I got to know Bright Ranch and the Bright family. They are all caring. I have known them from when…read moreI was 8 years to when I was 19. I did weekly lessons and learned a lot about the horse and riding. I learned how to ride all kinds of horses from green (not fully trained) horses to the competition horses. It was one of the reasons why I became so into horseback riding. I loved Dennis's deep knowledge on horses and how he worked and partnered with the amazing horses he has in the stable. I also learned to work with cows and learned to do advanced techniques over the years. Dennis teaches you that patience helps you a lot around horses. He teaches you to be safe on the ground and in the saddle. Yes, it takes years to learn to horseback ride. It is the same for all sports and even learning instruments. You gotta understand that things take time. I describe horseback riding is like a tree. You learn the basics or the standard skill. Each basic technique you learn branches off to more advanced skills. Also, repetitions are key! Anyway, I recommend Dennis Bright as a caring and acknowledgeable horseback riding mentor. He has the safest horses to ride compared to the other stables I visited. The biggest thing he makes sure is that you the student is safe. Not many horseback riding teachers do this! - Kathryn K.

My 8 year old daughter did a week long summer camp here and I cannot recommend it highly enough!…read moreShe got a horse riding lesson every day, got to brush the horses and help take care of the other animals on the farm, learned about the garden and helped harvest the vegetables... basically every 8 year old's dream! The camp counselors were all so friendly and the owners were so helpful and seemed to genuinely care about the kids learning and having a good summer camp experience. We will definitely be back next summer! I wish we lived close enough to do riding lessons here on a regular basis!

While I've spent plenty of time petting horses and have done my fair share of trail rides, this was…read moremy first formal lesson. From the start, I was struck by how exceptionally clean and well cared for the horses were--this family-run business clearly treats them as part of the family. Because of that level of care, I'd especially recommend this barn to anyone with allergies or health sensitivities who might otherwise hesitate to be around horses. Before riding, I learned some fascinating insights about horse psychology and the equestrian world. Then came my first lesson on Rose. Johnny described riding as a kind of dance--and for the first time, I began to understand what it means to move with a horse as your partner. I had a wonderful time and highly recommend Johnny and Johnny 6 Stables at the OC Fairgrounds. Whether you're looking to develop your riding skills and ride like a pro or simply spend meaningful time in a low-key atmosphere connecting with a horse, it's well worth a visit. Such a great experience!

I had an amazing experience at Johnny 6 Stables. The horses were beautiful and well taken care of…read more My instructor was extremely caring and made sure I was never put out of my comfort zone. I will definitely be going back! The experience has rekindled a childhood love for horses

Lone Oak is a great boarding stable. The facility is very clean and quiet. They have several…read morearenas. You will most likely have the arena to yourself. The arenas have great footing. They take pride in the facility and security. The only downside is fall is in the winter time only the covered arena is open sometimes. They do seal the outside arenas. So once the outside arenas dry out they open them back up.

I've been taking private lessons with Shari for about three years now, and I couldn't recommend her…read moremore highly. I was initially referred to her because of the facilities, and the care for her horses. I also appreciate that Shari owns the barn, so I never have to guess where my lesson will take place. A lot of trainers in the area seem to move barns frequently, but with Shari everything is consistent and reliable. Plus, as Morgan Hill can get hot, I really appreciate having access to the indoor arena. There is also a dressage ring and an outdoor ring, so there's plenty of space and flexibility depending on what you're working on. I got back into riding about five years ago as an adult after growing up with my own horse, although now I ride mostly to stay connected to horses and continue learning in a safe, supportive environment. Shari does a great job meeting riders where they are, whether you're returning to the sport or advancing your skills. Shari also hosts local competitions at the barn, which creates opportunities for riders who want to push themselves further. Overall, it's a great place to ride, learn, and be part of a welcoming horse community.

Shannon is an exceptional instructor. She has been teaching my daughter horseback riding for the…read morepast 10 years, and my daughter absolutely loves her kind, patient, and encouraging approach. Shannon has played a huge role in helping her grow and progress through the levels with confidence. My daughter truly loves the horses and the entire stable environment. It's also a wonderful place to spend time while waiting--calm, peaceful, and welcoming. We're so grateful for Shannon and the entire team.

We have been attending lessons at Painted Star Equestrian for 5 months now. We LOVE Shannen's…read morecurriculum for horseback riding. The kids always know what their next goals are and how to level up and what they need to do to get there. My youngest fell in love with horseback riding here. She is often overshadowed by her two older sisters' achievements and she has found her own "thing" here. She has learned a greater level of responsibility and independence. Her confidence has grown both on and off the arena and we couldn't be more proud of her and thankful for Painted Star!

Great experience with Diane !! We really recommend her ! All of our 3 kids really liked her and the…read moreway she teaches . The horses were very quiet and the little one was so cute , she also has more animals on property which made it even more fun!

Diane does great work. Had a mini horse with curled hooves. A disaster. Diane made them look normal…read moreand brought great relief to the horse. I was astonished she was able to get the hooves in such great shape. Diane works to make the horse comfortable and doesn't push and lose her patience.

Working with the owner of Ligara Farms has been a treat…read more Susan has a delightful personality, and knows how to get Things done. Her thoughtful approach with her customers comes first and her stables are beautiful and clean. Carolyn Bredsteen

Don't make an appointment, they will cancel you last minute without reasons but they require you…read morecancel your appointment 24 hours ahead. No customer service available, no response with emails. Not a good business attitude.

This used to be a really nice facility but unfortunately has been going downhill for awhile…read more Britteny Streeval is the latest in a revolving door of barn managers. No one wants to work for the barn owner for long. He is rude, doesn't respect women, and condescending. Brittney doesn't know anything about horses or the care that they need. She outright refuses to address potential safety hazards, instead prioritizing weed whacking. If boarders come to her with complaints she is likely to lose her temper, yelling and waving her hands violently. There are many trainers with excellent programs, but if any handicap person wants to come watch their child ride there is no handicap bathroom for them to go to. Very disappointing that a public facility doesn't have handicap accomodations. In addition to this, the bathrooms chronically have difficulty flushing and the toilets are almost always full of poop. The arenas dragging is poorly done, leading to bad footing and rivets in the sand. This is a shame because the arenas used to have extraordinary footing, especially in the indoor arena. Break ins to vehicles is not uncommon, as well as cigarette butts found in horses stalls. Communication between management and boarders is limited. The board has been raised twice in the last 6 months, even during the decline in quality. On July 4th the horses didn't get fed until 10pm Sometimes the hay is moldy. Boarders are not always notified when their horse gets out. Stall cleaners do not always remember to chain gates.

Great horse facility in beautiful setting. Pleasant staff and great atmosphere. Came for a…read moretraining clinic as an observer. Highly recommend.

I've always had a peripheral itch to try polo (current hunter/jumper rider), and recently got a…read morerecommendation for this club from a friend. Within the first five minutes, I was sold. It felt intuitive, invigorating, more exciting than any sport I've tried in a long time. Urging my indefatigable pony, Nala, onwards to score our first goal felt as if I had found myself on a ferocious, beige little Pegasus. I already signed up for Polo Academy this spring! So stoked. The instructors were awesome, and I enjoyed the mini drills and scrimmage that we did during the lesson. Totally recommend

Long overdue post on my new favorite hobby at my absolute favorite place, South Bay Polo! I started…read moreout super cautious and being absolutely TERRIFIED of hitting my horse instead of the ball. Fran was patient with me and very understanding and so was everyone else at the club! Polo is usually considered a sport with a very high barrier to entry: typically most people think you need to be an avid equestrian, you need to be super athletic, you need to be crazy rich, you need to own multiple horses, and thats definitely not the case. South Bay is an incredibly welcoming, safe place to learn how to play polo. Fran has an excellent program called "Academy" where you'll be placed in a group of your peers who are also new to polo and you all learn the basics at a comfortable, stress free pace. No one is ever pushed to go faster than they are comfortable going and emphasis is placed on accuracy with the ball and safety ALWAYS safety first! Some people may think of polo and think SPEED but...as one of the pros say "theres absolutely no point in being the fastest to get to the ball if you don't know what to do with it once you get there!" Club members are absolutely wonderful and kind, always super patient with all my questions and super eager to help out. Some of the members are really all-stars competing in tournaments at levels I could only dream of, but when you surround yourself with players at that level they help you improve simply by watching them and interacting and practicing around them! You can always try out a private lesson first to see if polo is for you- it is very different from any other style of riding Ive ever done, the reins are held in your left hand and mallet with the right hand. But I promise you, the second you hear that perfect THWACK sound when you have your first connection with the ball you'll be addicted to it! (for the record I whiffed the ball maybe 10-20 times before ever actually getting a solid hit lol) I still have a very long way to go in my polo journey and I am super excited to have found a place that nurtures my growth!