We took a horseback riding tour at Rancho Loma Bonita. Needless to say, it didn't live up to my expectations. You travel in a caravan of about 50 horses on a dirt road surrounded by tall shrubs for the majority of the trip. The guides speak very little English, so be prepared to remain silent for the 30 minutes after you've mounted your horse. Finally, you reach the beach, which would be quite nice if you didn't have ATVs racing all around you (Rancho Loma Bonita also provides ATV tours). Here, you can either choose to rest and grab a drink or go galloping on the beach with the other experienced riders. Another neat activity is when they lead your horse into the water with you. Bring a swimsuit. Also, be careful. These horses like to roll over and lie in the sand without warning to cool off (they do warn you about this). My mother's horse did this, and she wasn't able to swing her leg around in time because her foot was caught in the stirrup. The horse landed right on her leg, causing it to really swell. All three of us took an ATV back so we could get back to the hotel. When you return, they have a meal waiting for you.
All in all, it was just a very disappointing experience. Maybe we'll try the ATVs next time.