awful customer service, on the morning of they pulled out saying " unable to organise" this being after multiple confirmations

Instructions to get to the ranch were very specific. Jacklyn was super nice and explained us everything before we got on the horse. It was also more of a theory lesson as we were first timers for trail horse riding. Once you sit on the horse you realize every single movement you make or don't make means something to the horse. Thanks to Jacklyn for helping us all the way along. The horse that I was on was fairly young and restless so kept wandering away or I wasn't able to control him. Jacklyn was kind enough to tow my horse all along the way. Since it was our first ride, we didn't venture very far away from the stable but did fairly steep ridges and mountains. My other two friends had calm more matured horses that were easy to manage. We loved the experience of bitless bridle horse riding and will definitely visit again if we are near Morongo valley. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

Our horse back ride with Jacklyn was the highlight of our trip! She is extremely gifted at teaching people with any level of riding experience how to feel comfortable on the ride. She is clear and direct on how to ride the horses in a way that puts you and them in a position of safety. Jacklyn noticed how comfortable I was on the ride and even let me lead on the way back which was wonderful. The views on our ride were absolutely breathtaking, and Jacklyn gave us a ton of information on the wildlife and nature in the area. It brings me a lot of gratitude knowing that supporting crazy horse ranch means supporting a horse rescue center. It is clear that she wants to give the horses under her possession the best possible lives. I already wish we could go back! read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

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It was not relaxing at all, she was very rude and not understanding to people's levels of riding. Seemed very rushed and not very professional, if your looking for a easy ride don't do this. Pls do research and find another better option. Seemed to think her way of riding was the only way. Even though we both had experience within the riding-and horse community. She demanded money upfront so we shoulda known it was wierd to begin with. She claims to teach natural horsemanship but hates on any other type of horse training or experience. Wouldn't let us use the stirrups or rains and made the environment very uncomfortable read more

Booked a last minute two-hour trail ride with Jacklyn. Jacklyn is professional and effective when it comes to communication. I am an equestrian myself and my friend who went along with me had her second horse ride. We both had a blast and learned so much from Jacklyn. She made sure my friend was comfortable and confident with her pony. She's wonderful at making her horses her priority (safety firsts, pony welfares first, then humans). She taught us so much about the geography, plants, and every living thing around us during our ride. Even though I had prior knowledge of horses, I learned so much from Jacklyn about her approach to the natural horsemanship. I cannot thank her enough for the good experience and energy she has brought to us. I can't wait to come here again and bring more of my non-horsie friends too! If you're ready to come out of your concrete shell and be present with nature, please do yourself a favor and book a ride with Jacklyn. read more

Honestly, I am reviewing this as a trail ride. Had this been a lesson on natural horsemanship guidelines, I very much would made this a higher rating. My husband and I were looking for a private trail ride in Palm Springs. Jaclyn sold us on this. She gave us a lengthy tutorial on natural horsemanship before we got on the trail. Unfortunately it did not stop there. We walked very slowly on the horse and we're given constant instruction on the horse (I have rode horses for 25 years). Our trail ride was only about 200 yards past her barn. Considering we paid 300 dollars for 1.5 hours, this was a little frustrating. If you are looking for a traditional trail ride in Palm Springs, this is not it. If you are looking for a lesson on natural horsemanship, Jaclyn is super passionate and I would recommend. read more

My wife and I usually ride a few times a year, and while visiting Joshua Tree a couple of years ago, decided to go on a trail ride with Jacklyn. While hardly great horse people, we at least have had SOME experience riding horses. I cannot tell you just how shabbily we were treated on the trail, and paid the most money we have ever paid for a 90 minute trail ride, to boot... Her horses are definitely wonderful, and easy to control after a few minutes of lessons on "natural horsemanship." We were interested in simply riding in the desert. While we did some of that, she insisted on teaching all sorts of things that we would never use again. How to run a horse in circles. What? Her attitude was one of disdain, and she could clearly care less about giving us a nice experience than spouting her world-views, which were anything but worldly. It was just SO unpleasant an experience. I've tucked it away for a couple of years, but decided to warn what wayward souls contemplating which trail ride to take. Unless you are John Freaking Wayne, I'd avoid this unpleasantness. I'm sure that there are trail rides to take from people worthy of your cold cash. I'm not sure if she was just having a bad day (I think not), but no need to put up with this. She cut the 90 minute ride short, which was okay by us, took us back, and then tried to hustle us for a "donation" for her horses. Plus, we had to tip her. Ugh! read more

Dear Reader, It will no doubt be difficult for you to square the bad reviews of Crazy Horse Ranch with the good ones. Believe me, I get it. It's almost like there are two Jacklyn's - one who is super friendly and professional and competent at teaching natural horsemanship, and another who is belligerent, mean, short-tempered, misanthropic, and a terrible teacher. If you choose to go, you'll be flipping that cowboy coin at your own risk. Sadly, we experienced the latter. She was gruff when we got there - fine, we get it, she had to prep the horses, etc., but I did have a bad feeling from the start. She demanded cash up front, plus a tip, so we handed her a giant wad of money for a one-and-a-half hour ride. Getting ready, she barked instructions, and I understand you have to be direct for the sake of expediency, but things devolved - deleteriously -- from there. She put us on a couple of horses who seemed... well... a bit tired, a bit dusty. We asked their ages. 36 years old and 31. (I was told by those in the know, later, that no horse older than about 16 should be sent out on such rides.) We are not experienced horse-people, but we are athletic, sturdy and coordinated, as well as animal lovers with some intuition, and with above-average acuity for learning new things. We reasonably assumed that forking over close to $600 was a pretty good exchange for receiving a decent lesson. We were wrong. She treated us like idiots, barked all manner of instructions at us in rapid fire, often contradicting herself. She made us repeat stupid mantras that didn't teach us anything about how to ride a horse, like: "Eyes, ears, nose, arms" - just nonsense. Jacklyn practices "natural" horsemanship, which means a lot of things, and which I surely appreciate, but for our purposes it meant we were not allowed to use the stirrups, which means you can't take any pressure off your body, not an easy thing for newbies. We were also not allowed to use the pommel to stabilize ourselves, for reasons she would not explain. She corrected us constantly about our form - Sit forward in the saddle! Sit your butt back in the saddle! Suck your stomach in! Look up and enjoy the view! Look where your horse is going! Don't look down! Don't lead it too hard! Lead harder! My head spinning until I'm afraid to do anything at all. She chewed us out for doing every damn little thing wrong to the point where we were afraid to do anything at all, thus increasing our stress and tension, thereby undermining any potential learning that might have transpired. Nothing organized about her teaching, let alone "natural". A gifted horsewoman she may very well be, but a gifted teacher she is not. One got the sense she resents people for being new to this; if so, perhaps she should not offer her services to beginners? Just a thought. If you tried to ask a question, she shut you down, yelled at you for interrupting her. It almost felt like she was messing with us, but she seemed so unstable, erratic, annoyed, and impatient that we kind of didn't know what to do, so we just gritted our teeth, fake-smiled for the blurry photos she took --(she would not let us bring our phones, even secured in a fanny pack) -- and bore it. Jacklyn might very well be in possession of equine mastery - and may the horse gods bless her for taking care of those beautiful beasts -- but she has no people skills whatsoever, at least none that we could detect. We are relatively thick-skinned individuals, but she was so disagreeable and belligerent that there was no way we could enjoy this ride. We walked (never even got to a half-trot, probably because the horses were so old) around her property. Sometimes she'd point to something in the distance and then berate us for looking in the wrong direction. Did I mention the berating? Lots of that. I guess we paid a premium for the Extra Masochistic Horse Lesson. Or she'd point at a plant and say: That's yucca. Like we were just born into the world and have absolutely no idea what common plants are named? We could have been Professors of High Desert Botany for all she knew, but she made no attempts at conversation. It was clear she was operating on the assumption that we were dumber than dirt. She also fell off her horse. No comment. In retrospect, we now find all of this perfectly hilarious, so bad it was almost good. Not that Jacklyn showed any sense of humor about it. A total bust; an expensive, super weird, but unforgettable bust. Lest you suspect this might be an exaggerated account, well, dear reader, this is the toned-down version. I have a more to add, but it would be in poor taste. Again, I don't know what to tell you about the split-personality reviews of Crazy Horse Ranch (might a clue lie in the name?): Some people have a great experience, and some have a total shit experience. I take it both are true, and have theories about why that is, but alas, I cannot tell you with any certainty which you will encounter. read more

The worst experience! Do not waste your money or time at this place as jacklyn is the rudest person ever, my nephew and niece went here today for my nieces bday and she treated them like shit, she better give a full refund as well or we will be up there to make sure she does!! How dare you belittle kids ?!!!!! What kind of business person are you ?! OBVIOUSLY not a good one and If you don't change your ways I'm sure your horrible business is going to fall to the ground, as it should with your disrespectful ass mouth !! DONT WASTE YOUr money folks, oh and to add.. she made sure to tell them how much it is and stated you have to add a tip and stared them down as he was trying to pay! Wtf, you made them have a horrible experience, and seeing all the other bad reviews I'm not freaking surprised! read more

The owner was very knowledgeable and kind to the customers. We came to the ranch as beginners and learned so much not just about horse riding, but horses itself. Price was also very reasonable, we really like the trail she chosen to take us. I would definitely return and recommend people to the ranch. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

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Booked my very first horseback ride with my boyfriend via Jacklyn with her horses Trooper and Hunter. Had to say it was a wonderful experience. We booked the 1hr trail ride. The ranch was a bit hard to find, but just FOLLOW the directions on the website exactly and you'll eventually get there :) Road up is a bit rough, so I would suggest to leave earlier and prepare to dirty your car. Jacklyn was very knowledgable with the animals and overall experience with first time riders. I'd have to say, it's very nice of her to have this rescue ranch for animals in need. The dogs and horses are incredibly gentle and friendly animals. The trail was nice with some amazing views of the mountains. We'll definitely pay another visit and do this again, but probably with the longer ride where we can go see the creeks that Jacklyn mentioned. I do recommend putting on bug spray before you go, I lost count of my bug bites and my bf caught a tick drawing blood from him. So wear jeans and be somewhat covered. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

We had such a great time with Jacklyn at Crazy Horse Ranch. We are beginners and Jacklyn taught us the ropes (literally). We learned about good horsemanship and how to respect and be in tune with your horse. Thanks Crazy Horse! read more

My friend and I went to Palm Springs 2/10/12 to celebrate my 44th Birthday, while there we decided to go Horseback riding. This experience without saying put Icing on the cake. If by chance your are driving trough Morongo Valley you must stop by Crazy Horse Ranch and take a ride on one of Jackie's Beautiful Horses, the 1 hour tour was amazing Jackie sure knows her history, looking forward to next year. See you soon Steadson (My Horse I rode on) and Jackie Lisa H. read more

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Jaclyn teaches Natural Horsemanship, which inspired me to learn more about the topic after a ride. I have returned for rides a few times with friends. Since then I have started learning from another practitioner of NH, and I'm hooked. The rides at Crazy Horse Ranch are beautiful and educational. Be ready to have an open mind and learn about the horses and another way of riding--you might find yourself transformed. My friends that aren't "horse people" (as I am) were blown away by their experience learning how to handle a horse. She does an excellent job of assessing skill level and tailoring your time appropriately. read more

We were camping at Joshua Tree, and were interested in horseback riding and thought we'd check out crazy horse ranch. Jaqueline was very welcoming and patient, and an excellent instructor. We enjoyed learning about her ranch and the horses, who were very tamed and clearly well trained. Jaqueline was very knowledgeable about the landscape and she enjoys sharing that information. She took wonderful pictures, pricing was reasonable, and we even got some local organic eggs! Tip: if you are camping in Joshua Tree, the ranch is about an hour away, but totally worth the drive! 5 star experience. read more

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We came to visit Palm Springs for Thanksgiving break and booked a ride with Jacklyn for my 6 year old daughter and our family which included my husband, myself and my 2 year old son. Jacklyn runs her entire ranch on her own and it is absolutely serene and beautiful. Jacklyn truly loves her horses and really taught us to appreciate these animals and treat them the way they should be treated. Her horses were such good listeners and so gentle with us. We took a guided tour around the ranch and went nice and slow considering we had such small children. It was a day well spent and memories we will never forget as we are city people and have never had an experience like this before. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

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Me and my husband decided to tried horse back trail for the first time at our first anniversary and we are glad we choose Crazy Ranch, Jacklyn had a tight schedule but still found a slot to fit us in, me being little nervous she helped me in getting calm, and gave perfect tips to ride a horse. I would definitely recommend this place read more

I rarely write reviews but I feel people should be warned about the owner. The other one star reviews are unfortunately well deserved. Jacklyn will cancel your reservation without notifying you for no real reason. I called prior to my reservation to inquire about rain and was told all rides would be cancelled if it was raining. Luckily the forecast changed and it was not raining on the morning of my reservation, nor was it predicted to (and true to the forecast, it never did). I called a few times before arrival but no answer. After I arrived she finally called back saying that she cancelled our reservation and that she had told me this. But.....she NEVER contacted me to tell me this. Not a text, not a phone call, nothing. When I pointed this out and the fact that it wasn't raining, she added on the excuse she wasn't feeling well. Rude, inconsiderate, unprofessional. There are other horse ranches in the area, avoid this one. read more

My boyfriend and I were visiting the area for vacation from the city and decided to go on a horse trail ride at Crazy Horse Ranch and it was everything we hoped for! Jacklyn knows everything there is about horses and is an amazing teacher! She made us feel comfortable right away and helped us get to know the horses! They are all so sweet and calm! She makes sure you're having a good time and that your safe as well! The trail we rode on was breathtakingly beautiful and she really takes her time so you can enjoy the scenery! I loved learning about the area and about the animals/plants. This is the perfect thing to do for all levels of riders! Whether you're a beginner or experienced it's an experience of a lifetime and I definitely recommend coming here! You really get your money's worth! And it's not pricey... at all! We definitely will be back again! read more

Our group went on a 1.5 hr ride over the July 4 weekend -- we had an incredible time, and it was everything you would want from a desert horseback riding experience. Jacklyn's ranch and surrounding area is beautiful, and I can hardly imagine a better way to spend a morning near Joshua Tree. Jacklyn was a fantastic leader with a ton of experience, gave us great direction, and helped instill confidence in us while making sure we understood the realities of horseback riding. (We were all essentially beginners). We would definitely come back, and I'd recommend Crazy Horse Ranch to anyone look for an excellent horse riding experience near Joshua Tree. read more

My girlfriend and I had a great first experience with the beginner trail ride. The owner, Jacklyn, did an amazing job of easing us into the world of horse riding. The tour was well organized and the horses were highly trained for new riders. Overall, I would recommend this tour to anyone interested in a few practical lessons in natural horsemanship and getting a few great pictures in the process! read more

The four of us were in Sky Valley for the weekend, and we decided to go on a trail ride that afternoon. I checked Yelp and found that Crazy Horse Ranch has the highest 'trail ride' ratings in the area, so I called to see if we could get out on a ride that same day, and to check on pricing. Owner Jacklyn took our reservation, and patiently answered all my questions. The price seemed reasonable, and was actually less than we expected. I was instantly comfortable with her, and knew we had made the right choice. Fortunately for our group, I took Jacklyn's advice and followed the written directions on the website (apparently some GPS systems can't find the place), so we arrived on time, and Jacklyn was ready for us. She spent time introducing us to the horses, going over trail ride basics and answering our questions. We noticed instantly that she has a very good way with her horses - she is respectful and gentle, yet at the same time completely in control. Then, we headed out onto the trail. The horses were very well behaved but not 'old and washed up', the scenery was truly outstanding, and Jacklyn was an interesting and engaging guide. We had a great time on the ride and could not have asked for more - the ride was perfect in every way. We absolutely plan to go back to Crazy Horse Ranch! read more

This review is a little late, but I had the most AMAZING time here. Jackie has so much knowledge about horses it amazed me. She's brilliant! Her connection with the animals was beyond impressive, and she is an incredible teacher. She took my friend and me for a ride last minute at sunset and we learned so much. I was in love with her pack of german shepherds and how they rode with us on the trail. It was an experience I will never forget and plan to come back again. read more

This was my first time visiting Joshua Tree and I wanted to make the trip extra memorable. It'd been years since I'd been on a horse and thought it'd be fun to finish off my desert journey with a little horseback riding action. My boyfriend and I could not have asked for a better way to end our weekend! Jaclyn is an incredibly resourceful instructor and offers a plethora of knowledge with respect to technique and horsemanship; she's also wonderfully intuitive and knows how to put your mind (and body) at ease whilst riding a 1200 lb animal for the first time in over 15 years! If you're out in or near Joshua Tree and fancy a lil umph to your experience, this is definitely worth checking out :) read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Riding through the desert! What an incredible experience :) - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

My friend and I were in Joshua Tree for a few days and were hankering for some horseback riding -- albeit, neither of us had any real riding experience. While at the Joshua Tree Saloon, a patron referred us to Crazy Horse Ranch without reticence. All I can say is "awesome." Jacklyn took us through the valley over the course of two hours after spending around 30 minutes with us going over proper riding techniques and giving us the chance to get to know our horses a bit. I will definitely be back to further my experience and will most likely take private riding lessons during one of my extended trips into the desert. Another thing to note is that Jacklyn rescues some of her horses -- great that I could contribute to a cause as well as experience a breathtaking ride. read more

My husband surprised me with a horseback ride for part of our 1st Anniversary. Jacklyn was a great guide. She explained her non-submissive technique in training and riding the horses in great detail before we even got on the horse. As we went on our hour long ride we learned a lot about the horses, her ranch, the local vegetation....the only downside is that it went by so fast. I could see us going back again and even bringing friends along for one of their BBQ and/or sunset rides. Even though it was quite a distance from Orange County we managed to get there in about an hour and a half. It was easy to find using the directions on the website. read more

We had an amazing ride this morning. Yesterday there was a terrible wind storm so we were worried the conditions may not be great but We woke up to great weather....no winds! A beautiful safe ride....we learned so much about the land. Highly recommend this ride to experienced or beginner riders! Thank you Jacklyn! We will be back! read more

really wonderful experience.. I went with 3 other friends. We were lost on our way there and asked a car passing by, who just finished their session with Jacklyn and drove right out from the ranch. They gave us thumbs up about their experience.. I knew this was a good place.. It was beginning of May and the weather could not be better, Cool breeze on a sunny day.. Jacklyn was very friendly with superb knowledge about horses.. My friends and I were first riders and she made sure we understand our body positions, rein controls and feet positions on hills before situated us on the horses.. We all had a wonderful time in the trail ride.. relaxing and very pleasant.. read more

I love this place, its so pretty and clean. The horse seems so peaceful and Jacklyn though me a other way to ride horses. Amazing experience, I recommend it and will go back for sure read more

What an incredible experience. I was looking for a tranquil horse back riding experience near the Joshua Tree and Crazy Horse Ranch was the perfect place. Jacklyn lead the tour and was everything you'd want from the lead on your journey. She gives you all the knowledge you need to feel confident on the horse. We spent about 1.5 hours on the trail and it was some of the most peaceful and serene landscape I've seen in years. She is extremely knowledgable about the land and educates you on the plants and their medicinal use and the desert history. I had such an amazing experience and would highly recommend Crazy Horse Ranch to all my friends and family... and to you! read more

J. Was a great host and your guide. She was super knowledgable and shared her experience with us. ...I believe this should be expected in any business. What caught me off guard was that she took the time to care about her product and her clients. Her trails were nice and information was great. We were happy to learn about horse riding instead of just being another person rushed through the assembly line of riders like other places. If you like to travel off the beaten path and have interaction with people instead of just going through the motions, I'd highly recommend crazy horse ranch for a trail ride. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Great views in a smooth trail - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

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An easy drive north from Palm Springs before reaching Joshua Tree lies this hidden gem. Run by Jacklyn, a fantastic horse trainer and first-rate guide, it was clear that the owner puts a ton of work into her ranch and places the welfare of her animals as a top priority. There are farm animals of all sorts to view on the grounds and picture taking is welcome. I surprised my girlfriend and parents by reserving a private canyon trail tour, which typically runs 1-2 hours at a fair hourly rate. The trail winds through ranch grounds out into the adjacent wilderness and offers an experience well worth the price of admission. Growing up in Southern CA, there's really nothing like it in the area and I can't say enough good things about this place. A must for couples, family trips, or any individuals looking for an adventure and a chance to experience horse riding in an idyllic Western setting. You won't regret it! Tip: The best place to experience the same natural desert beauty seen in Joshua Tree just up the way, but on horseback. read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Canyon Trail Ride with Jacklyn at the helm. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

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Man this place is gorgeous. The owner definitely loves these animals more than life itself & you can definitely see it. All the animals are very well trained & so very loving. My horse, Patty, was very beautiful as well as my boyfriends, Webster. You can definitely bet we will be coming back. Love it. read more

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I haven't been on a horse in years ! But I was super excited to go Jaclyn and her beautiful horses. She was very informative.our reservation was for 730 so when we went on the trails the sun was just setting and everything was just this stunning purple color. Her horses were beautiful and her amazing white shepards as well. I definitely will be checking back with her when I visit again. I will recommend her place to everyone ! Thank you again ! read more

Crazy Horse Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Morongo Valley, California

My boyfriend and I recently went on a trail ride with Jacklyn, and we have so many positive things to say about our experience! Upon arrival we were greeted by eight or more rescue dogs, all incredibly sweet and excited to see us guests. They came along with us on our ride, and provided extra entertainment as they so happily trotted alongside us. The horses we rode were very sweet and would be great for a first time rider. Jacklyn offered to take several pictures of us throughout the ride so we had memory of the experience, and provided them for us without any extra charge (unlike many other ranches). We cannot recommend Crazy Horse Ranch enough! read more

My daughter and I had an amazing day with Jacklyn guiding us. We learned a lot about horses and horsemanship. Jacklyn is extremely knowledgeable and cares deeply about her horses. The pack of dogs were a treat to watch. They were a great company for our ride. Thanks so much Jacklyn!! read more

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What an awesome experience, jacklyn was an awesome instructor with all the knowledge you need to know. We were a party of 5, 3 10yr olds and 2 adults all first timers. Jacklyn instructed us as needed and simplified our journey. We also got yo learn about all the medicine plants that were on the premises. If you are in the area I highly recommend Jacqueline as an instructor for horseback riding. We will be back read more

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We stayed at Jacklyn's place for one night through Airbnb. We took a one hour riding lesson with her and had a great experience. She taught us a natural, humane way of working with horses. On top of that, we rode through the beautiful desert. We were escorted by her pack of German Shepards which made the ride all the more special. read more

We were on a family vacation, and my wife booked a half day horseback trail ride for the four of us. I have very limited experience on a horse, my son and wife or intermediate riders, and my daughter is an advanced rider. We had a wonderful time on the trails with Jacklyn--it was perfect for all four of us. The terrain was beautiful the seven dogs that accompanied us added to the experience and the instruction. Jacklyn uses a natural approach that made us understand the horses we were riding. The fact that most of the 30 horses she cares for are rescues added to the experience. Highly recommend! read more

My daughters surprised me with an afternoon horseback ride as part of my 60th birthday weekend in the Palm Springs area. When we arrived we were greeted by a no-nonsense horsewoman who made it her mission that we were to have a safe and enjoyable ride. Rather than throw us up on broken-down nags, we were assigned well-kept horses, many of which the ranch had rescued!. Jackie took the time to go over basic horseback riding, with training both on and off the horse. She spent time with each of us individually, making sure we understood everything she was trying to teach us. She fit us to our mounts, adjusting the harnesses and stirrups best fit us and the horses (she made adjustment during the ride as necessary too.) During the ride, Jackie stopped a few times pointing out various points of interest in the valley and talking about the geography and the plant and animal life. This made for an interesting ride that ended all too soon. I have been horseback riding as parts of a vacation in the past but it was never as enjoyable as it was this time. I would highly recommend spending an afternoon (or longer) riding out of the Crazy Horse Ranch. read more