Western Pleasure Guest Ranch - Sandpoint, Idaho

Debbie F.

Our fall leadership development weekend retreat for local teens sponsored by our two local Rotary Clubs, was am amazing success. This annual event provides an opportunity for teens to learn about themselves, make new friends, and see the leader within them. The Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, its staff, cabins, amazing food, and outdoor peace and quiet, provide the perfect place to relax and learn. Janice and Raleigh Schoonover, our hosts, are there for us tell the story of their family's ranch, and welcome us with open arms. Nothing could have been more perfect. Thank you, Janice and Raleigh for this most precious gift!

George U.

A hidden gem! Sleigh rides and horseback rides are a blast for the whole family. The lodge is spotless clean and the hospitality is out of this world! The free hot drinks after your sleigh ride are the best as you warm up by the fire place.

Carrie B.

I scheduled a horse ride for my Boyfriend and his sister who was in town visiting. They were both raised around horses and neither had ridden in years. The drive alone to the ranch is beautiful. Such a great layout and facilities. There guide was great. Very friendly and informative. She checked all equipment then made sure the saddles were set properly for each of them. Although both had ridden before, it had been a while and they welcomed the instruction and her check list before heading out. I was super impressed and can’t wait to go myself. Over 1000 acres of some of the most beautiful land in North Idaho. I want to make a weekend of it and stay in their beautiful lodge. OH and don’t forget Dally! The sweetest dog I’ve ever met.

K F.

To celebrate a milestone birthday, I wanted to go to a dude ranch. After A LOT of research myself and 3 others chose to take a 6-night trip to Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. I wasn't certain what to expect but was happily surprised at how amazing the trip was. ||The setting is gorgeous (mountains, streams, meadows, and stars), the owners and staff are warm and helpful, and the food was delicious. Every day was filled with opportunities to ride horses, enjoy the beautiful area, have fun learning new things, or just kick back and relax, you decide how much you want to do. No need to have prior riding experience, they choose an appropriate horse for you, the wranglers help you learn how to ride, and all week you enjoy the trails. Evenings were filled with music, line dancing, movies, wine and friends. The accommodations are rustic but have all the amenities of an upscale hotel.||Hands down one of the best decisions I have ever made!

Nathan O.

Still staying here while I write this review. Did the sleigh ride which was so exciting. Eating prime rib dinner tonight and staying in the cabin this weekend. Beautiful scenery and the owners are amazing people.

Jennie R.

Stayed 5 nights at Western Pleasure Ranch and it was amazing! The horses were happy, healthy, safe, and in great condition. The positive, friendly, humorous, staff went out of their way to make our visit memorable; each day was full of different activities. We stayed in the Hunter cabin. It was stocked with everything needed, clean, and beds were very comfortable. The 3 healthy, homemade meals a day were outstanding, and the chef used local ingredients in each recipe and meal. Each staff member at the ranch had a sense of pride and enjoyment in their work, and this made our trip so memorable! Thank you WP!

GMAM8788

Highly recommend! Really terrific experience! Janice and the team were accommodating to every request. Food was excellent and horse-riding experiences were really fun. Nice options to do additional activities such as e-biking around the beautiful ranch property, skeet shooting, archery, etc. Something for all age groups to enjoy. Guests had options each morning and afternoon for various activities. Really nice extra experiences available during the evenings too. Our family of 4 adults loved staying in one of the cabins with a wraparound deck and an excellent view of the mountains and grazing pastures. I would definitely return to Western Pleasure!

Jan O.

Our party of 5 just spent an outstanding week at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. The horses were amazing - very well trained, responsive, patient, fat, and happy. If your main focus is riding, you cannot possibly go wrong. Instead of long lines of 10+ riders walking along with a wrangler in front and a wrangler in back, all the guests from the week were split into small groups of 3 or 4. Each group rode the many and beautiful trails at a pace that was tailored to the riding ability of those in the group. It was an absolute blast.
The wranglers were fantastic. Instead of assuming that no one could ride as well they could, and constantly hectoring us about sticking to the rules of riding single file along a trail, they accurately evaluated our experience, and tailored our rides to our experience. Along the trails, they told us a lot of the history of the ranch and the region as an extra bonus of riding through the fantastic scenery. They were friendly and knowledgeable and helped those who needed help with their riding skills with patience and encouragement. By the end of the weekend, those who had started with no knowledge of how to ride a horse were cutting cows and running poles and keyhole. As a riding vacation experience, it does not get any better than this.

The food, the accommodations, the family atmosphere and the other fun activities they offer - like ebikes, skeet shooting, line dancing, movies on the lawn, and wine tasting - are the icing on the cake. I cannot say enough good things about our vacation at the Western Pleasure Guest Ranch.