Bobby's Ranch Inc

Have ridden there at various times over the past 20 years. Found the horses to be well taken care of and the trail guides courteous and interesting (some young, some older - they are well instructed and seem to take their jobs seriously). I try to ride at off hours so that it's just me or a few others on the trail. Wish we could ride side by side but those are the rules so I respect that. Lovely scenery and rides can be tailored to beginner through advanced. I think those who had a bad time should give it another chance. I don't know what lessons are like - I've only done the trail rides. more

This was one of the most stressful hours I have spent all summer! The young girls who were put in charge of the horses and trail ride, create a negative atmosphere from the very beginning. No introductions, so I can't tell you their names and they sure as heck didn't ask ours. The rest of the hour was spent with them constantly correcting and criticizing every rider in our group. Never a ""nice job"" or ""good try"" or even ""check out this neat pond over here"". They were not guides, they were young girls pretending to be riding instructors, and failing. They talked all about safety first, but gave my daughter a saddle with stirrups that couldn't be made short enough. How is that safe? They laid down rules for safety, and then consistently broke the very same rules themselves (e.g. don't ride two abreast, don't let your horse eat leaves, etc etc) My family and I were excited about a local place that we could all ride together once a month or so, but after this experience, we will NEVER go back there. more

The owner of the ranch, Bobby, is one of the rudest people I have ever met. I brought my daughter and my niece for an hour long trail ride. I also brought my 4 year old daughter, 8 year old son and 8 year old niece to watch. \r \r My 4 year old and 8 year old CHILDREN were arguing about a toy when Bobby came to the door of the office, peered out and yelled at me to ""shut that (4 years old) kid up."" This was followed by a few more off-colored remarks.\r \r When I spoke the the owner's son he said that they ""thought something was wrong with her."" I wonder if these people were children? Interesting since they run a business, I would assume deals with a lot of children. I would like to see how they show they are mad. more

They are just rude to customers more

Bobby's Ranch is the best westen riding facility in all of New England. They offer fantastic trail rides and great instructors. \r \r Bobby owns aroung 50 trail horses, boards around 20 and has 30 other farm animals. How can you say no to Pedro the donkey or Yogi the pony? \r \r Many Equestrian stables charge $150 or more for lessons. Bobby's charges a mere $65 for an hour lesson and the basics. You learn how to lead a horse, untack them and trot and canter. Another great feature, Bobby offers trail lessons for more experianced riders. Bobbys also has a warming community of horses, dogs, chickens and of course people. Pros: Well Trained Trail Horses and Great Staff Cons: Not Enough Grass For All more

This stable offers a wide variety of activities, including lessons, in which I already learned to ride earlier at another stable. It's not a bad deal with 65 bucks for an hour-long private lesson. I've seen nearby stables where they were as much as 100 bucks for the same service.\r \r As far as trail rides, they offer skills, which is walk, trot, and cantering (Cantering isn't available in the summer, it gets hot), and they have two hour specials for experienced riders, in which I go on.\r \r As far as the horses are concerned, at first you try out the horses, and later on, you do lock on a horse in which you like to ride with. There's so many different type of horses there, from a Shire, to the Belgium Draft Horse. Turns out, it's not the bread, but how the horse feels. After all, riding horses is more than going on a saddle, it's like working with your 1,200 pound kid! Afterall, everyone should start riding horses because it teaches relationship, disapline, trust, and it gives you physical benefits (Helpful for high BP, depression, diabetes, etc).\r \r The staff there are pretty nice, and they know me in a positive way, sometime, they offer me a discount, and they think that I am a pretty good rider!\r \r They have a lounge area, which is a gazibo with tables so that I can play my DS or pick up a sandwich to eat before or after a ride. That place can also be used for parties, dinner, or even just an after-ride lunchon.\r \r There's also some other animals there, including chickens and rooster (one that has the familiar crow, whcih I call Bobby The Rooster), as well as a donkey named Pedro, sheep, two goats (named Ugly and Bandit), and best of all, Yogi the Pony, in which kids can ride for a small donation.\r \r Great place, and is recommended. After all, it's a nice place to educate kids about the animals and the care. Pros: Good facilities, nice people, and horses to get along with. Cons: Can't gallop when you are trail riding... more

the people who are reviewing need to give this place a second chance, because things have changed over the past 15 years. the horses are well taken care of becuase the thing is horses dont mind being dirty and they get a thougrough brushing every morning and there tack is well fitted. And just becuase you think a horse is well taken care of if it is stuck inside you are incorret becuase they like to live in heards out side! And yes some times horses do roll and thats not bad traing thats animals being animals becuase thats what horses are, unpredictabel. i dont think this place would still be open if they mistreated there animals, and if they have an injured horse it gets the day off thats the risk you take if you let horses stay out in a pasture not stuck in a stall 24/7. I highly recomend going here staff is friendly horses are fat happy and healthy and the trail rides are safe and controlled even for the youngsters, and old folk alike. dont listen to those negative reviews i ride there every other week and could not be happier if you dont belive me check it out your self. because ther prices are verry resonable. Pros: every thing Cons: animals are animlas but these horses are out of this world more

First of all, your absolutely b-s'ing when you say that the horses aren't take care of. That man buys horses from auction so they don't end up on a dinner plate!! Does that mean anything to you?? The guides and every single staff person are very friendly and if you think otherwise, you're the one with the problem. A business doesn't stay open for 36 if there isn't happy customers -- obviously there are. Do other stables offer non-committal rides, rides that you don't have to be a regular rider for? Do most stables have an indoor arena as big as Bob's? How about the 20-something acres he's got his horses grazing on? DIDN'T THINK SO! It is the most beautiful place in the world, and if you cannot see that, you're blind.\r \r And for those who haven't ridden here yet, do so. It is the most amazing place I've ever been. There are tons of little critters to hug and play with, apart from the horses of course. Seriously, a horse lover's paradise. You'd be missing out on a little bite of horsey heaven if you didn't! Pros: Beautiful and well-behaved horses, kind staff, breathtaking scenery, and a menagerie of farm animals that you wouldn't see anywhere else! Cons: None at all! more

I absolutely love this ranch Bob and his family have they are so welcoming and wise at their work. I have had the great pleasure of growing up at Bobby's Ranch as if I were a part of the family. I was appauled when I stumbled upon these reviews previosly written, I still can't quite figure out who these people think they are. Again i feel blessed to have grown up with Bobby Jrs kids,my brother and I have been hanging around now for alost 29 years, I can remember back when I did'nt know how to ride or much about horses for that matter, if it were'nt for this place I don't know where i'd be today. Bob and his family are some of the most caring, soft hearted people I've ever been around, as the years have passed some people have come and gone the more people Bob meets the better he has such great knowledge and wisdom to share. The love he holds for his animals, family, customers, and friends is tremendous. God love this man for all he has given to all the people that have the pleasure of meeting him and enjoying the beautiful animals and landscapes of his property (his life). Pros: Absolutely everything more

I have been riding at Bobby's Ranch for going on 30 years now. I love riding there, the horses are very well cared for and the people are always friendly to me and the trail are beautiful they also have many other animals to see while visiting. I have leased horses there through the winter and have spent a lot of time there while I was leasing. I do find it a shame that a person who hasn't ridden there in 16 years could feel that she is qualified to review a long standing buisness like this based on an opinion she formed as a 13 year old child. I would also like to add to the person who was wondering about why Sheila does not keep her horses at the Ranch that one is simple to answer if you had thought to ask Sheila rather than assume bad things, Sheila keeps her horses at her house, Sheila grew up right down the street from Bobby's Ranch and 4 of her siblings spent quite a bit of time at the stable growing up too. Sheila has kept her horses at the Ranch from time to time so that they would be more available for her to ride, it is the simple fact that it is cheaper for her to keep her horses at her own home rather than board them. I do find it a true shame that people do not check thier facts before they bash a good buisness. Bobby's Ranch comes very highly recommended on prestigeous sites on the internet including ""You Tube"" and 'WHDHtv"" those are the places people should be looking instead of reading the opinions of people who should really become more educated in what they are talking about. more

Bobby,s ranch disapointed me. i went there on my first two rides.( Ive been riding for 15 year now) they were ok with the lesson witch was fairly thorogh for a first lesson with stopping starting walking and turning and backing and munting and dismounting were included.. But smokey the horse i rode was filthy. a very calm horse though i liked him. but the trail was ok but very short shorter a ride than i was led to believe. people were fairly nice. horses seemed restless i saw non in there pasture despite the nice day. biggest disapointment was i was only 13 (at the time im 27 now) and they did not provide a helmet for me to wear. that is in my mind unacepctable i hope that policy changed. ): Pros: Calm horses Cons: poorly cared for horses and when i was there no helmet policey more

I went for my birthday and had a wonderful ride. The guide, Genevieve, was knowledgeable and helpful. We mostly walked, but trotted several times during the ride. The conservation land where you ride is just gorgeous. I would definitely go there again. Pros: Beautiful place to ride western style Cons: Have to match ride to less skilled in group more

A good friend of mine worked there, and actually ran it for four years, but hasn't been riding in 16 years because of a non-horse related accident that left her paralyzed. During the time she tookn over, Bobby got twice as many boarders, and she was careful to check the cinch and stirrups, and warmly acknowledged the riders. After she stopped managing it, all of the boarders that joined while she was in charge moved elsewhere, because the horses weren't getting the proper care. I stopped riding there in November '06, after many years of riding there, because of one reason. One was that the horses, you look at them in the turnouts, they look so listless, and not taken care of. They have a manger where the horses can get hay, but I've never seen a watering trough in the paddocks...that is just pitiful. The ones they have in the corral where horses are crammed together are always dirty, and I've never seen anyone pick or check the hooves before or after a ride. How would they know if the horse stepped on a nail or something, and nobody knew about it until the horse was so injured it needed to be sidelined for a few months? I'm fifteen, owned one beautiful Arabian mare who died five weeks ago, and I would've eaten dirt before I put her in these deplorable conditions. There are only three people there who are""nice"". Bob and Bob Jr. are nice but they have a tendency to kick or beat a horse with a shovel when it's misbehaving. Sheila, who has a daughter who is a trail guide, is very nice, and I can't imagine why she would waste her time here. All of the other people that work there are completely ignorant and rude, especially Brenda, the one with the short, black, curly hair. It is suspicious...why do you think Sheila keeps her horses someplace opther than Bobby's??? Call me a speculator, but she probably has realized what everyone except for the first poster has realized. M,y advice, don't give them business. They are people that don't deserve the love that a horse gives. Pros: The trails are beautiful. Cons: The people are rude and the horses aren't taken care of. more

I would like to say that Bobby's Ranch offers beautiful trails and safe, quiet horses. The majority of people who go for a trail ride are beginners with little or no experience on horses. You cannot expect to learn how to trot or canter with a two minute verbal explanation prior to a one hour trail ride. \r \r If you are a beginner, then a walk ride is just what you should be doing. If you want to be more advanced you should consider lessons. Also, horses are very unpredictable animals. Even on the safest horse, a bee might come along and startle the animal, the horse may decide his back itches and try to take a roll. They are animals, not robots. more

I totally agree with the previous review - this is a bad place to go, and the staff is extremely rude. The last time I went my horse stopped and dropped to the ground and tried to roll with me on his back - I could have been seriously hurt or worse. Don't give them any business. A horse drops and rolls when it hasn't been properly trained. It is a sign of disrespect in the most dangerous manner. \r \r To the previous reviewer, horseback riding is a skill that must be taught - you can't just gallop off without knowing proper skils. Trail ride places only allow you to ride at a walk. more

I had such a bad experience over there. People are not friendly, doesn't give you any introduction to horseback riding. Nobody talk or explains anything to you, they just put you on a horse and you go on a trail and follow slowly each other, even they don't let you go faster on a horse. I don't know what kinda horseback rididing is that, its more like horsewalking than horseback riding. It looks that people don't enjoy their work over there. I was very dissapointed I had much better ecperience in other places. Cons: People are unfriendly and very rude more