This is an amazing, under-appreciated asset for the Mercer Island community…read more You don't have to be a horse owner to enjoy this -- you can take lessons, send your kid to one of the summer camps, rent or lease a part-interest in a horse if you get more serious, or just hang out on the bleachers and watch people ride. Our child started riding here as a little girl and it's a very safe, fun and pleasant place to spend time. It's run as a co-op, meaning that horse owners are responsible for the care, exercise, and maintenance of their horse (and stall). That keeps costs down, and also gives kids who aren't horse owners a chance to participate (exercising horses, getting part time jobs cleaning stalls, etc.). You'll know your kid is serious when she's standing in the rain on a winter night scooping up horse poop as part of the "deal" to keep taking riding lessons. The only real downside of this place is there is a l-o-n-g waiting list to get a stall in the barn. (Think years, not months). Through lessons, borrowing and leasing horses part time there are plenty of chances to ride...but actually securing a place to keep a horse if you own one requires lots of patience.

The Mercer Island Saddle club is a wonderful place. My 10 year old daughter has been welcomed by…read moreeveryone, and the leadership has made an effort to include her in everything that happens at the barn. Pony club classes are offered there, and they have made an effort for girls who do not own horses to be included every step of the way. The leadership, the barn manager, and the barn president holds a tremendous amount of integrity in all they do, and I am grateful they are there.

Teri (owner & head trainer) does a tremendous job taking exceptional care of the horses/ponies; my…read moredaughter has a young (6 yrs.) horse in training and he is thriving. She is also deeply committed to maintaining an intentionally positive and uplifting atmosphere!

I've been riding here for nearly two years and love it. Teri, the owner, is an expert instructor…read morewho gives solid instruction and feedback. She really knows what she is doing. She works patiently with where you are at. She genuinely loves to see her students excel and is happy for you when you improve. As an adult coming back to riding, this has been the highlight of each week for me! The horses are well trained and clearly well cared for. The vibe at the stable is friendly and relaxed. It's perfect for adults, children or teens. I am really glad I found this stable!

The policy for rescheduling classes is too rigid. Even if you call the previous day its too late to…read moreget any credit. Rescheduling on a days notice is a reasonable expectation when your kids have been taking classes every week for over an year. Every other business seems to honor that. At some places they even have makeup classes on Fridays every week. Just attend those if you miss one without any need to call anyone. So there is definitely an opportunity for more customer focus.

I rode at Rockmeadow for many years and had a great experience! Deb does a great job running the…read moreplace and has put in a lot of work keeping it up. They host great clinics and schooling shows and have dozens of training/boarding options. Deb and Amberly taught me when I was a teenager, and thanks to them I'm still riding successfully! I have great memories of my years riding at Rockmeadow and I love to go back and visit as often as I can. I hope to ride in the next upcoming clinic because its such a fantastic venue!

Flicka Farm in Bridle trails is the barn for a person who wants to learn the full circle of horse…read moreownership. It is a combination of youth lesson barn and horse owners from all ages. The number one thing is the Flicka Family. It is a true community feeling at the barn and the age bracket among the riders are all from young beginners to riders up in their 70s. Recently more and more men have showed up for beginner lessons. The instructors teaches both western and English riding. I would highly recommend learning western at this barn. It is fairly easy to find instructors for English riding. Proper western riding is harder to find, unless you There are few lesson barns that are not show-barns that give such an in depth education in western riding. If you are looking for a hard core competition barn, this is not the place for you. If you on the other hand want a thorough education in how to take care of and keep your horse as safe as possible, maybe attend a couple of shows a year, just for fun, this is your place. The barn is in direct access to all the wonderful trails of Bridle trails and lessons are provided to teach appropriate and safe trail-riding.

I feel so lucky to have my horse at Greenlight Farms. Of course it is absolutely beautiful but…read moreeven more importantly, I know my horse is in the best hands. Gabrielle and her team ensure that every detail to the horses physical and mental safety is looked after. The stalls are beautiful , the footing in the ring is perfectly maintained, and there is plenty of all year turn-out. The outdoor arena is brand new! Happy horses and happy owners. I cannot recommend this farm enough.

Trainer, Tom Estes, is absolutely amazing. I have been taking lessons here for almost 2 months and…read moreI have learned so much from Tom. He is so positive and he is always introducing me to other people at the barn (mostly young adults/kids that ride at this barn). I met with a ton of instructors in the Snoqualmie Valley and I am so glad I chose Mt. Si Stables. I look forward to leasing my own horse here soon and spending more time with the Mt. Si crew.

I can't say enough about Mt Si stables and Tom Estes in particular. I have ridden my own horses…read morefor years but never had any formal training. I have had a lot of questions and a lot to learn about showing and formal riding. Tom has been a wealth of knowledge and patience and his life long love of horses is evident every time he steps in the barn. I have worked with 3 trainers over the past few years and have found Toms quiet but firm method to be very very successful with the Arabian/Saddlebred horse I am riding. Additionally, my 5 year old son who has been around horses all his life begged for lessons. Tom agreed to give him a half lesson and has been wonderful with my very talkative boy who spends at least half the time in the saddle telling the horse how much he loves her. It takes a patient and kind person to manage that. He trotted for the first time last week very nicely, is sitting properly and has a great position in the saddle. Amazing. This stable is not the newest, fancy place you can find but the facilities are always clean, secure and the horses are happy. (Frankly, all of the horses I have been around at the stable have had great manners etc.) I would suggest that anyone looking for a family friendly barn with a great expert trainer check out Mt Si Stables!

Gates Equestrian is owned and operated by Kristi Gates. I've been riding with her for well over a…read moreyear now, and I have nothing but positive experiences to share. Every horse-back-riding lesson Kristi teaches is custom to the rider, and though I've been riding for a long while now, I'm constantly being challenged and learning new things. The facility itself is spectacular. It's located in Monroe of Old Owen Road. It's easy to miss, but there's a brown Gates Equestrian sign by the entrance to the driveway. Once you're parked and enter, there's a single barn aisle with many stalls for horses. In the center, there's a bathroom right next to the two wash stalls, which is super convenient. The tack room is across from the bathroom, and the entrance to the arena is adjacent to the tack room. Everything you need is in one central location and covered, so you don't have to worry about getting wet on a rainy day. The arena is massive as well and covered. Kristi owns several horses and ponies for her lesson program (which are all super high quality and well taken care of). She also teaches lessons to people who haul in and bring their own horse or board their horse at the facility. I've seen her teach kids who've never been on a horse before and riders who compete over large jumps. No matter the type of rider, she can come up with an incredible lesson so you always feel like you're getting a quality lesson. I highly recommend taking lessons and boarding your horse with Kristi!

Amazing experience taking our two little ones (turning 2 and 3.5 years old) for a pony ride with…read moreKristi. Kristi was fabulous with the children, and handled the older child's nervousness brilliantly. She gave the children carrots to feed the pony, and time to pet the pony before riding. She even did "jumps" walking the pony over some logs of wood, which the kids loved! The facilities are top notch and the ponies were healthy and very well cared for. We couldn't recommend Gates Equestrian more highly. We will certainly be back again and look forward to the children's weekend pony rides once those are up and running!

Rebecca M. I think you may have the wrong barn. Ive spoken with several ladies who have been at…read moreRolling Gaite Stables for years, over the three years your speaking of and this is far from true. I brought my gelding here last spring and he is settled unlike any other place and just a happy boy! The staff is amazing along with the owners. The owners have gone above and beyond when my horse went through a small injury. I do not worry if I cannot make it to the barn knowing my boy is well taken care of. Most horses and their owners have been here for YEARS something like 5-10 years. This is a drama free, non judemtnal sanctuary for your horse. The turn-out is unmatched around the Snohomish area.

Nightmare. If you love your horse stay far away from these people. Otherwise be prepared to clean…read moreyour own water and pasture because they just won't. Be sure to ask about the 8 horses that have died or been put down there in the last few years. Literally anywhere else will be better, no matter how bad it is. You've been warned.