We started around ten in the morning. It was a sunny day, you can feel the heat with the sun, make sure u have sun block on. Ranch owner greet us at the parking lot, walk us through the procedure. I highly recommend you to listen closely. He will teach you all the basic skill. Those horses are very gentle, so don't be afraid. They are clam as a cucumber. You don't have to Do anything most of the time. They are Well trained. You Just have to watch them about feeding on the side grass. They are very sneaky on grabbing a bite on the side. You Just have to Let them know you are watching and signal them before they grab the grass.We went across a stream and up the hill towards the valley. Owner provided a nice picnic. You Just have to be ready for some unexpected situation so you can communicate with the horse quickly. This is great activity and you get to see the whole west side.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2015/05/30 |
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I was so afraid that I tried to back out, but the instructor was so sweet and gentle. She talked me into it and led my horse part of the way. She made sure that I was completely comfortable before she let me go on my own. We had a fantastic time! I would definitely recommend and I would definitely come back.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2015/05/04 |
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I'm just a typical guy who rides a car to work, not a horse, so I was a little hesitant to ride a horse. Boy, I loved it. Jod (Yod) was an excellent horseman, and he showed me exactly how to handle my ride. The ranch was privately owned, so the atmosphere was very intimate. We had a great view of the Haleakala and the ocean at the picnic lunch place. I recommend this to everyone who wants to experience a nice and quiet ride in the Maui mountain.
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Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
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The views during the ride were fantastic, but the ride itself wasn't extraordinary. I would recommend the BBQ lunch though. It was a very good lunch.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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First time going to Maui and first time horseback riding. This was so fun! We did quite a few excursions during our 10 day trip and this was definitely my favourite! The guide was awesome, learned a lot, the people are so laid back and easy to talk to, and would definitely go back again. Both myself and my boyfriend has decided to take up horseback riding back home. The scenery during this tour is also incredible!
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Attended as: | Couples |
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I would recommend this to people. It was a great experience.
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2014/07/19 |
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Our experience at the Menendez Ranch was awsome. They selected horses appropriate for the riders age and experience. The horses were well trained and made me as a rider comfortable. The view from the trail was beautiful. My 10 year old daughter had a wonderful time and our tour guide, Destiny, was so pleasant and knowledgable
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
Activity Date: | 2014/07/05 |
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This was definitely one of our favorite activities we did on Maui! We took the scenic route from Lahaina to get to the ranch and it was well worth it. The staff was fantastic , the horses well taken care of and a gorgeous ride with a view from every angle.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2014/03/12 |
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Very friendly staff, and great views of a spectacular landscape.
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2013/12/28 |
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I enjoyed the ride very much. It is a very beautiful ranch to see. I recommend taking the morning ride (the one we took), since it does get very hot as the day goes on. My horse was a very good follower and listened good. Our guild was fun, information, and funny. If we needed any kind of help he was right there when you asked. He also was a very good photographer for all of us when we stop to take pictures. I would also recommend being in the front so it isn't so dusty. I was in the back and got dusted out a few times so I just kept my distance from the person in front of me and it was fine after that. Did I mention how beautiful the views were? Also, the drive there seems like you've gone too far but you can't miss the gates with the Mendes Ranch name on it. Small parking lot so park by the entrance, for easy exiting. The whole staff was very nice and helpful. I would definitely do this again!
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Attended as: | Friends |
Activity Date: | 2013/08/22 |
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Had an awesome time riding! Our guide Butch was very helpful on explaining how to ride for us beginners. He also gave us history about plants and the island! Thanks so much! Will do again next time we go to Maui!!!
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Attended as: | Couples |
Activity Date: | 2013/07/16 |
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We love to horseback ride and this was the 2nd time we chose Mendes Ranch. The staff is knowledgeable and very much fun. The trails were great and we were actually allowed to gallop our horses! I would definitely recommend Mendes to anyone wanting a great horseback riding experience in Maui!
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Attended as: | Families |
Activity Date: | 2012/07/06 |
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The staff at the Mendes Ranch was absolutely incredible. The lunch was excellent and the view was spectacular. It was the first time we had done something like this and found it to be something we would do again. Freddy and Roberta were just the nicest people. My husband and I walked away with memories that will last a lifetime. We will be back to do this again Dec. 2013. Until then Mahalo....
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Attended as: | Couples |
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We really enjoyed the lunch, the ride, the views - everything!!! Everyone was very friendly and helpful. This was one of our FAVORITE activities while on Maui!
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Attended as: | Couples |
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We recently visited the Mendes Ranch with a group of 5 (two women in our forties, two 16 year-olds, and a 14 year-old). I owned horses while growing up, but haven't ridden in years, and the other members of our group have ridden once or twice on other trail rides. We all had a wonderful time. We were placed in an intermediate trail group with another couple, making our group total of 7. Butch was our guide and he moved along the line of horses throughout to the ride, checking in with everyone and chatting about the ranch. He took lots of photos with the riders cameras at two different photo locations and even took video of the final run. Other reviews have mentioned the dust on the trail and we did get VERY dirty, but we expected it. At times, Butch had some of the group veer off to other portions of the trail to try to limit the dust. I did not mind this, but our younger members got a bit nervous when they could not see the other horses.
The views were simply stunning, f
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Attended as: | Families |
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Overall the event was fun. The staff was friendly and helpful. However, the trail was not the easiest of rides and the equipment could be updated. For example, my rein broke in the middle of the ride. Other than that, it was a great experience.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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While we all had a lot of fun and took some great pics, the 2-hour ride ended up closer to 3 hours. Although I'm not an expert on horses, it seemed to all of us that the horses were exhausted and hungry. The house and surrounding grounds are not well maintained with too much trash around and lots of tall weeds around the buildings and lots. There were two guides. Our main guide was the younger one, and he was very nice. The other tour guide kept coming back and trying to make the horses run and go faster, which was a little unnerving for beginners...especially since the majority of the ride was either uphill or downhill on very rocky terrain. There was very little pasture riding. As the tour description indicates, you will get VERY dusty. We are glad we went for the ride, but would much rather have taken a shorter, easier ride for our first time. It's definitely a great picture-taking opportunity.
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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I chose this activity for its uniqueness. You rode a horse high up to the mountain top and were given photo options using your own camera. You were matched to a horse that suited your riding experience. The riding was either up a mountain or down a mountain. Very little on the flat lie. Once to the bottom, the view of the ocean was fantastic. Again, photo options were great. The staff was most obliging. My only concern was that the
one guide's horse and the horse I was given did not get along. Everytime the guide came to check on me, my horse would fold its ears back, tremble and prepare to bolt and often broke into a canter. It was a very unnerving feeling for a beginner rider. There was only two times available to canter for the experienced riders and it was only going uphill for a short stretch. Our group had three such riders.
If you are out for fantastic views, great photo ops, then this is the ride for you.
If you are out for a lovely ride then forget this outing.
We
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Attended as: | Couples |
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This was alot of fun the staff was really awesome and the views from the trails were truelly beautiful.
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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The staff made us feel so welcome. I was nervous about riding. Butch was our guide and he really went out of his way to make sure I was comfortable throughout the entire ride. He took a lot of pics for us and had a wonderful sense of humor. I will go back again for sure!
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Attended as: | Couples |
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My 13 year old grandson found this activity on the Internet and chose it for our trip to Maui. Both he and I, a 69 year old guy, were beginners. The guides were fantastic, the horses great, and the trail near the top of a mountain and descending to a beautiful beach, were outstanding!
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Attended as: | Couples |
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I've never ridden horse before and was thrown off a pony when I was young. I was very nervous. Our guides were excellent and the horses were wonderful. I enjoed the ride very much and also apprciated the photo oppurtunities our guides gave us. We had the ride with the lunch included and I would highly reccomened you indulge in the meal also. I am so glad we did this on our visit to Maui.
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Attended as: | Friends |
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My wife and I had a great time at the ranch.
The check in was straight forward and the waiting area was clean with friendly staff.
The lunch was great and the cook was very friendly.
I had Cowboy and my wife had Baily and they were great horses.
Butch and the other wrangler (can't remember his name) were friendly and knowledgeable.
We would recommend the Mendes Ranch to anyone who wants to have great trail ride while in Maui.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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Our guide "Frenchie" was very funny, entertaining, and courteous. He certainly made the 2 hour horseback ride enjoyable. We were taken to some locations that offered amazing views of both the mountains and the ocean. In addition, the BBQ lunch that was provided was excellent as well. Overall, it was a very good experience, and one that we would recommend to others.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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The 4 of us had a ball at the ranch. Everyone was so nice and helpful. Frenchi and Butch were great with us. Also liked the way riders were paired to the horses. Had my 50th birthday on your island and at the end of the ride I was the last to dismount due to friends signing Happy Birthday to me. Was a BIG highlight of our trip. Thanks again.
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Attended as: | Families |
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The 2-hour excursion with lunch was outstanding. The scenery of the entire East side of Maui, from Haleakala through Kahului to the three waterfalls of Mt. Eke was breathtaking. The opportunity for the horses to trot & gallop was a pleasant surprise that I was not expecting. The Paniolo lunch of barbecue chicken & ribs was very delicious.
Thanks for the experience!!!
Den
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Attended as: | Families |
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Mendes staff, Rocky, Butch, and Frenchi were wonderful--so friendly and helpful! These folks made the experience even more fun and enjoyable. The views during the ride are spectacular. Plus, the guides provide interesting information at the two photo opportunity stops; the information and the photo ops are quite thoughtful. I've been on three other horserides on different islands, and this one is my favorite because of Rocky, Butch, and Frenchi, and the views. The BBQ lunch is also very tasty and much enjoyed after a beautiful ride.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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My wife though this was one of the best activities we did while in Maui. Great job by the staff.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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This was at the top of our list as far as the Activities we did in Maui. It was FUN, the people were sooooo Friendly and the VIEWS were AMAZING!!!!!! It is a little on the pricey side, but worth it.
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Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
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Guides Jenny and Steve were great. My horse was amazing on the gallop and the tour was the perfect length.
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Attended as: | Couples |
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