Lajitas Stables — Local services in Manuel Benavides

Janelle was a wonderful guide, and the trail horses all had great attitudes. My spouse and I went on an All Day ride today to celebrate our first few days as newlyweds and Janelle took us on a breathtaking excursion through Big Bend State Park, from 500 feet up on the beautiful Contrabando Mesa, down to the sandy arroyo of Fresno Creek. By the creek, we found a shady spot and stopped for a full delicious lunch including smoked chicken from Rustic Iron BBQ, homemade bean salad, cheese, crackers, pickled okra, and more. The quality of food was top notch. After lunch, we moved on into hills and small mountains of red stone, where we spotted an aoudad ram (bighorn sheep).

The instructions given to us regarding what to bring on the trip were thorough - we were extremely well prepared and had plenty of water. Janelle has a sincere and good-natured way about her - friendly, knowledgeable, caring for both riders and horses. I expressed my interest in one day having a few horses of my own, and she generously shared her knowledge, advice, and experiences.

We both felt like we were in great hands - even while climbing and descending very narrow, steep, rocky trails, we were totally relaxed and thrilled to be there. The horses were calm and even tempered (though they'll eat the whole way if you don't keep a close eye and prevent them from doing so!) and very good with the difficult terrain - every minute in the saddle was an excellent experience.

I recommend bringing a bandana to protect the back of your neck from the sun, sunblock if you're not completely covered, chapstick with UV protection, tough jeans, boots, and a chin strap for your hat. Upper elevations do get very windy and the trip includes passing through a fair amount of leg-level brush and prickly plants, but the land out here is some of the most beautiful I've seen in my entire life.

The trip was more than worth the very reasonable cost. What a good day. Thank you for the ride and good...

Just an incredible experience! We booked the three hour ride and let me tell you, it was glorious! The scenery was breathtaking and our guide, Evo, was so professional, a great horseman and guide and when I dropped one of the reins twice, he came right over and saved me! Thank you, Evo! He got a big tip for that, deservedly so. He made the ride so enjoyable and fun. The terrain was challenging, for the horses, but I was so impressed with how well-trained these gorgeous animals are. Evo told us repeatedly to trust the horses and their incredible ability to navigate the difficult terrain. He was right! I was in awe of my horse, Muffin. I fell in love with him! Such a good boy! They are smart, sure-footed, strong, and focused on what they need to do. They are calm, perceptive, and are very gentle. I felt very safe, especially at the top of the Mesa, which is just incredible to see the beautiful Mountains and valleys. I cannot wait to return to do this ride again and I highly recommend this extreme trail ride to anyone who is comfortable with trail riding. Be sure to ask for Evo, he is the BEST! Thank you for such an incredible trail ride and showing us such incredible views of SW Texas. We can’t wait...

I had a very disappointing experience with Lajitas Stables. I had booked a ride and paid a deposit, but the day before our scheduled time, my vehicle got completely stuck in the mud had to pay for a tow truck— we were stranded with no way to drive anywhere, and barely had access to food or water. I called to explain the situation to Montie Mudd, hoping for some understanding or at least a little compassion given the circumstances.

Instead, her response was dismissive. She asked where we were staying, and when I said “Terlingua,” she replied, “Huh, that’s weird… well, I gotta go, my horse just got out.” That was the end of the conversation.

I completely understand that they have a no-refund policy, but I truly believe that emergencies like this should be handled with a bit more empathy and professionalism. It wasn’t about the money — it was about how casually and rudely the situation was handled.

I would recommend being cautious when booking with Lajitas Stables unless you’re absolutely certain your plans won’t change, because even genuine, unavoidable emergencies aren’t given any...