alaska horsemen day trail adventures

This review is long overdue. Back in June we went to Alaska through Princess Cruise lines. It was a cruise/land tour package. My husband and I chose this horseback ride as one of our excursions while visiting Kenai. Best decision we ever made. This was the horseback ride of a lifetime. It turned out we were the only two people to book the 3 hour ride during that time slot (9am). Our guide Brian, took good care of us. First we rode out a bit so that he could see how experienced we were. Seeing that we had ridden a lot, he then asked us if we were up for a challenge. We said yes! OMG - what fun. We rode these beautiful Belgian/quarter horse crosses up hill and down! The views were amazing and Brian was very knowledgeable about the area. And a perfect gentleman - the kind of good people you don't meet every day. We could see the horses were loved and well cared for (Smoky and Ellie Mae). They were very surefooted and could handle the steep inclines/descents. We went from one mountain to another stopping at the top to take photos and relax on the tundra grass. We had lunch at an old mine camp. We then visited the mine shaft near a beautiful creek. We did lots of trotting and cantering and a bit of off-trail riding too! Now I know how it was for cowboys in the old days. I felt like John Wayne or Roy Rogers ou there. We stopped often to rest the horses (and us). We finished up tired and sore at the lake. Did I mention Brian is an accomplished photographer? He happily took photos and videos of us throughout the trip so that we have wonderful memories. Oh and we had fun with a foal and her mom back at the corral after the ride. Solstice loved my hat! I highly recommend Alaska Horsemen Trail Adventures because they treat each of their guests based on their individual needs and wants. We feel so blessed to have experienced the rawness of Alaska on horseback. We didn't want to leave...and I know if and when we go back to Alaska we will arrange another ride with Brian.

Wonderful horses, great guide, amazing scenery; couldn't ask for anything better. My horse, Crescent Moon was very sure-footed through really mountainous terrain.

I grew up riding, and have avoided “rental rides” – my singular experience prior to this adventure was a plodding trip on the beach following behind 6 tired, bored horses with hard mouths. I was cautious booking a ride here, but wanted to offer my out-of-town guests an alternative to fishing while we visited the Cooper Landing area on the Kenai.What a wonderful surprise to find this outfit! My guests had very little riding experience, and were initially cautious about their ability to “not fall off” on the challenging terrain. They didn’t have to worry. From the moment we arrived, the staff were wonderful (skilled horsemen and women) and the horses were solid and responsive without being skittish. Loved that the outfit does not use bits – they use hackamores.We took a 2-hour ride up the mountain, through the forest and up to an overlook with wonderful views of Kenai lake. This was NOT a beginner’s ride, yet both my guests did wonderfully, and had a great time. The trail ascends upward over logs and around trees and bushes and rocks, keeping the rider focused and interested. When a large bull moose charged down the hill past us, our guide kept her horse in check, and mine blocked the trail to keep the others from bolting. It added excitement and adventure to the ride, and we had a good story to tell. Our guide was great about stopping to take photos several places, and we took a short break at the top of the hill in an area with a view and with logs to stand on to re-mount our horses. Sorry we forgot her name – she really made the ride fun.The team offered us riding gear (Australian oil slick riding coats) and water, and made sure everyone was comfortable and having fun. There were dry cabins for rent (showers in a nearby building) and places to pitch a tent if you chose. A large BBQ area, fun horse people and plenty of horses to enjoy made this a place I’ll return with friends for a longer ride, and possibly an overnight stay.

Our group of 4 did a 6 hour ride in late May and it was fantastic, the highlight of our Alaskan vacation. When we arrived the horses we basically ready to go, we got suited up in some gear and did a quick basic orientation of what to do and what to expect. Two in our group were very experienced riders and one was a complete novice. The guide was great, he made sure we were comfortable with the terrain we were going over and stopped along the way to take photos and give people a break. He took us thru trails and terrain we never thought we could do and it surpassed all expectations. We were lucky that it was just us and a guide for the ride so we were able to go to various areas we might not have been able if there were more people in the group that were novice riders. The horses were in great shape and it was amazing what they could go thru and climb up. The scenery was beautiful with lush forest, streams and mountains. The ride was long enough you really felt you were out in the vastness that is Alaska. We did the deluxe day ride as this was recommended by Alex at Alaska Horsemen because we wanted an exciting ride and we definitely got that. The trails are narrow and you are nose to tail for most of the ride but the terrain you are going over is so much more interesting and challenging than just a flat trail. We were going up and down hillsides, over rocks and trees. I have no complaints at all and we had a wonderful experience. If you are looking for a great ride then this is the place.

Alaska Horseman Trail Adventures provided my family a vacation of a lifetime. The mountains, wildlife, horses and scenery were great, but our guides, Alex and Gretchen, made the experience several times greater than it might have been. They were so passionate and hospitable and their enthusiasm for the beauty was infectious. They truly magnified the experience. These guides were so admirable, that I hoped their passion, toughness, patience, and kindness were rubbing off on my 11 and 13 year old kids. They were great role models and a lot fun.

First of all, the 3 stars are based on MY experience and do not relate to Alaska Horsemen entirely. They were very nice, albeit a little slow to accommodate us with our timing and schedule. The woman who took us on the trail, again although nice, talked about herself during the entire 1 hour+ trail ride. I personally would have liked more riding, less talking. Frankly, I'm not a horse person. I did this for my wife who really enjoyed it, but I was very uncomfortable in the saddle the last 1/4 of the ride. It is very hard and my boney butt got very sore quickly. In addition, it was a rainy day and they gave us long coats, but they smelled unclean and musty. Still it was an adventure in Alaska and one of the highlights.

My husband and I went here at the last minute on a rainy day. We decided horseback riding in the rain was better than hiking again in the rain. They gave us long leather coats and cowboy hats to wear so we were pretty comfortable. Essentially you just ride these horses through the woods and trails. There were amazing mushrooms of all colors everywhere. Some beautiful views. If you are a serious horse rider, you might be bored, but for someone who never rides horses it was fun. A little expensive, but then again, everything in Alaska is expensive. The owner and staff were very nice and attentive.

We did the two-hour trail ride with Alex, and it certainly lived up to expectations. Lovely, mannerly sure-footed horses, and some superb views. I have my own horse at home, and have ridden all over the world, while my partner is more novicey and out of practise, but we both agreed it was one of the highlights of our Alaska adventure. I'd love to stay and do a multi-day trail here sometime.

I don’t normally review on trip advisor anymore. But this experience was so FANTASTIC I had to say a little something……Such a wonderful adventure! We stayed with Alaska Horseman for a week. We are a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. We made friends for life. The ranch is wonderful. The people are incredible. Our whole family is missing the ranch, the people, and the animals very much. We had an amazing adventure into the Kenai peninsula with Alex and his daughter Gretchen. They took us to places that are so beautiful, and spiritual words truly cannot do them justice. My girls got so close to the horses, they have pictures up in the bedrooms. The girls got to pan for gold with Alex, we had a few wonderful meals at the ranch. ALL prepared for us by Alex and Gretchen. We did day rides and ½ day rides around the ranch. We explored the town. Alex has wonderful recommendations for things to do and see. We are already working on pulling together a trip for next year. Alaska Horseman is a very special place.

I loved the two hour trail ride. They were so patient with the little 9 year old with us, it was her first time alone on a horse and she was a little frightened. They were patient with her and very encouraging. Gretchen was just wonderful and so was her Dad. We went on a two hour trail ride to a lake with a beautiful view and scenery. It was kind of far from Anchorage, but as kind and patient as they were I would go back again. I thank them for the memories and making Erin's first horse back riding experience a positive one. Great folks. They also have cabin rentals.

What a fantastic day. Gretchen, our guide, was a very attentive and kind. Their horses were very well trained and fun to ride. Our only regret was that we were not able to visit with Alex (the owner and Gretchen's dad) as much as we wanted because they were busy! This was one of the highlights of our Alaskan vacation! We would recommend this stable to riders of all ability levels. Thank you, Gretchen and Alex. We hope to visit you guys again sometime!

This was a highlight of my vacation. Alex and Gretchen run a top notch horse business. Their horses are in great condition and are very well cared for (important to me as a horse owner). I did a 6 hour trail ride and loved every minute. We stopped several times to rest the horses and ourselves and to snack and take great pictures. We saw mountain goats and Dalls sheep high up on the hillside and moose and bear tracks on the trail. The views of Kenai Lake are stunning. This was a wonderful way to get up in the hills.

The staff is anxious for you to feel right at home. Wonderful atmosphere for children. Many animals and everything is clean. Man was there shoeing a horse and explained everything to the children around. Animal's health was EXCELLENT! Well taken care of! I would recommend Alaska Horsemen to everyone!!

We had a great ride. My horse was very sweet and patient with me, as I was nervous. Our guide was a great guy from Colorado who knew the local history and gave us great information along the ride. The horses did not seem too skinny to us. They were well fed, happy and our ride was their only ride that day.

I would have rated this place much higher because employee Samantha was awesome and we had a very nice 1-hour trail ride with her, the horses are beautiful, and the ranch is in a lovely location. However, Alex, the owner, and whoever answered the phone when Samantha wasn't there (female) were not nice at all. I had called, per my agreement with Samantha, to make final arrangements for our ride, but the person who answered the phone was very rude and had me wondering if we were going to get to ride at all. After we arrived, Alex introduced himself as our "neighbor" when he learned we were staying there, but turned out to be the owner - he seemed to assume I knew that. He complained about our scheduled ride time - apparently there was a miscommunication among the staff regarding the use of the horses; he also complained about to me about the rate we paid, as though we were robbing them, but it's their advertised rate for a TENT. We were supposed to stay in a "wall tent" but he had apparently given it to someone else (not sure if it was his visiting relatives or a paying guest); I didn't complain at all about being moved to a different location and sleeping in a tent, but he seemed to think I wasn't paying enough. He also seemed to think that I had called and begged for a place to stay, when in actuality, I had arranged for a trail ride and then asked about staying there since we would be riding in the evening. Also, I thought I had been told it was okay to do a load of laundry there ("full use of facilities") but got chastised like I was a child for doing so, even after offering to pay a fare rate for the one load of laundry. I also had completed two loads of the ranch's laundry - folded towels and sheets, put stuff in the dryer, etc., before doing my own laundry. This place has a lot of potential but has a lot to learn about customer service. I live really far from this ranch but will be sure to recommend that friends and family visiting Alaska NOT go there.