FHS and trainer Stephanie Walker are the best. She has created an exceptional environment where the…read morehorses' comfort and happiness are always the priority. She helps all levels of riders realize their full potential in a very unintimidating way. I would highly recommend this barn for boarding, leasing, training, and lessons.

Stephanie Walker at Free Heart Stables is a true horseman. She understands the equine holistically…read moreand teaches her clients from where the horse is at physically and mentally, and always for the good of the horse. My daughter entered into the horse world via typical horseback lesson experience. She received excellent instruction in rider form at a top riding school but she became bored with just jumping on a horse for the purpose of getting through the transitions and jumps while looking good. She craved a deeper bond with her equine partners. So, being a brand new horse person myself, and only to support my daughter from afar, I found Stephanie in a Google search. I figured some horseback lessons that simulated actual horse ownership would cure the bug. I also decided that since this experience would be more than just tacking up the horse and riding, I decided to take lessons too so I could supervise my daughter from the ground. When my daughter first started riding, I wouldn't even pet the horses, and I was the least likely candidate to be a horse owner, that's how resistant I was to this whole horse fever she caught. I thought for sure these true "horsemanship" lessons would end this nonsense. Well, Stephanie didn't cure the horse bug. She made it worse, it was contagious, and I caught it. She stirred a new passion in my daughter and I that opened up a whole new world where horses are now more than a hobby, we have a new lifestyle. Fast forward to today, we are the humble owners of a beautiful, dramatic, and sensitive thoroughbred gelding and Stephanie is our trainer. Forget thinking that this is your typical trainer situation where the expert does the hard work of training your horse and you come out only to ride and experience the fruit of that labor. Stephanie is teaching US how to train our horse. Her lessons involve us in every part of the equine from the how the horse thinks to how the horse moves - on good days and bad days. Some of our best lessons, even when we first started, have been in (and continue to be in) imperfect conditions where we were making mistakes and Stephanie patiently taught us what was going on with the horse mentally, how we created the situation, and how to correct it. She will not do it for you, and she will make you take it slow to do things right. You can do things fast, or you can do them right. Thankfully, she has the patience and calm demeanor of a saint with kids and nervous, newbie, somewhat resistant, older adults. Stephanie just has something special to offer people that is vitally lacking in our fast paced, over tech'd, and over-achieving culture. The character qualities that are being instilled in my daughter (and myself) through this journey is not something the fanciest training barn or most expensive private school could ever teach. It is hard work that teaches you how to slow down, be present, and be teachable. Though the word has lost its meaning, Stephanie is a true natural horseman and she will teach you how to understand and communicate with the horse from the moment you make contact. If you want a truly fulfilling equine partnership that is unlike anything offered at training and lesson barns, contact Stephanie. Your horse will thank you.

When I imagine what a barn should be, Three Horse Farm is exactly what comes to mind. The head…read moretrainer, Lizzy Green, is kind, supportive, talented, and truly cares about her clients. No matter where you are in your riding journey, beginner to advanced, she will bring out the best in you with positive and empathetic coaching. My riding has improved to levels far beyond what I ever thought I could reach. My fellow riders and I cheer each other on and celebrate successes, and support each other through the tough days. We truly have the best barn family ; there's nowhere else I'd rather be!

A friend and I stumbled upon Three Horse Farms after purchasing a Livingsocial.com deal for a 1…read morehour riding lesson-- what luck! Julia (a co-owner of the business) gave us a very informative and fun lesson. She is VERY knowledgeable about horses and as such I always felt safe while we were grooming or riding. I'm so glad we were able to experience riding-- even only for a short while-- with THF. I would love to come back as soon as possible! Thanks Julia!!

I have had Katie Hoefs Martin as my and my daughter's trainer for nearly 6 years. She is a gifted…read morerider and trainer, with extensive experience in bringing riders and horses along, from totally green to PSG. She has guided us in choosing appropriate horses, and appropriate goals for our training. The atmosphere in Katie's program is very professional, yet very relaxed. Unlike other trainers I evaluated before choosing Katie, she considers riding client's horses part of the job, and her calm, even manner of dealing with training issues is appreciated by client and horse alike. I had worked with several other trainers prior to Katie, so this stood out to me as particularly valuable in a training program. After a thorough interview process, Katie moved her program to Gilroy Gaits, and we have been really happy there and so have our horses. Katie has two veterinarians in her program, and they trust her with the care and training of their horses. She has provided excellent care for all of my horses (3) through a variety of ailments. At Gilroy Gaits, we have an on-site vet clinic, so horses who require care are very closely monitored and the vet works very closely with Katie. She brought my young horse back after OCD surgery, and I went on to enjoy a full show season. Over 5-6 years, with three horses, we've had several occasions to require support from Katie in caring for them, and nothing has ever occurred to suggest that she is anything but competent at following a vet's instructions, including knowing when to involve the vet at any point in a health issue. I find these review forums useful, but occasional they are abused to settle personal vendettas. As the horse involved in a previous review is MY horse, I feel compelled to set the record straight: The accusation in another review that Katie was prosecuted for drugging a horse is completely inaccurate. I was disciplined for not filing the correct paperwork, not for drugging a horse. As my trainer, Katie was subject to fines as well. If you have any doubts about that, read the link. And then interpret the rest of the remarks in the other review with that intentional misrepresentation in mind.

As an adult rider, I am deeply committed to Dressage. It is my passion and I have had some great…read moretrainers, clinicians and horses. In fact my gelding Sebastian is currently being ridden by a member of the US Para Equestrian Team with many championships under her belt. I take the sport of dressage seriously, although I am happily an amature rider. That said, I was thrilled to be introduced to Katie Hoefs Martin at Gilroy Gaits. Her teaching style is kind and supportive, but as challenging as I want it to be. Her vocabulary to help me get what I want to get out of any movements is broad, giving me plenty of ideas of how to achieve what I want to achieve. Most important to me is her approach to the horses which is with love and respect, born from years of experience which can't be learned without hours in the saddle. Katie's style is the same as my longest and most favorite trainer, and I expect to be with her for some time.

I brought my 10 year old twin grandson's to learn and ride. I highly recommend Jeanette because…read moreshe and her coworker were so patient with the boys and answered all their questions. Very professional.

Jeanette was amazing with my 5yr and 2yr. Wonderful experience, professional and so easy to work…read morewith. Everything we needed was provided and age appropriate.

My girls absolutely love Sam and Socks Summer Camp! They had so much fun with the trail riding,…read morehiking, and arts and crafts. One of my favorite things is that Ms. Susan takes photos throughout the camp, giving us memories that we truly cherish. We are so grateful for all the care and effort she puts into making camp such a special experience. We can't thank her enough for offering such a fun, engaging, and memorable summer program. Highly recommend!

Amazing teachers, amazing horses! During Covid I decided I wanted to finally learn how to ride and…read morebasic horsemanship. Susan and Sam are so patient and really tailor the training to the student no matter the age or ability. Even better they rescue horses and rehab them to be lesson horses - a gigantic win win. Their love and passion for horses is incredible. I can't recommend them enough

Amazing People, wonderful place, and more .. lucky having…read morethem that close. Gravity..

I just moved to the area in June and was so nervous about finding a new trainer since I was coming…read moreall the way from North Carolina. The trainer Charis was so friendly and extremely responsive to messages when I first reached out. She even made herself available for our first meeting while she was actively at a horse show to give me info on her training program and about her barn. All the people sitting around her were beyond welcoming and chimed in enthusiastically. I decided to go ahead and book my first lesson. I honestly haven't looked back. As someone who values a community so much and feeling comfortable with the people I spend time with, she is that person.

I moved to Charis around a year and a half ago after having multiple bad experiences at different…read morebarns, and it is one of the best choices I have ever made. I came to Charis scared to ride over poles on the ground and since then I have gone to numerous shows and competed up to the 2'6 confidently to close out my junior career. This program has made me a fundamentally more confident and better rider, and given me countless opportunities to grow and gain experience in an amazing learning environment, on safe and quality horses. Charis truly has the horses', students', and clients' best interest at heart and goes above and beyond as a mentor, instructor, and professional to help rider's reach their goals and literally make dreams come true. This truly is the best program in the Bay Area for hunters, jumpers, and equitation. The facility is wonderful with ample turnout (a rarity in California) and top quality footing. This program has fundamentally allowed me to pursue my dream of becoming a professional, which would have never been possible without Charis, her expertise, or any of her amazing horses! Weather you are an ambitious junior looking to compete and win on the 'A' circuit, looking to import or bring along a young horse, or just someone looking to have fun or learn to ride, there is no better place than this program.

We recently celebrated my niece's wedding at The Barn in Tres Pinos on November 8, 2025, and…read moreeverything turned out how she wanted it and the beautiful 80-degree weather for November was a bonus! The venue gave us the perfect balance of outdoor charm and indoor comfort. On the day of the wedding one thing I noticed as I walked in to set up; was everything was clean and the venue smelled fresh and clean. The ceremony was held on the patio, followed by a reception inside, and it easily accommodated 130 guests in rounds. From what I understand if we did rectangle family style we could have accommodated more, and had more design flexibility. From the very beginning, Eric was professional, welcoming, and a pleasure to coordinate with. He took the time to meet with us beforehand to go over details on multiple occasions, which made the planning process smooth and stress-free. I had the opportunity to meet his other half, Meghan as well. She was genuinely nice. She is a hairstylist in the area and although we did not utilize her services, and if you are all about timing and being efficient then this might be for you; it is a one stop shop just in separate locations. If you want to get your hair done for your special event then you should reach out to them and ask for a consultation, it is one less thing to coordinate. Even though I have experience in coordinating weddings, I appreciated Eric's insights. It is clear he knows their venue best, and his suggestions helped everything come together seamlessly. Once he recognized my ability to coordinate, and my attention to detail, he allowed me to step in, and the collaboration between the two of us made the entire experience fun, enjoyable along with some friendly banter between all of us. The Barn itself is a beautiful space, versatile enough for both intimate gatherings and larger celebrations. Between the atmosphere, the attentive staff, and Eric's guidance, the entire day felt effortless and memorable. I would highly recommend The Barn for weddings, private parties, or any special event. It's a hidden gem in Tres Pinos, and we're grateful for the wonderful experience!

Had my wedding here this past weekend and it was magical ! Eric and Meghan are so easy to work with…read morehighly recommend holding an event here.