After researching several equestrian centers in the Roseville/Rocklin area, and after training for almost six months at small facility in Loomis, I decided to try Los Lagos to hopefully further advance my reentry into hunter jumper training.
I was an experienced and active rider in my youth (with both English and Western training) and 30 years later have finally returned to riding. Undecided whether I was ready to own my own horse yet, I wanted to ease back in by taking lessons at a facility with lesson horses. The previous facility I started with had only one lesson horse that ultimately, along with the trainer, was not a good match for my riding style, level and expectations. After six months I had not progressed to the level I felt I should be achieving, despite voicing my concerns more than once to my trainer.
I went to Los Lagos and have started training with Heather Kelly -- and I love her! Her personality and training style seem to be a great match for me, and right off the bat she put me on a lesson horse that is (I'd say) a perfect fit. Energetic, but safe (and very sweet). Heather listened to my frustration about my previous training. For example, I told her how after six months my previous trainer still didn't feel I was ready to canter. Heather made her own assessment during our first lesson and had me cantering before the lesson was half over; and at every lesson since. I just finished my fourth lesson with Heather this morning, taking two lessons a week where she's helping me to quickly catch up and find my seat (as it were). She continues to urge (push) me to improve and advance, even when I might doubt my ability.
Let's face it, 30 years is a long time to be out of the saddle; yet Heather has treated me from the get-go like a fellow experienced rider. I love how she challenges me; that's what I want/need from my trainer. She knows when I'm ready to try or learn something new, sometimes even before I know I'm ready. I'm not jumping...yet; but I'm confident that I'll get there much sooner with Heather, and suspect that she'll be ready for me to get to it before I am. ;)
As for the facility itself, Los Lagos is a well-maintained, mid-sized equestrian center located in Granite Bay, conveniently located to Roseville, Rocklin and Loomis. The facility, which offers training in hunter/jumping, dressage and western, has two outdoor arenas (schooling and jumper) as well as a lighted indoor arena and a full-size dressage court. Additionally (another plus) is trail access to Folsom Lake (multiple trails, I'm told, which I hope to be able to explore more extensively in the future.) In addition to having several lesson horses (I believe there are seven), Los Lagos also offers leases (I'm seriously considering a half-lease in the near future) which would be much more practical for me at this early juncture. Having researched multiple facilities in the Sacramento Area, Los Lagos' prices are reasonable for the services and facilities they offer.
Everyone I've met at Los Lagos has been friendly and (like me!) clearly loves being around horses and I've been in "horse seventh heaven" since I started going there. I look forward to hopefully making my "home away from home" there, finally being able to fully return to my lifelong passion for as long as I can afford the time and cost. :) read more