Hey Ron,
Wow what a time! The country side is amazing, the horses are beautiful. It was the best holiday I had for a long time. It has been a great R&R weekend. I would like to thank Dan for taking the extra time with us. (playing crab apple catch) I think Elisa won. We will be back in the fall for another ride the fall colors will be amazing. I would like to thank the chef (biscuits and gravy who knew).

Cheers
Sheila Lagace
Ottawa, Ontario
Please remind Duke that he is a horse not a dog :)

August 2011

HORSEMANSHIP

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Ron,
I would just like to let you know how pleased I am with Doc's progress in training. Unfortunately, I didn't realize how much in need of training Doc was until after his injury. In hindsight, and after having you train him for 40 days, the pulling on the halter when leading, the invading of my personal space such as stepping on my toe and knocking me in the head with his head. He was also becoming increasingly difficult to bridle, pulling his head up and back. Also the difficulty in having him stand to be mounted. The lack of responding to the command of whoa or walk in a timely fashion.

Just to let anyone else reading this, know that I became a true believer in your methods when you told me you could change my horses bandages without him having to be heavily sedated by the vet. Twice to change his bandages, it required two shots for sedation, a person to hold a twitch on his lower lip and another person to hold up a hoof so he would not be able to move and all the while cross-tied. You said you could do it all by your self with just me holding a lead rope. And you did so without any sedation, twitch on his lip, no one holding his hoof up and not even in cross ties. All by communicating to my horse that you were the leader, you were not going to hurt him, and you understood that he was scared and in pain. It was truly amazing to watch, and after watching I knew I needed to have Doc trained to keep him, myself and the people around me safe.

In just a short period of time, you have taught Doc how to respect people and their spaces. That I am the leader and he is safer by staying closer to me than running off to be with other horses, which would have saved me about $3,000 in vet bills if he hadn't ran away from me and into the wire fencing and tore up his legs. Doc has also calmed down tremendously while in his stall, standing to be groomed and tacked up. He waits patiently when just standing and waiting, no more pawing at the floor. He leads easily now at most I just need to use two fingers to hold the lead not two tightly clenched fists. He respects my space and stays out of it. He has become a breeze to put a bridle on him, no more twenty minute battles. When riding, he stops in two steps for a whoa, no pulling and seesawing on the reins. I can also mount up without him even moving until I ask him to walk. There is also hardly any spook in him anymore. Yes he does stop to check out new things, but by reminding him he is safe with his leader and its always be better to be with me than away from me. Also Doc had never been on a trail, only ridden in an arena setting. After his accident, I was even more leary of riding him on the trail because I was afraid of him getting over-excited. No worries now. Now he does not go over and through everything instantly, but more importantly, he does not shy, he looks and studies the obstacle, thinks about it, and with positive encouragement he will go over that branch or through the creek or mud.

In closing, it is now truly a joy to spend time with my horse. I am more relaxed because he responds quickly. He is relaxed because he understands what I want him to do. Your training him and also training me on how to get Doc to respond to me in a positive way has truly been close to a miracle.

I think it's important to mention that all this was accomplished by you with out any anger, violence or pain being inflicted on my horse. As you say, he just learns to chose the easiest way.

Thanks again,
Steve McCormick
June 2011

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Hi Ron,
I'm on the train and am already missing the ranch and the horses! It was truly fabulous, thank you soooo much! Best wishes,

Isidora
Paris, France
August 2011

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Testimonials

Dear Ron, Tyler, Renae, and Dan,
I hope everything's good at the ranch. I had an awesome time with all of you guys and, so far, that was definitely the highlight of my summer.

Thank again,
Christina B.
(Girl Scout Troop 572)
July 2011

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Ron:
I wanted to express my thanks for a wonderful vacation with Shannon. At 17 years old, I was afraid it might be too late for an enjoyable father/daughter trip. You and your staff made it a memorable experience that we both plan on repeating. I admit that I was skeptical when you told me that you could accommodate a seasoned rider like Shannon and a greenhorn like me at the same time; but you did an outstanding job. She was never bored and I was never scared or overwhelmed. You, Dan, Larry and Renee bent over backwards to make sure we were comfortable, entertained and well-fed at all times. As suspected, I did gain almost 10 pounds despite the heat (thanks to Larry's outstanding cooking). Shannon is looking forward to coming back as soon as possible! On the way home, we joked about your daily dinner question: "So out of the entire day, what did you enjoy the most?" It was a great way for you to get feedback from us and for us to reflect on the day's accomplishments. Shannon asked me "So Dad, what did you enjoy most about the entire trip?" I told her "My favorite part was every time I looked at her, she had a smile on her face." Once again, our sincerest thanks for a great experience.

Glen Pannebakker
Harrisburg, PA
July 2011

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Hi Ron,
Our high school girl scout troop enjoyed The Hilltop Ranch for 3 days. Everyone at the ranch treated us like old friends. We were matched with horses according to our personalities and experience levels, changes were made when necessary to ensure a great time for everyone. Our trail guide Dan was creative and worked with the group to give us new challenges and opportunities each time we rode. Dan also let us help with the care of the horses and made sure we were safe at all times. Chef Larry provided breakfast lunch and dinner, the food was plentiful and tasty. We would recommend this ranch to anyone. We made so many connections with the horses, dogs and people. It was great! We all had such a good time. I am so glad you were able to find my camera.

Thanks again.
Jodi
July 2011

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Warmest regards,
Jessica Mayer
CNY Regional Director
Camp Good Days and Special Times, Inc.
Syracuse, NY 13206
2011

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Hi, Ron.
Our Scout group really enjoyed themselves this evening.
When heading out to your ranch, my son Daniel was a bit apprehensive about this adventure.
But, when heading home, he talked non-stop about how much fun he had and wanted to know when he could go again. You did such a nice job with the boys. I was impressed. I have a few good photos & will pass them on to you when I get on our home computer tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing you again next Weds with our other Scout group.

Many thanks!
Ronna
July 12, 2011

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Dear Hill Top Ranch,
We came out yesterday with our 7 year old daughter for her first horse ride. We were not sure what to expect and the Hill top experience was beyond our expectations. Mark was just wonderful with our daughter and we loved the setting, the atmosphere and the entire experience. We will definitely be back and we can’t say enough about how great Mark was.

Thank you again,
Jaime, Randy and Amanda D.
Camillus, NY
November 2010

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Dear Ron,
The week our family enjoyed at Hilltop Ranch was simply amazing! We will never forget the experience of riding your wonderfully trained horses 20+ miles a day through such beautiful and varied landscape--fields of colorful wildflowers, grassy paths lined with berries and apple trees, trails twisting through woods and over creeks, with some steep slopes and patches of mud thrown in to keep things interesting! Our daughters fell in love with their horses (Sofia riding Cody and Viviana riding Sadie) and were eager to get up early each morning to help feed, tack and muck. We learned so much from wrangler Mark, and thoroughly enjoyed all the extras--the gorgeous hand-crafted log cabin, historic presentation and campfire (thank you Dee and Kevin), the company of many friendly dogs and last (but certainly not least) Larry's delicious meals. The only downside was having to leave--Sofia talks about missing Cody and the dogs every day. Maybe one day we will be able to return, or maybe she will be able to fulfill her dream of starting her own ranch. Thank you once again for an amazing and unforgettable week.

Fabio, Jennifer, Viviana and Sofia
August 2010

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Just wanted to say thank-you once again for this past weekend. We all had a great time and are looking forward to next year. The cabin we stayed in was great. Really enjoyed waking up in the morning and sitting on the front porch taking in the view and watching the horses roam around and play with each other. The relaxation you don't get on a daily basis, was very enjoyable. You have a great ranch! It was great seeing Larry and Mark again, and of course you too, and it was great getting to know Dee and Kevin. They are a great addition to your family and we look forward to seeing you all again next year.

We would like to know if June 23-26th is open for 2011 and if so please put us in for it.

Hope to hear from you soon, take care. Miss you guys!

Give Tucker a hug for me, he's a good boy!!

Candi and the ladies from Maine
2010

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Hello everyone,
Thank you so much for such an enjoyable weekend-it was exactly the break I needed. Hope to see you soon.

Claudia
June 2010

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Dear Ron and Staff;
My husband and I believe our week at the ranch could not be surpassed thanks to all of you! We truly felt welcome and very privileged to be there. When Mark and Kathy found out we recently celebrated our 30th anniversary, they surprised us on one of our morning rides with a blanket all laid out by a pond with flowers, wine, cheese and crackers, and fishing poles set off to the side with a big bucket of bait. We were thinking…oops, we came upon someone's picnic and had better turn off. But they told us, no, it is all for you, Happy Anniversary! How kind and how thoughtful! I even caught a bass!! They had ridden out very early to set it up in secret.

Ron, a special moment for me was when I watched you train Sally, one of the mustangs one evening. I was so impressed to see the respect, the patience, the skill and perseverance you demonstrated in teaching her to walk along side you on her own for the length of the arena. The whole ranch experience was another world for us and we thank you for it. The sights, the smells, the horseback riding, the scenery, the sounds, the peace, the food (thank you, Chef Larry!!!!) are things we will cherish and definitely want to come back to. We loved our mealtimes all together at the big table. Such fond memories.

Carlene and Barry Bane
May 2010

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Hi Ron,
We have just arrived back home to England following our holiday in America. We just wanted to let you know that we all thoroughly enjoyed our time with you and found your family very welcoming, with lovely food and good company. The riding was fantastic and even Dean, who wasn't a keen horse rider, is now going to carry on riding back here although I am sure it will not be so enjoyable without the wonderful trails and amazing views. We also wanted to let you know that Mark was absolutely brilliant with everybody during the riding and certainly made a big contribution towards the enjoyment of it and hopefully we are looking forward to coming back again next year!!

Kind regards

Lynne Cornish
November 2009

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Hi Ron,
Thank you, Mark, Cheryl and Larry for a wonderful weekend. This was my first ranch experience since I've been riding regularly and it was absolutely wonderful. As far as I was concerned, the riding could not have been better. Cisco was fabulous. I'm still ecstatic about having ridden a mustang. Mark was our guide, protector (safety first), instructor and even entertainer all rolled up in one. He made the weekend "fantabulous." And the trails, the weather (even the rain), the terrain, and the ride in town all contributed to a dream come true. Going to sleep gazing at the stars from a very comfortable bed in a log cabin and waking up to view horses grazing feet from the cabin was awesome.
I'm grateful to all of you and to Denise (who recommended Hilltop) for a splendid equine weekend.
Keep up the good work.

Susan
September 2009

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Dear Ron:
THANK YOU FOR A SUPER WEEKEND!
My feelings about this weekend are pretty much the same as those expressed by Kathy in her email. The Hilltop experience far surpassed the trip I had taken to Wyoming many years ago from a riding perspective and on many other accounts.

Especially true where her statements regarding Mark. He is very customer-focused and his desire for everyone to enjoy and have a great time is amazing. Just his knowledge of horses and his riding ability made me feel very secure and I know he was concerned that safety come first out on the trials. Funny, I was thinking you should open a service called, “Ask Mark” about anything related to horses or riding!

Thank you for sharing your dinner table with us and always asking us if we were enjoying ourselves!
Well, we all said we definitely want to come back to Hilltop at some point when we can arrange it (hopefully I can rally everyone for some Spring riding!)
Sincerely,

Jeanne
September 2009

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Ron –
Thank you so much for some of the best riding I’ve ever experienced! I had a really great time and now have some memories to last me a life time.

The place is beautiful, the horses are in great shape and the trails are amazing!! I really appreciated the intimate setting, especially around the dinner table. It made us feel like family. Everyone was very courteous and eager to please.

I also wanted you to know that I really appreciated Mark’s attention to our needs/wants. His riding experience, gentle guidance, and extreme patience was incredible. He really made the trip extra fun! The trip into town for lunch was just the icing on the cake- lol! Next time I want to go look for cows… ;-)
Thanks also to you for being so accommodating and checking in with us every day to make sure we were having a great time. Your hospitality was much appreciated. I definitely plan to come back!

Kathleen
September 2009

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Dear Ron and Staff,
Thank you all for a fabulous time this past week. My family truly enjoyed every minute and I will treasure those moments always. The horses were perfectly matched for the girls, Gerald and I. We immediately felt at home with the other guests and the staff. The warm inviting atmosphere of the ranch made us, City Slickers, feel right at home.

I suppose you were right when you said we “are country folk at heart” – Thank you all for helping to reveal that in us. I have to admit the experience was somewhat enchanting. Leaving New York City and staying a week on the ranch, connecting with the horses, making new friends, having family style meals, eating great food at every meal, joking, playing games, breathtaking scenery the list can go on and on. What a DELIGHT!

Thank yous are never enough for a priceless experience.
With much appreciation we want to Thank, Ron, Mark, Kathy, Brittany, Amanda, Larry, Mike, Sam, Josh, Zena, Stefanie & Family, Franco & Margaret, Cristy & Family, Julie and anyone else I might have missed.

It was a pleasure and I do hope our paths meet again.

With Blessings,
Nikki, Gerald, Micah & Sariyah
2009

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Ron and Staff,
I wanted to e-mail Thanking you all for such a wonderful stay at the Ranch this week. I was so amazed at how comfortable it became in such a short period of time. The kids just seemed to be best friends from the start and Gerald and Nickie were just fabulous as I'm sure you know. Julie was so kind and sweet and full of encouraging words. All the staff was very open and friendly. Gillian has commented several times that she misses Larry and his food!!!!! Poor kid had to have Pasta for lunch today...no more fancy meals!

Gillian and I have had a incredibly tough year. My illness combined with Her Father walking out on us made this vacation even more important, Her first comment in the car to me when we were driving home was "I miss my Ranch family already, I forgot all my problems" And she cried.....seriously she was crying. I have promised her we will return soon perhaps for a afternoon ride.

Your decision to put her on Cisco was perfect too. She did great on him and made her feel pride again. Nichelle my Niece also came out of her shell too. She just clicked with Star and loved her from the first moment she laid eyes on her. And as for myself Abby seemed to sense when I was getting weak and behaved herself. It didn't hurt that I was whispering to her I was tired and to not get any bad ideas :)

I proved to myself I can ride again. So we are off to visit our barn now and I'm going to ride Lakota for the first time in a year. I will let Gillian work him first so he is lazy for me. He's only 4 and has way too much energy.

Thank you so much for giving us a bright spot in a very difficult year.

Sincerely,
Cristy and Gillian Riggall
2009

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Hi, My name is Jeff from Florida, and I recently visited your ranch for a three hour horse riding expedition. We had a great time. It was mine and my kids first time on a horse, and my wifes first since she was a teenager. I will highly recommend you to any friends that we know.

Jeff
July 2009

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Wanted to thank you for such a nice morning ride. It was so great to see horses that aren't "stable" horses and actually responsive to the rider. We will come back in the fall when it cools down a bit.

Of course. I'd like to add also that your hospitality and that of your staff was exceptional. I was so touched by the care you take of your animals. Truly, it was like riding at a friend's house. Thank you. Wish I was a little closer geographically; I would come over and help out.

I had a thoroubred jumper in California 20+ years ago and I so miss being around horses. I'm glad that I found you.

Thank you!

Patricia Hoffman
August 2009

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Ron,
A special thank you to you and your family and staff for a great time. Teddi and I will never forget the few days at Hilltop and the people we met. We had a wonderful time and appreciate all you did to make the stay comfortable and memorable.

Please thank Bosley's owner for letting me ride that special guy and tell Larry that when we got home I looked up the recipe for spiedies and made them last night. Thanks, also to Mark !

Hope to see you soon

Jane
August 2009

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Hi Ron and Larry and Mark and Brittany and Sam and Tyler ... and Everybody!
Thank you for a place near home that is nothing like home. In only one weekend, my niece and I were in another world escaping the stresses of life. The chance to be outside daily enjoying nature was incredible. How can one place have so many spectacular views?! And the food!! Who would have ever expected to have gourmet food at a ranch? It was ‘bueno’! Thank you ALL for creating a place
where we felt welcomed from the first to the last moment with never a dull moment!

Sincerely,
Nancy and Madeline

July 2009

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Hey Ron & the gang,
I just wanted to thank you all for the great weekend my son and I spent with you. We enjoyed ourselves and my son learned a lot and is already planning to come back in a few months for the day. The meals, especially breakfast was a great spread and Chef Larry did an awesome job. We loved the horses and they were very well trained. We felt at home within hours of being there and thank you all for the hospitality and a wonderful trip that we will remember and look forward to doing again.

Dawn and Kris
July 2009

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Ron, Mark, Larry and of course the horses (Tucker, Rainy, Sade, Pilgrim and Cisco)
We just had the most amazing/unforgettable weekend. If you enjoy horses and the great outdoors, a camping trip to Otter Creek Trail system in the Adirondacks with The Hill Top Ranch is the place to go. Ron (owner) and Mark (trail guide) are two great guys, very patient, explain what to do on the horse so you feel comfortable on the horses. The horses are very well trained and even the most inexperienced rider will have an enjoyable time. We were able to do a little over 30 miles this weekend on several different trails throughout the Otter Creek Trail system. Even though it rained, we definitely didn't let that stop us from having an amazing time. At the end of the day, Ron and Mark took us to Eatonville falls to take a dip and wash up; you can even ride the water over a small fall, didn't try it but looked like a lot of fun. While we are gone, Chef Larry is back at camp preparing another awesome spread of food. He sure doesn't let you go hungry. He's an excellent cook with great variety and they all cater to you. We believe Ron, Mark and Larry had a lot of fun as well. Probably won't be the same after spending 3 days with us wild and crazy girls from Maine. You arrive not really knowing them very well, but leave feeling like family. The weekend goes by way too quickly, none of us wanted to go. We are looking forward to our return trip in 2010 when we stay at the Ranch. That's right boys, the crazy girls from Maine are coming back, hope your ready!!

We Miss you Guys!!!
Candi Taylor-New Gloucester, ME
Andrea Segars-New Gloucester, ME
Tracy Preble-New Gloucester, ME
Chuckie Durgin-Portland, ME
Pam Irish-Gorham, ME
2009

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Hi Ron,
Just wanted to thank you for a wonderful experience. We enjoyed ourselves tremendously. Can't wait til our next visit. Give my best to Mark, Larry, Brittany and the boys.

Carolyn
New Hope, Pa.

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Hilltop Crew,
Chad and I would like to thank you for such a great weekend! After traveling around NY to find a place to ride that provides an environment that encourages an intimate relationship with a majestic creature we are glad to have finally found the perfect place. Everyone on the ranch is so warm, welcoming, and very knowledgeable. It is refreshing to have been given the opportunity to meet such cool people while doing something we love to do. Each of the horses we were privileged to meet are sweet and gentle natured. The individuality of all of them truly shined when we were out on the trail. They did not need to be head to tail to be comfortable and were more focused on taking gentle cues from their riders. It was awesome to feel as though we were actually riding and not just sittin' on a horse. Also, it was really nice to be able to help out a bit and refresh our memories of the care necessary to maintain the horses. We hope when we come back we can help out even more! Oh, I almost forgot, the food was amazzzzzzzzzzing!!!!! And the cabin we stayed in, which we were told was just built, was BEAUTIFUL. Next time we want to try to wake up alittle earlier and just sit drinking our coffee, watching the horses play in the pasture steps away from the cabins front porch.

Hope to See You Soon!
Kristin and Chad
June 2009

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Hey Everyone!
This is Sarah Kate. I came to Hilltop in september with my Barn Club. You might just remember us as the four crazy girls. We just wanted to send an e-mail saying how much fun we had when we were there. It was so great and we're already planning a way to come back! We had so much fun. Claire asked me to tell you to give X man a kiss for her. We all miss it a lot and appreciate all the things you did to give us such a great weekend. We're really hoping that we can come back again. I miss all the ponies and all the beautiful land. That was one of my favorite parts. Having all the space to run and around and have fun and laugh. And boy did I take some pretty pictures! I'm including some of my favorite pictures! Hope you like them.

Sarah Kate D-C, Claire C, Jenny D and Nina B

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Dear Ron,
Thanks again for a wonderful weekend. It's hard to believe that after so many visits (14 in 4 years) there is always something NEW to experience. The horses and trails always combine for a memorable riding experience. I also want to tell you that your hospitality and friendship are much appreciated. The Hilltop Ranch has a very special place in my heart.

Zena

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Hi Ron,
I hit hail the size of pennies on my way back home. Was a pretty exciting ride. I could have used Star. I’ve attached a picture of my horse. I have been re-living my weekend since I left. I have so many fond memories. I wish I was going back this weekend.

I never did get to tell you of my favorite thing that happened this weekend. It was Sunday morning after breakfast. I went to my room to get my hat, walked back through the kitchen, mud room, barn, and then walked into where we tack the horses and my horse is standing there waiting for me. That was such a great feeling. Just walking out to get on my horse.

Thanks again for the great horses, great training, great food, and great company. I look forward to seeing all of you again soon.

Regards,
Jerry

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Ron,
I can't thank you enough for this weekend. Conquering the cell tower hill was a huge thrill, but nothing compared to the Sunday morning ride. I can't wait to do that again, and explore some of the other trails that branch off. I also want to thank you and your family for all the support, encouragement and friendship - Hill Top Ranch has truly become a second home to me.

Zena

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Dear Ron,
Hi, I hope you and all of your family are doing well. Megan and I had an absolutely amazing time when we were up at the ranch. You provide a most unique and personal experience for everyone who comes up. Thank you so much for some of the best experiences of my life.

Sincerely,
Kerry