Elkhorn Stables — Local services in Estes Park

This is an honest review of Elkhorn Stables. I really wanted to like this experience but I felt like things could have been better, especially considering the price ($100 per person). Being from Texas, we love horses, and we have done a few trail rides in the past. Our experience with Elkhorn Stables was mediocre, at best. The staff and horses at Elkhorn Stables were very nice and friendly. However, the actual trail ride was very underwhelming. When doing trail rides, the fun part is getting to see scenic overlooks or riding along a lake/river etc. The trail we rode on had nothing to look at besides trees and a forest. This was not told to us upfront when registering for this trail ride. Even if you look at the website for this company, it gives you no details about the actual trail or what you will be seeing. This is probably a red flag. Additionally, with our experience with riding horses, we were expecting that our horses would be allowed to trout or walk a bit faster. However, we were told by our guide that we would not be allowed to do this at all, this was part of the advanced class. We were never told there was an advanced class or given the option to register for one when we were signing up and sitting in the office. This could have been the saving grace for this experience, but sadly, it was not an option that was given to us. So, we spent two hours slowly walking through trees on slow moving horses. I honestly wanted to end the ride after about an hour because we were extremely bored with our trip. Again, there was nothing to look at besides trees. With regards to our guide, he was nice enough, but I felt like he could have done a better job. He made no attempt to talk to us or tell us anything about the region or the trail. The only conversations we had were initiated by us asking him questions, and typically, his response would be over after 1-2 sentences. This is not how a good tour guide acts. A good tour guide should be making attempts to talk to us throughout our ride and keep things interesting, especially considering how slow and boring our trail ride was. Maybe the guide was having a bad day, but we did not feel he did his job to the best of his ability. The fact that I can't even remember his name tells you how little we talked during our trail ride. Lastly, we did not like how they give you the option to tip the guide BEFORE the trail ride. Had we known that our experience would have been the way it turned out, we would have definitely tipped our guide less.

All in all, this place should do a better job of either having the guides talk to you and tell you stories/experiences to keep your ride interesting, or they should find a trail that is more interesting for the rider. We have done a trail ride in Texas and it was 100 times better than this experience because our guide kept it interesting by talking to us throughout. Lastly, they should be more honest and upfront about the trail and mention that there is really no scenic views or anything interesting to look at during the ride. Had we known this initially, we probably would not have wasted our time/money booking with them. This place might be fun for your first horse back ride, but for more experienced riders, it's not worth the...

We’ve checked the weather for two weeks consistently to prepare for my birthday trip to Colorado with my husband. I read the ins and outs of website before booking, did my research, and even called the morning of booking to find out what to wear to be well prepared and warm to make sure we dress properly for the activity and where we will be riding. The only advice was to ‘dress warm’ and we did as we each had on sets of thermals, fleece over it, and big insulated coats and Columbia big gloves, thermal socks, ect. We arrived at least a half an hour early to see what we needed to do since it started snowing like crazy suddenly. The weather app said 0 chance of precipitation and snow even while the weather was suddenly ramping up. We had on snow boots, hoods, ear muffs, ect but we were still pretty concerned. The two guys in the office said we’d still be freezing, and nothing we could wear would keep us warm enough. We tried to have a conversation about what our options were and if it was safe conditions for us. We asked if we could reschedule to a different time today, a different day since we will be here five days because we did read every policy on the website and didn’t want to lose our $220 money already put down. However, the guys in the office didn’t explain our options and were telling us, “why don’t yall try an hour and then if yall don’t want to do the two, we don’t have to?” I loved that option but also knew there was a price difference so I asked, wasn’t the 2 hour trail ride more money? How would that work? Would we lose money? They reassured us that they would text the boss and get the other money refunded no problem. We were so thankful for that resolution. However, upon coming back and waiting in the office, the guy suddenly tells us his boss said we can’t get the refund he promised and it’s in the website policy online. We said, we specifically asked about this and asked about the price difference and we would’ve toughened it out if necessary yet he promised us otherwise. He let us know he’s actually unfamiliar with their policies and has never read them… the business was totally unwilling to credit us even for that other hour for a different day while here although they falsely promised and suggested us to do the one hour instead and get a refund. I understand business policies but if your business falsely promises customers something just to take their money and scam them, that is not on the customer. We were willing to do the other hour later and settle with no refund but they were totally unwilling to do anything of that nature despite it being a birthday trip. Highly recommend to explore other companies for horseback riding this beautiful area. We were nice, tipped our guide, and it felt like they were in it for the money and...

Stopped off to get information about the place, didn’t see an office but did see some people dealing with the horses so we waited to talk with them. While we were waiting we were watching some elk in the area above the stables. One of the people took off after the Elk chasing them with their car and honking at them while a red headed woman came towards us yelling that we were on private property and needed to get the hell out of there. We tried to explain that we were interested in the business and asked about accommodations. We were told that they didn’t do accommodations (She didn’t try to discuss their trail ride business or even let us ask if they had brochures)She just brusquely demanded that we should just leave which we promptly did. I bring multiple guests, business associates and friends up to Estes on a yearly basis and have never been treated this rudely before. So if you want to go to Estes I would recommend National Park Gateway or Sombrero Stable which have always being friendly and accommodating. I guess Elkhorn doesn’t need the Paying public on their private property also if they treat the Elk like that you have to wonder how they treat their horses.

Addendum to Elkhorn stables Comment

That is a total load of bull. We did not see your office or I would have pulled up. Lie #1 I did not drive thru your horses. I drove by the first corral and stopped. I saw your staff bringing the horses toward the second corral and securing them inside I then waited to talk to your staff members. (Yes, we saw the elk and yes we watched them while we were waiting ) When it appeared they were done caring for the horses I pulled up farther. I would have got out but there was a lot of mud. I rolled down the window to talk to your staff and commented about the elk eating the horses hay which was why I originally thought they were hazing away the elk. I barely even had a chance to make another comment before she became nasty. By the way I DIDN’T HAVE a camera or my cell phone with me at the time to take a picture so that was another lie. I noticed from your other reviews that you always state that the other people were nasty or were at fault but people who know me will tell you that is not my style at all. So that was your third lie. I might recommend that you put up a gate and close it if you don’t want people there after a certain time. I consider this manner closed, You just will never get my business or a referral for your...