Guided Horseback Riding Adventure in Miami Countryside

The experience was not pleasant.

Unfortunately, our horseback riding experience was extremely disappointing and did not meet the expectations set by the Viator booking. One of our biggest concerns was the lack of clear information and safety preparation before and upon arrival. The Viator listing did not provide clear instructions regarding what to expect, what to bring, or appropriate clothing and footwear. In fact, I had to contact Viator customer service beforehand simply to confirm what type of shoes we should wear because this information was not clearly provided. When we arrived, we were not asked to sign any waivers or liability/safety forms, and we received very limited instructions before getting on the horses. We were essentially shown how to navigate the horses and then sent out on the trail. There was also a significant communication barrier because our instructor did not speak English, which became particularly concerning once safety issues arose. The trail itself was another major problem. We were taken through an area with large, overgrown bushes and branches that repeatedly hit and scratched us. The branches hit our faces, arms, and legs. I was wearing shorts and a shirt that left my arms exposed, and we had not been warned that the trail involved substantial overgrowth or that we should wear protective clothing. I have photos of the scratches. The situation became particularly frightening when my sister’s horse began backing up and spinning around, causing her to become extremely scared. The instructor was ahead of us, and I repeatedly tried to alert her that my sister needed help. Because of the language barrier, it took approximately 30 seconds to a minute for the instructor to respond. My sister was repeatedly asking for help while struggling to control the horse. When the instructor finally realized what was happening, her response appeared frustrated or annoyed rather than reassuring or supportive. My sister also lost her glasses in the overgrown bushes when the branches pulled them from her face. She was so frightened by the behavior of her horse that she did not feel comfortable asking the instructor to stop at the time. After the ride, we went back ourselves to try to locate the glasses, but we were not provided assistance and ultimately could not find them. I also experienced difficulty controlling my own horse. At one point, the horse began trotting ahead despite my attempts to use the reins to slow or stop him. This added to the overall feeling that we had not been adequately prepared to handle the horses or the trail conditions. There was also a significant discrepancy regarding the duration and price of the experience. We paid approximately $130 for what we understood to be a one-hour ride, but the actual ride was substantially shorter than an hour—less than 45 minutes based on our start and finish times. Additionally, the booking information we received indicated a 45-minute experience for $100, which did not match the $130 one-hour experience we believed we had purchased. Because we paid for an hour-long experience and did not receive the full hour, we will be reaching out to Viator customer service to request appropriate compensation for the shortened ride and to address the discrepancy between the advertised duration and pricing. Furthermore, given the safety concerns, lack of adequate instruction, communication difficulties, trail conditions, and overall experience, we would appreciate having someone from Viator Customer Service contact us directly so that we can further discuss what occurred. Overall, we felt that the experience lacked adequate safety preparation, clear communication, appropriate trail maintenance, sufficient instruction, and the level of service we expected for the price we paid. Horseback riding can involve inherent risks, but those risks should be clearly communicated to customers, particularly when inexperienced riders are involved. We should have been informed about the trail conditions, recommended protective clothing, and potential hazards before beginning the ride. There also should have been a clear safety briefing and a reliable way to communicate with the instructor in the event of an emergency. Unfortunately, this was not an enjoyable or reassuring experience for any of us. We would not return to this location and cannot recommend this experience based on our visit. We hope Viator takes this feedback seriously and contacts us to discuss the situation and appropriate compensation.

via Viator

My property walk

Not really country side more like walk through corn field and then around the back part of their ranch along chain link fence. Staff was really nice and accommodating if needed.

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 😊 We’re glad you enjoyed the walk through the cornfield and around the ranch, and we truly appreciate your kind words about our staff. We’re always happy to accommodate our guests whenever possible. We hope to welcome you back again soon!

via Viator

Lovely time

We had the most fantastic time horseback riding at Hacienda JS! From the beautiful scenery to the warm, welcoming team, everything was incredible. It was such a special experience, and we loved every minute of it. Highly recommend! 🐎✨!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for your wonderful review! 🥰 We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fantastic time at Hacienda JS. It means so much to know that you enjoyed the beautiful scenery and our welcoming team. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again for another unforgettable ride!

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Fun time just be sure to...

Fun time just be sure to wear the right shoes and just be prepared if the horse stops to eat the flowers be sure to be able to pull the rope to the appropriate side to have the horse continue on! My first time riding a horse was an amazing experience!

Response from the operator: Thank you so much for sharing your experience! 😊 We’re thrilled that your very first horseback riding experience was such an amazing one! And yes, our horses definitely have a soft spot for flowers along the way. 😂 We appreciate your helpful tips and are so happy you had a fun time. We hope to see you again for another ride!

via Viator

Okay horseback riding experience

The experience was okay. The instructor didn't speak English and the ride was cut short. I believe we were to get 40-60 minutes, but we only got 30 minutes if as much. I didn't expect it to be overly amazing considering Miami doesn't have much fields. I did enjoy being able to ride the horse and spend time out there, but I wouldn't go back. P.s. We did book this on the same day and it was a last minute purchase

Response from the operator: Thank you for taking the time to share your honest feedback. We’re glad you were still able to enjoy riding the horse and spending some time outdoors. We’re sorry to hear that the experience did not meet your expectations, especially regarding the ride duration and communication with the instructor. We take this feedback seriously and will review what happened with our team to help ensure guests receive the experience and time advertised. We also appreciate you mentioning that this was a same-day, last-minute booking, as this helps us better understand the circumstances. Thank you again for giving us a try and for sharing your experience with us.

via Viator