The young lady who was the guide spent most of the ride looking at her phone and rarely looking back to make sure all the riders were okay. She barely spoke to the riders at all. My daughter had been so excited and came back so disappointed. Avoid this place! read more

Would not recommend to a beginner. We had never been riding before and after very little instruction from Ginger we started our two hour ride. We felt very unequipped for the ride but thought it must be easy or normal to have so little preparations. During the ride, my horse got spooked by a truck on the road which was very scary and I didn't know what the best thing to do in that situation was. I understand that horses get spooked and it wasn't his fault but I felt very unprepared for the situation. It's not an entirely private trail so I understand stuff like this can happen but if the horses are easily spooked then these roads should be avoided entirely. My horse ran into the woods very quickly and luckily I was able to hold on until he calmed down. A few minutes later, my wife was on her horse and the saddle started to slip. Ginger came over and quickly adjusted it saying it was fine but then a little while later as the horse began to trot faster her saddle completely slid around the horse and she fell to the ground. It was very scary and Ginger said it wasn't my wife's fault and that for some reason the buckle came undone again. Once we made it back to our car, we decided to go and get my wife's arm looked at. Turns out, she has a broken elbow and several bruises on her side. Again, accidents happen and we know it's a risk to ride an animal, but we feel like there should've been more precautions in place to prevent things like this. Such as better training to a new rider, safety checks on the gear, secluded trails, and safety gear such as helmets. If my wife had hit her head on one of the rocks she landed on it could've been much worse. read more

Pretty basic/standard and the horses are your standard American Trail horses. But the weather made it a very enjoyable ride and there were some good views near the top of the hill. read more

What beautiful scenery and rich history this ride provides. Ginger is very energetic and knowledgeable. Her horses have quite the personalities and were a joy to ride. Honestly, can't beat the views!!! *Make sure to wear long pants and sturdy, closed-toe shoes. read more

A&a Historic Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

We were able to make a same day reservation, for 4 people, on a 3 hour ride. When we arrived Ginger quickly went through safety training with us. It was very quick, I think because we had all ridden before. They didn't have us sign any paperwork before our ride. We brought a backpack with snacks and water. We all felt that the last 45 minutes weren't worth the extra money. Ginger (the owner) wasn't exactly the nicest or most welcoming, but wasn't rude. Our guide Barbara was awesome and made the experience great. The trails were awesome with beautiful views and the cemetery was really cool. We all felt it was an "authentic" horseback riding experience. All in all it was a great ride and we will be back! read more

I always make sure to ride wherever I travel, and this was by far one of the best rides I've had! The guide- Barb was so sweet and knowledgeable about both the mines/tour and the horses. I was on one of the best trained horses and you can tell that they are well looked after and happy/friendly horses. Thats very important to me, I hate to see a stable that treats their horses like machines. Ignore the bad reviews, these people must be going out of their way to find anything they can to spread bad energy. Horses can sense that and riding is always a different and unique experience. There is nothing not to love about this trail, its gorgeous, chuck full of history and some of the best horses I've ridden on! I will definitely be back and cant wait to request the same horse! read more

Amazing time great views and JJ is the best horse around .... best choice in the area

Great ride, great horses. Ginger is friendly as is her granddaughter and friend Cathy. They were very accommodating and if they trust you they allow you unguided rides. Guided rides are a blast as well. Can rent horses for the day and as long as you prove that you have some skill they give you a bunch of freedom. Very affordable. Will and am going to go back. read more

If I could I would put NO STARS. Please rethink riding here. If you sign the release...you are on your own. Medical issues since 5/14/2014 and NO I'M SORRY no anything. No insurance and they don't have to have it in the state of CO. Just giving a heads up. read more

We loved our trail ride! First of all my 11 year old daughter has never been on a horse, Ginger, the owner had my daughter totally comfortable with controlling her horse within minutes! The views were beautiful! The horses are well cared for. No it's not a fancy barn, but you are not going there to be in a barn! I was a stable manager for many years in Missouri, I can say Ginger is the real thing. It was nice to have the owner of the horses be our trail guide, not some young kid doing a summer job. If you want a nice, fun, safe and truly authentic ride this is your place! Plus my daughter got to help hay the horses! She loved it! We will be back! read more

I took my 2 year old on her first ride here, double with me and we had a blast. The horses are very good, sure footed and calm. Miss Ginger is fabulous! She is very laid back and teaches you all about the area and the history of the gold mines. We even got to ride through an old mining building. Ginger took tons of pictures for me, as I had my hands full riding double. It was the best ride I have had yet in Colorado. Not a big crowd, calm and relaxed. The views are amazing from the trails of all the peaks and mountains. Great pictures. I can't wait to go back! Super easy drive from Denver. Great for the family, great for date nights. Fabulous prices to with great horses. read more

A&a Historic Trails - Horseback Riding Near Me - Central City, Colorado

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Very good experience. Three of us rode with guide (Barb). She was great from start to finish. We arrived 30 minutes early as requested and the horses were saddled up and ready. We signed in and left immediately. We took a two hour tour and had some beautiful views. Nothing negative at all to say. read more

We had a great time with Ginger last weekend going up for a ride. It was very casual and Ginger did a good job explaining how to ride the horse. She takes you up near the gold mines which are very interesting to see and even grabbed everyone's camera to make sure we got pictures. She didn't provide helmets so if you do want one, bring your own but it was such a calm nice ride, I felt comfortable without one. read more