Although I've known of Moss Beach Ranch because I live nearby and my son attended a horse camp many…read moreyears ago, I had never booked a trail ride before. I am SO glad I did. I had two young students staying with our family from Japan, and I thought they might enjoy the experience of riding horses in an authentic California environment. Kim and Ashley provided that and more. I appreciated the time in the ring before the ride for each rider to learn how to work with his/her assigned horse. Then we headed out on the trails behind and above the ranch, some parts of which included ocean views and lovely trees. Kim and Ashley clearly understood and cared about the horses. We felt supported and respected as beginning riders, never rushed. I have already started to think about taking future guests to enjoy this experience. A must-do on the Coast.

Kim replied quickly to my text, and we were able to set up the ride that same afternoon. The ranch…read moreis tucked into a small valley with quick access to the highway and Moss Beach, so it was easy to find but felt quiet and peaceful once we arrived. We were paired with two beautiful horses, including an enormous draft horse named Buck. Kim, the trainer, was warm, welcoming, and clearly loves her horses. She guided us through the foothills and into cool forest trails, where we even stopped to visit other horses along the way. Ashley the 2nd trainer joined us on the ride, and she was kind, supportive, and helped make the experience even more enjoyable. The entire afternoon far exceeded my expectations. From the breathtaking scenery to the comfort and confidence we felt with the horses, it was unforgettable. I highly recommend Moss Beach Ranch if you're looking for a truly unique and memorable riding adventure.

I enjoy riding my horse at this facility. The ring is large, plenty of nice jumps and there is an…read moreindoor for rainy days. You can also walk down a quiet road or ride in the hills on a trail if your horse is ok with cattle. Nessa is always coming up with creative, challenging lessons so I have learned a lot. And the showing is fun! The down side is that the facility owner raises the board $50 a year, every year. The stalls are barely covered in shaving even when I offered extra money for more. And if you want to replace the tattered mats you pay for it. The investment in the barn itself is minimal. But my horse gets an in and out stall, which is great so that is good. And the people are all great...love my barn friends and those who work here.

Absolutely thrilled with my experience at Nessa Cossentine Equestrian! Nessa is an exceptional show…read morejumper, a phenomenal riding instructor for both beginners and advanced riders, and an outstanding horse trainer. Unlike half of her students, I don't own my own horse, so I ride one of her ten incredible horses. If you've ever taken lessons at other barns with their typical "lesson horses," you'll be amazed at the difference here. The quality and temperament of Nessa's horses are unmatched in the Bay Area. I started my lessons on a very experienced horse that kept me safe and taught me so much, taking me through the journey from walking over poles to jumping to 2' fences! As I progressed, I earned the incredible opportunity to ride Grand Prix horses in my lessons! This kind of experience is truly unique and invaluable. Nessa's friendly and always smiling demeanor makes every lesson fun and enjoyable. I can't recommend Nessa Cossentine Equestrian enough for anyone looking to improve their riding skills in a positive and supportive environment!

My daughter has been riding at B.O.K for seven years and considers it her 2nd home. Their constant…read morelove and support for all is beyond amazing. They help each child have the best experience possible! They have western and English riding opportunities and Each horse is picked just for this job. The coaches are also some of the best ever (in my opinion) and have opened up so much for my daughter. Shout out, Addy, Lindsey, Taylor and of course Tish who are all amazing horse people. B.O.K has changed my daughters life

BOK Ranch is a great program for horseback riding lessons. The staff who work there are super…read morehelpful.

My daughter takes lessons from Eldon and is constantly asking when she can go back. She just…read moreturned 12 and it is her favorite thing to do. She rides bareback and is now very comfortable on the horses. Eldon himself is a character and a joy to be around. So I find my daughters lessons something I look forward to as much as she does. The ranch is tucked away and being there just seems to dissipate stress. Highly recommend Rancho Polhemus and lessons from Eldon!

This ranch is a little hidden gem just of Polhemus road near 280. Everyone we met there - both…read morepeople and horses - was super nice. Eldon has been teaching people to ride for ages. As he says you will learn to ride a horse before you learn to ride a saddle :) That means you learn to ride bareback first. Today was our first lesson with Eldon. I must say its quite a difference - riding bareback. I am used to riding in saddle. But surprisingly enough it was also very fun and somehow freeing. We will definitely be coming back.

I think spring down is a very good place to go and all the horses are so sweet and it's a good…read moreplace. I really rated a good five stars. and I started going here because I really love horses and I hope you guys like it too.

The most terrible experience in the world!!!! Sooooo angry , rude , insulting new staff including…read morenew manager Camden. They were yelling and screaming on people and little kids... Not professional!!! Never go there again !!!! And never recommend this place!!!! Sadly, this place has been completely changed in terms of how they treat people now after new staff came. it used to be very friendly, kind, warm and welcoming place in the past ( just couple years ago).

I had the most wonderful experience with Colleen Shjelfo today. I am familiar with horses, but it's…read morebeen a very long time. She started the lesson with grooming "Frisco" and then explaining, showing, and having me follow with brideling him. Our time in the ring was excellent. By the time I left, I was very comfortable riding Frisco and giving him commands that he followed. I will be seeing her again in the next two weeks to graduate to trotting. Definitely recommend Collen for lessons.

My 8 year old daughter wrapped up her first ever summer horse camp and she can't wait to come back!…read moreShe enjoyed getting to know all 3 horses: Frisco (her fave), Dakota and Indy. In 5 days, she learned basic English riding styles and horse care like how to groom, feed, bathe, catch/lead the horse. She even got to experience bareback (no saddle) trotting! Thank you Colleen at Peninsula Equestrian Academy for a fun and memorable week!

This review is long overdue but better late than never! Ali and Alice are hands down the best…read moretrainers I have ever worked with. I grew up riding at various barns in the Santa Cruz area and when I got back in the saddle as an adult, I was so fortunate to find Ali and Alice through a recommendation in a Facebook group. They paired me with a perfect fit for a lease and their training is top tier! What I love most about their methods is that they put a heavy emphasis on horse and rider connection. Though I was "taught to ride" as a young girl, there is SO MUCH that I have learned from them these last couple of years and I could never thank them enough. When the horse I was leasing moved out of state with his owner, Ali and Alice helped me find my first horse. They really know what they're doing and have such expansive knowledge of horses in so many different ways. Once I brought Rosie home, we set up a training plan for both her and me. Even through the setbacks of owning a new horse, they have been there for every question, every doubtful moment, and every win. They are both truly wonderful horsewomen, each with so many strengths. HC Equestrian is like a family. They are a drama-free group which feels hard to find in the horse world at times. Every rider and horse is treated with the same respect. I would 11/10 recommend HC Equestrian to any level of rider, at any age. You and your horse would be so lucky to train here!

My daughters have been working with Ali at HC Equestrian for almost a year, now. Ali is very…read moreknowledgable and professional. She is welcoming, has great boundaries and empowers the girls to ask questions, figure things out and learn from their mistakes rather than dwell on them. Her sense of humor and excellent ability to attune to the student and judge their emotional state allows her to tailor each lesson not only to the student's general abilities but also to their needs on any given day and her extensive experience means that her "tool kit" is vast. My teens have learned a lot in their time with her and gained much more skill and confidence with the horses and in themselves. I appreciate that she is someone they can look up to not only as a riding instructor but also as a model for healthy independence and awareness of others (human and animal). The facilities offer a covered arena, as well, which is a huge bonus during the summer months (no sunburn) and rainy season (no canceled classes due to rain). I have recommended HC Equestrian and Ali to others and will continue to do so. We are grateful to have found them and look forward to every lesson.

Cindy began working with my daughter 5+ years ago. The community she's built amongst her young…read moreriders is amazing. The riders do all the work with the horses (tacking up, etc) which are good skills to learn. My daughter learned lessons in responsibility and being organized, as being part of Lake Forest Farms. Cindy is great with young riders - she knows how to be firm, yet empathetic (which you need when dealing with sometimes drama-filled pre-teens and teens). My daughter developed into a very confident rider with Cindy, and is still riding (and showing) away in college. I couldn't recommend Cindy enough for your young and up and coming rider!

Lake Forest is a magical place for all ages! Whether you are an older rider getting back into…read moreriding, or a middle or a high school student you can learn to be the best you can be at Lake Forest Farms! Everyone takes care of their own horses and the barn is a safe place for all!