I promised my wife (then fiancee) almost 11 years ago that I would take her horseback riding. Life's buisyness and then kids prevented it from happening until Thanksgiving weekend 2011. We decided to go horseback riding on a whim as we saw the advertisement in the Manchester Beach KOA campground map. Making reservations over the phone was a snap and we had our choice of a ride through the woods or on the beach. We chose the woods. A short windy ride up into the coastal mountain range and we were there. Ali was our guide and she was great. Very patient with all of us and excellent at getting my 6 year old son used to being on and controlling his horse. The ride through the redwoods was beautiful, especially with the clouds licking the top of the mountain ranges. Two hours on a horse was plenty long enough for us novices and we all had a blast. An experience we will likely never forget. I definitely recommend Ross Ranch if you want to go for a great ride in the Manchester Beach / Elk area. read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Great morning! The trail guides were two very friendly women, the horses looked well cared for, the beach is spectacular, and the ride is good fun. read more

Ross Ranch - Morning trail ride on the beach - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

My family and I had the best time! Tobi was wonderful tour guide and offered to take our picture. Perfect for beginners and even someone with no experience. So fun and a great value! read more

Ross Ranch - Horse - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Tobi, You gave my Family And I a GREAT Time.You and your Family of Equestrian Friends are so Kind and accommodating you made this a truly memorable experience. The way you took such good care of our Granddaughter was so important and heartwarming to us all!! Thanks for allowing me to wear my Hat for the pictures. Will be back again for sure! FIVE STARS PLUS!!! read more

Ross Ranch delivered a great experience. Their horses are healthy and in great shape, the owners know their stuff and made it a fantastic ride along the beach. I've owned horses and done several trail rides, this was by far the best horse rental experience I've ever had. read more

Soooooo much fun!! Mother & daughter guides made everything so special. I would recommend to everyone!! Horses were wonderful & very very well cared for. We did beach ride and I can't even find words to describe our ride!!!!! Thank you for everything!! read more

Fantastic horse ride on the beach. The horses are so well trained and easy to ride. Very unique way to see the ocean beach from a horse.

I had a wonderful time riding on the beach. It was cold and drizzly, but I came prepared. I had one of the beautiful older horses & he did well. I always loved horseback riding, especially on the beach. I was excited to see a seal trying to quickly get out of our way. In the Mendocino area, it's a bit different because you have to go down some steep hills to get to the beach. I was a bit worried because my horse was close to the edge, but the horses know what to do. Tobi, the owner who rode with us, was very friendly, kind & accommodating when I had to make a change. I believe she's taking good care of the horses because none of them looked frail or worn out as I've seen at other places. Be prepared for a long, windy road to get there, but it was worth it. read more

Had an amazing ride on Tank. Beautiful coastline and she knows her horses well. If you are a beginner listen to her instructions you are riding living breathing animals and those instructions keep you safe. You can decline wearing a helmet, which I don't recommend for safety reasons. That said, I highly recommend the ride is totally worth it. read more

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We had a wonderful experience riding on the beach with Ross Ranch last week. I hadn't dressed us warm enough, it was a cold and foggy morning, but they had extra jackets they loaned us which made all the difference. The horses knew the drill and we're easy to manage even though we were inexperienced riders. The view on the private beach was gorgeous! The kids will be talking about this memory for years to come. read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Ross Ranch is amazing! Tobi and her daughter really take the time to make your ride safe and fun. The horses are calm and very friendly. Tobi also took the time to make it special for my fiancé and I while I proposed to him. I would totally recommend Ross Ranch to anyone! P.s. The prices are totally amazing! $60 for a 2 hour beach ride is a great price! read more

Overall experience of riding horses on the beach was fantastic. The weather was perfect. Booking was a breeze (via text) and you pay after the ride via cash or credit card. The women running are sweet. The reason to cut two stars were: (1) they separated our family and I was given the slowest horse (Caddy, don't get him if you like to be with the crowd and not just lug behind) and I wasn't allowed to go with the group even when there was enough space on the beach .. it was pretty boring to just go last while my family was pretty upfront (2) wish there was some guiding and talking by the ladies, some history or even chit chat, they probably were doing with some other group in front but definitely not with all the people (3) wish they let us speed a bit , it was all super slow, simple rides. While we have only been on horse back rides 2-3 times before, we have had more exciting rides earlier (4) one of us did not even get a horse, we got one mule! (5) it's advertised as 2 hour tour but we were on the horse maybe about 1 hr 15 min. Door to door with payment, instructions etc was 1 hour 45 min. All in all, nice experience but could've been much better read more

An amazing experience riding on the beach through a downhill trail. Horses are well trained and the guide is nice and communicates clearly. Highly recommended. read more

Went there on our visit to Mendocino and loved it. The hosts were very sweet and welcoming and the horses were well trained. We did the beach ride and it was totally worth it. Would definitely try the forrest ride next time I am around! Must visit! read more

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This is a must! Tobi and Allie were the guides and I did the beach ride. I will book with them again to do their forest trail ride. They were very friendly and helpful. Great communication and made me feel at ease and safe. My horse was named Tonto. It's well worth the money. I highly recommend for a solo, couple, or family ride. I went solo to check riding horses on the beach off my bucket list. It's clear they take great care of their horses and their guests. This was the highlight of my trip. read more

Ross Ranch - Love Tonto the horse! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

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Awesome experience!! Great views and good fun! Horse was catered to my riding experience and was great! Tank is very precious! But on the way here, I drove to the address that the Tobi gave us, but we ended up to the forest ranch. It was a bit of a hassle and it was stressful, but we found the place after all. The price is ok, $60 for a 1.5 hour Oceanside ride. Would recommend. In general I had a great time! read more

Ross Ranch - Tank and I - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

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Loved the beach guide and loved the horses. Communication was clear and directions were easy when we booked. The ride was gorgeous and very relaxing. Would highly recommend this place over others we have tried in the past. read more

This was such a fun experience! Tobi and the horses were all sweet and the ocean ride was really beautiful! We got to see some sea animals in their habitat and the ocean sounds were so relaxing. The horses were all in great shape and Tobi was an excellent guide! Will definitely come back next time I'm in the area! Thank you very much! read more

My wife and I really enjoyed this beach ride, and our guide Tobi was just great. Thanks again for your assistance and patience.

My wife and I had a great time. Tobi was our guide. She gave us and another couple with two young daughters an amazing beach ride experience. All the horses are beautiful and well trained. Tobi was on the spot, very observant and gave direction to everyone on the fly to make sure we all were properly positioned on the horses, guiding them correctly and staying safe! (the horses know what to do and they pretty much take you for the ride). I had the pleasure to ride Gus. What a great horse! Keep in mind people, there is no trotting or running the horses. It is a walk on the beach. Not just for your safety but the horses as well. Great experience!! Enjoy it!! read more

Tobi was great! Bruce and I rode with her the day after Christmas. The weather was a bit cold and windy ... but she made the effort to bring down 3 horses for us all to ride. We had a great time and thank her for the extra effort she made to confirm this reservation. Happy New Year Tobi and thanks again. read more

I was a bit apprehensive of what I would get after reading the reviews on yelp but Ross Ranch really impressed me! Tobi and I had been in communication about our reservation and we had confirmed the week before. I called her the day before our ride and asked if we would be able to move it to a later time the same day. Tobi accommodated us and said she could do the ride at 4pm instead of 2pm. This worked perfectly! We were driving up the coast and actually didn't make it until 3:45 so I was completely relieved we had changed the time! We got checked in by someone (co-owner, I think) that was pretty abrasive with the entire group. He expected everyone to be an expert when we clearly weren't. We went on the beach ride. We began the ride through a short field and then started down a cliff on an extremely narrow path. It was extremely scary, but exhilarating! We were on top of the beach and the view was spectacular! I'm comfortable on a horse, but I knew if one of those horses tripped, we could all be goners! When I saw what a huge climb we had up and down to get to the beach, I immediately regretted opting out of the helmet. We finally made it down the hill to the beach and the horseback riding on the beach was one of the best experiences I've ever had. I wish I could do it every day. It was so peaceful. Tobi told me the horses actually prefer to ride closer to the beach. It was really cool when they would walk through the water! The ride was pretty long up and down the beach and Tobi let us stop and took our pictures! I thought that was extremely nice of her! I was in the front of the group and my friend was the only other experienced rider in the group. We were both dying to trot so I asked Tobi if my friend and I would be able to. She said she would normally let us but because the other riders were so inexperienced it was too big of a risk. Anyone who knows trail riding horses knows, when one trots, they all do! I was disappointed, but it was still the best walking horseback ride I've ever done! I would go back to Ross Ranch in a heartbeat to do the beach ride again! Only this time, I'd ask for experienced riders only and run like the wind!! read more

Best horse rental experience I have had by far. Tobi was very helpful and accommodating when we were trying to schedule a ride next to last minute. She wasn't bossy, was super informative, and did not micromanage but still had the horses best interests in mind. Riders were paired with horses based on skill/experience and she did a lesson on how to know when a horse is upset, how to steer, stop, go, and sit properly in the saddle before assisting each person to mount. The ride itself starts off through cow pasture and then to a decline trail leading to the beach which was super exciting to ride. The walk down the beach was uncrowded, clean, and beautiful with lots of cool rock formations to see. At the end we stopped and everyone got a chance to have their photo taken at no additional cost. For riders there is a clean porta poty to use before/after the ride. Riders should bring long pants, closed toed shoes, sunscreen, a jacket, and water for the ride. Lastly, my only criticism is for the bailing twine scattered all over the cow pasture at the start which is likely to end up in the ocean. I am not sure if Tobi has any say about how that is managed, but it would be nice to have the ropes properly disposed. Anyway, overall an exceptional experience with well cared for horses and a great guide. I definitely recommend. read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

I love horseback riding even though i know next to nothing about it, so i'm tempted to give 5 stars on that alone. But, when considering all the horseback rides i've been on, this gets only 3 because our guide, John, wouldn't let us do any trotting - "insurance" he said. Whatever, we signed away our life before we even mounted, so i was and am still peeved. But i also had a great time, so if you don't want to do anything but walking, this place is worth checking out if in the Mendocino area. It's a family run business, we did the forest ride and it was gorgeous. John the guide was interesting to talk to, just wish we could'a done less talking and more trotting. read more

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I booked up to go riding on the beach in December. It was a great experience, the horses were well matched to my wife and my abilities. I became quite attached to mine, Cowboy, by the end. While it wasn't quite 2 hours, it was just long enough that we were beginning to feel cold and stating to hurt when we finished. John and Ally were our guides and were great at answering questions and small talk. I'd go again in a heartbeat! The only thing I would change is adding a chance to grab some photos on the beach to remember it by. read more

My husband and myself took our daughter and her 12 year old granddaughter horseback riding onto Manchester Beach with this outfit. It was a mother/daughter team who escorted us down and onto the beach, then back up again. The horses walked into the surf and were wonderfully well behaved. It was a fabulous adventure! Do it! So worth it, especially for the kids. read more

BEST TIME EVER FOR US ALL. My husband & I took our Grandson's ( both very small 7 and 10 years old). TOBY & JOHN were WONDERFUL and gave perfect instruction to the 1st time, less experienced & experienced rider. I visit Manchester/Gualala twice a year and will be adding this to my "to do EVERY TIME" list. BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, NICE PEOPLE, just the perfect day & a PERFECT memory! ANYONE who complains regarding "rudeness" by owners, obviously knows nothing about horses & that the average weight for a horse is around 1000 lbs. YOU CAN GET HURT IF YOU ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION. As far as "refreshments being served", THE PRISTINE & TRASH FREE BEACH was gorgeous!! ** We had water & snacks waiting in the car".** We will see you in SEPTEMBER. Thank you Toby & John! read more

My then boyfriend (now fiance) surprised me with a horseback riding trip on our winter vacation to Elk, CA. I am an avid animal lover but was terrified to go horse back riding! Let me just say, it was one of the best experiences of my life. Tobi was our guide and she answered all my questions and made me feel very safe. She also put me on a very kind and gentle horse (who's name is escaping me now and it is driving me crazy). Anyway, the beach was beautiful, the ride was magnificent and the horse was amazing. We became very good friends by the end of the ride :) Can't wait to do it again! My fiance rode Cowboy and love it as well!! :) read more

Loved making this memory a part of our romantic weekend trip. Toby was amazing and she could make a baby feel comfortable on any horse. The backdrop of the ocean was perfect!!! It's such a great value too! Very affordable for such a great time!! Thanks Toby! read more

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I wasn't impressed and I thought the male owner was rude. Wouldn't go back and wish we had of done the beach instead but thought the woods would be rugged and fun and more scenic and not as monotonous. I was wrong, it was boring and nothing really to see. Surprised that they didn't even have water to offer, some bottled water, for your guests would be a simple nice gesture. read more

We had a fun beach ride with Tobi (guide), Hemi and Cowboy. It was cold and beautiful and the horses were wonderful! We'll definitely come back when it's a little warmer! read more

Ross Ranch - Horseback Riding Near Me - Manchester, California

Amazing experience! Safe and friendly staff. We will recommend to all our friends and family and will definitely be back!

What a wonderful ride on the beach! Our guide was very pleasant and informative. The horses are very well taken care with great dispositions. Best beach ride for me yet! You just can't beat the price either. read more

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I am so happy we did this on our family vacation! Tobi was so great, was so helpful with our 8yr old son, and who am i kidding-me too! LOL I had been wanting to go riding for so long, so just being able to do that was a dream come true - but then along the beach! Amazing! I got to ride Cowboy, and i instantly fell in love with him, she paired myself and family perfectly with each horse. Thanks Tobi! My son told me as we were leaving, "Mom we have GOT to do that again!" read more

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My boyfriend and I had a great time riding out onto the beach. The scenery was beautiful. Friendly staff and the horses are healthy and well maintained. We'll book again next time we visit the area. read more

My parents, my husband, my two kids and I did the beach ride a Friday afternoon in September 2013 and had a terrific time. Tobi was our guide and she took excellent care of us, matching us up to horses of suitable size and temperaments. She suggested the noon trip would be ideal as the low tide made the most beach accessible. The horses were reasonable to control and maintained a comfortable walking pace, which suited all us well as mostly first-time riders. Don't let the other reviews scare you with their description of a steep trail to the beach. You begin your tour just inside the fence along highway 1, cross a field and then you go down a trail to the beach, but you do it slowly and by traversing a series of switchbacks which are not steep. I would not call it scary. My kids were fine with it too. After you get down to the beach, it's all flat again. It's cold down on the beach, colder than out by the road where you mount the horses, so we were glad we accepted Tobi's offer of gloves to keep our hands warm, and we were very glad we'd worn our winter coats. Tobi was wonderful to talk to, fielding questions and engaging in conversations initiated by us, from curiosities about the horses to the kelp to abalone. Per Tobi's suggestion, we budgeted an hour to get from Fort Bragg to the spot where you meet for this beach ride and that was perfect. If Tobi hadn't warned us, we probably wouldn't have given ourselves enough time. Highway 1, because of its curves, is slower to travel than you might anticipate; There was also construction. We had previewed the map and knew where we were going before leaving town. We couldn't have figured it out on the road since the GPS on our phone doesn't work in that area. It would have been difficult to find the meeting spot without knowing the mile-marker, so write that down before you set out. For the ride, you meet Tobi and her trailer of horses on the side of highway 1 and follow her through the fence, mount your horse and begin. If you have any members of your party NOT planning to ride the horses, don't bother bringing them here as there's not a building they can wait in while you go out on your tour. Except for a porta-potty, there are no buildings. So if permitted, I assume the waiting spots would either be a big empty field or decent hike down to a cold, windy beach. So I was glad I left my aunt and baby back in Fort Bragg. read more

two hour ride along the beach, crashing waves on one side and high cliffs on the other. Its breathtaking. chilly in the winter but so worth it. The horses are beautiful and easy to handle, the guide Toby was very informative and sweet. The beach ride was 60$ and the forrest was 50$ great prices for a great ride. read more

Tobi met us at the gate along with five others. There were 7 of us going, so Tobi walked along side. Since this was a trail ride to the beach, I was fine with that. I asked Tobi when I booked the ride if it was two hours. She said the ride itself would be about an hour and a half and the rest would be mounting and dismounting at the end. The trail down to the ocean is a bit steep, but the horses are well matched for it and there is no danger. It was a pleasant ride along the surf line. We were not allowed to cantor the horses, but they did have free rein to walk where they wanted. If we would have been able to ride faster and freer, I would give them a five star. Overall it was a pleasant experience and my sweetheart got to take one more thing off her wish list. read more

I was cheated. My major disappointment was that our ride, including mounting and dismounting was less than an hour and a half. I mentioned to our guide, their daughter, the rate and time listed on their site and was still charged for two hours. I can't imagine that saddling the horses wouldn't have been built into the cost. The ride was advertised as 2 hours, my partner and I were cheated. read more

The lady in charge of our ride was very knowledgeable but didn't have a lot of patience. My husband and I have ridden before and knew what to do but we rode with 2 friends that had never been on horses. In past experiences, the person in charge matches the horses to the people. Like which horses personality would match the experience level of the person. She didn't. She pulled up horses and said, "who wants this one." My inexperienced friends rode two horses that were not good for their first time. My male friend got a mule (horse/donkey mix) that was obviously stubborn and wanted to do her own thing. My female friend got an older horse that was called "opinionated". My female friend was shouted at to keep control of her horse and to tell the horse where to go. Whereas other people with more tame horses barely had to do anything. It wasn't a good experience for them and I doubt they will ride again anytime soon. read more