There was a lack of consistency with both the horses and instructors, which led to no real progress…read morein my daughter's riding skills. She went from loving her lessons at her previous barn (before it relocated) to becoming so unhappy at this one that we ultimately chose to switch facilities.

Be aware there are TWO SIGNIFICANT differences in the Riding schools at this barn…read more FIVE STARS for the kids riding school that is OUTSTANDING!! Becky is the current owner of the school (I believe ) and her teachers are thoughtful skilled and do a great job. I highly recommend this school for all kids. Side note- Shelly- You should come by and look around-

I love this place and can't stop coming back! Nicole and Gabby have been so lovely and the horses…read moreare the sweetest. I started off by doing an hour trail ride back in January and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. Then I came back a few weeks later for their Cowboy Spirit days where they teach you the basics of horsemanship. It was so much fun and I made new friends who I keep in contact and meet up with. I'm new to riding and the equine world but this ranch has really jumpstarted the hobby for me. They really love and trust their horses and treat them so well which makes all the experiences so comfortable and encouraging. What really stood out to me was how welcoming they are to people who are new to horses and you can tell they genuinely care about you learning and developing the skills to work with and around the horses. I've visited several ranches now and some of them can be very unwelcoming to people with no experience but that wasn't the case here. So happy I found this gem in San Diego, always worth the 40 minute drive from my part of town.

I took my wife, daughter and granddaughter for Mother's Day present they had the BEST time! We got…read morethere as we were told 1/2 hr before our scheduled ride and went thru the orientation process; Gabby was great to all of us and explained the in and out of riding the horses as we were all new to riding! She paired each of them with a horse that was perfect match for their energy. They did a 1 hour ride and all came back with big smiles, thank you so much for the memorable experience Gabby! You can tell all the horses are well taken care of and that everyone there loves them very much! We will be back for sure!!!

The Horsemanship Academy has been a wonderful experience for our whole family. Our 12-year-old…read moredaughter has received generous time and attention. She has grown as a rider and an individual. Kajsa treats her as a person, not a child, and allows her to learn and ride at her own pace. This makes our daughter feel special and empowered to grow. Through Kajsa's generosity, our daughter has been able to get involved in the workings of the barn as well as special activities. She has made friends and discovered a whole new world. She is always excited to ride, as much as she is excited to work in the stable or the tack rooms. This experience has enriched her life well beyond the ring. The facilities at Horsemanship Academy are excellent and easy for children to navigate. You can't beat the wonderful environment of Rancho Santa Fe, with trees, sky, water, and plenty of fresh air. It's hard to think of a better environment for a child. And, of course, the horses. We have all made friends with the numerous gentle, happy animals at this barn, all of whom have taken a special place in our hearts. They are well-cared-for, happy animals that are a treat to know and work with. Overall, Horsemanship Academy is truly a five-star experience. Thank you, Kajsa!

Though it may be a challenge to tailor riding lessons to small children as well as adult learners…read morelike myself, horsemanship academy makes it look easy. I've been riding with them for a year and have only great things to say. They recently moved to a beautiful new location on Via de la Valle-- same great ponies and instructors though. The instructors are so friendly and competent. Kajsa, the owner, is wonderful and my instructor Laura is a great combination of patient, entertaining and knowledgeable.

We have been here for almost 2 years now. Kay is great with the kids and the horses. We tried other…read morestables, but here the kids learn how to not just ride but actually taking care of the horses

We brought our granddaughter here for summer's camp and she had the best time and learned so.....so…read moremuch. I cannot believe how much shes learned in 2 weeks. Kay and her teen counselors made her experience something very memorable, her riding ability and confidence was so uplifted. She's learned more in 2 weeks than she's learned in 1-1/2 years of private lessons. We now have her enrolled in group lessons as well as boarding her newly acquired horse. So happy my granddaughter is here at Barking Elf Ranch!!!

We love this ranch and the amazing family that owns it! I have been riding here for nearly 20 years…read moreand now my 3 children take lessons weekly. They have developed a love for riding, respect for horses, and self confidence. It has taught them to be assertive, how to take charge, but also how to connect with a horse and care for them properly. Most of all I appreciate their constant safety practices. All instructors are very hands on and I know my kids are in excellent care at all times. We are forever grateful for the people here who welcomed us onto their farm and into their hearts. We are lifers!

My daughter took lessons from Lori for several years. She learned a lot and enjoyed interacting…read morewith the horses and with Lori. Lori was always very safety conscious and also taught her how to groom and saddle the horses. My daughter also participated in summer camp for a couple years and had a great time. In addition, we've done trail rides and a birthday party with Lori, and it's always been a lot of fun. The location is convenient for this area, and Lori is flexible with lesson times and days. Prices are very reasonable. Taking lessons at Rockin' L&D Ranch was a great experience for me daughter, and I'm grateful for that. Definitely recommended.

The training is top tier. The facilities are beautiful. The community is fantastic. The horses are…read moreamazing and very well cared for. Highly recommend!

Is this facility off on Del Dios Highway? Who is the hunter/jumper trainer now? Do the nordstrom's…read morestill Own it or are they retired? *

This charming ranch is perfect for a peaceful getaway. When I visited, the on-site restaurant was…read moreunder construction, so bring your own food--mini-fridges are in the cottages. I stayed in the cozy Sparrow cottage, which was well-decorated and had a fridge, microwave, coffee maker, and dishes for two. I loved the rocking chair on the patio for coffee and reading. The pool is cute and relaxing, though unheated, but the hot tub is warm. There's a serene stream with frogs croaking at night, and the property is secluded, with a few nearby wineries to explore. This retreat is ideal for couples or a small group of friends. Cons: The hot water is only lukewarm. The bed had some dirt/sand. My TV didn't work, and the bonfire is only available until 4 pm. The animal sanctuary ($7) requires a reservation, but the front desk told me to just show up. When I did, the staff said same-day reservations weren't allowed--and she was a bit cranky--so I couldn't visit. However, it's small enough to view from outside the fence. TL;DR: This ranch is feels safe, peaceful and promising. Once the restaurant opens and cleaning standards improve, it will be a perfect nature escape.

We stayed at Bandy Canyon Ranch back in October to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. I sat…read moreon this review for far too long because it honestly just made me so incredibly angry and I didn't want to relive the experience. I've also seen how the manager responds to other negative reviews and didn't feel like dealing with the attacks. I had been following Bandy Canyon on Instagram and the experience they promote online nowhere meets the reality. We chose to stay at the Eagle cabin because it had more space for our 2 kids and dog and the other rooms available were much smaller in comparison. The cabin didn't look upgraded online but for $910 for 2 nights, I assumed it had to be nicer than the photos looked. It was actually much, much worse. The website touts upgraded and renovated rooms but the Eagle cabin had clearly not been updated maybe since it had been built. I cannot begin to explain how depressing the cabin felt walking in at night. Floor to ceiling brown shiny walls illuminated by harsh white lightbulbs, no art or decor on the walls, tacky fake plant from the 90s covered in dust, yellow stained and ripped curtains. The floor was ripped and worn. It felt like a prison. The TV was missing the remote so we couldn't even turn on the TV for some added ambiance. It was dead silent. We spent hours turning the place upside down trying to find a remote, my husband was hyperventilating from how suffocating and tacky the room felt with no escape. We almost left as soon as we arrived. I called the front desk over the course of several hours. The front desk couldn't get us a remote that worked and tried calling her manager but couldn't figure out what to do. We hadn't eaten dinner so my husband reluctantly grilled us some food on the sad bbq outside our room in almost complete darkness. It was intended to be a special celebration of our 10-year wedding anniversary and it ended up being a weekend from hell. Did I mention they prohibit you from bringing your own wine? Because they sell wine on site as part of their "winery." However I was told they only had rose when I asked for a red. What is this, a college dorm? I'm going to get in trouble for bringing my own wine to celebrate my 10 year wedding anniversary? Didn't find this out until we were packing our bags for the trip and my husband was looking at their website. I somehow managed to convince my husband to stay the night versus driving home immediately. I really wanted to salvage our milestone anniversary trip! I tried using the shower and the pipes screeched loudly, sounding like someone was screaming in your ear the whole time. I sent video to the front desk. The noise was so unbearable that we couldn't even use the shower. The sound echoed through the entire house, making it impossible to ignore. These elements greatly diminished the comfort and ambiance we had anticipated. Furthermore, a major reason for choosing the ranch was the promise of a pool for our toddler to enjoy, especially as it's promoted across the ranch's Instagram. To our dismay, the pool was not heated and was too cold to use, which was very disappointing. Adding to this inconvenience, the pool bar was closed, further limiting our recreational options.    All the ranch workers we interacted with were supportive and apologetic, agreeing that the Eagle cabin was outdated and unfit for guests. They acknowledged that it should not have been rented out in its current condition. They promised us the manager would make it right. I was told she's get in touch with me after the weekend. It took me messaging them for about a solid month for the manager to finally call me, which by that point I had zero interest in talking to her. We paid good money to stay here and it was a complete waste. For 2 nights we spent almost 1k ($910 to be exact). You'd think for that kind of money we'd get a much nicer experience!