I board my two young rescue horses with Melanie and can't say enough positive, good things about…read morethis facility. My boys are treated beautifully and they are loved by all the folks at the facility. Stalls are clean, hay is high quality, horses get lots of interaction and attention, and the arenas are always clean and dragged nicely with great footing. If you are looking for a quiet, low key barn environment with very happy horses, this is the place for you.

Riding/stabling horses in Oakland? Well yes to both actually…read more Just off Skyline, slip back in to what seems to be an oasis for horses with an ocean view. But keep your speed down- the city boy in me cruised in at what seemed to be a medium pace and was told that that was tooooooo fast. 5 mph or less. So okay. Helped move a new vendor in who will have tons of horse supplies available on site. I'd rattle off some more lingo like saddles and bridles but I don't know what anything else is called. They're there though. And there are numerous signs that indicate that dogs are not allowed. Just an observation.

I grew up riding horses in the Oakland Hills next to Joaquin Miller Park and close to Skyline…read moreRanch. Back in the day, the area was affectionately known as "horse country." The reason for this is that over the years, more and more open space around Joaquin Miller Park in the hills was preserved and protected, creating a giant, beautiful expanse of protected and accessible land. The vast trail system networking these parks were created in large part because of the support of the local horse community. Over time, a bunch of horse facilities were established in this area, drawn by the amazing trail network and the proximity to hundreds of square miles of California ranch land east of the ridge line. Among the local stables, the truly iconic Skyline Ranch and its sister facility, the historic Piedmont Stables, stand out as two of the oldest and most enduring. To me, they are a wonderful reminder of the East Bay's deep-rooted horse culture and an important part of Oakland's "horse country" tradition. Skyline Ranch is a community-oriented full-service operation that blends superb boarding facilities and high-quality instruction with smooth, professional, safe, secure operations. Both barns provide direct and immediate access to the amazing network of Oakland Hills trails. Some of the reviews I've read have had issues with communications. The reason for this is that there's no office staff here waiting to take calls - everyone is digging in, hands-on, teaching, and working with horses and owners!  So, the best way to learn more is simply to come VISIT. Inside the main barn, you'll find large whiteboards with contact numbers. The most effective way to reach someone about lessons or boarding is to TEXT JUDI Martin, the owner and head trainer. She is almost always nearby, either giving a lesson or working with a horse, raking the arena, helping students and boarders, or pitching in wherever she's needed (she's a hands-on, engaged, busy but very friendly lady). When in doubt, just ask anyone around the barn and we'll connect you with her. The instruction is great. Although the primary focus at this barn, and most barns in the area nowadays is English riding, I ride Western (I think I'm the only one here).  I train with Judi personally, and I take private lessons in both Western and English. She has a deep understanding of general horsemanship, and is a natural fantastic teacher, patient and insightful, and she truly understands how to get the best out of each horse and rider. You have to work hard during her lessons, but I appreciate that she's trying to improve my competence and therefore making me a safer rider.  My progress has been tremendous, and my enjoyment of the hobby has improved dramatically as a result.  The other trainers at Skyline, including Jackie, Jerry, and Tracy, are also excellent. Whether you're just starting out or riding at a high level, there's real depth, experience and teaching ability here that can help you achieve you or your child's goals.  There are many little kids and adult beginners and they all get a great start based on the teaching team's decades of experience, love of horses, and genuine caring engagement with students. They have many experienced solid, well trained, safe school horses. Depending on your needs, Summer Camps, workshops, group lessons, horse first-aid classes, and many other learning opportunities are also available. The barn itself is very well run and thoughtfully maintained. Boarders have access to indoor stalls that are kept clean daily, comfortable with plenty of bedding, and protected with active surveillance, alarm systems, and human security patrol.  Horses are turned out daily and fed (good quality hay and alfalfa) three times a day. There's a strong support system in place, including regular visits from farriers, several vets who are frequently on-site, and a knowledgeable staff that truly cares about and looks after the horses. Parking is easy, security is active, and Judi and her team are always willing to share their expertise when it comes to horse health, exercise, feeding, training, access to resources, or anything else you might need help with. I keep two horses here and they are both very happy. Pricing for boarding and training is consistent with the market and very reasonable. More than that, you get much better value here compared to other barns in the area. What makes Skyline Ranch truly special is the completeness of the ecosystem. It is not just a barn with horses and an arena. It is a well-maintained, fully integrated environment where everything and everyone works together in support of the horses and the riders.

Wonderful facilities and excellent instruction, very close to Oakland and freeways but backing up…read moreonto magnificent trails

I have been boarding here for 4 years now. The barn community is drama free, kind, and a true…read morecommunity. The barn managers are amazing and the only people to get me to leave my sick horse, with a promise to watch him over night. The next morning I woke to a text detailing his changes overnight (and comparison photos!) and a recommendation to call the vet.

I had my horse here for around 8 months while we waited for other barns to have room. This is the…read morebarn perfect for people who ride western, love trails, aren't into showing, and want a very quiet barn. If you ride english, jump, and want to show, this probably isn't the barn for you. There is only one arena, and it is outdoors and very small. There is a round pen in the middle of the barn that is good for horses to roll in. The trails are very steep and rocky though. Keep in mind the arena is by an active road so if your horse is scared of motorcycles get earplugs for them.

The RDLA facility has many attractive features for a multitude of riders. I arrived in 2019 seeking…read moreout local boarding with trail access, turnouts, and a variety of arenas. I really enjoy being able to tack up and head out on the trails but sometimes I just want to ride around on the property. My horse loves the grass turnouts and the nice wide private trails. We can ride up the hills to connect to the EBMUD trails with beautiful views. It is a great place for any discipline with lots of amenities.

My husband and I have boarded our horses at RDLA for the past 3 1/2 years. We felt right at home…read moreand welcomed by everyone as soon as we moved in. We love that we don't need to load our horses and trailer out to be able to ride the trails which is what we love. Multiple trails are available where you can literally saddle up and ride out. RDLA has four round pens, one of which is covered. We have a huge covered, lighted arena, as well as a separate jumping arena (which even us non-jumpers use) and a dressage arena. I love knowing that even when I am out of town someone always has an eye on my horses and there are trainers available to exercise or turn out your horse when you aren't able to do so. RDLA has been wonderful to us and we love being a part of the RDLA family.

New management always creates drama and sour grapes. I am a relatively new boarder of three months…read moreand so far, so good. I have had none of experiences like those negative ones listed in earlier postings. Here is what my experience has been: A full time manager: helpful, pleasant, always there, listens to my comments and requests. Accounting and other staff always professional and friendly. Three full time workers: they keep my horse's stall clean with plentiful bedding, feed her accurately and in a timely fashion every day. The barn and stall are very, very clean. The workers are friendly, helpful and work so darn hard! I never see them rest. Resident trainers: are all willing to help me out when I need it, are very friendly and fun to hang around. There is always someone nearby to lend a hand, so I never feel like I'll get in a bind by myself. Other boarders: friendly, communicative and nice. (Do you see a trend here?) I've had interactions with many different people at all hours of the day and, generally, everyone is polite and considerate. Additional notes: this is a carefully maintained barn with employees who appear to genuinely care about the place overall. They have lots of fun events, like BBQ's, potlucks, cattle sorting, picnics and fun "play days" for horse and rider. (Have you ever seen a horse bob for apples???) There are plenty of Western and English riders. They host interesting clinics on various disciplines. The board rate is very reasonable and I have fun and feel safe. I have absolutely nothing to complain about! But don't just take my word for it - come and see for yourself. Giddy up!

Alma is a great all around trainer whom my daughter loves very much. We've been coming here for…read morelessons for the past year and have been happy with her progress.

I went to this place and got the package of four lessons which is 350 dollars, but I had told…read moreMarguerite that I had barely started to even trot at the other place I went to, she ask is I was a beginner and I told her I was over the phone fast forward, when I got there everything was fine but she told me to go to the barn a talk to this lady who was going to give me a helmet and take walk the horse out my mom was with me so she had to sign and release form, but the lady wasn't that nice she wasn't rude but she wasn't very welcoming, the horse had hesitated when walking out of the barn, and the lady told me to look forward and walk but the horse still didn't move eventually he did. We got to the gate of the arena and the horse stopped again, and the lady who had helped me get a helmet in the barn yelled at the horse to move( this is where I started to feel nervous because I felt that I couldn't trust the horse.) Marguerite told me that she could tell I was nervous and that it was ok because she puts little kids on this horse.(I was riding in shoes because my boots that I had gotten didn't come into the mail yet, and I told her that but she said that it was ok) so we kept riding but I was confused because it wasn't Marguerite teaching me it was someone else that and I thought she would because that's what she told me over the phone, which is fine I was just confused...the lady who was walking with me around the arena was nice. The lesson ended and we left. Later that day I told my mom that I didn't want to go back because I felt to uncomfortable there and it didn't feel like a stable system...and the other horse place I went to you would learn to brush and tack up the horse, overall just learn horseman ship but here you don't unless to get there early (she didn't tell me till the second lesson) but we asked for a refund and she refused to give a a refund( she never mentioned that she didn't give refunds) she told me and my mom to take after lesson with the boots so we did but i felt pressured to take this lesson.but she said she would charge 120 for the next lesson and give 110 back is we didn't like it. The next lesson came around and I wasn't in the best mood I felt pressured to take this lesson and I just wasn't in the best mood, I got on the horse ( the same one from the first lesson) and he felt jittery to me and I felt uncomfortable I had a weird gut feeling, so I stopped the horse and told her and my mom that I was uncomfortable and she ask why I couldn't answer at the time because I don't know what to say but she just told me to kept going, I felt confused by her instructions because she never told me if I was doing it right, but we kept walking and I felt more and more uncomfortable the horse was stubborn and was focused on follow Marguerite more...we walking around for a bit more and we stopped and she was telling to to look where to want to go then walk so I did. I don't know what happed after that because it happened so fast but the horse had got spooked by a truck driving on the road a threw me off, I landed on my hip ( I was ok but I'm bruised really bad and can't really lay down or sit without it hurting) I got up and talk out of the arena and I was shaking I don't know what happened after that as my body was in shock from what happened. She proceeded to tell my mom that I'm not ready and it was like talking to a 8 year old ( I'm 17) and that riding probably wasn't for me and that I would have still been on the horse if I kept my back straight, and that I wasn't listening and was hesitant to listening to her( I was confused and she never told me if I was doing something right or wrong.) Please be careful when choosing this place ask a lot of questions, because she tends to leave stuff out.

Overall the experience was okay, I would not recommend using this place if you're looking for…read morequality riding lessons. From the very beginning it seemed like an unfit establishment for our family, but wanted to be optimistic. The trainer provided very poor communication on how to find her place and was late on day one. She immediately jumped into defensive communication any time I asked for clarification. She seems very well established and knowledgeable, unfortunately that doesn't translate into her training with first time riders. Trainings are rushed, but ironically she just sits in a chair disengaged from the trainees. I was shocked as a parent and as someone who has no experience with horses when I was asked to prep the horse for riding. Seems extremely unsafe. Once I communicated that we no longer needed the services she became combative and refused to reimburse for the advanced payment for lessons.

I took my daughter here for her first ever horseback ride. We did an hour tour with Gary. It was…read moregreat. The place is the only one I know of in Co Co County. I highly recommend it for beginners or those like us, who just wanted to try something new. The prices are great too.

May - We wanted to schedule a riding session using our Groupon because they are expiring soon…read more Bethe says sorry, 'We are booked through end of June because of a deadly horse virus and are running in limited operations mode." But she says they will honor the Groupon through the end of the year. Ok, fine with us. August - Called and left a message to book a session on September. After no response in one week, I called and left a message AND an email to follow up. Finally got an email three days later saying she just got back from a horseshow competition. She says ok, we can schedule your session in September. I email her back immediately because I want to schedule lesson #2 because she is difficult to get a hold of. September - I email to confirm our lesson #1 date. She replies and says, "I'm sorry, we don't have you scheduled on that date. I thought it was last week. But hey, there's an opening tomorrow for your 2nd lesson". I want to cry. End of September - We email Bethe saying we give up and call Groupon to get a refund. Outcomes: a. I now question Groupon's quality of vendors. b. My friend and I really let our group of friends down with all the back and forth of scheduling rides. Made us look incompetent. c. I really wanted to go horseback riding but now am afraid to go near this place and meet with Bethe in person for fear of more disappointment.

The family who owns this ranch is very friendly. They treat my horses very well, they feed them and…read morekeep the stalls clean. I am so glad very moved them here.

My grandkids are taking riding lessons. The horses they use for kids are so gentle. For parents…read morewanting to get their kids from behind that laptop, this is the place to go. They learn the fundamentals of caring, feeding and riding. Differently recommend. Michele Sims is the trainer.