Rough Riders Ranch — Local services in Town of Jewett

We will be going back!

My husband and I just went to Joe’s property and did horseback riding on the snow. Although we couldn’t ride the usual long trail, he took us along a town road, a private snowy road, and we went to a nearby frozen waterfall— it was absolutely gorgeous and we loved it!

My husband was a first time rider and I personally haven’t ridden in over 10 years, so we are both definitely beginners. He was incredibly friendly, helpful, and of course, knowledgeable on how to properly ride. He gave us an introduction session and made sure we were comfortable riding/knew how to handle the horses. Joe is a very straightforward man and clear with his instructions (he is an expert, after all), and so we felt safe doing what he told us to do (since we’re beginners). Throughout the whole 1.5 hour session (I believe he offers 1 and 1.5 hour sessions), he rode in front of us to check the ice and made sure to ask if we wanted to trot or gallop and for how long— he knew we were beginners but wanted to give us the option. He was also very talkative and friendly. I can see why he might come off as rude (see other reviews on here), but you have to keep in mind that he is a veteran and has a certain personality that most of us might not be used to. He’s in his 50’s-60’s, has experienced A LOT, he’s had a very different life from people like me (I’m 26) and that just comes with it’s own stuff. We didn’t find him to be rude at all or condescending. He’s just straightforward, which is something I feel we don’t come across nowadays. Just be nice, listen to what he says, and don’t do anything stupid, duh.

My husband and I will be returning in the spring/summer, so we can do the full trail. We had a great experience today and liked Joe’s personality and history stories!

Oh! And his horses are beautiful, a good size, and have great names (mine was called Montana!).

Would...

Booking the actual time slot was easy and stress-free. That was about the only stress-free part of the day. Let me start off by first saying, Joe is legally blind. As someone who was slightly uncomfortable on the horse, I didn't feel comforted by the fact that he couldn't really see what was happening. He was very knowledgable about the horses and the land, but the trip was less than enjoyable due to the way he spoke to the riders. Whenever we did something wrong, which was a good amount since we were beginners, he would yell at us or speak in a condescending matter. I didn't feel warmed up enough coming out of the stable to approach the VERY rocky trail at the beginning, and asked to get off and not go on the trail. He denied my request and I was forced to ride the rest of the trail. It got better after a while, but I never felt entirely safe on my horse. I wouldn't recommend this place if you are a beginner. If you have some experience riding,...

I can not say enough great things about the experience we had. My kids planned out this wonderful surprise for me for my birthday and it was a TOTAL surprise! I grew up trail riding and miss it dearly. My daughter had riding lessons and my husband is a good sport to ride along when we do these types of rides. This is not one of those nose to tail type rides. Joe assesses each person's skill level and matches to the appropriate well trained horse. He provides a wonderfully scenic trail ride and is a fountain of interesting information regarding history, experiences he has had and the surrounding area. We had such a good time and would definitely return here. Thank you Joe for making my birthday present so awesome! Loved every bit of it! **Note: My kids are in their 20's. We especially liked that he caters to small personalized group. Would recommend for teens and up. We went the first Saturday in October, weather...