We had an amazing time at Blue Hills Ranch in Waco, TX- I highly recommend a trip out there to get…read morethe up-close and personal experience we enjoyed with all the amazing animals! Fantastic staff, happy animals, well-kept facilities...what an incredible day we had. It feels like a dream. Easy day trip outing with the family or as a date- book your animal experiences online like we did at https://www.bluehillsranch.com . The staff was flexible to shift timing of the experiences so we didn't have to wait long in between- they were extremely accommodating and we never felt rushed either. The otter swim/playtime experience was originally what drew us, and it was even better than I'd imagined. Worth every penny! Then we got to feed and pet the capybaras, which were way friendlier than I thought they would be! The babies enjoyed some extra belly rubs too. Bottle feeding the kangaroo was so fun too- little Dundee was SO soft and loved all the pets, even gave us kisses! The giraffes were super friendly and greeted us every time we were nearby; feeding and getting quality time with them was an extra treat. The safari ride tour was also amazing- 5 of us fit comfortably and got to feed/see lots of animals that we wouldn't normally get to experience. We were surprised at how this place wasn't crowded at all in the middle of July when it is peak vacation season, so it really felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. They also have a beautiful main lodge area that is comfortable and welcoming with additional animals to enjoy.

We just got home after an amazing weekend at the ranch. I surprised my wife for our first…read moreanniversary and her birthday and it did not disappoint!!! All of the staff were so helpful and kind! A special shoutout to Cheslea who took care of us when we arrived, as well as was our driver for the safari tour! Ohhhh the animals, my wife and I were in heaven. She misses her little Cashew and I won't forget my big boy Blue (see photo)! Our first time but will not be our last! Thank you again to you all!

Hilltop Farm is a gem in Williamson County. The stables and horse training areas are gorgeous,…read moreclean, and well-maintained. Additionally, Hilltop is constantly improving the already awesome grounds and expanding. When looking for area stables for my daughter to train, we visited and interviewed many stables and stable owners. Gina at Hilltop was by far the most engaging and attentive. Once lessons began, we found the attention to detail and instruction there to be top notch. In short, Hilltop was the best decision we could have made.

I've been taking lessons with Gina for about three years now and have learned and improved so much…read more When I recently decided to buy my first horse, she helped me find the absolute perfect match. She, Holly, Kelly and everyone at the barn are so caring and generous. I know that my mare is always in good hands and always has someone looking out for her. I can't say enough good things about this place and the lovely community of riders there.

One of the best places for trail riding. Horses were well…read morebehaved and friendly. The wranglers were great with communicating everything we needed to know. Plenty of space to ride around and great scenery.

Phenomenal Experience -- We'll Be Back!…read more My sister and I booked the last two available spots for a completely spur-of-the-moment horseback ride with @texastrailrides at @lonestarranchtexas, and wow... it was absolutely phenomenal. What a perfect way to start our first adventure of the year, especially in the Year of the Horse This year, we've decided to create moments instead of buying things, and this experience was everything we hoped for and more. From the moment we arrived, everything felt easy and welcoming. The instructions were clear and simple, making the ride comfortable even if you haven't been on a horse in a while. Our instructor, Annabelle, was AMAZING -- knowledgeable, calm, kind, and truly attentive the entire time. I had the honor of riding Poncho, a strong, steady, and beautiful horse. There was something incredibly grounding about simply walking the trails, crossing through water, and fully trusting him to guide us safely -- and he absolutely did. That connection, that peace, that trust... unforgettable. We enjoyed this experience so much that we already know we'll be back in March, and we plan to end this year the same way we started it -- on horseback, making memories together. If you're looking for horseback riding in Texas, I highly recommend this trail ride. It's peaceful, empowering, well-guided, and truly soul-filling. Thank you @texastrailrides, @lonestarranchtexas, Annabelle, and Poncho -- we can't wait to ride again

We made a booking through their Facebook booking system as stated on the page. We reached out via…read moremessaging and phone call when we never heard back from them. We gave them the benefit of the doubt and went to the appointment and not only was no one there, no one answered the phone when we reached out. Over all incredibly rude and unprofessional on part of the business.

The staff was very helpful. So kind to one of the riders who was nervous. I would definitely…read morerecommend.

Our outing with Maverick Horseback Riding was the highlight of our entire vacation. My family of…read morefour are wholly inexperienced riders; Joan Marie and her team were superb guides with the right balance of instruction, independence, and fun. Joan Marie did us an immense favor, too, by allowing us to start our ride a couple hours early in order to avoid an incoming thunderstorm. I'm sure she saved our weekend! And a final kudos for an excellent BBQ joint recommendation; we went straight there for lunch after our ride and got a "full" Lockhart experience! Strongly recommend Maverick for an excellent equestrian experience!

This was what I had wanted for my birthday, sadly it was a total waste of money…read more We had booked the sunset ride, but by the time we got going after waiting and waiting, it was dark. Our ride was scheduled to start at 4:00, but it got delayed with no explanation and we did not start until after 5:30. The sun had set by that time because of winter and we couldn't see any of the views. Also, we didn't do a true trail ride, they took us to the city park and we rode around there at night, it was absolutely underwhelming for what we paid. Lastly, there was this little girl who is the daughter of one of the instructors. At first she was cute and sassy, then it just got old. She spoke to the adults like she was one, telling them to "move" out of her way.

Peaceful Acres is a fantastic horse rescue. The people that own it care so much for these horses…read more All of the volunteers have hearts of gold as well. The horses in their care came from some bad situations, but now are surrounded by love and friends. They work so hard to get the horses healthy and hopefully into new loving homes. It's just amazing! I had a unique experience with this group through Girl Scouts. I heard about a hands on class they offer for Scouts to come out and learn about horses in a very hands on manner. I booked my Troop of 4th graders for a 3 hour class. During the class, my girls got to meet all of the horses, learn about their backstories, learn how to take care of horses, and even learned to ride unassisted at the end. Ms. Sherry worked with me to get my Troop booked for the event. She was so helpful and easy to work with. She ran our visit too. She had these 9 year olds out there cleaning and brushing the horses, getting dirty and messy, trying new things, and making them all feel valued. Ms. Sherry is an spitfire angel! I believe they also offer affordable horse back riding lessons for all ages to help fund their rescue mission. I highly recommend checking into Peaceful Acres for education events or to volunteer. They are doing good things that make your heart feel good helping.

From the owner: Peaceful Acres Horseback Riding Lessons Provides Horseback Riding Lessons, Horse Boarding, Offer…read morePlayday Events, Horse Trick Riding, and By Appointment Only to the Rd Temple, TX Area.

We love coming to BLORA Ranch every week for horse riding lessons! We got our daughter started at 4…read moreyears old and she's now been at it for a year and it's so awesome to see her learn to care for, ride, and grow to love these beautiful horses. We can't wait to get our other kiddos started up when they come of age. They are so accommodating and flexible with schedules, we couldn't ask for a better place to be.

I decided to take up riding lessons at the ranch along with my son before his surgery. Mia is an…read moreamazing instructor. Her patience and knowledge is amazing. The trail ride I took my best friend and my son on was amazing. It truly is a good place to be. The owner Tiffany, is tops.

Extremely well trained horses, amazing scenery, and excellent hospitality! I absolutely recommend…read morecoming here for trail rides.

If you want a real Texas experience with one of the nicest, most experienced person - ditch the big…read moretours and go to Sunset Trail Rides. Gracey is amazing!!!! We had our family with three girls and she made our time at her beautiful property one we will never forget. So thankful to Gracey for giving these Nebraskans the experience of a lifetime.

My 8 year old son began riding at KBF in early June, and we have been absolutely delighted and…read moreimpressed by the training he has received from Lindsey and Jennifer. His lessons not only include his time up on the horse riding, but also one on one instruction on how to care for a horse. Lindsey and Jennifer teach in a very positive, encouraging way that has helped my son accomplish so much in a short amount of time. It's been really cool and awesome to say the least to see his confidence in both himself and his riding being taken to the next level. He is having lots and lots of fun! We've also greatly appreciated Holly and Len's kindness. They have been gracious and welcoming from the very first time we visited their barn. Holly was quite helpful and willing to answer any questions we had when we were still deciding on which stable to go with. We are so happy to be at KBF!

From the owner: Specializing in: - Stables…read more- Horse Stables - Horse Training - Horse Boarding

We had a great time! Shout out to Alicia and Sav! Our family enjoyed it and can't wait to come…read moreback! This was our 5th time

We didn't do the trail rides which I assume is where they get better reviews, but the cow cuddling…read moreexperience was disappointing. There wasn't actually any place to "cuddle" the cows; you simply stand around and pet them. We got a small cup of pellets, and once those were gone, the cows had little interest in interacting with people. One cow had large horns and was much bigger than expected based on the photos and "mini cow" advertising. That cow specifically seemed pretty over the whole experience. The other two were much smaller, and they were all very cute. There was also no place to wash your hands, only wipes, which is understandable. However, when we asked where the trash can had been moved so we could throw the wipes away, one of the ranch hands responded with an attitude. The lady leading the experience was very kind though. While petting the cows was enjoyable, the experience felt worth closer to $20 than the $50 charged. That's the main reason for the low rating. Overall, I wouldn't recommend it.