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March 2023 by Kimbrough-Lil L.
We can not express enough gratitude and admiration for Double J and Joe and Arlene. Not only have they saved horses, literally and spend all their love on them but they open their ranch to the community in ways that should be shared.They welcome children and allow them to enjoy getting to know the animals and the care and love that goes in to them. We want our son to grow up learning respect, love and care for animals and this has been the best to facilitate that. Our son has a particular fondness for Joe and begs us to take him to see him (every time we pass the turn off). Joe and Arlene are also kind enough to open their ranch for special events- Halloween and Christmas. It's a special place for children to experience the ranch and get to know the horses.If you haven't visited them, do so. It's worth the smile on the kids' faces. And don't miss out on their events!
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May 2022 by David Allan Todd
Great ranch facilities and experience for anyone learning horsemanship.
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April 2022 by David T.
Exactly where our kid wants to be: Working on a ranch while training, riding and learning all about horses. The experience and life skills gained from Joe and Arlene will last a lifetime and are immeasurable. I grew up working on a ranch and Double J is the real deal. Whether you're offering donations, payments or volunteer hours, this is money and time well spent.
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August 2021 by Jessica M.
What a great place to let children get to know horses! On Mondays, Double J Ranch invites kids to sign up for The Good Alibi Club. They show the kids how to brush and feed the rescue horses and get to know about them. They learn the names of the different tack and how to measure out supplements to feed the rescues' different dietary needs. If the kids stay interested and keep coming back to learn they get taught more, such as how to lead a horse. My son stuck with it and showed dedication in learning the ropes and he rode a horse for his first time this week. He was thrilled to be lead around the arena and taught how to maneuver. Since they're a non-profit with a good cause you can give donations through their website. They never ask for donations though which is nice to not feel pressured. Their main goal seems to be helping horses and helping children learn about them. They are totally awesome! They also give lessons! Such a great place!
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June 2021 by George C.
My daughter (7yo) has been getting her horsemanship lessons at Double J for more than two months now. Joe and Arlene are friendly and professional, but also stern in their teachings. I especially appreciate letting the little one learn from her mistakes and getting hands-on with all horsemanship activities, where a modern parent like me often gets too involved in what she should already be doing on her own. The little one's face has been covered behind the mask due to the pandemic. Only recently we start to feel more comfortable removing the masks given the distance and vaccinations. I can see her smiling side to side the entire hour, whether she was cleaning the hoofs, putting on/off equipment, instructing the horse with a lunge whip, or riding the horse. Even with just an hour a week, I have seen tremendous improvement in her confidence and communication presence. The horses are all well taken care of and the equipment is clean. I frequently see the horses eating, napping, or just wandering around the ranch. These magnificent beasts are friendly and I get to interact with them while waiting for the little one to finish up her lessons. All around a great experience and I would recommend anyone to start learning horsemanship with Double J.
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August 2020 by Apa A.
We were introduced to Joe and Arlene's Double J Ranch via a friend. They are doing an amazing job with teaching kids about horses; the right philosophy and approach, with a deep understanding of horse psychology, and no skipping the hard work of properly caring for horses. They also take great care of their rescue horses, all with their unique needs and personalities, which is great exposure for any budding horse lover.
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August 2020 by Esteban D.
Horseback riding is something that I have been wanting to do for a really long time. I finally got the courage to go out and learned. I am really glad I found Double J Ranch as it was thr perfect place to learn. Joe and Arlene are very patient. They taught us how to care for the horses first and slowly progressed us to riding the horse. At the end of the lessons I felt really comfortable riding the horse. Really great experience!
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September 2019 by Brenda M.
My family has been a supporter of this ranch for 5 years; my 10 year old son has participated in their summer camp the past two years and has been taking lessons for over a year. My 6 year old has been coming as long as she can remember and will continue to grow with the horses, and ranch owners, Joe and Arlene. This ranch is truly special, made so by Joe and Arlene, and the wonderful care they provide their horses. Their strong commitment to teaching horsemanship skills to youth and adults alike is awesome. We can all learn a lot from building relationships with horses, and having this ranch in my neighborhood is an exceptional opportunity for our community.
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June 2019 by Venetia R.
We live in the area and have been coming to Double J Ranch for years. The landscape is beautiful to enjoy and the owners (Joe and Arlene) treat you like family. My two older daughters (9 & 15) have volunteered for school credit and both of them and I have taken lessons. Even my little one comes and helps care for the horses and can't wait to start taking riding lessons. The Monday Alibi Club and summer camp are fantastic. In addition to the lesson, Alibi club and summer camp, they also have holiday events. Joe is known in town as the headless horseman and comes out on Stix's at Halloween. They also have a very special Selfies with Santa event around Christmas. I highly recommend checking Double J Ranch out if your child would like lessons or just wants the experience of getting up close with a horse.
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June 2019 by Sariah T.
We found this place through a post on Nextdoor, which stated that we could bring kids by to meet the horses. Cool! I called their number and talked to Joe directly, who encouraged me to come on by and check it out! Today I brought my young boys (ages 5, 3, and 2) to meet the horses at double J ranch. I was immediately impressed by Joe and Arlene's calm, warm demeanor. They are so welcoming and accommodating of kids! Within a few minutes, they allowed my boys (with their help) to sit on a horse, help feed, and groom them! It was a fantastic experience for my boys, who kept talking about it all night long. I was so grateful for their laid-back approach and calm presence. I can tell that they both have a gift for what they do. What a special place, in a world that keeps getting faster and more complicated, this place is like a peaceful refuge from that storm. SO great for kids to experience a place like this! They offer lessons, a summer camp experience, and their hands-on learning and relaxed approach is so special for kids. I hope to be involved in their ranch in the future, especially when my boys are a bit older, and able to be more involved in all that this place offers.
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March 2019 by Mary M.
I am a long-time supporter of the Double J Ranch in Montara. What makes this ranch special is that the owners "share" their horses with the children and adults in the community to educate them about quarter horses and to give the children and adults an up close and personal interaction with the beautiful horses at the ranch. The Double J Ranch is a 501(c)(3) non profit and I urge everyone to donate to the ranch to support and feed the horses and also to come to the ranch for a visit and feed apples and carrots to the horses and get to know them on a personal level. I love each of the horses at the ranch and Joe and Arlene for opening their ranch, their horses and their hearts to those of us on the coast. Come visit for the children' Summer Camp and Selfies with Santa during the holidays. You will not be disappointed. Being around the horses will make you happy!
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March 2019 by Lisa K.
We were introduced to Double J Ranch during the Christmas holidays where they hosted a holiday event with games, refreshments, a Night before Christmas child and horse show that was fabulous. We immediately had a great feeling about the place. Then we tried the Monday Alibi Club where the kids get an opportunity to learn about horses, learn about grooming and feeding them, and how to guide the horses. My 8 year old daughter said I can't wait to come back. We observed a friend taking a lesson and my daughter said I want to take lessons, and it took off from there. Joe and Arleen are the owners and they are both patient, kind, great teachers, and their love of horses and their love of teaching about horses shows through in all they do. I highly recommend coming to check out the Alibi Club, and if interested taking lessons. Their lessons combine care of the horse, learning how to gain respect of the horse, guiding the horse, lunging the horse and riding the horse, it's the full package. My daughter has had about 5 lessons and can't wait to go back each time. They also offer 2 weeks of summer camp, so come check it all out.
