Excellent inventory for such a cute cottage-like boutique! The staff go above-and-beyond for their customers.

I've been here three times, once to get some paddock boots and half chaps, once for an exchange on size, and once for a helmet. I've never met such an inhospitable group of sales people. They are deeply uninterested in how you feel in the equipment, hence why I had to exchange. I once called, asking for advice on breaking in boots and after answering a few questions, I heard the sales girl try to cover the phone and say "oh my god," exasperated and annoyed. Maybe that wasn't for me but I'm doubtful. They also tried it put me in a medium size half chap even though my calf circumference is larger than the half chap's... when I told them it was too tight they said "no it'll break in".... Half chaps... shouldn't need breaking in. Frankly, neither should paddock boots but whatever. Against my better judgment, I went in to try on a Samshield helmet. I wasn't sure on the fit since all helmets fit different, and so I decided to go and see if I like it. I asked if I can be fitted for a Miss Samsheild and then the shopkeeper said, "Are you here to buy one or get fitted?" Appalled by the question, I said that I think it needs to fit to buy it. She said they don't allow fittings if you don't buy it... An important safety standard for a helmet is that it fits right. Brands fit differently. I was so uncomfortable by her line of questioning that I just left. I'll just buy online, at least then you benefit from their refund policy. Because this place does not offer any refunds, only exchanges, within two weeks. Cool. I've never had so many consistently uncomfortable experiences at a saddlery, let alone in a small business setting. Just go to Olsen Nolte, it doesn't have the high end stuff but this place doesn't care about the client at all.. they are barely interested in a sale, let alone treating you with some semblance of respect. read more

I've ordered tack for my horse, and equipment for myself and everything has shown up on time . A pair of boots I ordered showed up with a different insole so you could tell it was there floor model, but didn't have any damage or wear. I called them to let them know as the insoles were different. They had me send a pic and gave me a satisfactory accommodation that I didn't even request. I will continue to shop with them. read more

The holiday season approaches and The Daughter comes up and says, "I want to get Mommy a present for Christmas." I breathed a sigh of relief because I had bought her gifts already but knew this was the last one. I ask her what she would like to buy Mommy at the saddle shop? Her eyes gleamed and she had a list. We get there and I believe it is Nicole who greeted us. There is a surprising amount of inventory throughout a well-organized and clean market. I personally know very little about what is needed for horse care, but my 11 year old is practically a ranch hand now, and it was a pleasure to watch Nicole and her talk horses and needed equipment for about 15 minutes. She treated her as an adult and gave objective feedback about each item and let her identify and choose the equipment. While picking out a durable item, I could tell it was quality and I was a little hesitant because I've seen the markup on things like these. I flipped the tag and price was very reasonable, probably comparable to online or even less. So we have high quality inventory, knowledgeable and objective support, a person who works well with younger patrons, and very reasonable prices (not to mention an absolutely beautiful location in Portola Valley). Yeah, easy five stars. read more

This place was AMAZING. There was so much nice stuff, they had exactly what I was looking for, and over all this was one of the best stores I went too. read more

I visited Carousel to buy some paddock boots. Lizzy was very friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful even while helping multiple customers at once - and she recommended a less expensive boot than I first requested (and she was right!). I will definitely return when I'm back in the area! read more

I don't understand why this store is so uppity. We have a nonprofit, that saves horses. We never asked them for any money or a product donation . I've asked them 2 times to give out our Business card when ever they wanted to, to let horse people know about us. I asked if we could put a little flyer in the window. No, both times. Not nice. We save horses, they have horse lovers as clients. Really sad. Gretchen Kyle Bigbayray.com read more

Like I have read in other reviews- poor customer service. Pretty disappointing to go in and want to try on helmets and get little to no attention from the woman there. She wasn't rude necessarily but I just felt that I was disrupting her day and was an inconvenience. My barn is near by and I was in about two weeks ago buying 200 dollar clippers and got similar service. Considering they are the only tack store around they're still my last resort. I'd rather visit Olsen Noltes or drive an hour away to Dover in Moraga. They bend over backwards for there customers there and I'd rather give friendly people my business. I have two horses and am a regular at tack stores but after this visit I will likely not return... customers that visit this store are likely making big purchases you'd think the least they could do was be helpful or welcoming. read more

Rude employees, including the owner. I've been here many times over the years ONLY because there is no other tack/horse apparel store around. I was a loyal customer. Have bought multiple bridles, boots, helmets, saddle pads, girths, and even saddles from here! But every time I step inside I've been uncomfortable, ignored, received rude verbal service and even eye rolls. Two stars because of beautiful things for sale. But I dread walking inside. read more

Best tack shop in town. Nicole and her knowledgeable staff will help fit you with proper equipment for riding horses. Very good quality and reasonable prices. They also have a new student starter pack. If you're looking for a place to ride or Board, check out. http://www.instagram.com/nesselazzure read more

I got $25 gift certificate to the store at the Christmas Party (it was issued on 12/18/2018). Went to the store today , on 1/26/2019 and to my HUGE SURPRISE was told that gift certificate is not valid any longer since it was issued LAST year! Great business. read more

I had a great time here. Walked in the last hour of store hours and wasn't treated like I was taking up too much time. In fact, I would say it was the opposite. I wish I came here first, before all the others. I don't think the prices are higher than the other local saddleries, and one cannot compare them with online prices. read more

Found exactly what I was looking for. Service is amazing! The best I got in Bay Area so far. I am sure I will be back :)

A very nice saddlery in beautiful Portola Valley. They have a good selection and last time I was there they had a ton of breeches on sale. Prices are what you'd expect for a tack store in the area - more expensive than online, but if you factor in shipping it works out to be about the same and gives you the convenience of seeing things before you buy. Minus one star because their website hasn't been updated in over 2 years, which led me to even wonder if they were still open before I came out here. I also emailed them about a saddle I was looking for and while they did respond, it took 2 weeks (at which point I had already gone elsewhere for it.) read more

I rarely write Yelp reviews but I had to give a shout out to Nicole. I have recently taken up hunters after a decades break and Nicole helped me with everything I needed to dress the part at my new barn and with my new lease. She even knew my instructors and my barn and knew exactly what they would want. She was knowledgeable and directed me in a way that was far from a hard sell. She even showed me how to wear my hair under my new helmet to look polished, even in my lessons. Thank you Carousel Saddlery and Nicole - you are the best! I am back in the saddle with a great new look! read more

This is a great little business in the heart of PV/Woodside. They have a great selection of modern English horse attire, as well as a decent selection of tack. The Owner, and all of her staff, are very helpful, friendly, and pleasant. If they don't have what you are looking for, or your size, they will place and order for you and call you when it has arrived in their store. The have a great selection of ready to wear and also custom boots. Their horse knowledge is pretty good as well so if you are shopping for your horse, and not yourself, they can answer most questions. The owners little dog, Wyatt, is a store hit and my little dogs enjoy playing with him while I shop! This is a gem of a little business. Stop shopping on-line at Dover and play homage to your local small business. It may cost a couple bucks more, but if you have enough $$$$ to own a sport horse then you surely have a couple extra bucks to spend at Carousel! read more

Great tack store that carries all the hard to find items for the equestrian world. The staff is super friendly will find you what you need, they can even do some special orders! Carousel is located in the small shopping center in Portola Valley, nice drive down Sand Hill (Portola Road). They carry saddles, supplies, treats, toys, and clothing. Definitely worth checking out! read more

I ride nearby in Palo Alto and often frequent Carousel Saddlery for all my needs. I recently bought a new helmet and tall field boots and have been extremely satisfied with the service I received. read more

Got great service and recommendations on a graduation present for the daughter of our good friend and pastor.

Carousel is an awesome specialty tack & equestrian apparel shop. The owner, Nicole, always has a great selection of the latest and greatest in sportswear and tack, boots and helmets, and everything else a horse enthusiast might need. They're happy to match prices with the big companies (Dover and SmartPak). I, for one, would much rather spend my money locally, especially since Carousel is of the very few brick-and-mortar tack shops left in the Bay Area. In response to the reviewer who said their dog was attacked by a dog at Carousel, I can say I've never experienced any issues with any of their employees' pups. Although, my rule as a dog owner is not to allow my dog to approach other dogs if we don't know them, and expect other people to check with me before letting their dogs come up to mine. I think that's the responsibility of any dog owner; not something that falls on those running a retail establishment. read more

I drove almost one hr to experience this shop. Hoped to enjoy every aspect of the experience and instead left with a stomach ache and the feeling I was bullied into buying. What small shop owners like this one don't get is that the in person shopping experience is just that- a desire to support local businesses and spend my hard earned dollar locally. My time is worth something. I shouldn't be made to feel crazy to ask for service or attention or help in choosing between brands. This experience so upset me I found myself thinking the sport, at least in the Bay Area, might be full of obnoxious self-important people. read more

The owner and staff are incredibly knowledgable and helpful. Horsey stuff is expensive, but when you factor in Dover's insane shipping fees, you'll end up ahead shopping at Carousel. You can almost always find what you need here for you or your horse and if not, they can order it. The owner has fantastic taste. There is a dangerously good selection of clothing, bags, belts, and jewelry. read more

Our drive through the Portola Valley was breathtaking to get to the Carousel Saddlery and when I got there there was a sale rack outside of the store where I found a pair of breeches in my size for $59.99 By Kerrots. Inside was a plethora of English riding wear in all sizes and lots of them were on SALE Yippee! I found the most awesome sweater and shirt ensemble. It was a pink Ariat Tek short sleeve heat series shirt. (It wicks the sweat away from your skin). $74.95 The next thing I bought was a heather grey Ariat cotton Ramiro sweater with wonderful pink elbow patches that match the shirt for $49.95 I bought another sweater and shirt set (short sleeve shirt) Ariat Talent Polo powder blue stripe $49.95 matched up with a Ariat blue sweater but can't find price. Also a pair of smashing Heather Black winter cargo kneepatch breeches for $119.99 This is the a better supplied English store that I have seen in a long time and it's worth the drive with all the fresh air and horses you'll see on the way! read more

I visited this place last weekend at the suggestion of the manager at Folger Stables. I am going to start riding again soon and needed some supplies. The young lady who assisted me was very knowledgeable, helpful and about the friendliest person I've encountered in a retail store. She helped me choose boots, hat, breeches and gloves. It is a great little store with everything you could possibly need for equestrian sport/leisure. I also love the handmade handbags they have and the cute scarves and accessories. I will definitely go back there. read more

Great selection of higher end apparel, tack, etc. They have some beautiful things and I always browse the entire store even if I am there to buy something small. I used to only come here when I needed something right that moment but then I found out they will match online/catalog prices! I will definitely be in much more often now! read more

Carousel accepted my return of an Ariat boot that had a defect (a little cut or separation) in the sole and could not be repaired. The store exchanged it with a new Ariat boot. I was impressed because, although I'd only worn the boot once or twice, I'd bought it a year earlier. You can probably find products cheaper online if you know what you're looking for, but nothing replaces the attention to service of a local retailer. Be sure to get on their mailing list for the annual fall sale. The shop is next door to a feed and pet supply store, which is convenient. read more

I love this little joint. They have a nice variety of everything horsie, and competitive prices. They were very helpful during my recent search for a used dressage saddle, and while I ended up finding the perfect saddle somewhere else, I could tell they just wanted the best for me, and held no resentment toward my elsewhere purchase. Which is why I went back and bought the most awesome boots I have ever owned from them. If you want incredible show boots, custom fit, this is the place. I had my heart set on a pair of Volants, by Ariat, and they had them waiting for me when I got to the shop. Nice selection of tops and bottoms, and socks, socks, socks. Also, there is a great feed store a couple of doors down. Great service, good prices, nice selection (for a small tack shop). What more do you want in your backyard? read more

Nice small saddle shop with decent quality and selection. Carried edgewood leather tack, grand prix, jackets, and tailored sportsman. Only problem I saw lack of selection in paddock boots. Ariat only. But nonethe less, very helpful. Good place. read more

Carousel is great! While they may seem expensive, by the time you pay shipping and taxes at some "discount" tack stores (online), prices are about the same. Plus, you miss out on the helpful, friendly customer service offered by Carousel staff and owner, Nicole. Thank you for being a great local tack store! I'll keep coming back and avoid Dover and Stateline..... read more

Great local place to get equestrian-related gear: apparel, boots, accessories, etc. etc. etc. My daughter takes riding lessons so we come here to get whatever gear she needs: protective vest, half chaps, helmet. I don't know anything when it comes to riding so I rely on the salespeople, who I think are very nice and helpful. read more

Went in here with my kids and they couldn't have been nicer. Great selection given small size of the store and knowledge was great. Great sale in November...worth waiting for if you're purchasing a lot. read more

The prices are not competitive and the customer service is poor. Beginner or entry level customers are made to feel like a nuisance. We have bought several things there that all turned out to be a disappointment: boots that had a broken zipper after only a few months; pants that shrunk. I highly recommend shopping on the Internet or taking a drive to shop elsewhere. read more

Great spot. Some previous reviews complained of poor service but I received excellent service. There were two people working there so I could see that the wait could be slow if too many people arrived at once. Great selection and they gave me good advice. Also prices were only slightly higher than Amazon. Well worth it to buy local. read more

I came here from out of the area and truly enjoyed the experience. The group of ladies who helped me were very knowledgeable and were super kind. Their customer service was great and they fit me for a cute pair of beautiful tall boots! I had seen complaints about the prices; however, I honestly thought everything I bought was fairly priced. I ultimately had a great time and would recommend it for all other horsey enthusiasts!! read more

1st time in this weekend and was very happy with the experience. Got a helmet, gloves, and half chaps within about 30 minutes. Was quickly approached by a staff member offering to help and then she found everything I needed almost instantly. And no attempt at upselling! I was definitely expecting to spend more than I did and still got exactly what I wanted. Great selection, great service, I'll be back! read more

Great Faancy saddlery. Of course it's more expensive than if you bought online, but for most things (breeches, helmets, tall boots) very much worth it to get the right fit and such. Sometimes things online are misleading and you end up expecting something you're not going to get. The girl behind the desk was knowledgeable and helpful. She even let me walk around in the Monaccos for a bit because I was the only one there :) There was also this adorable little Pessoa saddle along with other, more practical horse tack. Way better than BHS (los altos) in my opinion. read more

My experience was a bit different. I found them to be not very customer friendly at all as well as expensive. I'm new to riding, so could have used the extra help/advice/suggestions everyone else seems to get here. Many of the items are online for way lower prices and if I'm not going to get any customer service, I might as well save a buck and order off the internet. read more

My husband and daughter went here to look for a helmet for her. Even though they did not mention what price range they were looking for, they were rudely told that "we carry only expensive helmets" (translation: we don't have anything you peasants could possibly afford). Several more incredibly condescending things were said during the visit, which made for an entertaining dinner conversation that evening. I'm giving it two stars, because my daughter did say they have a decent selection (which apparently does not include inexpensive helmets). If you look wealthy or you don't mind being treated with disdain, you might find what you are looking for here. read more

In the past we have stopped by Carousel because it is convenient to both the barn where my daughter rides and our home. We have made several small to medium purchases in the range of $50-$450. The service is very hit and miss and I agree with the other posters that the amount you are about to spend dictates the service that you get. Recently we purchased paddock boots from this store. We had very little help with sizing- basically they put a pair of boots in front of my daughter and walked away. When we made the purchase my daughter was not sure if the shoes fit. I asked about returns and was told that as long as we did not "go stomping through the mud" it would be no problem. Well it turned out that the new shoes gave my daughter horrible blisters after wearing them for just 3 days. I tried to return them and was told that they would not accept them. I am all for supporting local businesses but they have to offer the same excellent customer support that I can get online or why bother!?! Amazon, Zappos, and Dover all have 100% satisfaction guarantees and will take boots back no questions asked. Horseback riding is expensive enough...I am no longer willing to risk paying for something we cannot use. Sorry Carousel we will not be back. read more

Unfortunately, they are pretty much the only game in town. We don't shop there a lot because we don't own a horse and my daughter is just taking riding lessons so she doesn't need much. They have a nice beginner package which includes paddock boots, breeches and a helmet, but other brick and mortar and online stores offer the same. The problem I have with this store is that there are perpetually out of stock of lower priced apparel. My daughter needed some new breeches. Of the two pairs I purchased, one was defective. It took over two months to get kid's size 8 back in stock. They kept telling me a shipment was expected any day. And then, they "lost" my phone number so I never received a call letting me know they had come in. Fortunately, they had one pair left on the shelf. Now we need new boots and, of course, there are none in stock. They are, however, expecting a big shipment this week. We'll see . . . read more