Everyone was so helpful with a previous question that I thought I'd give this another try.

I will be in Aruba for one day via cruise ship. I am trying to sign up directly with Rancho Del Campo instead of via the cruise ship. It is cheaper that way ($70 vs. $86 pp. Has anyone ever done that before? Also, has anyone been to Rancho Del Campo? How was it?

Thanks!

Been to Rancho Del Campo many times - great people and a fun time. Have always made my reservations while on the island so I don't know about the cruise ship part. Enjoy!

We were there in november and went horseback riding with Rancho Del Campo and did not have a very good time. We went to see the natural pool. It was very rocky and we were on the beach for 2 minutes. From talking to other guests at our resort who went riding at other ranches, they had a great time. I would try a different ranch.

thanks all for your comments!

If you book with cruise ship and you get delayed...the ship will wait. If you book on your own and get delayed, the ship will leave you. I have seen it happen a few time

While my husband and I were in Aruba on an ATV tour of the island, we cam across a company called Rancho del Campo that provided scenic horseback riding tours. When we saw the horses, they were extremely emaciated. Their hip bones and back bones were protruding. A few of the horses eye lids were droopy from infection, they weren't properly shoed and had oozing & bloody wounds all over their legs. When the horses were "tied up for rest", the reps giving the tours started to kick a horse. The horses weren't given any water and were eating the wooden posts they were tied up to. These horses were extremely depressed, lethargic & thirsty.

I will do whatever measures are necessary to educate and contact the public to make them aware of the treatment of these animals at Rancho del Campo. It’s a shame that an island as beautiful as Aruba, lacks the ability to regulate such treatment.

http://www.ranchodelcampo.com

How awful! That must have been hard for you to see. I am a huge animal lover and that just breaks my heart. Do you know if they have an agency on the island similar to the ASPCA?

Melissa

If you're looking for well-kept horses with good disposition, you want to go to Rancho La Ponderosa, see Lucho and ask for Patrick as one of your guides. The horses are excellent, not pokey trail-ponies (unless you want that, then I'm sure they have one or two) and the tours are good. Experienced riders just have to display that they are in fact experienced, and the guides will give a little lee-way when it comes to the ride.

The rides on Aruba's beautiful rocky horizons doesn't have to be unpleasant. I've done it at least 3 times a trip over the last 8 years, and not a hassle or mishap yet. You just have to know what you're doing.

be well, ride safely when you get there, and say hi to Patrick from the "Rock Star" in Toronto (his term, not mine...)

Mr. Ratt
www.heyoka-healing.com

It's not having what you want,
it's wanting what you've got...

i forwarded this post to "animal rights aruba".
they are a non profit group that does marvelous work.

a number of years ago, i went on a ride at delcampo and my horse was unshod and was blind in one eye. i refused to ride him.
i demanded my money back which they did not give to me.

re: the thin horses
all of the horses in aruba are thinner than the ones you see here in the usa.
the horses eat about half of what a usa resident horse would eat due to their appetitie being smaller due to their breed and the heat.

and
bales of hay are approx $11 per bale
(here in maine they bales are anywhere from $2.50 - $4)

the aruba horses get minimal sweet feed (beets/oats) as the import cost is high

the skinniness of these beasts is not a huge concern except when you see them emaciated.



the horses at laponderosa get 2 flakes of hay in morning, some sweet feed mid day and another couple of flakes of hay in evening. that is about 1/2 less then the average horse here.

notorious feeds their horses the same regimine.

also too, no grazing in aruba.
if they had a pasture, it'd be like heaven for them.

i vote we turn them all loose on tierra del sol or divi golf course for a couple of weeks to fatten them up and enjoy some sweet grass.

i rode a horse yesterday that was so fat i could barely get my heels in to give him a kick. the damn thing has been grazing since may!!! saw him in the field, called him over, climbed onto the fence and hopped onto his back and away we went...............
again...........a huge girth. (the other end of the spectrum too fat)