This is probably a classic case of getting what you paid for. You'll see both good and bad reviews so I urge you to read this whole review if you are considering boarding your horse here so that you can truly understand the good and the bad, and make the right decision to keep yourself and your horse(s) safe.
They obviously have very great prices and with a multitude of stabling options and basic amenities it can be a great place to keep your horses. There are quite a few very sweet and kind boarders that have kept their horses here without any issue. If you are considering keeping your horse at Pereira Ranch or Big Oak Stables you can also have an okay/good experience if you do the following:
Be prepared to check on your horse daily. Even if you aren't doing the self-care option, you will want to be keeping a watchful eye on your horse(s) because not only will you not be notified if anything happens - from sickness, injury, negligence, or other concerns, they may not even notice any of it happening. This is not a place for people that are unable to visit and check their horse(s) multiple times a week.
Document everything. You will quickly notice that everything happens by word of mouth only, including price changes or other things that happen (moving your horses, bringing in any personal items like stall mats, etc). Be sure to confirm it in a text or written document because you do not want to have a misunderstanding. This goes especially for giving notice of leaving, do not leave that to a mixed topic phone conversation or you run a significant risk of an explosive and scary encounter with the owner if they don't recall the conversation. There is nothing too small to document with a photo or a text.
In this review I feel it is important to be fair and informative. I believe that you can have a good experience here, but you do need to be fully aware of the potential and rather significant risks.
Pros:
-Reasonable prices for the area
-Amenities like arenas, trails, trailer parking, plenty of tack room space
-Generally laid back atmosphere
Cons:
-Gross negligence occurs (I will detail further later in this review)
-Very little accountability/acknowledgement/apology when things go wrong
-There's a rough crew there at times and language can get very inappropriate at high volume, so people with smaller children beware
-General lack of communication, a lot of avoidance happens especially when something 'bad' has happened
The first year of being there went fairly smoothly. There was only minimal interaction once we moved in and the only real issue was a horse that got a major facial abscess while we were out of town and no one ever notified us or even noticed, which was mildly concerning. This year has been a year full of freak accidents and gross negligence, as well as violent confrontation that would have driven us away had we not already been moving hours away.
The first issue was a vicious barn cat attack that required an emergency room visit. It was a by all accounts a freak accident but small red flags bubbled when it was clear that the owner was only concerned in ensuring there wouldn't be liability or a lawsuit, going so far as to push responsibility on another boarder who fed the cat.
The second incident was again a freak accident, our foal contracted 2 very rare strains of bacterial infections that nearly killed it. The incident resolved positively but there was a lot of waffling from the owners from willingness to help do whatever cleaning was required (which never happened), to nearly barring us from returning there from the NICU.
The final straw was during the first major heatwave of the year when my horse became visibly ill, upon arrival it was clear the horse was in a very severe shape. The cause was quickly identified though as an empty water tank. There had been a small leak in the tank and instead of fixing it, or notifying me, they simply turned off the water and never came back. The horse was severely dehydrated, clearly having been without any water for many hours and possibly on minimal water for days and required emergency veterinary care. This was bad enough but not only did the owner not acknowledge this had happened or willingly speak to me, this actually occurred two more times!
On leaving we also encountered a verbally violent altercation with the barn owner who claimed that they didn't know we were leaving, and thus owed more money. A one sided shouting and cursing match ensued and had there not been a level of physical distance it quite possibly could have been a more than simply verbally violent encounter.
I struggle to recommend this place but if you do choose to board here, I entreaty you to take heed of the advice I listed for your and your horse's safety and sanity. There are certainly some great people there such as many of the boarders, the gentleman who generally does the feeding, and the owner's daughter who gives lessons. Just be prepared and be safe. read more
