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Testimonials
Hi, I am Andrea and
few weeks ago, on October 16th I took one and a
half hours ride at your ranch. I was so excited
about being my first time riding that I totally
forgot to ask the name of the girl who joined
me. Or maybe I asked, but my brain didn't record
it. Anyway, she is the
girl who owns a little piggy (that I have lovely
pics of). and who knows a lot of interesting
things about horses and who comes from Seattle.
I am sending this mail to send a billion thanks
over her way (and anybody else at the ranch
making this thing work) for a fantastic
experience. I can't think of anything that was
not enjoyable, no matter how deadly the heat
feels now when I sit here in Norway and it snows
outside or how crazy the desert looks. Also, do
you guys collect photos from the rides? I can
give you the link to the ones I took.
And again, THANK YOU!
Best regards from Norway, Andrea
Chirulescu
Both myself and my wife
thoroughly our ride out on Sunday morning. We
enjoyed both the horses and our knowledgeable
guide who has an equally interesting career as a
rodeo rider! Thank you for providing such nice
horses and enjoyable company.....we'll be back!
Kind Regards
Michael & Karen Tuck.
Robby, I would
like to sincerely thank you for the wonderful
day we had today at your ranch. My daughter,
Tiffany, celebrated her 29th birthday today, and
we spent the day enjoying your pumpkin patch,
games and animals. Tiffany has autism, and she
will never forget the fun she had today. We also
brought another developmentally delayed adult
with us, who also had the time of her life! We
had a blast with Jason during the hayride to the
pumpkin patch. And Mike, who led the girls on
their 'pony' rides was absolutely awesome with
them! He was completely comfortable in
interacting with them, perfectly appropriate
with them during mounting and dismounting, and
made them both feel very special. He remembered
Tiffany's name and that it was her birthday, and
spoke to her several times throughout the
afternoon. My daughter's friend, who was not
familiar with riding, even hugged Mike after he
led her around on Azul(?). She talked about that
ride all the way home!
She said she was so
proud of herself for riding a horse! Please tell
Mike that he really impressed us and the girls
will never forget how special he made them feel
(and I don't think I tipped him nearly enough!).
We also thoroughly enjoyed watching Jimmy Dean
romp around, and your other little yearling pig
was so wonderfully enjoying being loved on. The
girls also had a blast throwing sticks for Audry!
I am so glad we spent Tiffany's birthday at your
ranch. I truly feel Tiffany enjoyed this
birthday more than any other. Thank you for a
wonderful day; and tell Jason 'thank you' as
well.
But most of all, please
express my gratitude to Mike, who truly made
this day special for us. Alisa Nelson
 Dear
Mr. Richardson,
I would like to
take a moment and introduce myself, my name is
Denise VanBrocklin and I am the mother of a
young man named James. James had the opportunity
to visit your ranch twice while we were recently
in Scottsdale. While I was attending classes, he
was accompanied by a friend on two occasions and
had the opportunity to go on a trail ride, first
with your wrangler Jason and then with you for
his second ride. As I am sure you were aware
that my son is not like every other young man
that has had the opportunity to go on a trail
ride at your ranch. James has an autism spectrum
disorder that has impaired many aspects of his
life but not his love for animals, and horses in
particular.
I want to thank
you again for the time you spent with James as
it has such a positive impact on him. He was so
thrilled that you took the time to allow him to
assist you in unsaddling his horse and he was so
proud of the comments you made regarding his
riding abilities. As his mom, I can not begin to
tell you how special you made him feel and how
much I appreciate your kindness and compassion
toward James. This is not often the case with
other adults, especially when he was younger and
his behaviors were so explosive. He has always
had a special bond with horses and they have
always had a calming affect on him. Your time
with him is something James has talked about
everyday. It is his great adventure “with the
horse whisperer” as he refers to you and your
time together. While it may have only been two
short hours, for James it was a time that will
never be forgotten.
James has a photo
of the two of you at the ranch, and I was
wondering if you would do him the honor of
autographing it. It is a much cherished
possession and I would be forever grateful if
you could extend one more act of kindness to
him. I would like to once again thank you for
bestowing such a special gift upon my son and
providing him with a wonderful adventure. Should
we ever have the opportunity to once again be in
the Scottsdale area I am sure we will be
visiting again. God Bless.
With much respect
and gratitude, Denise Marie VanBrocklin
Sylvia and Robby, Thanks so much for our
wonderful cookout/horseback outting! Everyone
had a great time...what nice people you all
are. The food was awesome and we really had a
nice time sitting out in the desert with the
bonfire:)
I attached a couple pictures of the evening! We
really enjoyed ourselves...thanks again, Susie
Hi Silvia,
Was tidying up my emails and it reminded me that
I never thanked you for sending the phone I
lost. Thank you it was very kind and we had a
go at getting the pictures. The boys still talk
so fondly of you all and how much they enjoyed
meeting you it seems so long ago and we could do
with some of that Arizona sunshine all though
spring is finally here!
Hope the business is going from strength to
strength but I guess it is tough times for you
guys with this dreadful world situation we have
not been affected directly yet but the stress is
taking its toll!
Anyway hope this note finds you and Robby well
and have a great Easter with all best wishes and
say hi to Shannon for us.
Hilary, David ,Jack & Matthew
We
IMMENSELY enjoyed ourselves at your ranch;
people are still raving about the great time
they had from the horseback riding to the
campfire. Thank you so much for putting together
a lovely activity.
Sincerely, Barbara O'Neil.
We took our 2 yr
old twin girls to your ranch today for a horse
ride.
They had a great time with the wrangler,
Compass. And the horse, Blondie. Thanks for
having such a nice facility so close by and
accessible. We look forward to visiting again
soon. Do you have any programs for teaching
young girls to ride? Or know of anyplace that
you can refer us to??
Thanks again, John and Tina Lekas
screensaver@cox.net Scottsdale,
AZ
i
took this pic of your hay ride horses 10-12-08. i
thought you might like it.
i'am a born and raised Arizona native and this was
the first time i've been to your ranch and we loved
it!
I was a wrangler (kid) in the early to mid 80's. I moved
away to Ohio which broke my heart as the "farm" was my
second home (as it was to all us kids who 'wrangled'). I
went back for a visit in the mid 90's to see major changes
and new owners. I was sad to see it out of the Richardson
family as Bob was a wonderful man that treated all us kids
pretty well.
A man named Robby was running the farm when I moved. I
just wondered if this was the same Robby. If so.. HI from a
kid who rode a small horse named Curly bareback, ended up
with cactus butt more times than she'd care to remember, had
crushes on all the boys, but remained steadfast friends and
will always have MacDonalds Farm in her heart. Regardless,
I'm happy to see it back in Richardson hands. Keep up the
great work of keeping Bob's dream alive.
I just wanted to thank you once again for the ride we had
with you. My daughter, her friend and I enjoyed it. I only
got one picture of the owl. Its behind a branch but you can
still make it out. If you send me your email address I can
send it to you.
Ted
Hi there!
As promised, the pic of the owl we took while out with
you last Monday! I’ve also attached the pic of the male
too although this isn’t as good as the first.
We had a great time, thanks very much! Hope our trail
guide is enjoying his new motorbike!
Take care,
Michelle & Nick Cooper
HELLO
Just wanted to send you a thank you for our trail ride
when we were in Arizona last week.
Thanks so much it was a blast your horses are very nice
and our guide was extremely friendly knowledgable down to
earth and professional at the same time, she is a keeper.And
we loved your dogs thanks again from Ontario Canada Jaycee
Elliott & Dr Jenna Richards
Silvia & Robby,
Jenna and I would like to thank you for your welcome and
your great Summer Camp. Jenna loved it and I did enjoy the
"horse care + horse riding combination".
We loved your ranch and it is very clean :)
Thank you also to have arranged another time for Jenna
for her test. She needs Level 2 now :)
Thanks
Regards, Sophie
Dear Silvia and Robby,
Thank you so much for all of the information. My boyfriend
and I are definitely going to be coming to your ranch. Do
you have any reservations open for Saturday, October 11th?
Probably at 9:00am..
Thanks again. Can't wait to get out there!
Sincerely, Lexie Roth
Sylvia,
Thank you for your call, I would like to schedule a trail
ride for next Saturday, please let me know what times you
have available. Thank you!
God Bless, Sarah
"If we lose hope, we lose everything."
Dear Silvia and Robby,
Thank you so much for all of the information. My boyfriend
and I are definitely going to be coming to your ranch. Do
you have any reservations open for Saturday, October 11th?
Probably at 9:00am..
Thanks again. Can't wait to get out there!
Sincerely,
Lexie Roth
Hello,
Thank you for being so quick to respond.
My husband, 11 year old daughter & I will be visiting
Scottsdale celebrating our anniversary from Aug 20-25.
We would be interested in a Sunset ride if possible (and are
open to other ideas as well).
Blessings, Lisa
Hi Silvia, I wanted to send you the pictures that I
promised you so you can add one of them to your guest book.
We are back in New York now and my son and I had a good time
in Arizona. He is telling everyone about his horse riding
experience!!! Here are two pictures via email, you can print
them and use whichever you want, but if you use the one of
both of us, make sure that you add a caption saying that it
is my son that I brought there!! I wish you and Robbie well
and if you guys are ever in New York City, contact me and I
will show you guys a New York good time!!!!! If we ever get
back to Arizona I/ we will surely visit you. And good luck
on making those babies!!!!!!
Yours truly, Chris Biancaniello
PS: I am mailing you prints anyway, use whichever you want
and when I get back there I want to see it!!!!
Silvia and Robby, I just wanted to write on behalf of our
visitors from Germany and say that they had a wonderful time
riding at your ranch yesterday. Your staff was extremely
friendly and made us all feel welcome. The German was an
added welcome!
We will definately recommend your ranch as the top place to
ride when anyone comes to the Valley and keep you in mind
for any riding lessons or day camps as our children get
older.
Thank you again, Libby Settle
Hi Silvia and Robby, Thanks for your prompt reply, and
yes, we'd like you to book us in for August 22nd at 8am, for
the hour-long trail ride; there will be 6 of us, (women) --
one is a very experienced rider, but the rest of us are
beginners. Please let me know if you need any more
information from me...Thanks again!
Hi Sylvia, I just took a look at your website, and think
that it's awesome. . . you have a ton to offer, it's a very
impressive operation.
I am looking forward to working with you; you are truly
unique and valuable! The roping picture is very cool!
Sincerely, Kathleen Cowdin
Hi, Robbie. Thanks for getting back with me so quickly. I
also heard from someone named Ginger who knows one of your
sisters, as I posted on Craig's List before I thought of
going to Old McDonald's Farm. I'm grateful that you had
information on the website regarding the name change and
different location. I took Bob's evening course (was it
Tuesday or Thursday nights for like six weeks?) and I
remember it being at Scottsdale road at Jomax.
My gosh, I could tell you stories about how your dad changed
my life but you've probably heard them before. I first met
him when I rode my first horse who I had broke and trained
myself as a teenager to Weldon's (where I had wrangled for
Ray Cady, sleeze that he was). Bob could tell by looking at
Comanche's head that Comanche was smarter than I was, just
by looking at the shape. As a dumb teenager I thought all
horses were like Comanche was, but Bob knew when I lost that
horse to colic that the ½ Arab my folks bought from him to
replace Comanche was nowhere near the same horse in
personality. Bob wisely wouldn't let me take the ½ Arab home
with me until the unbroke four-year-old had his first two
lessons. He might have saved my life by doing that.
I also will never forget when he sat me down and explained
to me that Looey (his registered name was Arrowhead
Lieutenant) wasn't the same horse that my grade gelding
Comanche had been, and that I shouldn't resent him for it. I
didn't understand at the time what he was talking about, but
it became obvious later. Bob had a way of understanding kids
and horses and teenagers that was unlike anyone else I've
ever known.
We know a lot more about working with horses now; heck, the
satellite channel I watch the most is RFD-TV, the one with
half a dozen horse trainers. But none of them are like Bob.
I often wonder how much time is edited out of them working
with the horse to make it a half-hour or one-hour show. And
how many horses' lives did he save with his 'free' horse
program? He did the same thing for those colts and those
owners that he did for Looie and me.
I find myself in my fifties with a two-year-old filly who is
as hotblooded as that ½ Arab was, and twice as smart. I
don't want to mess her up, and I can see that sending her
out to a trainer might do just that. (It's a long story, I
wanted a grade gelding to replace the one I got from Tommy
when he died two years ago and I ended up falling in love
with a suckling filly.) She was supposed to be full-blooded
Peruvian Paso but she gaits less and less as she gets older,
and when I looked at her comformation objectively, I saw
that she is a lot like Looey. And with Bob's instruction I
taught Looey and later a registered Appaloosa gelding to
foxtrot -- something that amazed people who watched the two
of them. I'd sure like to do that with this filly but I
don't think I remember how!
I will probably call Ann this week sometime but definitely
want to be put on your list to buy at least a couple of the
books. My information is:
Vicki Szaszvari
Phoenix, AZ
I rode at your place over 20 years ago when I went to
ASU, this New York City boy loved it! Now I will be visiting
Phoenix again 22 years later with my 7 year old son and he
wants to try a horseback ride. We will arrive in Phx on Wed
7/9 and would like to ride on Thu (morning) 7/10 I will call
on Wed as soon as we settle in the hotel Pointe Squaw Peak,
to try to make arrangements. I know its hot , so I hope you
open early, but I will call on Wed around 3-4pm, he is 7 yrs
old and has no idea how to ride, well I'm 40 now and forgot
after 22 years out of Phoenix!! Look forward to going there
again!! Thanks, Chris B.
  Hello
Richardson family
My husband and I
visited your establishment 10/3. Have not been
on a horse in a long time.
We really loved
it. The pics we took of the horses are so real.
We wish we were there again- now!
I tell everyone
this was a highlight of our recent trip to AZ.
We cannot wait to come back soon and ride again!
West New York,
NJ
Thanks
again! Kelly
Sylvia, My 10 year old niece, Molly,
had a wonderful time riding last
Saturday. Can she and I ride again
this coming Saturday at 3 in the
afternoon? And could she possibly
ride Sheik again?
Carole
Just
wanted to let you know how much I
enjoyed my 'private tour' with Ken
last Friday morning(10/24/08). He
holds a wealth of information about
the desert and surrounding areas,
and I found myself wishing I could
continue on in that lovely
environment for days on end! Please
let Ken know that I very much
appreciated and enjoyed the entire
ride.
Thanks
again! Barb Murray
....if
it's at all possible to get Ken's
last name or other contact
information (perhaps just email), I
would like to personally extend my
thanks.
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