Western Trail Rides

I had a wonderful time with Melissa and Willing Spirit today. I used to ride, but I had been out of the saddle for a very long time. Melissa was very accomodating to my needs including helping me with the best way of getting on my horse, to teaching me correct seating, and how to position my feet, as well as how to hold the reins and so on. It is apparent she is about safety first and communicates her intentions well. For me, it was enough of a challenge going on the trail with some downgrades and uphill areas with rocks even though we were just walking. She reminded me to take mastery of the horse and to be conscious of my positioning. Eventually it will become second nature I am sure!
I do plan on going back to ride with Melissa. She is a very kind and competent teacher, and the area is gorgeous!

Melissa was an excellent host– so friendly and accommodating! She exhibits great knowledge of local history, plant life, and was extremely willing to share all of this information with us. She seemed very concerned with making sure we were comfortable and having a good time. The horses are well-​groomed, fed, and loved, and are easily ridden by any level.

Can’t recommend. I am confident that there are better options in this horse loving area.

My husband surprised me on my birthday with a horseback ride at Western Trail Rides. Horses and Ojai. what a great gift! When we arrived, Melissa greeted us with a warm welcome and got us situated on our horses. My husband and I have some riding experience, so it was an easy start. She took us on a private ride along some beautiful trails with amazing scenery! She even supplied us with a bottle of water for the ride, which we thought was a nice touch. Melissa and her «Staff» of horses gave us a such wonderful experience! She really loves what she does and wants to make sure that your ride is memorable. I can’t thank her enough! We are already thinking about going back to take a longer ride next time!

Called Melissa and arranged for a solo ride the same evening. She was very thoughtful in everything she did, ranging from leaving the ranch address on my voicemail because I didn’t have a pen handy, to selecting the right horse (Willing Spirit) for my experience and riding ability. It is clear that she deeply loves these horses. We went on a very mellow evening ride around the adjacent conservation land. She gave me apples and carrots to feed to Will afterwards, which was a nice touch.

I took my boyfriend for his first horseback ride for our 3^rd anniversary. Melissa was very patient and encouraging since I told her it was his first riding experience. She set us up with a gorgeous sunset ride, with the setting sunlight streaming through the tree branches and tall grasses swaying in the breeze. She walked in front of us and there was another person on horseback behind us, for safety. Melissa chatted with us along the way, telling us about the area and pointing out various natural aspects. We saw a lot of rabbits and even a deer! I loved Will (Willing Spirit) and McGinnis was perfect for my BF (not only was McGinnis an easy ride, they are both redheads! And my boyfriend had just done an animation project on Terry McGinnis from Batman Beyond.) We had a beautiful hour-​long ride, and I would definitely go back! The prices are reasonable, too.
One caution: if you want photos, bring your own camera and ask Melissa to take pictures. She had a camera but when I asked if she could send me photos after the ride, she said she doesn’t email! Luckily my boyfriend’s laptop has a built-​in card reader and Melissa was nice enough to let us interrupt her dinner to download the photos.

Such a relaxing and wonderful ride! Check out the website for pictures and a short bio on each horse. The rides are relaxing and intimate, the park that the trails go through is just breathtaking.
Melissa is an excellent and patient teacher for those with little or no experience with horses. You absolutely couldn’t be safer. The only drawback is that if you are an experienced rider, there is no trot/​jogging or canter/​loping or challenging obstacles. But this is what makes it so safe and comfortable for beginners. Melissa truly loves her horses and her riders and takes wonderful care of both.

My husband and I went to visit Melissa and her horses today for a 1 hour trail ride. We were looking for something fun to do while we celebrated out 5 year anniversary. Melissa was so sweet and very patient as it was my first time horseback riding. She let me ride a very friendly horse McGuiness. She was very clear with instructions on how to properly ride the horse. The trail we went on was beautiful. You could see the sweeping mountains and the gorgeous terrain. I highly recommend Western Trail Rides for anyone who’s first time riding a horse. She is also reasonably priced.

My daughters and I had a wonderful ride. Having never been on a horse, Melissa guided us easily through this new experience. She is a wonderful guide and we would be happy to visit again for another ride.

Boss. Best valentines day trail ride ever! I just cannot wait to go again and ride Spirit, and this time I am going to bring my cowgirl hat! Melissa is amazing and taught me and my boyfriend to ride the horses like pros even though we have only rode horses once before. We had a great time at the ranch and I highly recommend Western Trail Rides as an original and unique experience that you will remember forever.

I can’t wait to go back and visit Melissa, Beau, Willy and Hank! I am looking forward to taking the 3 hour ride with Melissa in the mountains. Melissa is wonderful and you can tell she truly loves her horses and sharing them with people. My boyfriend and I went out for an hour ride. He is not really and experienced rider and Melissa matched him perfectly with Beau. He truly enjoyed the ride and the time spent on the trail. I love being on horseback and this was such a treat. Melissa was not only an incredible guide but, she lead us on a journey of discover y of the beautiful landscape and history of the land. Give yourself a treat and go visit Melissa and her boys at Western Trail Rides.

Do I recommend «Western Trail Rides»? Hell No! If you are a beginner as my girlfriend is and need someone patient and helpful to guide you on a first time experience, DO NOT GO THERE. Melissa (the owner I think) was rude and impatient knowing she never rode before. I couldn’t stand the criticism and lack of patience being spew at her so I cancelled the ride before we even left the stall. She still had the nerve to demand full payment. Yeah, I think not… Trust me!

Melissa owns Western Trail Rides and she is terrific. My boyfriend and I went to Ojai for our anniversary and made reservations for a 1 hour horseback ride with Melissa. First of all let me say that we are not athletic people. We didn’t grow up on farms, and we don’t know the first thing about riding horses. Melissa was great. She walked us through everything from getting on the horse, to «steering», stopping, speeding up, and braking. We went on an easy one hour ride on the plains. We saw beautiful wildflowers, the watering hole, and great views of the mountains. It was fabulous — we were very well taken care of.