The Stables At Eagle Crest Resort

I’l start out by stating we had 2 different rides on 2 separate days. The concierge booking was painless and we initially booked an hour and a half ride for our 2 chatty 14 year old girls. They were novice/​beginner riders with limited (couple weeks in previous summers) exposure. We arrived at 1:45 pm, 15 min. early to sign the paperwork and the horses were already saddled to go for our 2 pm ride. A young lady (the guide) told the name of the horse they were going to ride and off they went. The young man at the stable handled the paperwork and we said we would be back in an hour and a half. We received a call at 3:02 from the girls asking when we were going to pick them up. When we arrived the young man at the stable handed my husband the square for credit card charge and said that the normal tip was 15%. Once the girls were in the car we found out that they had not asked to be brought back early nor had they even been spoken to the whole ride. One of the horses had decided on a slight side excursion and the guide did not offer help which left the 14 yr old on her own to bring the animal back under control. I’m sure there was no real danger, just a beginner wrestling with a horse that wanted to do her own thing, still she was done with horses for this trip.
We called the concierge and was put in contact with the Chris who runs the program. He was very apologetic and offered to take the kids on another ride. The girls were not interested but the boys went. It was the best experience a mom could hope for. These boys both 16 came back smiling and full of gratitude. They were engaged and taken to the top of a mountain with incredible views and returned after an hour and a half.
Every business has an employee who has a bad day, but management made it right. If we hadn’t called and just wrote a bad review it would have solved nothing. I think that the management has the tools to make it a great and thriving success. We will definitely be back again for future rides.

I went on a trail ride at Eagle Crest & had a great time. Before the ride the employees showed me how to brush my horse, put the saddle on properly & gave me riding instructions. The trail we went on was really beautiful with gorgeous mountain views. When we returned to the stables I saw some parents there with their younger kids who were getting pony rides. The girl leading the ponies really knew how to make it an enjoyable time for these kids. I would recommend this place to everyone young & old.

Had a great time on the ride. The guide was very helpful and nice to talk with. I’m still learning and the staff were wonderful. I will visit again and encourage others to do so as well. I brought carrots for my horse and he loved them. AAAAA+

A public trail ride is usually pretty predictable. Horses walk in a line and the guides and views make the ride. Here the place is run by a non profit and the work done with young people is really cool. There is a mix of horse types and personalities and they look in great shape. The guides are polite and make sure the gear fits correctly. There are great mountain views of five different peaks and the trail is mellow. For someone who wants a challenge they can book a private ride and go faster on more of a horse. During summer months try to book a ride in the morning because it can get hot. I just really appreciate the vibe at this place. Also ask about their special birthday party with finger painting a horse. Its way cute.

We have been visiting Eagle Crest for family vacations for years and have been waiting for an experience like the one we had at the Eagle Crest Equestrian Center! After growing up riding and spending time at other resorts that offer trail rides, I know whats involved in being a successful guide. Chris and his team do an amazing job of striking the perfect balance between safety, timeliness, adventure, and respect for the animals. My four kids always felt welcome, engaged, and inspired by Chris and his team! The guides are personable and the rides are educational — we always learn a lot about the animals and even get to spend time petting them after. The guides are dedicated to making the experience one of bonding for our family as well! Each time we visit Eagle Crest my kids beg to go to the stables because they have such amazing memories of our rides.
Whether you’re an owner at Eagle Crest or just visiting for vacation, the stables create memories that last a lifetime. We are so grateful for our experiences at the Eagle Crest Equestrian Center — the memories are part of the fabric of our family and we plan to be back year after year!
Laura

I have to say, I’ve gone on several guided trail rides in various vacation destinations over the years, and experiences are always different. The stables at Eagle Ridge were convenient since we are staying here, and the price was reasonable. We had a group of 6, with three 11 year old girls, one of which has never ridden.
Overall this was probably the most boring experience I’ve ever had on a horse. The guides were not personable, barely talking to us the entire time. They didn’t tell you anything about the horses or give any instruction. We had to each ask specifically to know our horses name. The girl who was inexperienced was just given a lead rope to hold on to and that’s all. It was basically a long quiet ride of follow the leader. The horses were so barn broke that even those of us who know how to ride could not get their horse to do anything they were asked. Mine was so aggravated she would throw her head and pull on the reins anytime I gave her the slightest nudge. The lead guide didn’t say anything the entire ride except to yell back twice «Is everybody doing ok?».
In other rides I’ve done at other places they have given everyone a little instruction, doing some exercises with the horse to get used to them. And we’ve done more than just walk in a line. If nothing else the guides were fun and engaging making it a better experience. This time was very disappointing.
If you are visiting Eagle Crest I would recommend trying to find another stable to go riding with. And ask them what the ride is like first.

Horses are well taken care of, Lots of food, and all in good weight. Which as a horse lover is a priority to me. Horses were well behaved! We had a very nice high schooler being our guide. A real cowgirl!

This is a tough one and probably the reason I didn’t write my review after my first experience with Ikiutan Stables at Eagle Crest last year. After no horseback riding at Eagle Crest Resort for several years, Ikutan Stables took over the equestrian riding and instruction services at the resort. During that hiatus, my family visited several other places in Redmond, Bend and the surrounding area with various degrees of success.
Everything I’ve read about their operations has been positively glowing. And when I first visited, I talked to one of the staff members about some of their more educational and therapeutic services. All very admirable.
Strictly speaking as a commercial customer, it has been difficult. In the past, you made the reservations with the staff at the stable. This year, reservations were handled by the Eagle Crest concierge. Both times I had similar issues that can be classified as a communication breakdown.
It is never a good sign when you are making a reservation and are told, «Oh yeah, the information on the website is wrong.» The specific problem that I experienced was that I wanted my son to take the longer trail ride. This was clearly communicated to the reservation agent and also confirmed in person with the stable staff when I arrived 15 minutes early, as requested, to sign the waiver. However, there were other riders (they take up to 8 in a session) that I believe booked the shorter trail ride. They all ended up taking the same ride. So I ended up returning late to pick-​up my son and because the staff was busy with the next group of riders, I couldn’t communicate directly with them.
So back to the concierge. Ultimately I feel like they handled the snafu well, it all just seems so very avoidable. And it has happened to us twice.
So my advice to Eagle Crest is to update your website, have crisp and clear communication between customer and reservation agent and stable staff. The best customer service is when you don’t have to fix a problem in the first place.
The only other issue is that although the groups are small, they do adjust the riding experience down to the level of the most inexperienced rider. So if you are looking for a gallop, canter or trot in the high desert, you may end up taking more of a mosey.