I've been riding with Pam and her crew for almost 4 years now and can definitely recommend it. She…read morereally cares about her horses' welfare as well as safety for all. Even though I don't take private lessons, her attention to detail in group settings has improved my riding more in a one year than it had over several years with other instructors. Her assistant instructors are timely, excellent riders and instructors who are patient and respectful. Frankly, all of them have been provided better instruction in individual or group settings that I have gotten almost 95% of the time in the past 20 years of riding from lead instructors, no joking. She'll also never over-mount you or put you on a horse that you need to tune up for the program so she can make money off the horse before it's actually ready to be a program horse. Also if you do package lessons or lease, she'll help you squeeze in extra rides if she has horses that need to be ridden. This helps your riding and also helps fit in make-ups if you are, sick, traveling or lessons were rained-out. Pam is also incredibly ethical; she's the most ethical person I know in any line of business. This means she's not putting her interest in making money over yours: she won't try to sell you a horse, push you into a lease or lesson packages you can't afford or won't benefit from. If you're nor interested in any of these options; she'll treat you just as fairly and equally as any other rider. Regardless of whether you ride once a month, once a week, or 6 times a week, she treats all student the same: with respect, patience, fairness and diplomacy. The final part is that it is a relaxed barn atmosphere. Safety is upmost: but no one cares what attire and equipment you wear as long as it is functional and meets current standards. Horses are kept tidy, but there are no full time grooms handing you fully groomed, impeccably trimmed and polished horses. The upside is there are no high-maintenance people, nor is there pressure to show, or pressure to fit into a certain mold in terms of fashion, dress, or brands of attire.

Seven Oaks was recommended to me when we moved to the bay area. I have been riding for over 20…read moreyears and have found that these ladies really know their stuff! I've been riding with them for the past 4 years. All of the instructors teach Carrie Coe's and Pamela Miller's carefully thought out training program, so you never need to worry about who is teaching you because they all follow the same methodology. Also, they have been working with my horse and have helped us go from training level to third level while keeping my horse happy all along our dressage journey. I would recommend Seven Oaks for anyone interested in dressage. Not only is it a fun, friendly environment, but if you are interested in competing, they can help you reach any goal you set for yourself.

Nice big place for boarding! It was a bit too far to travel from San Jose and they had some…read morepotholes in the dirt roads.

Wonderful place to ride. Excellent horses and very experienced instructors. Just off 280 in…read morePortola Valley.

I've been taking lessons at CRA for about a year now as an adult beginner and I look forward to my…read morelessons every week. I love arriving at the barn and seeing all the beautiful horses. The owner and staff are all lovely as well. My favorite thing about CRA is the amount of progress I feel I've made after each lesson. The instructors are all very knowledgable and always provide helpful feedback that has helped me with my equestrian journey. Definitely give this place a visit! Plus, they've got the cutest pony, Merlin! (see attached photo)

I am so happy to have found California Riding Academy in Pacifica. The barn is super convenient…read morefor me to get to from San Francisco - I can easily take a weekday morning lesson before my PM shift at the hospital. The horses are incredibly well cared for. The barn and arena are very nice. My instructor Sierra is very helpful and patient. I was finally getting strong enough to really properly post the trot when the Covid19 lock down hit. I cannot wait to get back to the barn and to the horses. I highly recommend California Riding Academy.

After 8 years (since 2014), I'm reminded of the old saying "Behind every successful man is a…read moretalented, smart, hardworking woman. And behind every successful woman is HERSELF." Congratulations to Olivia on your new business, Dawson Grove Farm. Congratulations on your vision for the future and continuing to work with your wonderful assistant, Amanda, and team of grooms, Manuel, Flo, and Jorge. I can't wait to start the 2022 show season on my new horse with your guidance. And I'm excited to see our youngest son continue to learn and have fun with his riding during his last few years of high school!

Adding onto all the positive reviews below (and in 100% agreement with all the great things said!),…read moreour teenage daughter changed barns and started riding with Harley and Olivia a year ago. HBE has exceeded all our expectations and our only wish is that we had joined them sooner. In addition to being excellent trainers themselves, the Browns have a fantastic team of trainers (Lauren and Amanda!) assisting them, and wonderful grooms at the barn who take the best care of our horses. Our daughter has learned and progressed at an extraordinary rate and sees the results in both her daily riding and in the show ring. There is a healthy level of competitive spirit at HBE. Everyone is supportive and encouraging... this is really evident at shows when all the HBE riders keep tabs on one another's class schedules and make the effort to go watch each other compete. There are riders of different ages and skill levels at the barn, which is inspiring to all. Olivia is especially gifted at finding horses for her clients. In a previous situation, our search for a new horse took months, and ended poorly. Olivia found the perfect horse for us to lease in record time. The Browns are not only accomplished equestrians themselves, and great trainers, but also they run an organized and efficient business. (anyone who has spent time in the horse world knows that combined skill set isn't always a given...) Harley and Olivia balance the serious and the fun... which makes for serious fun! Thanks HBE!!!

This was such a cool experience today! The owner invited me to take a tour of the place and see the…read morehorses and talked to me about what they do. It was so cool! I will take all my friends and family there for horseback riding. Look at this silly one taking out his tongue for the selfie as if he knows what to do already. All the horses there were friendly and they wanted to be petted. I definitely recommend it!

As an adult returning to riding after almost a 15 year hiatus, I've been thrilled to find such a…read morewelcoming community at Trillium. Etsuko, Yulia and Alexis are incredible trainers - each with their distinctive style & a deep passion for equitation. They go above & beyond to make themselves available to their students and are invested in seeing them improve and reach their goals - all while having fun along the way. I've progressed more in my riding in the past two months than I ever did learning to ride in my early teen years. The schooling horses are absolute gems, the barn is wonderful & well maintained, and the Trillium community is vibrant! I've loved getting to know my fellow classmates and encouraging one another to learn and grow. Being part of Trillium has been a pure joy. I've loved my experience so far and would recommend to anyone - no matter your age or level of experience!

I feel so grateful to have found Page Mill Pastures. This is a place for people who are in love…read morewith their horses and see them often. Not a fancy show type barn, but there are people here who show at all kinds of disciplines. I have only met friendly, down to earth folks so far. The manager, Giselle, is one of the best pasture managers I have ever worked with. She is classy, calm, accessible, responsive, personable, knowledgeable, and kind, and keeps a watchful eye on every horse housed here. She cut me a great deal when I first showed up with four horses, having ridden 2000 miles in 6 states over the past 15 months. I loved it so much, I decided to stay, and she quickly made it possible to make that happen as well. The pastures are huge (hundreds of acres), with easy going, well fed, and happy horses galore. The best value I've found in the Palo Alto area. Picnic tables and a laid back atmosphere make me really feel at home and welcome. Lots of wonderful trails to ride on the property, but also adjacent trails to explore. There are also riding arenas and round pens and quite a few stalls with runs if you prefer. I was given a key to a large tack shed to share with one other person. There are a bunch of these - and look like the horse version of the sunset district. Cute! Trailer parking is available in a locked area off Arastadero Road at no extra charge. Two minute drive from the pastures. Nice wash areas, and plenty of places to tie and tack. I haven't found a place to plug in my clippers though - and was told by somebody that her daughter brings a generator to operate her clippers. A small drawback I guess, but I have the feeling I just haven't found the outlet yet... The mares and geldings are separated, and that works for me, although a bit inconvenient since my horses are not together. But totally understandable. There are trainers to work with on the premises, although I haven't met them yet. It is a rare gem of a friendly, horse loving place. I highly recommend it.

Our daughter has been taking riding lessons with Robin Elsinetti (Maple Leaf Equestrian) for over…read morean year and we think that Robin is a very good teacher. She's patient, yet pays attention to details and makes sure the students are safe. Robin used to be at Portola Farms but is now at Page Mill Pastures.

My daughter has been riding with Jan for the last year and has grown so much as a rider and is so…read morehappy with the whole experience. Jan creates a wonderful barn culture and really supports each individual's needs. In addition to my daughter's experience, I have my own personal experience riding with Jan. I started with her when I was 6 and rode with her until I graduated high school. I'm so beyond lucky to get to share my best childhood memories and now relive them with my daughter. Jan is the best!

Jan is amazing! She has been training my daughter for nearly 3 years. She knows when to push, when…read moreto encourage and how to get the best out of the rider and horse. Her love of horses and knowledge shine through, her warmth and sense of humor make it all even better.

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!

This is the cleanest stable I have ever seen in the bay area…read more I'm taking lessons from Sarah and she is amazing! I have taken some lessons at other barns in Portola Valley, the Sand Hill Road exit on 280 but Sarah at Menlo Circus Club is my favorite riding instructor. My posting trot has improved a lot with her training and she is willing to answer all my not-so-smart questions. Sarah also pointed out my bad riding habits and make me a better rider. My lesson horse is Roxy and she got a lot of character!

Our family's membership began about 50 years ago. We swim here and play tennis as often as…read morepossible. Staff is all very accommodating and non-intrusive but when you need something it will be taken care of immediately. I hear it now costs about $100,000 to join but the monthly dues are less than $1,000. It's worth every penny in my opinion and I've never heard of any member who doesn't feel the same way.

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!

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.