Waipio Ridge Stables

A MUST do! Joe and Roy were great! Such fun and so happy my daughter had the chance to experience the amazing views. My third time and her first and I would highly recommend that you not miss this opportunity. Even if you have never ridden a horse before — no worries. Horses are bomb-​proof and safety is stressed. Being on top of Waipio is close to a religious experience & makes one appreciate Big Island even more. Mahalo!

Me and wife took this trip and it was a lot of fun. It rained on us but the trip went on and was really fun! The half day trip was a bit too long for us and in hindsight we would have probably been better off with the 2.5 hours. Nevertheless a day well spent!

The 2.5 hour ride is excellent for beginners and this was me! I had never ridden a horse before but by the end I felt very comfortable. Essentially you ride in a single file and it’s a very slow pace. Very easy and manageable. The horses are all well trained and they can do this path on auto pilot. Our guides were Mahina and Roy –both really lovely and put everyone at ease. My nieces who are 9 and 12 were nervous and so was I but by the end of the trek –they loved it and so did I. I had a very easy going horse named Trigger. At the point where we stopped was the Waipio Valley Lookout and it was stunning and breathtaking. Right after we stopped, it started raining but we had ponchos with us –thankfully. Overall, a very good experience and highly worth it.

My wife and I, both novice riders, went on the 2.5 hour tour today. Loved it. So beautiful. All the horses were great. Our guide, Chauncey, was awesome – very informative, warm, and a wonderful sense of humor. An easy recommendation and a terrific perspective on wondrous Waipio Valley.

Great experience, loved the wranglers and the view was beautiful. We did the 2.5 hr ridge tour and it was just enough time on a horse. I had never ridden before prior to this and I was completely comfortable with the wranglers, horses and degree of difficulty. (none)
This is a great outing especially if you’ve been doing a lot of physical activity or hectic touring. It’s a serene and pleasant way to spend the day.

We did the 2.5 hr ridge tour today. It was a blast. Very organized from the pickup at local office, and drop off at stables… to the selection and mounting of horses. The guides were great, and the trails were breath-​taking, as we saw pristine valley floor of flowers and vegetables, and the amazing waterfall !
Well worth the price, and nearby to many locations on the big island. We traveled about an hour away from Waikoloa, and it was a scenic tour.
Enjoy !

Did the 2.5 hour ride. Beautiful views and a lot of fun.

I have never been horseback riding before, and this was a great time. I was very nervous at first, but after 15mins or so of riding, I felt like a pro. This review is for the regular trip, not the waterfall trip.
You will check in at the art gallery. This is because they will transport you to the Ridge Stables up in the hills. There is food and drink available, as well as picnic tables to relax while you are waiting to leave. (Definitely get the Tropical Dreams Icecream while waiting! It’s locally made and VERY creamy & tasty!)
Recommendation: Please wear jeans/​pants. You will rub up against brush, trees, and of course, the horse, so please protect your skin/​legs. There were riders on my trip that wore shorts — how the other riders survived, I will never know. Wear sneakers or riding shoes. Do NOT wear flipflops or sandals.
You do sign a waiver, stating that you understand your rights as a rider, but the Stables rights as well. Riding helmets are available for any guest — free — for your safety. You are not required to wear one. I wasn’t sure if I should, but I opted not to and was fine.
You can bring bug spray, but I only sprayed it once and really didn’t need it. I did use sunscreen because you are on the horse for almost 2 hours. I wore a hat, and I’m happy I did, except it flew off once and one of the guides got off his horse to get it. My horse’s name was Coco… and he loves to eat. If you get him, he will stop every 5 minutes or so to chow down. The horses have a pecking order, so don’t be alarmed if your horse takes off (not in a gallop) to be in the front of the line because that’s where «he or she belongs» in their social network.
They provide you with instruction before getting on the horse. No need to have ridden before. They will ask your riding ability and pair you with the appropriate horse, hence my new found relationship with Coco.
Bring a water bottle too. You get a riding sack to store it. Do not bring a bulky purse. If anything, transfer everything to a bookbag so you can wear it on your back while riding. They also offer to lock up your personal belongings at the stable if you prefer.
Bring plenty of film or make sure you have enough room on your SD card. You will enjoy really awesome views and sites.
You will travel through the woods, up the mountains, and you are given a chance to get off your horse, stretch your legs, relax, eat some macadamia nuts, use the restroom (outhouse), and soak up the awesome view before heading back down.
Give yourself a 3 hour window from start to finish. Do not be in any rush because this is an relaxing atmosphere.
I would definitely ride with Waipio Ridge Stables again. They are great tour guides, and fill free to ask them any questions about themselves, the area, Hawaii, etc.
I have pictures, and I will try to remember to upload them soon.
Enjoy!