Rafter M Ranch Riding and Rescue

Alicia Florea

2023-05

Please don’t throw away your money by signing up for lessons here. Our family signed up for lessons in August of 2022 to start at the end of September 2022. We were charged right away because all lessons needed to apparently be paid in full a month ahead. We were confirmed to have lessons for our three kids on Tuesdays at 3:30 by e-mail. The cost was quite substantial but she had all great reviews at that point and we decided that we would let other activities go and focus on horseback riding for the time being. When the day of the lessons came, Maranda texted me a few hours before that her child was sick and she could no longer do the lesson that day. We rescheduled for Friday morning of the same week and it had to be rescheduled again because of a forgotten doctor’s appointment. We were asked to reschedule for Friday afternoon but then that was rescheduled too because of a vehicle breakdown while in town. We finally had our first lesson on Saturday. In the meantime, I agreed that we wanted to continue lessons for October and so had to pay for the whole month in full again.I thought we were still supposed to have Tuesday lessons since it had only been mentioned that she had a sick child which is why we had rescheduled. We went the first Tuesday in October to the ranch and waited 45 minutes but nobody ever came. I texted and called during that time but received no responses. I was at a loss with what to do. I decided to just show up at our makeup class time on Saturday like the previous week and instead of Maranda, we had her two young daughters give the lesson instead. They said Maranda was out of town. I was baffled by the lack of communication and asked them if I was supposed to come on Saturdays for lessons instead of Tuesdays. They didn’t seem to understand why I would ask them that and just confirmed that this was the time I was supposed to come.The rest of the month just continued to be last minute cancellations for high wind, emergencies, or no reason at all just simply canceled. She said we would get the lessons made up during the winter riding season. She said they would start doing them on Thursdays and I chose a time to meet at the Fairgrounds in Rapid City where she usually does them. We drove to the Fairgrounds on the first Thursday in November and then texted to ask Maranda where to go. She texted there was an emergency meeting and that she did not have enough staff to continue horseback riding lessons. She said she would issue us a refund.Since that time I reminded her of the refund around November 18th and she stated she had just put in for it and would confirm it went through the next morning. We never received the refund and I never heard from her again despite repeated attempts for me to reach out to her. Eventually my husband decided to contact her on Dec. 30th for a last try before trying to get our credit card company involved. She answered his phone call right away because likely it was not a number she recognized. She said they had let go of their accountant and that she would check on it and call him back within an hour. She never called back. We are now disputing the charges through our credit card company.I waited to put any reviews out because in my attempts to find any other number/email to use for contact on Facebook in association with Rafter M Ranch, I discovered she had heartbreakingly lost a young child within the year. Unfortunately, I discovered others had stories similar to my own and the website continues to advertise riding lessons despite being told they did not have the staffing to do that anymore. I don’t want anyone else losing out on a large amount of money for services not received like several of us did.

Meaggen Lujan

2023-05

Please be aware! I have been scammed by this establishment. They may have been great at one time, but sadly I have become a victim of their downfall. After signing up my son to have the first 3 lessons of the learning program, I paid in full for 3 sessions and also had to pay a 55.00 fee to secure my spot.When the day (a Sat.) of lesson 1 came, I was sent a text and told the lesson needed to be rescheduled to the following week. When the following week came, again, the day of the lesson, I was sent a text to again rescheduled. I asked if we could reschedule for sooner than 7 days later, and Miranda agreed to meet 2 days later , the lesson was once again canceled at the last minute. And would you believe the lesson on the following Saturday was again canceled. I wrote and told her how disappointing this is and that I do not want to count on Saturday’s with her any longer. I asked to change the day, so she agreed to change to Monday’s.That Following Mon we were finally given our first lesson. 17 days later And after 4 canceled rescheduled lessons, we finally met Miranda Lockhart and was given a 50 minute lesson. The following Mon. She again canceled. The next week was a pre planned day that I had told her weeks earlier I would not be able to attend. She was ok with this. The following week, I texted Miranda to let her know we were on our way to the lesson. When we arrived at her home, (a 30 minute drive for me) there was no one on site. I walked around the filthy barn and the trash strewn home as well. I knocked, I called the only listed phone number, I texted, I waited for 15 minutes and then I left. I then sent emails asking for my money back. This was 3 weeks ago. I have tried calling and emailing again with no response at all. They have since revamped their webpage and have more ways for unaware trusting people to prepay them for lessons and parties. Theirs is another family I am in contact with that has also been a victim of this company’s theft. Miranda Lockhart is unable to commit to lessons and feels no obligation to communicate or refund money given to her under false pretense.

Amber Curry

2021-05

Maranda is amazing. She is very knowledgeable about horses and treats them extremely well! She has brought them back from being skin and bones, to true miracle stories! She has been in the training business for many, many years. You will be in good hands with Maranda!

Josh Adams

2022-05

Maranda and her staff are awesome and the program she runs is top notch. She is very professional and knows her stuff when it comes to horses and teaching.

Caine Shagla

2021-05

Awesome experience, the people are very friendly and loving. The drive out there is a real relaxing experience nice change of pace from being in Rapid City. Of course the people are my family, lol, so my opinion is a little biassed, but it's all true!

Kara Jo Webster

2021-05

Hauled a horse to the vet for me when I was out of state. Very professional and my horse was well taken care of.

Allison Body

2022-05

Great facility. Friendly staff and the rescue is on point.