Activity Tips
Kevin Ditamore – Owner / Manager
Many people don’t realize that Hawaii has a rich cowboy tradition and that ranching is big in the islands. The Hawaiian language even has a word for cowboy … “Paniolo.” You’ll tap into that history if you do a horseback ride on Maui. Because horseback riding takes place in small groups, reservations should be made well in advance of your arrival … we suggest three weeks as a minimum.
Mendes Ranch is the largest and most well-known horseback riding operation on Maui. They have stunning ocean views from their ranch which is nestled at the top of a 1,000 foot bluff along the north shore of the West Maui Mountains. You ride from the upper ranch down a gently sloping trail that leads all the way to the ocean and then back again. This ride has a slow enough pace for beginners who have never been on a horse before, but there are one or two places where the more experienced can canter for short distances. This ride scores well on scenery; less so for the actual horse experience as these horses seem to be in control of the rider and not the other way around. Overall it’s a good experience for beginners, or for more advanced riders we recommend their private rides. Call for the details at 1.877.678.7333. Mendes Ranch recently changed the length of their rides from 2 hours to an hour and a half. They said that the 2 hour ride was taking 2 and a half hours, so they adjusted the ride to 90 minutes so that it now takes 2 hours … haha. I think it’s safe to say the ride there will last between an hour and a half and two hours depending on the speed of the group.
Lahaina Stables & Makani Olu Ranch are also great horseback riding options.
Please note maximum weights and minimum ages for riders when making your reservations.
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