Van Dickson Ranch Reviews
Reviews
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Weddingwire
70 reviews
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138 reviews
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Featured
![Shawna]()
Shawna Sent on 11/26/2023November 4, 2023 Wedding
This place was absolutely beautiful to have a wedding at. Everyone was nice and helpful, and the process was super easy. Thank you for making my wedding day special.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Thank you, Shawna. You folks were special as well, and we all enjoyed the wedding party and your guests. The staff knows it is their job to be sure everything goes as planned and smoothly, and we will share your comments with them. -
![41peyton]()
41Peyton Sent on 04/02/2026Magical. Highly recommend this beautiful spot.
We just had our daughter and son-in-law’s wedding at Van Dickson this past weekend. It was absolutely magical. Carolyn is so helpful and brings a calming energy to the planning and to the event itself. There are no hidden charges—she provides you with a contract right at the beginning that has everything on it. She answers emails very quickly. Van Dickson is the perfect blend of ‘full-service’ and ‘do-it-yourself’. They set up pretty wooden chairs for the ceremony and all of the tables and chairs in the reception area. They set out cold water and cups for the ceremony and reception. And then they provide a delicious dinner of smoked tri-tip, chicken, beans, slaw, potato salad and cowboy caviar. It is served buffet-style on paper plates (we ordered clear plastic chargers with gold rims from Amazon that made the tables look very elegant). We handled the decoration, florals, cake, bartender, etc. This allowed our family, friends and wedding attendants to pitch in and created an atmosphere of camaraderie that we would not have achieved if we had just paid to have it all done for us. Everyone we worked with was kind, helpful and professional. Megan (day-of coordinator) and Jason (head ‘cowboy’) were always nearby to answer questions or offer assistance. Jason’s guys helped move all of our stuff from the ceremony site over to the reception site and set it all back up for us. They were all very professional and kind. I whole-heartedly recommend Van Dickson Ranch and would 100% have another event here in a heartbeat.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Madelyn and Sean's wedding was a delight for the Van Dickson Ranch. They were fun and organized and had great time from 9 a.m. until they left at 11 p.m. The wedding couple and all the guests were elegant and delightful. Carolyn Harris -
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![Krystal]()
Krystal Sent on 05/23/2023Best Wedding Venue Ever!!
Carolyn is very informative, helpful and kind. The ranch is beautiful, the food is amazing and the weather was perfect! It was supposed to rain the day of our wedding and I was worried, but Carolyn was very reassuring and everything ended up working out! The staff were so friendly and helpful with all of our guests. Everyone had a wonderful time! I would highly recommend this wedding venue!Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Krystal could not have been a better bride, cheerful, happy, and thoughtful. She even gave me a gift! With 243 weddings at the Van Dickson Ranch in 12 years, it has only rained during the ceremony twice, and in those cases the ceremony was held in the pavilion with the rain sound on the metal roof, and the guests and wedding party loved it. Sincerely, Carolyn -
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Laura Sent on 11/03/2022
Amazing wedding!
My husband and I just got married here on 10/29/2022 and the weather was perfect! It’s such a beautiful spot that you’d never know was there. The owner Carolyn made our day go smoother than we could’ve imagined and we are so grateful to have spent our special day here. From the ceremony to the reception, the beauty was endless and we’ll definitely continue recommending this spot! As a special mention, the food and service was incredible! Thank you Carolyn!Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
We are happy that everything went well -- even the weather. But, of course, we work hard to be sure everything is as promised and planned. Thank you for the kind review. -
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![Meg]()
Meg S. Sent on 10/19/2022So many back plans in place so you don't have to worry
Our wedding was in the middle of October and the venue was beautiful! We wanted to escape Phoenix, so the Van Dickson Ranch was a nice change of pace. It rained off and on all day and was perfectly chilly. The clouds, greenery, and sound of the rain was amazing. They had so many backup plans in place that the weather forecast did not bother us in the slightest. The receptions here are typically under a pavilion, but if the weather is bad during the ceremony the wedding will be under the pavilion. The Ranch also has backup generators, so if the power goes out, you wouldn’t even know. Having a venue so ready to face any challenge we might have was very stress-relieving. There is enough to worry about on your wedding day, so you shouldn’t have to worry about the weather.
The food tasted amazing! The meat was so tender and delicious! When we initially visited, it was the day before a wedding and we were given a look at the food they typically cook. We were so happy not to have to find a caterer, especially with BBQ being my favorite type of food. We should have eaten before our appointment because it smelled way too good to not eat!
Their staff was so polite every time anyone needed anything they were happy to help. You never felt like a bother approaching the staff for help. They were especially helpful when any of the wedding party needed a golf cart ride back to the dressing rooms. They had to drive us back and forth a few times when someone forgot something and even thought to dry off the back seat before people sat in rainwater. Would HIGHLY recommend and a big shout-out to Carolyn for being so sweet and amazing!Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Megan: We so enjoyed your wedding, the great guests and wedding party, and the joy and fun we observed. The staff mainly consists of Skull Valley ranch kids, and you can see that they enjoy what they are doing here. Sincerely, Carolyn -
![Lorena]()
Lorena Sent on 09/21/2022Beautiful Wedding Venue
We recently had our wedding at this venue and I cannot say enough wonderful things about this place! The staff were all so helpful and accommodating. Carolyn answered every silly question I had leading up to our day. She hand picks the vendors she recommends and the ones we used were stellar. We used her recommended bartender who has lots of experience and was extremely helpful with figuring out how much alcohol we needed. The DJ Gary Alan helps so much with facilitating every part of your day and make sure you listen to all his suggestions because they are so helpful! Let me tell you about the food, every dish was so tasty! The meat was so yummy, guests came up to tell me how much they enjoyed their meal! Carolyn also snapped some behind the scene pictures to share with me which was really nice! You will not be disappointed with this venue for your wedding!Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Lorena is one of the brides who make presenting weddings at the Van Dickson Ranch a joy: gracious, fun, responsive, beautiful. -
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![Allie]()
Allie Sent on 06/21/2022Smoothest wedding day
We cannot say enough good things about the ranch, the amazing help, and all Carolyn did to make sure the day went smooth. From the start of first contacting Carolyn she responded promptly and gave us dates to come visit with all of the information we could possibly need. Carolyn provided us with so many options for the ranch where we didn’t have to look elsewhere for venue decorations, possible resources, and other accommodations for our day. With all of the help she provided us in the beginning, there was definitely no need to have a wedding planner with how much work she has put into her business. When it came closer to the wedding, she was checking with us to make sure if there was anything else we needed before our day, what else we needed to follow up on with her, and how the day would go. On the day of the wedding, Carolyn understood things were busy and everything was happening all over, but kept such a calm demeanor throughout it all and was such a major help if things did come up. The day went so smoothly and I cannot say thank you enough to Carolyn as she made sure and helped so much beforehand to be able to make the day as magnificent and easy as she possibly could.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Allie: Thank you for these comments, much appreciated. Ditto: You were a joy to work with all through the planning/wedding process. Being on hand on wedding days is our job, and many times it has helped to assure smooth and happy wedding days. Carolyn -
![Susan]()
Susan Sent on 05/26/2022Amazing all the way around!
My daughter's wedding was held at Van Dickson Ranch - on the 3rd date we had to select because of Covid! Carolyn was nothing short of gracious, and accommodated us warmly through the whole process. The irony of the day is that it was the one day in September when it rained - the whole day! The staff at the ranch made sure our every need was taken care of to transition our ceremony to the pavilion. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and we couldn't have asked for a better day. I'm a professional wedding planner in Sedona, and this was a truly exceptional experience working with Carolyn. I wish I could also be a wedding planner in Skull Valley - I'd be there every weekend!Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Susan, We would love to recommend you as a wedding planner for brides coming from Northern Arizona. You were so organized and easy to work with in spite of the weather's little surprise. In ten years and almost 300 weddings, it has rained just twice on wedding day, and unfortunately you were one of the lucky two. I was told that hearing the rain on the metal roof of the pavilion made for some memories as did pictures in the barn with Romeo, our equine model. Best Regards, Carolyn Harris -
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![Patricia]()
Patricia Sent on 11/04/2021Most magical enchanting wedding venue you will ever experience!
If you are looking for the very perfect wedding venue look no further! We had our wedding at Van Dickson Ranch and it was the most stunning, magical, and enchanting day of our entire life’s! The owner Carolyn is the kindest lady you ever meet. She was there for all of our needs, professional, detailed, all questions answered in a timely manner, caring, kind, passionate, and she went above and about beyond for us. Carolyn we are so thankful for everything and grateful that we have made a forever friend! The Cowboys were so great, so helpful, so professional, directed guests where they needed to be, helped carry my dress, drove us around, drove the guests to the ceremony area, and helped our disabled family members who needed help getting places with the upmost kindness. During our reception time, the Tableware, and wine glasses were beautiful. We had ice cold water at all times for our guests. Our food was so delicious, we were so blown away how good the food was, and all of our guest were just raving about how tasty it was. Our pictures were so picturesque with the best of natures background. Our reception area was absolutely enchanting, with the most perfect ambience of lighting, and a spacious dance floor to dance on. The ceremony was absolutely stunning and perfect in every way. Did I say stunning, it was magical, beautiful, green with the most beautiful trees, Beautiful landscape, just absolutely gorgeous. Our bridal suite and groom suite was clean, comfortable, spacious and had everything for all of our needs. We have plenty a room for parking for all of our guests. Carolyn was absolutely wonderful, she checked on us, always made sure we were OK, let us know when it was time, or our next steps to be prepared for, she was absolutely great with our children and our family. I literally can’t say enough good things about Carolyn she has the most amazing spirit of a woman. We got to meet her husband and he was so very nice to us. If me and my husband had to refer anyone to have their wedding somewhere, we would Recommend Van Dickson ranch over and over again. We are so happy and grateful to experience our wedding at Van Dickson ranch, and making a forever friend with Carolyn. Carolyn We are so grateful That you helped us make our dreams come true and for everything else, we absolutely adore you! God bless you! Patricia and Trapper
Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Even after two postponements due to Covid-19 and another surprise, your wedding turned out ideal. We had perfect weather (as usual here) and attending were the nicest and most interesting people one could find anywhere. Yes, you had a marvelous day, but the staff and Paul and I enjoyed it as well. Thank you for making the Van Dickson Ranch your wedding choice, and we wish you the very best of luck in the future. Sincerely, Carolyn -
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![Christine]()
Christine Sent on 10/16/2021Perfect Wedding Venue
This venue is beautiful, unique, serene, secluded, intimate and just overall, perfect.
If you want a peaceful and intimate wedding it would be this venue. I've been looking all around for a perfect venue something that offers so much beauty. I always wanted a garden wedding but when I saw this venue I was in love. It's basically like a garden to me even tho it's a ranch because this has so much plants PLUS they have animals! They have black Labradors & they're so well trained! Super cute plus we also rented a horse for photos! He was such a sweet horse!
Overall, My wedding was magical and dreamy. It was so perfect. I could say so much more but perfection would be the best to define it.
Pros: the package you pay for includes food, service, assistants/servers, casita/bridal suite, grooms suite, whole ranch to use, lots of space for parking, aisle walking distance to the barn for reception, chairs, tables, & etc. it's a good package deal.
Cons: I wouldn't say it's cons but more like what's not included in the package: coordinator, photographer, bartender, decoration, dessert/cake, florist, dj, music equipments, and liquor/alcohol for reception. Basically you would need to find your own for those but it is not bad and it's easy because she has a whole list for you to choose from when you sign up for the venue and contract. Cons also would be the darkness after the reception haha but it's manageable. Others cons would be no signal for the most part but it's a good thing so people focus on the day and not social media/phone connection. I wanted it unplugged anyway.
I have no complains though. It was just BEAUTIFUL & I had lots of out of state guests & they all loved it! They complimented how beautiful my wedding was & the venue made it more magical and dreamy.
The food was delicious. Carolyn is such a kind hearted, beautiful person inside and out. I loved her since the first day I met her until my wedding and even until now. She is a sweetheart & responds to email quickly.
If I can give more than 5 stars I would. I love this venue so much. It holds such a special place in my heart. Thank you, Carolyn and your wonderful team. We had such a wonderful time.
God blessVan Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Christine: It was such a joy having you as a bride at the Van Dickson Ranch. The staff, guests, and yours truly had a good, tension-free time because of your graciousness and flexibility. We wish you and Randy much happiness in your marriage. Carolyn -
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![Jalaine]()
Alicia Sent on 10/13/2021Van Dickson Ranch
I would highly recommend this venue. Beautiful setting with a lot of trees and grass. The BBQ was excellent as well as the staff. Everyone was very accommodating. Carolyn the ranch owner was quick to answer any of my questions. Defiantly worth the drive. My daughter said this was her dream wedding. Thank You ! J.B.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
We are so glad your wedding was great, and staff works very hard to make it that way. Thank you for the nice comments. -
![Kayla]()
Kayla Sent on 10/06/2021Truly the most magical place
Van Dickson is the most beautiful place you can get married in all of Arizona! Hands down. Carolyn and Paul have weddings down to an art, and will make your special day even more special. We loved that we got to spend the day on the ranch with two suites for the bride/groom parties to get ready we got to enjoy the surroundings with our family even before the ceremony began. Our day from start to end was incredible. An added bonus, if you’re an animal lover! They had the sweetest dogs that kept us company while we got ready and we got to have horses in the background of some of our photos.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Kayla: We are so glad you enjoyed the magic of the Van Dickson Ranch and the canine characters. Often, we suggest that we can put them in their private quarters which has a swimming pool, but brides and attendants usually want them around calling them "therapy dogs." We wish you and Dan many happy times as husband and wife. Regards, Carolyn & Paul -
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![Megan]()
Megan Sent on 07/26/2021Couldn’t have been a more perfect day
The Van Dickson Ranch was an amazing and professional experience from start to finish. They were very responsive and allowed us to tour a few times to show family and friends. The day of the wedding we unfortunately had some heavy rains, but they were so on top of everything and we were still able to have our ceremony out under the trees! Their wedding coordinator was super sweet and very communicative. We truly couldn’t have had a more perfect day, everything ran so smoothly! Not to mention due to the rain Carolyn offered for us to come back another time and reshoot photos if needed, she wanted to make sure we truly got everything out of the day. I would highly recommend for anyone looking for beautiful scenery and with so many amenities at such a great price.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Megan: Thank you for the kind review, and we are so happy that your day was everything we had promised, and we wish you a very happy married life. Regards, Carolyn -
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![Kylie]()
Kylie Sent on 06/20/2021Excellent communication and hospitality
The Van Dickson Ranch is a timeless venue with stunning greenery and a "homey" feeling. Carolyn and Paul, the owners, are incredibly welcoming and kind as well as flexible when it comes to last-minute wedding changes. Upon booking the Van Dickson, you'll be given a packet of suggested vendors that she has worked with before in the area to make the wedding planning as painless as possible. They even have horses and dogs on the property! This venue was the perfect spot and memory for my husband and I.
Love,
Kylie and Joshua
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![Carissa]()
Carissa Sent on 05/17/2021Magical Venue
We could not have picked a more perfect venue for our wedding ceremony and reception. Carolyn was fabulous and attentive from start to finish. Her staff is amazing. The food was fantastic, the scenery impeccable, you will not regret having your special day here! The grooms suite and bridal suite are perfect. The pavilion was gorgeous. We just LOVED this whole special day! -
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Kaitlin Sent on 05/01/2021
Absolutely amazing venue
Oh my goodness. I cannot even put into words how much I LOVED the Van Dickson Ranch. We got married here April 30th, 2021. The whole day was so much more perfect than I could ever imagine. The bridal suite and grooms suite was so nice to have to get ready in. Carolyn herself is such a sweetheart and is there throughout the whole day to help make sure everything goes perfectly. I live in another city so Carolyn was wonderful with communication and making sure everything was set and ready to go for the day. The staff was so wonderful and directing guests, helping me and my husband, and helping set up. The venue is absolutely breathtaking and beautiful. Every guest I had could not stop talking about how gorgeous it was. I didn’t even add decorations to my ceremony because the landscape itself is breathtaking. The reception was wonderfully lit and comfortable. The food was AMAZING. If you are looking at getting married in Arizona, I highly recommend this venue 100%. This was the first venue my husband and I toured and we cancelled all other tours and booked the Van Dickson on the spot because we fell in love with the scenery and the owners. -
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![Bradley]()
Bradley Sent on 11/13/2019Couldn't have asked for anything more!
The venue was great. The ambiance was perfect for our wedding in late October. The food got multiple compliments, even weeks later. Would definitely recommend.
The staff was super helpful and looked great. The owners are super responsive and helpful in their recommendations. -
![Melanie]()
Melanie Sent on 11/03/2019Great venue ran by great people!
We couldn’t have asked for a better place to be married. Van Dickson Ranch was everything we wanted and more. The owner, Carolyn Harris, went over and beyond expectations for us before the wedding and the day of the wedding. She made us feel comfortable and at peace with everything about our wedding. She responded in a timely manner to every panicked message I would send about little details regarding our wedding. Living two hours away from the venue made something’s difficult to plan but Carolyn was always there when you needed something. The food her husband smokes and cooks the day of was delicious! All their staff from the cowboys to the food servers were friendly and pleasant people. I would recommend this venue to anyone looking to get married outside on a beautiful property. We love Van Dickson Ranch! -
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![Victoria]()
Victoria Sent on 10/25/2018Beautiful, Friendly, A Dream Come True
Van Dickson Ranch was a dream come true. Green grass, weeping willow trees, amazing food and all the friendly staff are just a few things that made Van Dickson Ranch the perfect venue. Carolyn, the owner, is the sweetest person my husband and I have met. She took time to get to know me and my husband and by the end of the night all the guests and staff felt like family to one another. Carolyn also went over and beyond to make sure that all the table and chairs were set up correctly and gave us recommendations on who to contact for photographers, or flowers and so on. Van Dickson Ranch truly is one of the most beautiful places ever and we will cherish our day there and the people for the rest of our lives. -
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Laura Sent on 07/10/2018We LOVE Van Dickson! Best choice we made when picking food and venue. It was perfect and a fairytale wedding!!!! Thank you Van Dickson for treating us like family and making the day perfect!!!!
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Lisa Sent on 07/09/2018
Our daughters wedding at Van Dickson Ranch was absolutely beautiful. Carolyn Harris was a delight to work with during the planning process. She was prompt to respond to emails and offered many helpful suggestions along the way. The ceremony site is beautiful. The lush green grass is shaded by grand trees which make a natural archway. It was perfect. The reception was on the polo field under an open tent. It worked well and the scenery was picturesque. The staff was pleasant and extremely professional. The "Cowboys" were very helpful! And the food....it was AMAZING! Our guests said so! It was Texas BBQ (tri-tip and chicken) smoked right there at the reception site. All the sides ( salads, rolls, etc.) were delicious too. I am just so happy that we chose to have our wedding at Van Dickson Ranch, no other place would have been right. Thank you Carolyn and Paul! We also used Carolyn's recommendation for Coreen Van Orden as our bartender and she and her partner in crime did a fantastic job keeping 170 guests satisfied. We used our own DJ (Play It Again AZ) playitagainaz.com
and photographer Veronica (Side of Inspiration) sideofinspiration.com. -
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![Abraham]()
Abraham Sent on 11/15/2014Choosing a venue is easily the most important part of planning your wedding. Weather, beauty, mood, and comfort will all be a factor throughout the event. Van Dickson was the 3rd out of 5 locations on our short list to visit from the photos. When Carrie and I were driving away from our meeting with Carolyn I turned to her and said, we can look at these other two locations, but that's going to be our choice. The Van Dickson Ranch had everything I mentioned above plus they struck us as extremely professional. Their package made the rest of our work a breeze.
When our event was over everything had gone as we imagined. The grounds were perfectly kept. The style of the wedding was exactly as we were looking for, a classy outdoor setting that was relaxed enough that our guests could enjoy the reception. Everyone we spoke to afterward has told us how beautiful the venue was. It was a real benefit to be able to show our family members who are not from Arizona what a lush green place you can find in the desert. -
![Mickella]()
Mickella Sent on 07/27/2014The Van Dickson Ranch owners Carolyn and Paul were so fantastic and they definitely have a beautiful piece of land. My husband and I were privileged to be able to share our special day at their ranch and would recommend them to any bride and groom desiring and outdoor wedding. The grass glows a beautiful green in all our photos, the trees give a wonderful background, the horses were awesome, and the reception was well provided for! I've personally never felt a more beautiful, loving, bright and warm aura in nature than I have at this ranch, and it was such a wonderful feeling to have especially on our wedding day. Definitely escalated the love in the air that day, and I wouldn't trade it in for anything in the world. Staff was fantastic and everyone was so helpful, thank you again so much for everything Carolyn and Paul! You all were the best! :) -
![Kaysea]()
Kaysea Sent on 04/03/2022It’s beautiful and exactly what I wanted
The food was amazing! The grass and trees were beautiful. The cowboys, as they call them, were so helpful and nice. Come prepared to set up your own decorations. They were helpful in creating the seating chart and planning the seating for the ceremony. Very quick to get back to you by email. The venue is beautiful and you hardly need any decorations. Getting ready in the girls room was great. They had tons of mirrors and outlets and a small kitchen. Same with the men. It couldn’t have been more beautiful! It was more beautiful than I even imagined.Van Dickson Ranch's reply:
Dear Kaysea, Thank you for the nice review, and we are happy that your day went so well. We do have people we recommend who could help with decorations, but most people say the natural beauty of the Van Dickson Ranch leaves much decoration unnecessary. Regards, Carolyn -
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![User838403]()
User838403 Sent on 06/23/2012The Van Dickson Ranch was the perfect location for our wedding. They were very helpful and flexible. She responded promptly to all emails. -
![Tara]()
Tara Sent on 06/08/2019Service Dog refused into wedding
I would recommend this venue ONLY if they change the treatment of disabled people and their service animals
I have a service dog (medical alert) and have for several years. After driving for 5 hrs. To get to a friend.'s wedding, the "Owner" yelled at me and my family for having a service dog and said "NO DOGS-I don't care what the law says" it was very embarrassing!! And EXTREMELY Uncomfortable
The wedding was beautiful as well as the grounds, everyone else was wonderful. I guess he does not value the importance of a service dog. It doesn't matter if his property is private or public. The FEDERAL AND STATE laws are very clear about the mistreatment or rude conduct to a service animal or handler! He is breaking to
The laws!!!!
She has been trained by a prominent University and 2 years of service dog "specific" training. No one else even noticed her. Her job is to stay at my feet and sit under the table, which she did very well!!! She had her vest on and was on a leash at all times.
It is sad as our paths have probably crossed several times over the years . We share very common interests as I have a horse ranch mySelf and many POLO Friends world wide and dogs are part of most horseman's lives, but a service dog is a NECESSITY!!!
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