I'm late posting this review, but I wanted to say thank you to Mindy and Billy…read more My wife did not arrive in the best mood and both Mindy and Billy were incredibly understanding, kind, welcoming - I cannot say enough about how you turned what was a difficult day into a wonderful experience. My wife is a highly skilled rider and she was thrilled with how well-trained the horses were and the wonderful experience we had a Dreamor. I am not a skilled rider and Billy gave me riding tips and instruction on our ride to improve my skills. It was a long ride and a wonderful time. Thank you very much and we hope to visit you again in the future.

There were several horseback riding options much closer to us than Dreamor Ranch. This ranch is…read moreabout an hour and a half from us but we knew it was 100% worth traveling a bit further to reach. Their reputation for being incredibly friendly, responsive and laid back was the main draw. They're so great at tailoring the experience to who is going to be riding. I brought along my 10-year-old daughter and they had the perfect size horse prepared for her (Lucky!) and the child sized stirrups, saddle, and helmet. Billy was so helpful, friendly and fun. The trail itself is so gorgeous and beginner friendly. It was a long ride and we actually got a little sore toward the end, toward the 2 hour mark, but absolutely worth getting so much time to ride and enjoy! We will 100% be back!

Spoke with Leah, she gave quote and areas of training and opening dates in December and January.read more

Beyond Leah being a stellar trainer she is a wonderful mentor to my daughter. Leah knows her stuff,…read moreshe is very experienced and knowledgeable. Leah has patiently and kindly pushed my daughter to become a great little rider. Leah puts every bit of herself into these animals and riders. There is so much love and passion at Rhinestone Stables, it is an absolute blessing in our lives. This is a wonderful wonderful wonderful place. We love Rhinestone Stables!!!!!

In a confusing world of horse "Traders" Deanna is a refreshing change!…read more If you are looking for a horse trainer that is also able to communicate effectively to you as a rider, then Deanna is the real deal! She has an easy demeanor and way of training the horse and the rider to become better partners with each other. She has not only a lifetime of personal riding skills, but also has her college degrees in Equine Studies. This blend of formal college training and life experience brings her to the forefront of other trainers who don't pursue both of these important attributes. She does specialize in Gaited Horses, but also can apply her knowledge into other breeds and riding styles, too. She can take your horse into boarded training; you can trailer in each week (as I do); or she can travel to your location. Her rates are very reasonable, and in any choice, she will give her whole attention to you and your horse, so you get a great value for your money! As I said above, Deanna is the real deal: knowledgeable in her horsey sense; knows what she wants the horse and rider to learn, AND able to get both partners to come to the same point of training/ riding knowledge. Don't let me forget to mention that its FUN too!

From the owner: Lessons and horse training in western horseback riding, reining, working cow horse, gaited horses,…read morefield trials, classical dressage training, and natural horsemanship.

I can't rave about this place and Cheryl enough! I am from out of town, and instantly felt at home…read more Cheryl was an incredible instructor and her horses were wonderful! I haven't been able to ride for the past year, but Cheryl made it possible for me to get back in the saddle! If you're looking for a comforting, friendly, professional environment, this is the place to go!

My daughter loved her experience at this day camp. We did the "horse and more" two day camp. She…read morecame home so excited and filled with new information and joyful experiences from the day! She told me how very kind and fun Mrs. Brown (owner and lead teacher) was! It was obvious that the camp was well organized and executed (and as an elementary teacher, I can spot a well run children's event from a mile away)! We will definitely be returning. Thank you for opening your home, Cheryl!

This is a very large, clean facility with several indoor barns and a big indoor arena. The grounds…read moreare well kept and the horses are treated with the utmost care. This is a great facility for boarding if you are considering a nice ranch that is CLEAN and well kept. There is also a nice sized outdoor arena behind the covered barn.

A nice working ranch that also is a party venue. Had a nice wedding service in front of the big…read morebarn and then a great reception and party afterwords. The Bride and Groom had a day they will remember forever.

I've been taking lessons here since December and absolutely love it. My trainer Kristina is…read moreknowledgeable, attentive, and truly cares about helping her students improve. I've grown so much as a rider already and always leave feeling like I learned something valuable. The horses are beautifully cared for and it's obvious how much love and respect they receive. Finding a place that values both good horsemanship and the wellbeing of the horses means everything to me. I'm incredibly grateful for this experience and highly recommend this barn to anyone wanting to learn and grow as a rider.

If you want to learn how to ride, this is absolutely the best place you could seek out. I have been…read morewith Kristina for over 10 years now, and can say firsthand she teaches you everything you need to know, from the ground up, building an unshakable foundation! I've seen her teaching throughout the years, and can confidently say she teaches incredibly, and explains things thoroughly and will work with you to get you where you need to be. I have seen the impeccable care her horses are under, and she is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to training, and your horses health if you choose to board. The boarders are wonderful people, and the atmosphere will provide a great experience!

I had such a wonderful experience at Cavallo Riding Center! They were incredibly kind and…read morewelcoming, and generously allowed me to use their beautiful property and horse for photos. They went above and beyond -- helping brush her, walking her during the shoot, and making sure everything ran smoothly and safely. You can truly tell how much they care about their horses. Ella was well-groomed, calm, and so sweet the entire time. The land is absolutely beautiful and made the perfect setting. Their professionalism and genuine support made the whole experience stress-free and enjoyable. I'm so grateful for their help and would absolutely recommend Cavallo Riding Center to anyone looking for a caring, supportive, and well-run place. Thank you again for everything!

We had a great time just riding the horses around ... for us that we didn't have experience and we…read morehave fun.

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.

Such an amazing experience, I couldn't recommend it enough!!! Laura is so joyful, attentive, and…read morepatient with new riders. The horses were great, surefooted, and listened well. I can't even get over how beautiful it was out there, the nature , the history, the animals. It was so peaceful, I wish I could stay out there forever! If you want to go horseback riding in the surrounding areas, don't go anywhere else!

I went on a trail ride with Laura along with my cousin and two friends on March 27, 2026. We range…read morein age from mid 50s to mid 70s. I had not been on a horse in 45 years. It was one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life. It was also a miraculous gift to my 73-year-old friend Lisa. She has been completely blind since an auto accident on the way to a horse show in 1969. She was only 16 years old and in training for the 1972 Olympics in dressage. This ride was her first since that day. Laura is incredibly compassionate and an absolute expert with horses. She is exceptionally safety conscious. She set Lisa up with a gentle horse named Mama, and at Lisa's request, Laura led mama from a few horse lengths away. The experience was amazing and Laura made it possible. I cannot recommend her and Trails of 49 highly enough. Laura is also a great historian. My mother's family has been in Calaveras County since the 1850s. While I live 300 miles away now, it's good to know that the history, horses, and land is so well cared for by such an exceptional person. I was born in Calaveras County and will be buried there, and I'm glad Laura is taking care of it in the meantime!