lajitas & big bend stables - day tours

We booked a 1/2 day ride for our Spring Break vacation. We were traveling with 4 adults and 1 tween. We had 3 beginner riders, 1 novice and me. Riding was my passion before I became a mom. The guide, Adrianne, was great. She was knowledgeable and likable. Our horses were bomb proof and trustworthy even when we were caught in a hail storm leaving our dinner break. A hail storm that dropped the temperature by 15 degrees and pelted us as we tried to throw on slickers. We finally dismounted and walked our horses into the storm and back to the safety of the rocks. Adrianne was a great guide and made us feel safe during the whole ride, even when negotiating the water crossings after the storm. It was a great was to experience how quickly the desert changes when it rains.We were rewarded with rainbows on our ride back to the barn via a dirt road as the trails to the mesa were now unsafe. All in all, a great outfit run by personable, professional staff. The horses were matched accurately to the rider's skills. This is not a ride where you'll be able to trot or lope if you're able to. The terrain is far too rocky. It is best to put those thoughts aside and just soak in the amazing landscapes as you traverse the mesas.

So glad you enjoyed your ride! Thank you for visiting us and for your review! Looking forward to your next ride with us here at Big Bend*Lajitas Stables.

Teresa, you have a flair with words! We really appreciate you sharing your experience with the public and with us. We look forward to your return and the chance to show you more of the Big Bend Country side.

Well, you folks really were brave to tough out that weather! Thanks for hanging in there with us. Seems the beauty of Big Bend simply eliminates the chill in the air some days! Glad you enjoyed your ride and we look forward to your return!

We love sharing the many attractions to the Big Bend Country along with a true western horseback trail ride at one of our two Stables here. FM 170, following the Rio Grande river from Presidio to the front doorstep of our Lajitas Stables has been ranked one of the top 10 scenic drives in North America; it is #1 to us and we encourage any traveler with the (slower pace) time to explore this route. *Note: make sure your vehicle is safely off the main road before coming to a stop for the perfect vacation photograph!

We look forward to your upcoming "All Day" ride with Big Bend*Lajitas Stables! John (a.k.a./Joe) is true jewel and great asset to our staff. & Karl (a.k.a./Carl) has been raised in this business and loves watching after our guests. We are very proud of our wranglers and hope you get to meet many more of our talented and caring staff!

We always appreciate when our guests are willing to be flexible, particularly when it comes to safety! The advantage of having two (2) areas to ride Horseback in the Big Bend area is not only the different terrain, but also the different experiences visitors can absorb. We really look forward to your return!

We're so glad you enjoyed your horseback ride and Wrangler. And we're especially proud to work with the professional river outfitters! Come see us again real soon. Happy Trails!

We regret that you had a disappointing experience at our Big Bend Stables. We would like to explain that the horseback riding from the Big Bend Stable passes through remnants of human history for interpretive enjoyment and would not be defined as a ‘wilderness’ by any measure. What the Old Quicksilver Mine Tour does share is a glimpse into a fairly recent occurrence in time (last operated in 1970’s). Even though mining in Big Bend represents an industrial phase, the history is important to the region. Mining lays a very heavy hand on the land and the individuals that work it. Sometimes this history leaves debris just like the prospector’s dreams that weather with time. This particular land that we ride over is privately owned and therefore not managed under the same protocol as public lands and not as pristine. We instruct our staff to police any modern day trash or litter, and with your in-put we have tightened up on that policy. In retrospect, we feel travelers with similar expectations as those projected in your review would have a more satisfying experience riding out of our Lajitas Stables location, bordering Big Bend Ranch State Park. In regards to four wheeler tracks, a portion of the territory that we ride on out of the Big Bend Stables is also multi-use land. Though, once again, not a pristine wilderness, the various outfitters in this recreational area have worked diligently to avoid any conflict and hazards with multi-use. It is a place to ride and have fun.Regarding authenticity of the petroglyphs of the Indian Head area, the site is mentioned in the detailed report by Phil Nichols Bill Chambers B. Dann T. Smith - National Park Service.We at the Stables always strive to share the best experience possible to ‘all’ our guest. With three Stables and multiple areas to ride on, we feel there is something special for all riders and visitors to the region. We hope we can better define your interest and needs in the future and find the best location for your enjoyment.

It was a pleasurable ride for my daughter and I. Neither one of us are experienced riders but the trail horses simply follow each other so it's easy. The scenery was great, but unlike the jeep tour we took you don't learn much about the area or the history or anything like that. You pretty much just ride along in silence. There is nothing wrong with that, but I like to hear more interesting facts about where we are riding as well.

I did the Painted Desert Sunset Ride. It was fun and the staff were professional and pleasant. I would definitely recommend this for most people. Just one thing to keep in mind-if you have some experience with real riding, this isn't for you, as you don't really get to control the horse to do your own things.

We did the four hour ride in the morning in March. Great views, good guides, pretty tame horses, wonderful lunch. Absolutely worth the trip. You will get a little tired if you don't ride much (which I don't) but the trip is worth it.

We went on the two-hour sunset ride at Big Bend Stables. We were the only two riders on the tour, which made for a very peaceful and enjoyable ride despite the windy weather. Our guide Joe was so friendly and knowledgeable. I really felt like he went out of his way to make sure our ride was special. This was a great way to end our trip to Big Bend and Terlingua. I would definitely recommend the sunset ride! Everyone in the office was also very friendly and helpful throughout the booking process.

This was a lot of fun for our whole family. It's the perfect way to see the mountains. The wranglers are very friendly and knowledgable. The horses are well-trained, great for first timers!

We went on a two hour ride. Calm, steady horses. Great, friendly trail guides, pretty views. We got started late so without saying a word the guides extended the ride to make up for it. Joe (one of the guides) even serenaded us with his ukulele songs.