Desert Trails

Archive for the ‘Trails Rides’ Category

Heidi and Mike live out in Punta Banda and had their nephew in town from Idaho for awhile. They do mission work out in Maneadero and help out women and children in need down here. They work with their church to get donations for their needs. Their nephew Logan was a little nervous as he hasn’t ridden a horse before. We gave them the option of riding double, which they accepted. On the way up Heidi told me Logan had a death grip on her from hanging on so tight. She laughed, and on the way back he had loosened his grip, was looking around and had a great time. It was a new experience for a city boy being down here in Ensenada in a whole different world, going horseback riding with the views above the ocean. If you have never ridden before or have experience riding, we have horses for all levels. If you have children and would like to ride double we also offer that, where a lot of other horse riding people don’t.  See you up in the clouds!

Blanca goes trail riding every weekend with Desert Trails

We are in Ensenada Baja CA with our 4 horses overlooking beautiful Ensenada Bay! All year, (we have Mediterranean weather here) we take people from the cruise ships and many who drive down, on awesome rides in the hills above the bay. Many times it is literally a ride through the clouds! Join us for a day or a weekend. We have a bed & breakfast style environment (with BBQ’s) and so many other things to do in the beautiful town of Ensenada. You won’t want to leave!

Ask us about our package deals for 2-3 days, b&b, trail riding & bbq’s! See ya on the mountain!

If you just can’t make it to our wonderful city of Ensenada for a day of horseback riding with Desert Trails, stop by La Mision just below Rosarito Beach and check out what our good friend Carlita has to offer (https://www.facebook.com/lamision.equestrians?fref=ts). Carlita offers lessons, and all day trail rides, and a whole bunch of fun!! Enjoy a ride on the beach of La Mision or up through the canyons.

If you are coming by cruise ship or plan on visiting Ensenada than make a day of it, see the sights around the bay but come and see us for the sights “ABOVE” the bay!!  Go out to see La Bufadora and spend the night at San Carlos hot springs, or visit the various museums, some are even free, near the bay.

Linda & Carol on a trail ride!

Our good friend Carol came out and brought another friend with her from Punta Banda. Carol had been out with her 9 year old granddaughter Rachel for 4 lessons. She thought she would give it a go herself. I could not have asked for a better time with Carol and Linda, they were so much fun! After Linda got home she wrote a short paragraph on a newsletter down here called the Punta Banda Bulletin. I could not have done a better job. Linda should have been a writer! What a great time, and experience all of us had! Please read her story. These two women are amazing down here!                                                                                                                        

Today two elderly women (sorry, folks, that what we’re classified as these days, tercera edad, seniors, golden years — hah, that’s a joke!) anyway, two elderly women decided that they’d go on an adventure.  They went horseback riding up a trail in northern Ensenada with Crystal, owner/wrangler/trainer at Desert Trails.  The horse of the heavier of the two women was heard to complain that he did not sign on to tote around fat girls, but he got over it and plodded along with only an occasional snort of derision.  Both of the horses were well behaved, save for the occasional snide remark, and both of the elderly women felt comfortable and at home immediately.  This was also because of Crystal, who accompanied us,er . . . them, and made us (them) feel relaxed and safe.  Neither of the elderly women had ridden in some years, particularly the chubbier one, so the element of safety and ease was particularly important.

We haven’t really done this, but a couple asked if we knew anyone who could take them and their well mannered 2 kids around Ensenada down town, show them La Bufadora, and go trail riding. We told them we didn’t mind doing this for them. They had never been to Ensenada before and took the cruise ship “Carnival Inspiration”. We met them in town at the “BIG” flag pole, and took them first to La Bufadora (the blow hole). There are only 4 of these blow holes known in the world. Ensenada is lucky to have one.

After the visiting La Bufadora, and traveling through Mandedero we found a place to eat called “Tacos Maru” standing room only but lucky we got there in time to find a seat! After Lunch we came back and they waited while we talked about Ensenada, and other topics, and saddled up the horses for our trail ride. It was a spectacular trail ride up in the mountains overlooking the Todos Santos islands. We had a clear view of the islands out there.

We rode for a couple hours, almost able to enjoy the sunset overlooking the ocean in Ensenada. We later took them back to the “Zona Touristica” so they had a place where they could get on their cruise ship and finish their trip back to Las Vegas. It was a wonderful, fun filled day for all of us!

Tracy emailed me when she got home and said “Thanks so much for the great time & the pics after! After the cruise we had a bunch more travel but it was worth it & we’re home now.

Both kids have said the highlight of the trip was the ride! Bella just gave a speech on it (a “what did you go this summer” type speech). Both kids want chickens now! Let me know what kind of testimonial you need & I’ll get it to you! I’d be thrilled to send more business your way.”

It is such a joy to be able to take people out trail riding, show them around Ensenada, the harbor and anything else we could fit into our day. Bella their 10 year old daughter had never ridden a horse before in her life. She was a natural, and reminded me of me when I was a child. She asked me once how do you get the horse to go faster? “You just kiss to her” oh ok, she ran right past us, off into the sunset. She climbed all over our horses while we took pictures overlooking the bay. I will never forget the memories Tracy and her family left us. Thank you for that! It was for sure a ride to remember!

La Bufadora Blow hole in Ensenada

Abby on Karinnah

Our neighbor Abby came over with her friend Alexandria. They thought they were just going to sit on the horses, and let them munch on hay while they talked about boys? Food? School? Etc?. It looked kind of boring to me, so I came out and asked them “¿Le gustaría ir en un paseo del rastro en las montañas” (would you like to go for a trail ride in the mountains?), ok I googled it!  They couldn’t contain the excitement on their faces. So I saddled up Cherokee, and said ok, let’s go! On our way up through the streets we ran and laughed, I don’t know how many times I had to rescue a hat from running so fast on the horses, galloping up the hills.

We got up to the top of the mountains overlooking  Todos Santos Isands and Ensendada Bay. It was by far the best trail ride ever! We got to ride through the clouds as they were moving. It was heaven! “Almost”

We got to our destination sat on our horses and all talked teaching each other Spanish and English, while we took a bunch of pictures. It was like you were sitting on a giant cloud with the horses. What a view!! Abby and Alexandria had never been up there.

Alexandria on Indio

On our way back Alexandria asked if we could run. We galloped through the streets laughing! Of course she lost her hat again, so I had to stop and be the “hat Rescuer” LOL! Coming back Cherokee and I took up the rear. The girls had such a great time, they went to the little tienda (little store) and bought me an ice cream!

Becky is one happy horseback rider on her Birthday!

Have a birthday coming up? ride for free when you have 1 paying customer on your

birthday! We had a great trail ride up through the little Mexican villas, and up through the hills over looking Ensenada bay. Leslie came out with her sister Becky to go trail riding. Her sister had no idea she was here to ride a horse! What a great surprise!

Leslie on Karinnah

Five minutes into the trail ride Becky says, “Chrystal this is great,” I said “really?, if this is great you haven’t seen the best part yet to come.” We had a blast, riding up through the valleys to go up and have lunch on the hillside over looking the Todos Santos islands. At one point Leslie was laughing so hard i thought she was going to fall off the horse she was riding! Now i call that a great time!

Leslie and Becky did the short trail ride as they were beginners, it was well worth the ride, and excitement they had for Becky’s birthday! She can’t wait to do it again!

Cherokee & Indio

Indio came to us about 6 days ago, from Ojos Negros, about an hour  drive from Ensenada Centro. He was delivered to us by some cowboys who needed a truck, and we needed a horse.  When we walked into his paddock to halter him, his eyes lit up like he was saying “yes, we’re going to do something fun!” He was fantastic about saddling up, just like our other 2 horses. When it was time to go, he couldn’t wait, Indio was off and walking. Cherokee and Indio did fantastic together on their first trail ride as a pair. Indio was an old pro at trail riding and performed flawlessly!  His” been there done that” attitude rang true going through the Mexican villas, up the hills and into the mountains above Todos Santos island.  He is a keeper at our stables and will be here when you are ready to come down and take a ride above the clouds over Ensenada Bay!

Glenn on Indio for our first trail ride

Cruise Ship in Ensenada Harbor

Welcome to Ensenada Baja CA Princess Cruise ship, Carnival cruise ship, Celebrity Solstice cruise, Golden Princess cruise, and the Queen Mary during Carnival, and other special occasions!

If you don’t want to shoot up your stay in Ensenada with a 45 min. drive ONE WAY  to Punta Banda to go horseback riding on the beach, then check out Desert Trails only 15 minutes away from the Port of Ensenada.  Go trail riding up in the mountains overlooking Todos Santos islands. Stay for a bbq lunch, and relax with a glass of wine, or bring a lunch and beverage of your choice and enjoy an ocean view from atop the mountains, or inland overlooking Ensenada on horseback.

Lunch on the hill over looking Todos Santos Islands!

Come join us for a great time, and spectacular views of the bay!

We had a wonderful trail ride with our good friend Shine up in the mountains over looking the bay of Ensenada. While riding up in the hills, we got to see the sailboats, and see some beautiful cactus flowers in bloom. It was a perfect sunny day for our 2.5 hour ride on horseback in the back country of Baja California.

We did a little exploring on horseback of the many trails going up and down through the mountains overlooking Ensenada. We found a great trail that had an amazing view of the bay and followed that all the way down to the main highway leading in and out of Ensenada.

If you are ever in town for the Baja 500 or 1000 race,  Carnival, Rosartio to Ensenada bike race, Newport to Ensenada yacht race, or whatever, and want a little change of scenery, be sure to come for a trail ride with Desert Trails!