Incredibly peaceful and affordable place to come and visit…read more For literally 23 years my family went to this ranch until it was sold to the current owners. We missed it so much that we decided to come back and visit, and we were not disappointed! There have been a few much needed changes and we couldn't be happier with how it turned out. I created a video that should show you just a taste of what it's like to visit. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpJCNIGGHb8

I had stayed here 3 years ago when it was known as Highland Ranch, and had an exceptional…read moreexperience back then. When I booked a couple of nights at the now Blackbird Farms for this month, I was hoping that it would be the way I remembered it. I was not disappointed! We came for the horseback riding and were pleased to ride well-trained horses that were clearly well cared for. All the meals were delicious and fresh, as BF now grows all their own vegetables and fruits, and they purchase meat from local sources. The cabins were freshened up with some paint and A/C. A wonderful place to go for a little R & R.

My boyfriend surprised me for my birthday by taking us to Sonoma for the weekend. The highlight was…read morewaking up Sunday morning for a horseback ride with one of the most beautiful views. Our guide was wonderful and friendly, the horses were absolute gems, and overall this is one of the best trail ride experiences I've ever had. Getting the mountains, water, and some redwoods was fantastic! We were fortunate to be in a small group (us and two others). It made the ride feel more intimate. I rode El Negro and highly recommend. His gait is smooth! (He is a walking horse after all). My boyfriend rode Leslie who was a bit slow and liked to trail at the back but sure footed and a sweetheart. We ended the ride with a glass of wine overlooking the lake. This space is often use for weddings as well and I can absolutely see the appeal! I would love to go back some day!!

Yes, I 100% called this ranch and did not dial the wrong phone number, but thanks for the lies and…read moreexcuses. Clearly their customer service is non existent responding half a year later, don't waste your time or money here!!!

My boyfriend and I just went on a beach ride with Tobi from Ross Ranch. It was a great experience…read more Her instructions prior to riding were spot on. Nice, reasonable sized group. I think there were 8 of us including Tobi. The ride was 90 minutes, mostly on the beach. It took about 15 minutes to get down and back from the beach. The horses seemed well cared for and were very responsive. Tobi knows her horses well and placed them so that they were with their buddies, so there were no "horsey" arguments. I would definitely choose to have this experience again.

So much fun! Went on the beach ride near our Airbnb. Feel comfortable with my 10-year-old going on…read morehorses for the first time, they did great. The ride was beautiful, even though it was a little bit overcast and foggy. A very special and fun memory for our family. We still talk about Buddy, Rock, Pepper & Tank!!

This was my first time horseback riding, and it was my birthday. They were friendly and extremely…read morehelpful and made me seem like I was a pro with their teaching. Highly recommend this establishment for anyone, especially beginners looking to experience horseback riding. If I'm ever in the area, definitely gonna try again.

We took the one hour beach ride and it was great. The horses were well behaved - absolutely no…read moreproblems. The guide, Azalea, was friendly & patient. The 5 of us were all horse people during our lives ranging from 10 years ago to a few days ago. Azalea was nice and didn't laugh at our old bones climbing up on the horses. I had Walter and he was a good boy. The gentleman that I spoke with on the phone, Russ, before making our reservation was understanding with my questions ie. "I'm old, do you have a mounting block?" I would go to Ricochet Ranch again, for a longer ride next time. Highly recommended!

Amazing opportunity to ride in a beautiful setting. They offer lessons ther teach equine…read moremaintenance respect and ridership. Floriane the manager has done a lovely job at turning this facility y around. Good variety of options/levels and skilled trainer. Am Mm

Floriane is amazing! I've worked with a few other riding instructors in the past, and I can…read moreconfidently say that her teaching style is truly one of a kind. She dives deep into the fundamentals of riding, even introducing off-the-horse work that focuses on the rider's strength, balance, and body awareness. What I also love about her teaching style is that she doesn't just tell you what to do, but also takes the time to explain how to do it and why it matters which really helps you understand each element of riding. Above all, she genuinely cares about the horses and always puts their well-being at the center of every lesson.

My son and niece had the best week last week at A-1 Horse Programs at Owen Ranch in Middletown…read more Helen, the ranch owner, and the instructor knew what each kid needed to be successful in their horsemanship journey, whether it was confidence, courage, encouragement, discipline, etc, she was there to provide what each kid needed to succeed. I was so impressed with her innate ability to understand the needs of the kids and provide what was needed at the moment to get the best results. It was really hot while we were there, like triple digits hot! The kids were hot and tired after each day, but they were still excited about camp and eager to go back each morning. Helen and her assistant Sam were good about keeping an eye on the kids and cooling them down frequently with a hose down, which the kids loved, lol. The kids also absolutely adored their horses. Both horses were very sweet and gentle. The kids loved rewarding their horses at the end of each day with an apple. From day one the kids were hands-on learning how to properly care for their horse and prepare it for a ride. On the very first day they learned how to securely tie it to a post when not being ridden and not in a pen, they learned how to harness and lead their horse out of the pen, they learned how to brush their horse before saddling, they learned how to bridle and saddle their horses. They learned how to walk their horses to warm them up before a ride, they learned how to properly hose a hot horse down to cool it down after a ride in hot temps. They did all that and still had some arena time so that they were also able to learn how to properly control their horse. Day 2 they did all their horse prep and care then had some arena time to strengthen riding skills and then they were off for a trail ride that was about an hour long. The rest of the week was about the same with the kids in the saddle a good 2 hours each day. On the 4th day they learned how to wash the horses and the last day was dedicated to a show the kids put on for the parents to show how well they had learned to direct their horses. On his first day my son was slouching in his saddle and saying he couldn't do a lot of what was asked of him. By mid-week his riding posture was greatly improved and Helen had him saying "I can, instead of I can't" She told him if he could control a 1000 lb horse at just 7 years old, he could do anything! I hope he remembers that forever! He was even excited to carry his horse's rather heavy saddle by himself by the end of the week because he knew he could do anything. Thank you Helen for the best week we had all summer, we will be back.

This place exceeded our expectations! Our non-equestrian family had an amazing time at the ranch…read more Helen was a patient, well versed trainer. She welcomed us to play with the goats while she saddled the horses. She matched us perfectly with the horses, from my 6'4" husband, my 60+ yr old mother, and my elementary age children. She was great with instruction and safety, and the trail ride, which included a walk through the running water was an hour perfectly spent. She even took photos that she shared with us at the end of the experience. Incredible customer service. Absolutely worth every penny!

Cloverleaf Ranch is a magical place! Our nine-year-old just returned from his second year of…read moresleep-away camp (He attended the day camp when he was younger.) and he has so many positive things to say. The counselors were fun and supportive. The activities were engaging. Thomas loved the food. This year he encouraged a friend from school to join him. That boy had a great time, and they both made new friends too. Thomas came back with greater confidence and displaying more independence too. We can't wait to get back the pictures he took with his disposable camera! What I love best, besides hearing the stories about him getting up early to care for the horses that he once found intimidating, was the call we received from Dawn mid-week. We weren't worried. We've had great experiences at Cloverleaf. We know the ratios of campers to counselors allows for attentive care. Still, the mid-week phone call telling us how his week was going just reinforced how much the staff really cares. For this reason, Cloverleaf will continue to be a Cremidis family tradition for many years to come. Next year, little brother will be old enough for residential camp and he's already making plans for how he'll spend his time.

I feel like parents should know the teen leaders they employ are from some summer study abroad…read more program and are boys sent here from other countries (New Zealand, Australia, etc.) and they aren't allowed to disclose their names (my daughter's camp leader was named "Cobra"). I didn't feel comfortable with this arrangement and am glad I didn't sign my daughter up for sleep-away camp. She enjoyed the day camp but the staff seemed more concerned with protecting themselves rather than allowing parents to protect their children. I was expecting some nice local horse riding girls to mentor her and instead had to leave her with boys who wouldn't tell me their names. She won't be back.

We had a great horseback riding experience! Things went pretty smoothly with booking (we called to…read morereserve), parking, and even adjusting when we were running late. My partner and I did a private Eagle View ride, and on our horseback riding hike, a couple of the staff members chatted with us while guiding us along the trail. My partner was hoping that they'd share a little more about horses or the trail, but I didn't mind so much. The staff also helped us take photos. When we got back, the staff let us hang out with the other horses past our hour, and I think we stayed for another 20 minutes brushing horse manes and taking pictures.

To my travel crew's either excitement or dismay, I always insist on a horseback ride while on…read morevacation. I understand it can be challenging for trail groups when there's a mixed group like ours - one advanced, some intermediate, and the rest beginners - but Five Brooks made it so every single one of us had an enjoyable time! We chose the Salmon Creek 1.5 hour ride and had a blast with our guide, Jay. I was a little disappointed that we didn't get that close to the creek as I thought we would from other reviews and the description on the website, but maybe it was due to our group size (7 + guide) or our mixed levels of experience. We did get a few opportunities to trot, and the sights were gorgeous. I may have fallen in love with my horse, Cody, a beautiful palomino (which is saying something because I have a palomino of my own at home) but he was so responsive that I really enjoyed riding him. I have family in the area, so I'm already trying to plan my next trip so I can go ride with this group again!