Maverick Horseback Riding

I must rave of this place so much. They teach you how to hold reigns, saddle up, mount, dismount etc. Me and my mother did the two hour educational trail ride and 12:30 pm. There was only two other people, so we each got lots of focus. I am a full beginner, and terrified at first when on a horse. I'm not sure what his name is (Mart?) and he comforted me and assured I would feel safe. He led my horse at first, then let me steer myself. We briefly trotted before our trail came to abrupt ending due to my mom getting dizzy. They were so kind about the whole situation; Bonnie, the female guide had me and my mom walk back to the barn and did not make any rude comments at all. Everyone is incredibly nice! I totally recommend! We even fed the horses at the end. Was so good my mom got dizzy with excitement! (satire.)

My experiences with Mavericks have been nothing short of exceptional. Having ridden with them twice now, I can confidently say they offer an unparalleled adventure for horse enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. I rode a lot as a kid, and have recently gotten back into it. Joan Marie, Eryn, and Deb have created an environment for me that is so welcoming, informative, and fun while keeping everyone safe.

The property in Lockhart is a hidden gem, and I highly recommend reaching out about taking an adventure ride off of the property. They are always down for an adventure, and the horses are too! Their level of training and the amount of love that has been invested in them is clearly evident. I am a huge fan of Charlotte and Coca!

The memories created during these rides will last a lifetime. Whether you're a seasoned rider or a beginner, Maverick's provides an experience that caters to all levels, leaving you with a deeper appreciation for horsemanship. This is not your typical trail ride - they adjust for your skill and comfort level to provide a once in a lifetime adventure.

I wholeheartedly recommend Maverick's to anyone seeking an unforgettable trail riding experience. Their dedication to excellence and their love for horses and nature, makes every ride an absolute delight. I eagerly anticipate my next ride at Maverick's and encourage everyone to book theirs today!

We had a really great time riding horses. My family came here during a trip to Austin, TX. We signed up for a 1 hour 15 minute total session with 45-50 minutes mounted on the horse. They do a really great job of ensuring the horses are ready and the equipment is secure. The kids were sent into the "dog park" to ensure they could handle their horse. Then we headed out for a ride around a pond and through the ranch. The horses were amazing and we all had a great time. It was a highlight of our trip.

The scenery was beautiful, the ride was peaceful, the experience was unforgettable.

My only issue was that my wife and I were asked to walk the horses around with the kids in the "dog park". After that, my wife was able to go in to get used to her horse. But by the time I got mounted, we were off. The owner asked me how long I thought I'd been on the horse so far, I said, "5 minutes." She replied that it has most definitely been longer than 5 minutes. She claimed 20 minutes. Those were part of our mounted ride. So, my 45 minutes in the saddle was taken down to about 30. Still a highlight of the trip. I was glad the owner was with a different group. Our guides were awesome!

READ THE BAD REVIEWS - they all tell the same story! We went to Mavericks last year and had an amazing time and we were so excited to return again this trip. It saddens me to have to write this review about what is clearly a struggling family business . This time we were paired with the owner and she was so rude to us and our 3 young children that we nearly left. I imagine she is under a lot of stress as the mood on the ranch was intense and sour. We were not greeted and no one introduced themselves to us. We felt very unwelcome. Once the "lesson"started we were continually spoken to in an unfriendly and demeaning way. Any time we asked her to speak nicer to us and our family we were told that she has to speak that way for safety reasons. There are ways to say things confidently and clearly that are not also condescending and out right mean. The worst part is that the instruction that she gave to the beginners in our group was horrible. She didn't even show them how to hold the reins! We stuck it out for the kids sake of not loosing out on a day of riding that they had been looking forward to, but we definitely will not be returning. It's pretty hard to ruin a day of horseback riding out on a ranch, but this place managed to do that.

10/10 would recommend. We had Debbie, Erin and Abigail leading us. They were great as instructors, kept us safe and eased us into everything. After we were comfortable they gave us the option to trot or gallop if we were up to it.

This is a wonderful place to ride if you're ready to RIDE. If you're not scared to get your hands dirty, to trot, to canter and to learn how to actually handle a horse that's not fully trained into mindless submission. That also comes with some risks. Joan Marie was very clear about her instruction. She doesn't mess around. If you want a mindless easy experience then this might not be for you. But if you want a coach that pushes you and horses, then this is the right place. 3 hour experience and we roamed the whole property and even some adjacent parks. Highly recommend. She's also training new trail leaders simultaneously. Definitely recommended and right in the heart Lockhart where you can get the best BBQ in Texas.

Tons of fun for an experienced rider! I've been riding my whole life (eventing/hunter jumper) and am wary of trail rides / ranch rides as many are nose-to-tail and lack adequate care for their horses. Maverick Horseback Riding exceeded every expectation as we spent hours on the Private Horsemanship Ride cantering through fields, wading in the the river, and trotting through downtown Lockhart.

Joan Marie clearly prioritizes the well-being of her horses and trains many of them herself. Shock, at 5 years old, was level headed and a dream to ride. I trusted him over all terrain and had a great time at all gaits. The ride was very customizable and well suited to our abilities and what we wanted out of the experience.

Go ready to spend multiple hours around the ranch from riding to grooming and petting the sweet dogs!

I was a bit worried by some of the negative reviews. Having played Polo for years I wanted to take my girlfriend on a fun ride for both of us. With nearly 20 years of riding between us we were looking for something a bit more adventurous than your typical nose to tail ride, so we booked the Private Horsemanship Ride.

You have to go in without an ego, Austin and Joan Marie clearly have met customers who exaggerates their riding abilities and we spent ~30 minutes earning their trust and demonstrating our riding ability.

Joan Marie is a non nonsense woman who doesn't beat around the bush, especially when it comes to the customers treatment of the horses. Her directness could come off as abrasive for some (something I definitely noticed in the less favorable reviews), but if you pay attention to what she has to say about how to ride her horses, it's well worth it.

Her horses were eager, energetic, soft to the touch, very easy to control, and sure footed. Once we warmed up we went on an incredible journey through the Austin backcountry, true pony trekking/adventure hacking.

It was perfect for experienced riders who wanted to open up their horses and canter through the wilderness.

Joan Marie also arranged all of this day of (definitely book ahead if you can) but I mention this to say she went above and beyond to fit us in to a very busy schedule.

I rode Storm while my girlfriend rode Shock.

This place is amazing! Best experience I can give myself and my husband for his birthday. The staff was friendly and experienced. I loved the whole thing from driving down the driveway to being welcomed by the little dogs, to getting to know the horse we were going to ride "Carmela" and "Hottie" The guide/staff was awesome Eryn and Maya. They made sure we got familiar with our horse and understood how to hold, sit on the horse and ride the horse. This made the experience seamless since we are beginners. We can't wait to go back. We went on the ranch ride but next time will try the barbecue ride. We were super hungry after the ride.

I'm not an experienced rider, I have been on about 3 trail rides that were all fun and pleasant. This was my fourth but by far the worst.

While I will say the ranch has a good amount of land and it was good experience getting to take the horse out on my own along the fence lines, everything else that could have made for a nice experience was dampened by the attitude of the woman that runs the place.

We were barely greeted when we drove up, she had a terrible attitude from the start. She wouldn't even had said hello and introduce herself hadn't we done so first. We were made to feel like an inconvenience when we got there.

She was constantly yelling at her dog and son. Carrying on about how the dog is always getting lost and she doesn't want it. At one point she said that she wanted to "murder the dog". On top of that she was on her cell phone nearly the entire time.

Her son was friendly. Her boyfriend that was saddling up the horses was a nice guy as well and you could tell that they were trying to make the best of the situation.

Word of advice, if you are gonna be in such a foul mood maybe take the day off and have your son and boyfriend run the trail ride!

Anyway, once we got out on the trail she was very condescending, rude and continued to be in a bad mood. I will say this, I believe she was trying to "teach me" how to ride, and everyone has their own style of teaching. But teach a child as you would teach a child, treat an adult with a little more respect. Especially when they are PAYING YOU.

Don't worry though, we won't be "paying her" again and I would suggest you save your money. I have been to several ranches in the austin area ranging from decent to amazing. On a scale of 1 to 10 I'd give this place a 2. Save your money!