Cypress Trails

I am not an experienced rider, and actually this was my first horse ride ever; therefore I have no knowledge as to regulations and how these animals should and shouldn’t be trained/​fed ect.
With that being said, both my boyfriend and I had a great first experience. The wranglers gave us a quick lecture before the 1 ½ trail ride and I felt pretty safe as our group rode with about 4 to 5 wranglers. My horse seemed to be very well trained and I had no problem during my horseback ride. We had a few young riders during our ride and the wranglers made sure they stayed close to them and monitored them.
The staff has very good communication and service. They even provided water and insect repellent for us. I would definitely recommend this to anyone.
P.S Check for a Groupon to save some dinero. :) Ya’ welcome.

One horse was missing a leg as a result of the flood. Staff made me ride the horse with 3 legs.

FYI: Owner has deleted my comments in the past, because I voice my outrage on the conditions of her facility.
The people who have been supporting this facility are those who are personal friends of the establishment and/​or new horse people without the experience to know better.
75± horses on less than 10 acres of land! That means horses are turned out in massive groups create injuries and stress. Additionally, that means they are fed only grain and hay, obviously grass cannot survive the demand of so many animals.
No matter how much riding «every single horse» gets, a claim that’s easily seen as fraudulent, the exorbitant number of horses kept at this facility make it IMPOSSIBLE to be fully cared for.
***To all of you who just want to go for a trail ride and have enjoyed the services this business has provided:
Do your research before giving your money/​time/​and endorsement! Just because you get 3 – 4 hour trail rides doesn’t mean it’s a good deal. Consider how the animals are treated, and take note of pecking order scars you find on horses packed into small paddocks with a full herd.
Recent news aside (which condemns this horse owner without comment), this business and facility needs to be shut down.

This review is: (1) to comment on my experience at Cypress Trails and (2) to refute the republication of inaccurate information about Cypress Trails following the recent historic flood.
First, I have been riding at Cypress Trails for 2 years – first as a rider, then as a horse lessee, and more recently as a horse owner/​boarder. I doubt that one can find many, if any, PUBLIC STABLES in the world that have better quality, or better cared for, horses. Where else can a non-​horse owner pay a very reasonable amount for a 1 to 3 hour trail ride (or more) on a beautiful Arabian horse that competes in endurance races? Particularly within a major city (a couple of miles from an international airport) but still be able to ride through miles of beautiful greenbelt under a canopy of trees? Horses and riders are matched to the ability of the rider as well as the length and type of the ride contracted. I was pleasantly amazed when I discovered this stable. I believe the stable owner provides an unmatched service to the community – making such recreation available to the public as well as her role in mentoring, sponsoring, teaching, and providing jobs to young people who learn to love horsemanship and how to take care of others (through taking care of the horses.)
Second, during the flood several people lost their life, hundreds were rescued, and hundreds more had their homes flooded. The news reported this was a 500 year event because of the amount of rain and the HUGE area involved. Other stables that kept horses had horses that died during the flood but yet only Cypress Trails was targeted (unfairly in my opinion) because of the media coverage of some of the horse rescues. At Cypress Trails, the weather is monitored and horses are evacuated pursuant to a written evacuation plan (provided to friends, boarders, etc.) when it appears there is significant risk of the stables being flooded. I understand that typically there are about 2 evacuations each year – as was the case in 2015 – without loss of any horses. In 2001 or 2002, I understand there was an evacuation commenced when the owners were away, horses got spooked, and I believe a couple of horses got away and ultimately died. An evacuation decision requires judgment based upon a reasonable forecast to the public (i.e. to Cypress Trails in this case) of the amount and timing of rain. A forecast of the extent and timing of this rain event was not provided and probably not known in advance by anyone. Moreover, Conroe Dam flood gates were opened without advance warning that night. The massive rain plus the opening of those flood gates basically caused the Cypress Creek water depth to shoot straight up. NOT A USUAL OCCURRENCE. A USGS graph publicly available on the internet of the flooding event at Cypress Creek (described as a hydrograph by a geologist who responded to a Houston Chronicle writer) documents that within 4 hours the water level had risen over 20 feet. With something this massive happening, it was not possible to execute the evacuation plan the Stable Owner had in place even though she and an employee tried starting about 3am and at risk of their own life to get the horses to safety. Thanks to the heroic efforts of some people later in the day very few of the approximately 80 horses kept at the stables ended up dying – 1 confirmed death and 3 listed as missing per the latest posting that I saw.
One of the horses shown on TV being rescued was mine. I live an hour away in dry non-​rush hour traffic and there was no way for me to get to the stables to help. It broke my heart seeing video of the rescues but not for one second do I think the Stable Owner was to blame for anything that happened to the horses. I know she loves the horses and I know how well the Cypress Trails horses are cared for.

Bike or skateboard helmets should NEVER be allowed. You should have a riding helmet that they provide for you or that they check if you bring your own. Riding helmets should meet ATSM/​SEI standards and have this certification shown inside the helmet. Riding helmets can reduce riding related head injuries by 50%.
No one should EVER be allowed to ride wearing tennis shoes. Boots should have at least a ½ inch heel. Check to see if the facility has certified riding instructions and follow the safety standards such as CHA (Certified Horsemanship Association). If not, don’t ride there.

His business needs to be closed down due to negligence. Located near a flood zone and doesn’t have proper evacuation plan for flooding despite having adequate time to save the animals. Do not support a business that doesn’t care for the welfare of animals or PEOPLE! People, first responders, had to risk their lives and wade into dangerous contaminated water to save the horses that should have been relocated in the first place.
Shut this location down!

The way they treat the horses is despicable. They have no regard for their health, welfare or safety. Those horses are nothing more to that woman then an income stream. It’s disgusting and she should be shut down.

Why were your horses tied up when it was FLOODING??? Negligent!!! Hope you go out of business

This owner is negligent and should be charged with such as well as animal cruelty. Flood after flood, she does not evacuate and numerous horses have been killed through the years. When is the Houston SPCA going to step up and jail her???

This business needs to be closed down for being careless for their animals. I have seen this video
and you can see they have left their horses to die on their farm, it took strangers to go in and help their animals (100 horses). No farm who doesn’t take responsibility for their animals should remain open. Specially when they live in Houston and know very well that it has a high chance of flooding.
I hope no one else ever visits this place and gets shut down quick!

This place has been running for long enough to know how to properly prepare for a flood especially with its history! Why where the horses left tied up and outside during a flood warning?!? Because of the owners negligence those poor horses had to pay the price! I personally find it unacceptable what happen at this barn.

Leaving your horses to die in flood waters is a disgrace. You had ample warning that it was coming.

This facility lies on a flood plain next to a creek which always floods, and they continue to keep their facility there, endangering the lives of the horses that are kept there. In the past 20 years, and especially during Hurricane Ike, this place has had catastrophic flooding in which many of their horses drowned because they were tied up and kept in stables, unable to escape. Today another historic flood took the lives of 5 horses at least. 70+ horses were up to their necks trying to swim but they were tethered and couldn’t escape over the fences. It was horrific to see and the weather forecast had called for big storms and flood watches all week. Knowing this, they did nothing to move the animals. In addition whenever I have ridden here, the horses were in horrible shape. This place should be shut down.

I’ve gone to Cypress Trails twice for their 1.5 hr trail ride (one with a Groupon and one with the Unilocal Deal). The last time I went horseback riding was probably when I was around 6 years old, so I was definitely nervous but excited. The reservation process was simple and I was able to book a ride within 1 – 2 weeks in each case. You can actually use a Groupon on Saturdays «+$ 10 per rider» (maybe holidays too but just call to ask). They match you with a horse based on your height and weight. I’ve had the pleasure of riding with Aria and Wizard. :) The horses are lovely and the staff are friendly.
At the start of your ride, you’ll meet your horse and take it over to have a drink of water. A staff member will come to you and help you get onto your horse. This can take a little while for everyone in the group to get on their horses but once you’re up, you can just get to know your horse while your horse munches on some hay. Don’t freak out if you’re not initially with your party because after the start of the trail, you’ll go to an open area for a quick briefing and they’ll arrange you in order according to parties.
As for what to wear for the casual rider, I wore jeans one time and I wore leggings the next, either were fine. For footwear, I wore sneakers both times and had no issues. Their recommendation is long pants and closed-​toe shoes. You can bring your own helmet (any kind of bike, skateboard, etc.) or borrow one of theirs.
They recommend you bring along minimal belongings (lock it in the car and leave keys with the front desk) as they’ve had numerous instances where items are lost on trail. You can also borrow a fanny pack from them if you like. The first time I went my boyfriend was confident enough to carry a phone and car keys in his own pockets. This was nice because we were able to snap some photos. The second time I went with a friend and we didn’t want to risk anything so we brought nothing except my car key secure in a zippered pocket. I was a bit bummed we wouldn’t be able to take any photos but then we asked a staff member if she could take some for us at the end of the ride and she agreed to send them later! I didn’t receive them at first due to a text messaging size limit but didn’t know that was the case until she texted me to see if I received them! I said I hadn’t received them yet and it might be easier to try email instead. I nicely received the photos the next morning.
If I had gone any later into the year, I’m sure sunscreen insect repellent would be a must. Hydration before your ride is always good. Lastly, they accept credit card and cash. Tipping your wranglers is also highly recommended.
I’m pretty sure I’m hooked on horses and will be considering lessons! Thanks Cypress Trails.

I brought my daughter & 2 granddaughters to ride today. It was a gift for Jillian’s 9^th birthday. Weather was perfect, we were the 1^st riders of the day & had 2 great guides. There was an older couple with us from another country so that was an experience in itself since English was not their language but they made it through. I would recommend this to anyone regardless of your skill level.

I literally couldn’t wait to get home and write a review about my experience here today! We had a beautiful ride out at Cypress trails with Matt and Brittany. It was a lot of our first time riding horses, but both of them really helped us feel comfortable. Our horses were so well trained to listen to us as we guided them. The trails are so magical and peaceful! I will definitely be coming back as often as I can. Go in with a positive attitude, and understand that horses are animals and not machines. Get to know your horse and appreciate the nature that is all around :)

I wish I could give this place two reviews. One review on the actual trails and horses and another on my safety concerns… So Cypress Trails gets solid 2 ½ stars. Alas, Unilocal won’t let me do that so three stars it is.
I will start with the cons so that we will end on a high note.
Let me begin by saying safety is HUGE and a must when running a business with animals. I read reviews from the owner that the staff is well trained and yada, yada, okay — but to what standards? If your clients don’t feel safe and your not practicing safety…
1) We scheduled an hour and a half ride which started 30 minutes after our scheduled time. I have no idea what the holdup was and no one said a word to us. We were told to get there 30 minutes earlier than our scheduled time which we did, so we waited an hour.
2) Some of the staff seemed way too young and inexperienced to be working here. I owned horses when I was young and have gone on rides in my adult years. I will not say I am an experienced rider however I am not a novice. When you’re riding an animal that you’re not familiar with it is always important to have experienced/​well trained staff with you. We had two ‘wranglers’ along with the ride, one was very experienced and another that was just way too young and awful… which I will go into further detail about both.
There was a group with with us which had elementary ages school girls. One girl was clearly nervous and her horse could sense it. The horse would not do as she asked and was a bit skittish. The elementary aged girl Rode in back of the line with one of the wranglers so that she could be watched (which at first I thought was a very good idea). About 30 minutes into our ride we stopped and the back wrangler was no where in sight. I asked the last girl where she was and the girl replied, «I don’t know, she is on her phone.» I was completely shocked! The experienced wrangler in the front called and whistled for her. She finally popped up from behind the trail with earbuds on and a childish smirk on her face as if she had done nothing wrong and was being cute. I thought ‘how unprofessional’ and clearly safety was not the first priority on this ride!
I told the school girl to come closer to the front of the line because if this staff member was not going to keep an eye on her then I would. The grandmother of the girl asked if she could come closer to the front too. The young staff member proceeded to ride with her earbuds on. Let me say that is not best practice in safety! I don’t care if she was waiting for an emergency phone call, you have 10 people’s lives in your hands while riding wild animals which can be unpredictable. You take the earbuds off and put your cell phone down for the next hour!
4) Half way through the ride one guide proceeded to be in front while the other rode in the middle of the group. Again, SO NOT SAFE! There should always be an experienced rider in the front and the back with such a large group (if you have two staff members riding along).
3) At the end of the ride other workers came out and had us hold the horses as they were unsaddling them and taking their bits out and such, which in hindsight was pretty cool, however as I mentioned, horses can be unpredictable and I don’t think it’s safe to have untrained folks like us handle horses while this is being done.
I even mentioned to the girl who was taking the bit out of my horses’ mouth that I felt like I was too close to the horse in front of me and that the horse kicked my horse during the ride and she didn’t even acknowledge anything I said. I was just stuck standing there holding my horse. So weird.
Pros:
1)Awesome riding trail for being on the outskirts of Houston!
2) One of the wranglers with us was fantastic! He taught us basic riding skills, which was really neat! He really took his time explaining how to guide and ride the horses. He knows his stuff! He was friendly, funny, knowledgeable, fun and you can tell he loves his job! Oh and he even took pictures for us! I believe he has been with the company a year or so.
3) The property is pretty cool. You can have birthday parties here, events, and they even let you just hang out for a bit after the ride and take pictures and what not. It’s a nice, relaxing spot.
4) Beautiful horses. I even got to pick the horse I wanted to ride!
*So my take, neat experience. I definitely would NOT take a small child here with such a young and childish staff and weirdness going on here. In my opinion the staff should be much older and much more trained. I have felt 100% safer on guided rides overseas or in other countries as crazy as that sounds! I may go back one day but only if I hear safety guidelines have changed or if I haven’t found another riding facility in Houston.
PS, I’m not naming names because I don’t want to put the staff on blast, I just feel like the owner needs a nice long safety talk with her staff and should put some actions

It was definitely a wise decision to come here during January. It isn’t too hot so there are not many bugs bitin’ on you and the weather is just perfect.
It was my first time riding a horse. I had broken an ankle earlier last year and had gotten two surgeries as a result of it. Even ’till this day, my ankle isn’t fully rotatable and it doesn’t help that I have a bit of a trauma and a lot of paranoia. I was also constantly haunted by that scene from Full House where Michelle Tanner falls off her horse and loses her memory and it was the saddest thing, especially for uncle Jesse. Anyways, I was frightened to say the least.
Our wrangler was Michael, the one with the hoarse voice. A joke he made, which I actually found myself laughing out loud to. Heh.
My horse’s name was Ransom. Loved the name from the moment I heard it and let me just say, Ransom was such a sweetheart.
Before we left for the trail, Michael demonstrated how to make our horses turn right and left. We had employees helping us while we practiced a few times. This technique wasn’t needed too much during our two hour walk. Only once or twice was it really needed to make the horses do a U-​turn (…inevitable car language). After a few minutes, we were off to the trail! He took us to the narrower trail from the two trail options we had, because we were first timers. I was very pleased to hear this because I knew he was thinking of our safety before all else.
Even though his voice was barely coming out, he didn’t fail to keep us entertained throughout the entire two hours. He taught us some history, shared his life story a bit, told us his dream, and made sure we were okay behind him. He would constantly look back and try to interact with us face to face. I just wished he would stop talking because I was worried about his throat getting worse! But he was such a pleasure to have.
I was scared to be on Ransom at first but he was so nice to me. He listened very well when I would slightly tug on him and when I told him to stop by saying, ‘whoa,’ he did. He didn’t seem too fond of mud and water because he would find a way to walk around them every time we approached one. But I found even that to be cute. Don’t know why but reminded me of my dog. I won’t forget you Ransom!
Although I had an awesome and unforgettable experience here at Cypress Trails, I obviously don’t speak for the masses. Horses are animals, which means that they do things beyond our control and expectation. They’re unpredictable. They’re not like cars. They will stomp if they want to, kick the horse behind them if they feel like that horse is in their butt space, stop to eat off the branches, bend over to eat whatever’s on the ground, come to a sudden stop because they have to poop, etc. So I guess it’s inevitable that people will have very different experiences.
So this is my review of my experience here. A+.

Had a great time and will definitely be back! Today is my birthday and received a half off coupon (so that was a plus) but just the experience would be worth paying full price. Staff was very helpful and personable.
I do have maybe one-​two «negative» things to say, but I feel it’s constructive criticism: after every one is paired with their horse, the wranglers give instructions on how to handle the horse and give it commands; I would suggest to have everyone show you they where listening and able to control the horse before going on the trail. Some people just don’t and didn’t listen to simple instructions… But if it were not for the quick actions of the wranglers some people would’ve been out of the trail ride within 10 minutes.
I absolutely loved Cream she was my horse today. And even in the pouring rain, I still had a good time and a great birthday. Thanks!

Just had my first lesson at Cypress Trails. Tammy did an exceptional job! I came terrified of horses and left feeling confident and excited to ride again. Very attentive to my needs and skill level. Can’t wait for my next lesson!

I used a Groupon for 1 hour & a half for two riders. And the whole experience was excellent. They were super helpful and the trip advisors were extremely engaged. Everyone there was extremely nice and friendly. This was my first time riding and it was an awesome amazing experience.
We had Jacoby as our trip advisor and he did a wonderful job at showing us what to do. Jacoby took us around a whole trail and showed us the beach, swamp, and the large body of water. He made sure to thoroughly explained every destination and advised us when to two point and when to lean back.
He was attentive and made sure to check on everyone. This whole experience was unforgettable and I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.

I love horses and I like to ride. This is my hobby for a long time already.
I liked this horse riding club. Here you can «rent» a horse and ride across the expanses around the club, but this is only for advanced riders. There is also the opportunity to study.

Great place. I found this on groupon for 2 People $ 67? It was a great deal and my husband took me here for my birthday to get away from the busy city. Its a great place to go to when you just want to be in a peaceful environment and you get to ride the horse and see a cute little river on the way. The horses are so cute and nice. The instructor was extremely nice and patient. They have some hotty staff guys that work there too!

My family and I bought a Groupon for a 1 ½ hour trail ride for 4 for $ 131 and it was such a great deal! The staff and wranglers are nice, friendly and very educated about the horses, ranch and trails. The horses are beautiful and so is the equestrian center. Taking a trail ride was so relaxing. The wooded trail is beautiful and there is a creek on the way. Our wranglers were Matt and Hokuu and they were very personable. All the staff was nice! We each received a $ 10 off coupon for our next visit. We will definitely be back! I highly recommend this place!

Such a blast! I surprised my best friend with horseback riding for his bday and couldnt be happier with the experience at Cypress. We rode on Boomer and Wilkie; they were great horses. I also loved the personalities of Mark and his wife. They are friendly, professional, knowledgeable… I will definitely be back.

We had a party of two, myself and a child. I was on peaches and she was on glory (the oldest horse in the facility from what we were told). Both horses were a dream. Peaches was always well behaved and listened to all of the commands and turns I took. Towards the end she started to get antsy, but that’s expected when riding for 2 hours straight with no water break. Glory was the perfect child horse. Very well behaved, took the trails like a champ, and was in amazing shape! The water in the river was too high so we had to take the same trails a few times but overall, it was a great experience! Will definitely be returning ! Well worth the money spent !

I love it here! This is my first time in so many years. I went with my boyfriend and we had a relaxing ride with our horses and beautiful view of a river and nature. Be sure to bring bug spray though! Lots of bugs out in the forest. All of the staffs are extremely professional and experienced. They all have so much information about their job, horses, the place they work for. I’ll definitely come back :)

This was a blast! The wranglers were very professional, ours was Billy! Very friendly, knew everything but not in any sort of cocky way! We felt very relaxed and we will certainly come again. There has been a few thunderstorms so the trails were wet, but this didn’t stop the horses.
Be sure to prepare to get dirty, don’t come dressed like your going to watch a rodeo.

Bought a groupon for my trip to see my sister in Texas and it was a great experience. The staff was awesome and my tour guide was great. (We had Forest). He was very easy going and great company. Loved this spot, horses were great (ride Cali)!

We went on a muddy day so I recommended wearing boots so you can rinse them off easily. Arrive at least 30 minutes early because you need to pick out a helmet (bring your own if possible) and you need to wait for everyone in your group to get saddled in. Also, use the restroom before arriving or you will have to use the port a potty.
The staff was friendly and knowledgeable and check in was quick and easy. We did an hour and a half ride and that was long enough. The trail was nice and interesting. Interesting because it was so muddy and the horses would get close to the trees so they could walk in less mud.
All in all it was a good experience.

My family and I had a great time at Cypress Trails! The horses are beautiful and look well cared for. The property is clean and inviting. My children enjoyed their first trail ride very much, and felt safe and competent under the leadership and guidance of their wranglers. The entire experience, from scheduling to dismount, was smooth. The management and staff members are professional and personable-​it seemed obvious to me that they truly love the animals and working with others. This is a great place to have some fun family time!

I began riding here last Christmas and I had a blast! I have been riding horses for a while and the lady my mom and I leased a house from name Saba took us out riding. My mom rode Aloof, I rode Saba’s favorite horse Cytron, and my dad rode Cherokee. All of our horses were amazing except for Cherokee for a little bit when we went down a small area, but then was ok again. I continued riding there for 7 months but then was introduced to being a volunteer and also that 4^th of July I met my now day horse CautionTNT (Powder). I latter during this past summer became a day camper for a while and continued riding Powder. Later for 2014 Christmas I got Powder for Christmas and race with Darolyn in endurance. I’m hoping to go on to big things in the endurance riding world! Thanks Darolyn for everything! We are all like family out at cypress trails and all hope you come out to visit us one day!

It was my first time visiting Cypress Trails. Great ranch. The horses looked well taken care of. The people around knew what to do, whether it is cleaning up, getting the horses ready, getting the riders ready, greeting them after the ride, etc. I had the privilege of meeting Darolyn Butler, the ranch owner, who accompanied me on a trail ride to the Mexican a Restaurant La Cabana. Darolyn first checked if my saddle was set up correctly, making sure my feet and my legs were in position. Then she taught me how to go over tree logs. No doubt Darolyn was an experienced rider and trainer.
Definitely a place to visit if you are looking for trail rides, or training to be better rider.

I am a competent rider and after having lived and ridden horses in New Zealand, Australia and the UK, I can safely say that Cypress Trails is definitely the best place I have ridden.
Most of the horses are Arabian, they are happy, healthy, well behaved and can cater for a range of riding abilities, from the first timer to the experienced.
I live in downtown Houston and travel about 30 minutes to Cypress Trails most weekends. I love nothing more than to get out into the gorgeous and picturesque woodlands after spending all week in the office. Pure bliss.
The stables are well run and very organized. You can go for a single trail ride (which includes a short lesson at the beginning), take lessons, lease a horse or buy a horse which you can keep on the premises for a fee so there are a lot of options.
Make sure you wear long pants (to protect your legs from the saddle and stirrups) and appropriate footwear (no flip flops or bare feet). Helmets are available free of charge and must be worn — no helmet, no ride.
I have tried a number of riding schools in Houston and would definitely recommend Cypress Trails over all of them. However, make sure you book at least a week in advance to avoid disappointment as due to popularity, the spots fill up quickly.
Enjoy!

I had a very safe and well-​supervised ride at Cypress Trails. Since I’m not a horse person, I cannot vouch for the shape of the horses. Some had visible sores and marks, but when I asked about a mark on my horse, Mischief, I was told she was probably bitten by another horse or had a scrape while on a ride. Mischief was well-​mannered and very patient with this novice rider. I paid for two hours — the first hour, I went out with a great, friendly group. The second hour was just me and the guide, Alejandro Marquis. I’m a big talker, so I learned a lot about him and we rode, trotted out into the brush, past horses and cows in Texas’ back country. Great weather, attentive staff and gentle horses made me think, «If I lived here, I would take lessons.» The bathroom was a tiny stall, no drinks were offered and there is no food, unless you purchase that package.
Leave all personal belongings in the car, including sunglasses, cameras and phones. Apparently, those are lost all the time on the horses.

So miscommunication. The cowboy was told it was a one hour ride and we paid for an hour and a half ride. We went ahead and left after the one hour ride, getting some money back we had been upselled to add on the extra half hour when we showed up, then tipped the guy a $ 20 was all we had and they had no change so we did that then left. The wrangler, head rider did a good job besides coming back too early and not asking to take our pictures, which I read others did by reading some reviews just now, and that would have been nice.
Kinda a hassle wheeling & dealing it felt like. I’d go back after some time trying some other places before doing so.
We were also told that Cypress Trails has a volunteer program. 20 hrs put in first, then can start getting a one hour ride for each day’s worth of work. Could be good w free time… but the stable keeps horses for trail rides but also endurance horse races so some of the horses seem pretty spunky, though healthy looking. The lead guy who led us on the ride said his horse had cracked his pelvis kicking him… um. sounded dangerous, but only two other horses seemed surly. And the lady working front desk that day seemed annoyed at my AmazonLocal coupon. She said so more than once. Just not great customer service. When I initially called in the lady I talked to took three calls between the time she answered my call. Well, so a mixed review for this place.

Tucked away behind Bush Airport, I would have never expected this place to be here. I figured I would do something nice for the olé’ Ball and Chain so I decided to surprise her with a horse back riding session at Cypress Trails. I had never been here before but a friend referred me to their Groupon promotion (1.5 hour trail ride for two people for $ 70). Figured it was not a bad deal and to try this place out.
In case you were wondering: the 1.5 ride entails a quick 5 minute lesson on riding, that’s all you need! Then you hit the trails for a little bit where the guide stops you again in order to teach you to properly guide your horse over large steps in case there are some on the trail. The rest of the time you spend on the trail which is not exactly flat, so there is some great terrain to go up hill and down hill on a horse. At some point thet also stop in the middle of the forest so the guide takes pictures for you on your phone! That was very nice.
Long Story Short: It is what you would expect! The thing that makes this place great is the staff that works there is super friendly! Even on the phone I could tell they were going to be very nice/​helpful when we got there. It was very seamless and a great place to check out if you want to save a cowboy and ride a horse instead.
Shop Notes: I think this is actually someone’s ranch and they live on the top floor and the office is on the bottom — I couldn’t tell exactly. Cypress Trails is right next to a Harris county forest preserve and Cypress Creek. Its a horse ranch so I wouldn’t wear anything that I don’t want getting dirty — horse back riding isn’t really a clean activity.
Sentence Summary: I scored some major boyfriend points, the service was great, the horses were beautiful… I was a happy camper.