I took my wife and another couple as my wife always wanted to try to ride a horse. None of us had ever ridden one. Sam was our trainer/tour guide. She was very calm, helpful, silly, informational and great with the horses. After a half hour of training we were off and having a blast. The entire experience felt safe, and our fear was being on a horse that ran off. Never once felt panic or fear. Getting on and especially off the horse was a little tricky, but other than that we completely loved the experience. After the roughly 2 hour experience, we were offered to go to their winery down the street for a free glass of wine. The wine I chose ended up being one of the best wines I have ever had. Pro tip-bring some water on ice for when you are done riding. You are on the horse for a solid 1.5 hours and it was hot out when we went (99 degree). read more

My friends and I booked a trail ride for 12/12/21. Sammy was a great instructor and we enjoyed our ride and meeting our horses. However, as of today's date (1/24/22), we still have not received the photos from our ride. We had purchased an additional package to have photos taken. I've sent out multiple emails to the owner and have not heard back at all. I find this incredibly unprofessional. I did not want to leave a bad review based on this, but it is ridiculous that we still have not received our pictures. It's been over a month and the owner hasn't responded to any of my emails. I do not recommend this place at all. read more

My family and I went to Vin Hesten Trail Rides for horsebacking riding to celebrate our birthday. It was a wonderful experience. Our guide, Sam was amazing. She was very attentive, provided excellent instruction and made sure our ride was safe and enjoyable. We enjoyed a smooth ride throughout the property with a great scenic view. It was the ultimate birthday getaway! We definitely recommend Vin Hesten Trail Rides for anyone who wants the best horseback riding experience! read more

Such and amazing experience and Kristy did such an amazing job making the experience that much better! Looking forward to coming in for some lessons! read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

So it was me ,my wife and my 2 kids .we really enjoyed are first time horse back riding . Are instructor or cow boy that day was COLE he was really good on what he does . He made us feel comfortable and kept us entertained the whole time we where there . We had a great time there ,it was a beautiful experience . I would definitely go back there again . The horses are really great and beautiful animals well maintained and healthy .thank you again for the great experience. God bless to you and your family read more

Ventured here for Valentine's Day two weeks ago. An unassuming place but high quality service. Definitely was nervous for my first time on a horse, but the staff made sure I was well-prepared and felt comfortable once I mounted my steed. Nice leisurely trail ride ensued, followed by wine-tasting at a nearby winery (part of the package we purchased). My companion had a blast; loved every minute of it! Respect the fact that some of the animals were rescue horses. Very cool. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

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I had the most amazing time at Vin Hesten's Trail Rides! Cole was my guide and he was so great, he gave very clear and detailed instructions on how to ride the horse since it was my first time! I would definitely come back here again and I would recommend coming here to everyone! The dogs were so cute and sweet greeting the visitors and the horses were so beautiful and had such silly personalities like stopping for a little snack break on the trail LOL The trail was gorgeous and green and I felt like I was transported somewhere else! read more

Amazing service and very accommodating, as someone who hadn't been around horses in 10 years the quick lesson before the ride is amazing. I had Sam as my guide and she was very nice. The horses are very friendly and responsive and the nice hands who met us at the gate also helped direct us where we needed to go. The photos came right on time and my friends will definitely be back. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

Update*** The business owner responded to two of our separate inquiries. The first told us that the guide waited and the group didn't show so she left. The second response claimed that the guide went on another tour. They then went on to defend themselves on another of our reviews by passing the blame on us. Their way of making it right was to "allow us to reschedule" as if we will ever do business with them again. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Screenshot of my Apple location showing we were there before our 12:30 reservation as the owner claimed we were no shows - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

Our guide was a very sweet 16-year old boy called Cole who was a good conversationalist and who was very comfortable speaking other adults. Our horses were quiet and gentle and very kind. This is a good place for beginners to ride, but less so for folks with experience. We had fun anyway, though and would recommend it for people who haven't ridden before. read more

Cole, was a great instructor! Was very easy to sign up, find the spot, and get situated with our horses. Was expecting information on the trail - like info about the area, horses, etc but it was a very quiet ride. Back wood trails of someone's backyard. Definitely not where you'd go for a view. Thought it would be a tour of a vineyard. No trotting either, for experienced riders. Overall fine but not worth the price. My husband and I did a private ride with the tasting. The tasting was the best part. Wish they would have taken us there on the horse but we had to drive there separately. read more

I got the Fine Wine & Fancy Horses package for our anniversary celebration. My husband is a horseman and I am a beginner. We arrived 30 minutes early and the gate was opened. We got out of our car and see some horses and noticed there's a lot of flies. "Sam" was our guide and she's very accommodating. "Ranger" my horse was a gentle and responsive with my commands. While my husband's horse has an attitude, he's more fitting with experienced rider. There we're supposed to be 2 more people joining our group. We've waited for 30 minutes for them and they didn't show up. The trail ride took for about 30 minutes. The experience should be roughly 90 minutes. We should have gotten atleast 30 minutes more of riding time. Anyhow, we enjoyed the trail and our photos are included in the package, which was great! They sent the link of our pictures after 4 days. As for the wine, we're told to proceed to Frangipani Winery for wine tasting, their servings were more generous than the other wineries. read more

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We paid $25 for a photo package and it's been over a month and still have not received the photos. We've emailed and messaged them multiple times and the last couple of emails have gone unanswered. Seems like this is a reoccurring problem since I see other reviews where people had the same problem. read more

This was a fun morning. Out for a trail ride then off for wine tasting! It was great!

Our trail guide was fantastic. The ride was wonderful. I'm subtracting stars because I didn't get the wine tasting which I think was supposed to be part of the package I purchased. I don't even know who to ask about it, and the site didn't seem to give us any answers so I just went without. Would definitely go back! Edit: wow, owner responded quickly and apparently it was just a miscommunication! Can't wait to try gain. read more

I went to Vin Hesten last weekend with three friends. We had a marvelous time. The staff was welcoming and insured that we felt safe on the horses. The property was beautiful filled with various plant life and picturesque boulders. All the horses were healthy and well behaved. We plan on returning. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - The cute mini horse on the property. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

We had so much fun going horseback riding at this ranch!! Our horses Whisper and Talbot were amazing. Thanks to Katie for being the best tour guide!! She was so friendly and made us feel safe!! We will be back! read more

My boyfriend and I wanted a simple horseback ride since he'd never been on a horse before. We decided to book Vin Hesten because there was a no frills package, that they offer. The price was super reasonable up front but when we got there, we got more than we expected. We originally booked for the 10:30am ride, but had to be pushed to the afternoon ride. We were upset a first, but we fade it work and it benefitted is because when we got there, we basically had a private ride, there were no other people who booked that time. The best part of the ride was Elizabeth, or Liz, our tour guide. She was very knowledgeable and was extremely patient with us. She made our ride fun and had great stories to tell. Before the ride, she prepped us and made us feel safe on the horse. I'd recommend this place, especially for families. And try to get Elizabeth! read more

Loved the whole experience! My friend and I bought the wine and ride. Our guide Sam was lots of fun. Frangipani winery is a quaint little place no frills but decent wine. read more

At 7am I asked the company if my daughter could wear flip flops because she injured her ankle. They said no. At 9am I texted that she would wear shoes and ride. (See photos) I was committed to coming. 1 hour prior to our scheduled arrival time (at 11am) of 12:30pm, I received a text and email saying that their horse was injured and that they needed to change our time to 2:30pm. We do not live in the area and were on vacation with my mother in law who had flown in from Massachusetts. We could not make the 2:30pm time because we needed to be out of our Airbnb in the morning and had no place to go. I requested a refund and spoke to the receptionist who then said to email the manager. I emailed the manager twice and he did not respond and instead sent us a gift card to reschedule our ride. Because we do not live in the area and because my mother in law has to go back to Massachusetts there is no way to use this gift card. They said they issued a credit but it's just a credit to be used in the future -- which we cannot use. They obviously didn't care. Vin Hesten is in breach of contract. I will be filing a notice with the Better business bureau. read more

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This was a great experience!!! My fiancé and I did the trail ride yesterday and it was so much fun! I rode Whisper and my fiancé rode Duece. Both horses were so sweet and calm. Initially I was scared out of my mind because it was only my second time riding a horse, but I got a hang of it after a while. Our tour guide was so knowledgeable about horses; she answered all of our questions and gave us some cool facts about horses. We purchased the living social deal, so we did wine tasting at Cougar Winery after our ride, and that was fun as well. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

An absolutely charming experience. Our trail guide was an all around perfect host. She was knowledgeable and gregarious. She commanded her craft and showed care and sensitivity for the horses. They were well, well cared for with love and with acceptable humane accommodations. I wish all public riding facilities were as caring as what I witnessed during our Vin Hesten Trail Ride. read more

So much fun!! My boyfriend and I did the trail ride yesterday with Vendala and Madison. The horses were gorgeous and really calm- no stress for beginner riders like us. The girls made sure we were comfortable on the horses before we started off. The trail varied in an interesting way, some hills etc. We got to a look out point, and Vendala offered to take photos with her camera and email them to us. She also took pics with my iphone as well. We were so surprised to learn that both girls were only in high school. Vendala was confident, well spoken, and a great person to chat with during the ride. We were extremely impressed with their guide skills! We will absolutely be back- after our butts and legs are a little less sore from this ride :) read more

Great trail ride for beginners. My wife had never ridden before and our guide was amazing.

If you overthink the experience of riding a horse the first time, you're doing it wrong. That's often my biggest problem, and that's what I took from this experience. Vin Hesten keeps it simple. You get a horse with a saddle, a couple minutes' worth of instructions, then it's out on the trail for a couple hours, plenty of time to take in the sweeping views of a huge ranch property. Your horse is selected based on your height and weight. All four horses in our group (those for my wife and I, plus another couple we'd never met) were extremely well behaved. They knew the trails better than we did, so don't be nervous and trust your horse -- he's been here many times before! This was the first time I'd ever been on a horse (my wife too). We both loved it and couldn't have asked for a better experience. The weather was perfect, our guide knew what she was doing, and I loved my horse. So did my wife. The wine tasting afterward at Masia de la Vinya, a winery located a mile down the road, was a nice bonus. (Thanks Living Social!) read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Me sitting on a horse for the first time in my adult life. We'll look more comfortable in a couple hours, after we bond on our trail ride. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

Now, the response of the owner is unethical. (If you haven't seen his response, either see my previous review or the picture I attached of it). The reason i wanted to reschedule so soon was because this was a gift and time was of the essence. There is no rescheduling link in the email I received (photo attached) and his response to this negative yelp review is the FIRST RESPONSE I RECEIVED SINCE TRYING TO RESCHEDULE THE RESERVATION IN FEBRUARY. I called every number, emailed the email, even texted his number directly and nothing. I ended up getting a refund from Groupon. Anyone trying to belittle a customer because they're system is messed up is not worth the money. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - This is the very "kind" response of the owner after reading my review. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

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An Absolute Wonderful Experience. My partner and I shared the experience this weekend. And from the moment we pulled into the gate we were treated exceptionally well. The Trail Hands were very well experienced, well mannered and most of all as friendly as one can get. Their care and knowledge of the animals they work with allowed us to not only ride them but feed and interact. I felt the experience was more than a bargain. You will hear nothing but praise from me in regards to this amazing experience. Thank you for the wonderful day and experience. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Myself and my trusty steed for the afternoon, Mater. - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

I booked a trail ride with my friend and was honestly really nervous to ride on a horse from past bad experiences with other companies and am so glad I gave this a try. We added on the lessons prior to the ride and It was incredibly helpful. Dusty took the time to teach us how to ride safely and was so patient with me needing to take time due to being nervous. The trail was so beautiful and relaxing. I can't say enough about this company, how professional and kind dusty was and how well behaved the horses were. I wouldn't want to go any place else than Vin Hesten. read more

Vin Hester Trail Rides was the highlight of our week! Our guide, Lisa, was very informative & clear while also being super friendly and easy to talk to. The horses are so sweet & will make it hard for you to leave. Would definitely come back if we're ever in the area again read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

Lovely experience to get out of the city and enjoy oneself with friends, nice folks and noble creatures. Dusty, our trail guide, was very thorough on how to mount, dismount, drive and stop the horse. He made the whole trail ride a pleasant experience. Communication was easy too when asking about their services. My questions were answered in a timely manner, and the website to sign up online is user friendly. After signing up, straight forward directions to the place are given as well. Happy trails! read more

Thank you to Dusty and his family for making us comfortable and giving us a great trail ride! The property is beautiful! Highly recommend this adventure! read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

Such an amazing and intimate experience. The horses are so well trained and it was such a calm and unique experience. Plus the wine tasting afterwards was great! 10/10 recommend to anybody who is considering! read more

We booked this tour for our family members and they absolutely loved it. Very nice company and beautiful horses

Fantastic family owned ranch. They rescue and adopt thoroughbred horses, race horses, and other horses that might otherwise be out down. Dusty and his wife run the place with their family. Former ranchers from Palos Verdes, CA, they're great. Super safe, respectful, clean, professional, and fun. Would recommend and do again! read more

At first arrival, it doesn't seem like you are in the right place. There aren't any name signs or direction signs. But, we parked and got out and found out we were in the right place. We had "Samantha", She was great! She spent time with every rider before heading out on the trail to make sure that everyone felt safe and sure about the ride. Not everyone has ridden a horse before. Once we were out on the trails... The whole world was left behind. It was amazing! We had so much fun and can't wait to go back! It did take a few days to get out pictures, but finally did and they were great! read more

Sweet nice guide and fun an hour ride. Bathroom could be cleaner --- it's a portable restroom without paper nor place to wash hands or sanitizer. there are much better portable bathrooms out there also they need to be cleaned even if setting isn't upscale--but it is ranch so it was acceptable. read more

Went on my first trail ride on 9/25. Sam did a great job at teaching us the basics of horse riding. I would definitely recommend to anyone. The horse riding/wine package was perfect. I will definitely be returning soon. read more

My Wife and I had a wonderful experience. Thank you to Bridget and Sam for making this such a Delightful and unforgettable adventure. We enjoyed every minute of the journey's scenery and their company and Kindness. We Loved our Horses" Boose Caboose" and "Ranger Danger" Looking forward on enjoying another adventure soon. Thank you all or the unforgettable Memories. read more

Vin Hesten Trail Rides - Horseback Riding Near Me - Temecula, California

We loved our ride. Our guide, Tricia was super sweet and made sure we were comfortable on the horses. The horses took us on a gorgeous trail with huge boulders. Side note: I recommend using the bathroom before going - they just have a porta- potty Update: We never got the photos that were taken on the ride. I emailed to follow up and didn't hear back from them. this is a bummer because we didn't take any photos on our own device since they were taking pics for us :( read more

We had the pleasure of meeting Dusty, Bridget, and Linda all of which were very welcoming and friendly. We did an early ride, with Linda as our lead guide she was so knowledgeable about the horses, their care and riding safety. I had done some horseback riding as a kid but by no means do I consider myself a competent horseback rider. My fiancé had never been near a horse so he was a little nervous but that did not discourage him. Linda and dusty gave us a brief riding lesson which proved to be effective. My fiancé verbalized that he felt confident after the lesson and felt comfortable during our ride through the beautiful oak trees and boulders. By the end of our ride my fiancé was riding like a pro. It was an over all special and exciting experience. I would definitely recommend stopping by for a visit, it is the perfect escape from the busy LA life. On a side note when you pull up to the location the sign reads "whispering meadows" pull in through the white gates and take the first right that's where you park your car also note they are a rescue ranch so you have a porta potty to relieve you needs." To the staff once again thank you ! read more