I grew up riding horses in the Oakland Hills next to Joaquin Miller Park and close to Skyline Ranch. Back in the day, the area was affectionately known as "horse country." The reason for this is that over the years, more and more open space around Joaquin Miller Park in the hills was preserved and protected, creating a giant, beautiful expanse of protected and accessible land. The vast trail system networking these parks were created in large part because of the support of the local horse community. Over time, a bunch of horse facilities were established in this area, drawn by the amazing trail network and the proximity to hundreds of square miles of California ranch land east of the ridge line. Among the local stables, the truly iconic Skyline Ranch and its sister facility, the historic Piedmont Stables, stand out as two of the oldest and most enduring. To me, they are a wonderful reminder of the East Bay's deep-rooted horse culture and an important part of Oakland's "horse country" tradition. Skyline Ranch is a community-oriented full-service operation that blends superb boarding facilities and high-quality instruction with smooth, professional, safe, secure operations. Both barns provide direct and immediate access to the amazing network of Oakland Hills trails. Some of the reviews I've read have had issues with communications. The reason for this is that there's no office staff here waiting to take calls - everyone is digging in, hands-on, teaching, and working with horses and owners!  So, the best way to learn more is simply to come VISIT. Inside the main barn, you'll find large whiteboards with contact numbers. The most effective way to reach someone about lessons or boarding is to TEXT JUDI Martin, the owner and head trainer. She is almost always nearby, either giving a lesson or working with a horse, raking the arena, helping students and boarders, or pitching in wherever she's needed (she's a hands-on, engaged, busy but very friendly lady). When in doubt, just ask anyone around the barn and we'll connect you with her. The instruction is great. Although the primary focus at this barn, and most barns in the area nowadays is English riding, I ride Western (I think I'm the only one here).  I train with Judi personally, and I take private lessons in both Western and English. She has a deep understanding of general horsemanship, and is a natural fantastic teacher, patient and insightful, and she truly understands how to get the best out of each horse and rider. You have to work hard during her lessons, but I appreciate that she's trying to improve my competence and therefore making me a safer rider.  My progress has been tremendous, and my enjoyment of the hobby has improved dramatically as a result.  The other trainers at Skyline, including Jackie, Jerry, and Tracy, are also excellent. Whether you're just starting out or riding at a high level, there's real depth, experience and teaching ability here that can help you achieve you or your child's goals.  There are many little kids and adult beginners and they all get a great start based on the teaching team's decades of experience, love of horses, and genuine caring engagement with students. They have many experienced solid, well trained, safe school horses. Depending on your needs, Summer Camps, workshops, group lessons, horse first-aid classes, and many other learning opportunities are also available. The barn itself is very well run and thoughtfully maintained. Boarders have access to indoor stalls that are kept clean daily, comfortable with plenty of bedding, and protected with active surveillance, alarm systems, and human security patrol.  Horses are turned out daily and fed (good quality hay and alfalfa) three times a day. There's a strong support system in place, including regular visits from farriers, several vets who are frequently on-site, and a knowledgeable staff that truly cares about and looks after the horses. Parking is easy, security is active, and Judi and her team are always willing to share their expertise when it comes to horse health, exercise, feeding, training, access to resources, or anything else you might need help with. I keep two horses here and they are both very happy. Pricing for boarding and training is consistent with the market and very reasonable. More than that, you get much better value here compared to other barns in the area. What makes Skyline Ranch truly special is the completeness of the ecosystem. It is not just a barn with horses and an arena. It is a well-maintained, fully integrated environment where everything and everyone works together in support of the horses and the riders. read more

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Wonderful facilities and excellent instruction, very close to Oakland and freeways but backing up onto magnificent trails

Great horses. Great lesson program. I commute from SF & it's worth every minute on the bridge.

My Daughter has been riding at Skyline Ranch for almost 9 years. It has been her home away from home. The skyline family is amazing with youth and adult riders. The adults are supportive and great role models for the youth. Judi is a dedicated horsewoman who teaches the love of horses and riding. read more

Truly a home away from home! Skyline Ranch offers an unbeatable community that makes people want to keep coming back. The very first thing I ever noticed about this barn was how happy all the horses were. After joining the barn, it was clear that the horses came first. Judi and her staff take amazing care of both the lesson horses and the boarded horses. Boarders have been there for years, which is also a nod to the manager. The lesson program fosters a love for the sport that takes clients from beginner to intermediate and advanced as well as to horse owner and competitor. They even offer summer camp with great counselors and a fun and educational curriculum! read more

Love love love this barn! The horses are treated so well and the lessons are excellent. My daughter started coming here when she was 7 (five years ago) and had learned so much. It's a lovely facility and a wonderful barn read more

Been taking lessons for about two years and have loved it. I've really noticed a progression in my riding skills. Friendly folks and nice facilites. read more

Our kid has had amazing experiences at Skyline - learning to ride of course, but also just growing as a person within a supportive community. Highly recommended. read more

My granddaughter has been riding at Skyline for 8 years. The trainers have not only helped her develop excellent equestrian skills but a deep understanding of the importance of building a relationship/bond not only with the horses but others at the center (peers, younger children & adults). These have helped her develop a strong, independent and compassionate personal character. I would highly recommend this equestrian center for beginning as well as 'seasoned' riders whether desiring leisure or competitive experiences. Although she is going out of state for college, I am certain my granddaughter will maintain a strong bond with those at Skyline and apply lessons learned there to a variety of life experiences. In my opinion Judi Martin is the heart and soul of Skyline. She works tirelessly to give each rider the most positive experience possible. I hope Parks and Recreation recognize the importance of Skyline to the community. read more

Skyline Ranch is such a magical place! Judi has taught me so much and has created a wonderful space here!

Oakland ca I visited Skyline Ranch with my daughter hoping to speak with someone about lessons. This is after calling and not being able to talk to someone. Apparently they have no space for new riders and have a waitlist which you are welcome to join per the message. I have done joined the waitlist twice over a three year period and never heard back from anyone. Today we decided to stop by hoping to speak to someone about the waitlist process. I stood their patiently with my daughter. A rider said out loud, "This woman is looking for someone to talk to." The response I heard "Not it." No one came over to help us. I found this behavior rude and unhelpful and I am no longer interested in pursuing lessons here. Skyline Ranch needs to do better! Sad. read more

Our daughter has been in lessons at Skyline for about 6 months. Her trainer is communicative and friendly. She challenges our daughter in a very positive and constructive way. The ranch is a beautiful and well maintained place. Highly recommended. read more

I recently moved to San Francisco from the DC area and I am so happy I found Skyline Ranch. It is difficult finding that right mix of atmosphere, facilities, location, care of horses, and quality of instruction, but so far I have been very pleased with the stables. I have only been taking lessons with Judi for two months now (since April 2013), but already I've learned a lot. Even from the first lesson, Judi was correcting my position and helping me become more effective. Even small things like the way I was posting made a big difference! *Lessons* I take lessons on Sunday mornings and/or on Friday evenings, depending on whether Judi is out of town at a weekend show. Depending on the group of riders, lessons can be more or less challenging, or focus more on, e.g., equitation over horse training. Some lessons we do gridwork, jump courses, dressage, or no-stirrups torture (I mean, strength building!). I would recommend trying out a few different lessons to find what you like (or just get some variety). Group lessons can have up to 6 riders, sometimes with another 1 or 2 boarders riding in the mix, but somehow it doesn't feel crowded. I always feel like Judi is keeping track of my riding and she quickly offers suggestions/corrections when needed, so everyone gets individual attention. Personally I love that Judi really pushes you to excel. She does not yell or criticize, but she does offer real truth and you get lots of encouragement when you do it right. Don't expect to coast through doing it "your way" if what you're doing isn't correct or effective. Part of riding is always trying to do better than you did the day (or minute!) before. *Clinics/shows* A few times a month a dressage instructor teaches a clinic on Sunday mornings, and boarders and students have the option of taking a private lesson with her. Also there are lots of shows (and sometimes cross-country practice) that the students/boarders go to on weekends. *Trails* My only complaint is that there are miles of trails nearby in Joaquin Miller Park but so far I haven't been able to explore them. I think if you sponsor a horse, you can go out with the boarders on trails. *School horses* I like that you are expected to sweep up after yourself, clean your tack, and groom/tack up yourself. The school horses are shiny, in good weight, and well-muscled. Many of them are older schoolmasters that really know their stuff but are still challenging. For me, seeing a well-kept OLDER horse that is still happy in his job is the best indicator of good care! *Price/location* Group lessons are $40, which is very reasonable. Board is also reasonably priced, and there are options to sponsor (lease) horses if you want more riding time. Located in Oakland right by a huge park, it's close enough that I can drive there in 35 min from SF (although more like 45 min to an hour in rush-hour). *Overall* For those expecting a pristine, brand-new facility where you are the most important person that walked through the door (and your horse poops gold), this is not the place for you. However, if you want a friendly, clean, well-run place where you are always welcome if you're willing to put in hard work, this is it! read more

This is a review of both the ranch and one of the trainers, Jerry. I've taken three lessons over a period of about s month and these are first impressions. The horses are well kept and the barn very tidy. There are excellent outdoor paddocks for the horses, and everyone seems to pitch in and keep the tacking area clean. I don't own a horse currently but did twenty years ago and I would be very comfortable keeping a horse here from what I've seen so far. Speaking of getting into horses after a twenty year break? Jerry has been a top notch instructor. He is patient, insightful and challenging in a rigorous yet empathetic way. I was nervous to be riding again after so long. Mostly because I didn't want to be condescended to and because I knew I'd not be very good at first on some things and ok at others. I needed a challenge but I didn't want to waste time. Jerry handled this complicated situation with ease. I would effortlessly and highly recommend him for older students coming back or first time riders. He easily analyzed and assessed where I was at within the first lesson, graduated me to more challenging exercises the second lesson. But in my second lesson I exceeded my comfort zone and he could tell without me even asking. We went back to a simpler way to ride that was just perfect reset of where I should be, giving me confidence in myself and his instruction. But he's not just a beginner instructor, as he has mentioned in passing his expertise with 4 ft plus jumping. One last thing. The barn is owned by the parks department. It's a working person's barn. No snooty bullshit. Solid riding areas. I highly recommend Jerry and Skyline ranch. read more

Skyline Ranch is my second home! I've been riding here for 4 years, and taught riding lessons here for several years, too. For me, it's the perfect place to ride: it has very high quality instruction, nice facilities, and good care, without being overly fancy or outlandishly expensive. The riding lessons give kids and adults a solid foundation to become safe, balanced, and effective riders. There's a wide variety of quality school horses for every level of rider. Beginners start in private lessons and gradually progress to semi-private or group lessons. For more advanced riders and boarders, there are inexpensive weekly group jumping lessons to keep you sharp, and tons of opportunity for private lessons with Judi Martin (owner/manager/trainer), dressage lessons with Tracey Lert (who is AMAZING), and a super solid regular rotation of other jumping and dressage clinicians. The stalls are a good size, well-ventilated, nicely bedded and have automatic waterers. Hay is high quality and the horses go out in paddocks weather-permitting. Some aspects of your horse's care are left up to you, however: getting your horse out for exercise (unless you've signed up for training rides) and purchasing and feeding grain come to mind. For boarders and leasers, there are tons of beautiful trails in nearby Redwood Regional Park. Judi takes riders to hunter/jumper shows, 3-day events, and dressage shows. She coaches some highly successful riders in all three types of events: testament to her excellent teaching and horsemanship. Personally, I've found a great community of positive, hard-working, and fantastically funny horse people at Skyline Ranch. read more

Skyline Ranch Equestrian Center - kids enjoying summer camp - Horseback Riding Near Me - Oakland, California

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Read the reviews, they are probably right about the trainers. The trainers are bullies, yelling on kids. They will have no respect for you or your child. Stay away - I went in to check out the place and one of the trainers yelled at me and asked me to leave. She yelled at my toddler to shut up and get back in the car. Wonder how they run the business- especially with kids. Don't put up with such attitudes and find a different and better place. read more

I basically grew up at this place and I can say as both someone who has taken lessons here and then moved into being a boarder here the horrible things people are saying are so far from true. I fell in love with riding at camp and wanted to take lessons. My parents and I went on a long exhaustive search to find the perfect barn for me. We tried a lot of barns in the area that were real duds (instructors that wouldn't show up, instructors that left the barn without telling anyone they quit, places where you had to go catch your own horse and that counted as part of your lesson time so if it took too long to bad, and a place where I was screamed at for an hour and pushed so hard I could barely walk by the end). When I came to Skyline I was so happy to have found a good place to ride. Judi was a great instructor and really helped me grow as a rider. I took group and private lessons from her throughout my life up until I left for college. She was also always there to help out when I needed something. She would trailer my horse to shows, come check out a horse I was thinking of buying, and gave me my first instructing job. She was a great mentor and teacher. What I also liked about the barn was the people. There were always barn kids around and the other boarders at the barn were very friendly. Judi would throw really fun barn parties a few times through out the year and it was fun to bond with the barn family. Judi also brought in other instructors to run clinics whenever they were available. I appreciated this because the instructors she would bring in always brought something new and amazing to the table. I really was able to grow and flourish under her care. In all the time I have spent at the barn I have never seen a horse being abused, and if any horse was being mistreated you could expect Judi to be the first one to step up and stop the mistreatment. I never felt ignored, I never felt unsafe, and I never felt under appreciated. The great part about Yelp is that it allows people to talk about experiences they have had somewhere. The bad part about Yelp is that some person can get a personal grudge against someone and make up lies without ever having to face consequences. The people who said bad things about this place have no truth to them and are probably just pissed about something silly. Skyline Ranch was an amazing place to grow up and Judi was an amazing mentor. My family still boards there and still takes lessons. Judi is a good family friend, a good teacher, and a good manager. If you want a fun, family like place to ride this is the place for you. read more

Judi is an amazing teacher. She is skilled at describing what you need to do and getting you up to speed quickly. Gellie is also sweet and a good teacher. The people who ride here are very nice and this barn probably works for people who will come in on the regular and not need much from an administrative point of view. The problem? Professionalism and responsiveness. I left messages here for weeks and got no answer. I finally got on the schedule when I drove to the barn and asked to meet Judi in person. Don't expect a call back. I communicated clearly that I had a short-term need to prepare for a horseback riding trip and then I would take lessons regularly going forward. I communicated clearly I wanted as many lessons as I could schedule and wanted to schedule them in advance. I took a couple of lessons that were good and very helpful and I told Judi there was a 12 day period of time coming in which I'd like as many lessons as possible and could we schedule that. Judi would not do so. I told Judy this more than a month in advance then sent a text a week in advance to schedule the sesssions. Judi pushed me off another week and then had only one lesson for me in the 12 days I needed lessons. Three days before my trip, she told me to contact other barns. I could not have been more clear with Judi about what I needed. She should have told me weeks ago that she was not capable of meeting my needs so I could go elsewhere. She did not. She strung me along and then failed to provide the lessons I needed to prepare for my trip. If this barn is convenient in terms of location and you want one lesson a week and you will be consistent, it is probably worth the effort to get their attention. But don't expect much in terms of organization, detail-orientation, professionalism, or responsiveness. And don't believe Judi when she says that she can do what you need if she doesn't schedule it in the calendar. read more

I have known Judi, the proprietor of Skyline Ranch, for nearly 15 years and have the utmost respect for her and the way she manages the barn. She is a fantastic horsewoman and trainer, is very generous with her time and expertise, and does a wonderful job fostering the next-generation of equestrians thanks to her tireless support of junior riders. And she does it all while creating a down-to-earth family feel for those that board or take lessons at Skyline. I boarded my previous horse at Skyline for 6+ years, until taking time off from riding to focus on my career and family. During those years at Skyline, I often had to travel out of town for work, but never once worried -- not even for a minute -- about my horse, as I knew Judi and her staff were more than capable of taking care of his needs in my absence. This was proven late one night when my horse coliced while I was out of town. Judi and her staff personally hand-walked him for hours, working with my vet to ensure my horse received immediate care. The end result was a happy one, and a testament to the kind of exemplary care Judi provides the horses under her watch. Years later, I am riding again, and while I no longer live close enough to Skyline to board there, one of the main reasons I recently purchased a horse trailer is so that I can continue to train with Judi. Her keen eye and terrific instruction have already made a palpable difference in the quality of my rides on my new and very young horse. read more

This place is great. It takes a LOT of searching to find a good equestrian center when you don't know a lot of people in the horse world wherever you live. Especially in the Bay area where things are more expensive than other places. The board rates are better than anywhere I've found in the SF bay area (unless you want to go wayyyy far out to the middle of nowhere), the manager is awesome--super nice and very helpful, the place is kept up well, and they definitely take care of the horses really well for you. Sure it might not be the most sparkling clean barn around, but (a) i really can't imagine a horse would care and (b) if you want a place like that, you can find it and you'll pay a lot more for something that might be slightly better looking to you. But really, it's your horse living there, not you. (I mention this because of some of the reviews I read on here.) Oh and not to mention that most of the things that barns usually nickel-and-dime you for (such as turnouts, blanketing, etc etc which when you add up monthly costs you a FORTUNE)...most is actually included. That's rare. I've had my horse at 3 different barns in the bay area now, had to move her twice due to an increased board rate with no notice at the other barns I was at which I couldn't manage at the time, and I've probably looked at 20 different places across the East Bay to find the best one. I highly recommend you check this place out if you're looking for a great place to keep your horse. read more

I have been riding at Skyline for seven years and still come back from college and ride every summer. All the instructors are fantastic and Judi, the barn manager, is a truly remarkable horsewoman. I am amazed to see lesson horses I learned to ride on still looking better than ever! Skyline Ranch is an inclusive and supportive community and I feel absolutely at home there. Summer camps are well run with knowledgeable and safe counselors, lessons are affordable and taught by very accomplished instructors, and Jusi will help you meet your goals whether you want to trail ride or show. The lesson horses are in amazing condition and there is a horse for riders of every level! I strongly reccomend Skyline Ranch to everyone, including experienced riders and complete beginners. read more

I don't recommend this ranch to you . Judi the manager of this ranch had been giving my daughter ,13 year old, lessens she said are you DEAF to her so loud when my daughter was strangling controlling big horse . Ever since my daughter got traumatized and didn't want to go to this place .Also I ve took a lessen from other instructor , Madeline ,she has been eating meals while she has been giving me a lessen . Also when I gave her a X was gift she didn't say thank youth me and she said " leave it there 'and pointed on the dirty box. Their instructors has been leaving so often and Judi had arguing with one of them in front of children . read more

NOT WORTH THE MONEY! I really wanted to like this barn. Skyline Ranch is located in a really nice area of Oakland with access to some of my favorite trails. But the management and upkeep of this barn is horrendous. I boarded with them for only a few months, my experience was pretty awful, much along the lines of the other reviews here. There are 2 arenas, one very small indoor arena that's smack in the middle of the barn. It's much too small to be able to ride inside and has laughable footing, really only useful for turn outs. People tie their horses up on the posts of the indoor arena though, and often times will walk away or stand there talking to someone. This can be very distracting if you're trying to do something with your horse, makes it almost impossible to do anything in the indoor arena other than turn outs. Unfortunately, the manager of the barn usually turns out her own horses for hours during the day. She'll even put a horse in the arena and leave the property all together! More than once I went up and wanted to TO before riding but was unable to do so because the manager had put a horse in the arena and disappeared for more than 2 hours. She is really inconsiderate of the boarders and expects everyone to work around her manic schedule. The outdoor arena is decent. It's a good size and nice to ride in when the weather is good. Unfortunately it floods during the winter, but the manager does have sprinklers for during the hot summer days. But I've ridden in the arena more than once, when the manager decided to turn on a sprinkler behind me with no warning. What a shock when a smack of cold water hits my helmet and/or my horse while we're riding around!! Needless to say it often spooks the horses in the arena to have a huge fountain of water go off out of no where. The footing in the outdoor arena is awful. There's a guy that drags it every so often but it doesn't really help. I've taken a tumble or two and it feels like hitting cement, image what it's like for your horse to be working on that surface every day. Jumps are left around haphazardly from school group lessons, kids and student trainers ride around with little to no control over their horses, and the manager rides around like a bat out of hell on horses fresh from the track. All in all I'd say, if you're desperate to board for a short amount of time then this place might work, but I wouldn't plan on staying more than 3 months max. Do NOT put your horse in training with the manager. If you do, expect her to hand your horse off to an unqualified student instructor (if you're lucky), she may just turn it out, or she'll hop on for 20 minutes and basically just run it around in circles while whipping it completely unnecessarily. I've never seen anyone as crop-happy as this woman is. The woman that runs this barn has absolutely no people skills and has less than desirable bookkeeping skills. Keep your own records of all money that is exchanged because her idea of accounting is having you shoving checks under her door after she's disappeared for the day (while leaving one of her horses loose in the indoor arena). read more

First let me say I am not a rider my son is, so this review is from a parent's view. There is a great instructor there Carol, however the owner whose name is Judy is one of the worst managers I have ever met! She is rude, whips horses who are ancient. In fact she had my teenage son moved to tears when she kicked a horse for trying to bite her! In less you are a boarder she is unbearable. when you read the other reviews noticed that folks who only receive lessons have the most negative things to say. So unless you an afford to buy your own horse stay away!! I regret saying this because of the amazing teachers there, but be fore warned. read more

EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE!!!!! I would strongly recommend you stay far away from this barn, especially if you're a teenager. Although I found the boarders were overall fairly polite, the barn manager was a whole different story. I have to strongly agree with Jennifer K. who wrote in her review that the manager was very whip-happy. A typical scene in the middle of the day at the barn, would be of the manager riding her lame horse while beating him fiercely. If you are looking for a barn for your kid, I would suggest checking out Chabot ranch...it is located farther down skyline rd, a couple minutes away from skyline. They have many wonderful instructors that are great with kids. Their sweet, and patient with riders of all levels. I've had a lovely experience there for the most part. There are floods of people I meet at other barns that have previously been at Sklyine. Their response to skyline is always along the lines of "It was a nightmere, I got outta there as quickly as possible". My review might sound very harsh, but I assure you It is not exaggerated. I have had my own horrific experience there, and want to do as much as I can to assure that other people don't go through the same. Hope this helps! read more

My family and I have been part of the Skyline family for 17 years, and I am disappointed to see some of these reviews. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion, but since Yelp reviews are supposed to help people evaluate businesses, reviewers should be as objective as possible. Instead, many reviews contain scathing, personal attacks or extreme views. Anyway, here are some facts I hope will help someone who is considering taking English riding lessons and/or boarding a horse at Skyline. Lessons: The barn manager, Judi, as well as a few other instructors give private, semi-private and group lessons at reasonably priced rates. While there are many barns with lesson programs, at Skyline, students also get the chance to learn how to groom and tack a horse. When I was a kid, Judi was always very generous in teaching us about barn management and horse care basics. I have only had lessons with Judi but have heard great things about the other instructors from their students. If you are interested in taking lessons, I would recommend you stop by the barn and speak with someone about your goals, and hopefully you will find an instructor who will meet your needs. Also, as others have mentioned, there are dressage and jumping clinics available at Skyline on a regular basis. Boarding/Facility: My dad had his horse here for 4 years. Judi has always been great with giving him advice on vet care among other things. The people who work at the barn treat horses well. The other Yelp reviewers are so focused on attacking the manager, but the workers are the people who will change the bedding, feed the horse, and do the turnouts. I want to point out the staff members genuinely like horses and treat them kindly. (Judi does too.) The barn features wash rack area for two horses, vet/farrier bay, outside paddocks for daily turnouts, access to trails, small indoor ring, tack room, lockers, and trailer parking (this you will have to check to make sure currently available). By the way, you are surrounded by the beautiful east bay hills while only 5 minutes from Hwy 13. Is it a drawback to not have an indoor arena for riding in the winter? Sure, but I sincerely believe it's only a slight drawback....I don't remember taking winters off. A day or two when it rains but that's it. The barn community is great. Everyone is so supportive of each other. People are from all walks of life - kids, families, single working professionals, competitive riders, leisure riders... If you want to board your horse here, come for a visit! As others have mentioned, the facility is not fancy by any means. However, do you think your horse actually cares about that kind of stuff? He needs food, water, exercise and shelter. read more

This barn has a sort of family, and the horses seem so happy there! I have been taking lessons there for 7 years, and love it so much. While the manager is considered aggressive by some, I happen to love her and know she teaches people so many wonderful things. She's great with students, and all the school horses are worth a ride, they have wonderful personalities. For all those that complain about things like the footing and such, keep in mind it's not the manager's fault, she doesn't even own it, and tries so hard to keep it well looked after. Most of these people complain as if the arena doesn't need to be watered. I have heard people talk like this before, and are usually the ones that can't even be bothered to sweep up after themselves. All in all, I love this barn, and would never dream of leaving it. There are so many great people, horses, and other animals there that really make my day. I would highly recommend it! read more

I boarded my horse here last year and I was very disappointed. The barn management is very bad. The manager is difficult to communicate with (very rude at times), relies on unsupervised student trainers. Facility is not great, old, run down. I only stayed there because it was cheap. The footing caused my horse to go lame (pulled a suspensory), which was the last straw. The people are nice, though. During the days it is very quiet which is nice. The trails are spectacular! A lot of kids, though. read more

Slice of Heaven perfectly located in the hills of Oakland. I moved to Skyline in January of 2015 with my trainer after leaving my old barn that sold. I instantly fell in love with the people and the atmosphere. Everyone is so nice and the barn parties are awesome. The christmas party was a BLAST! Judi is a fabulous manager and I have had the opportunity to go to shows with her, her daughter and many other boarders. I will go up to the barn even on the days I don't ride just to hang out because there is always something going on. The arena is large and the footing is fantastic. All of the horses also get turnout from 8am to 3pm which is fantastic and has helped my mare a lot. I have found a barn that I am NEVER going to leave. read more

Skyline Ranch is an absolutely amazing facility so close to home! Run by Judi Martin, and her very well trained and thoughtful staff, SREC has been a haven for those new and those not-so-new to equestrian joys. Also home to Redwood Hills Pony Club which has been meeting twice a month for mounted and dismounted lessons for youth (and now adults) for close to two decades. As par of the East Bay Regional Parks District, the access to nearly limitless trips are literally right outside the front gate. Judi Martin is a kind, gifted and devoted instructor and we are so thankful for the lessons she has shared with our family. read more

I love Skyline ! I've been riding at skyline for almost two years now, and love the skyline community. It's the most diverse and accommodating barn I've ever been to. Yes it's no frills...It's owned by the city of Oakland ! I started out taking lessons with Lisa who is absolutely wonderful. I hadn't ridden in almost 10 years and she's nearly gotten me back to my old skill level. She keeps lessons fresh and always tests me with various exercises. She's very cautious and creates a safe feeling space to ride in (especially for someone who might be a little nervous). She will tell you like it is, and quickly correct any bad habits you have. Every single lesson I've had with her has been productive. When Lisa is in town take any opportunity you can to ride with her ! I've also had the pleasure to ride in an ongoing group lesson with the manager, Judi. Judi will whip you into shape and push you to your limits ! She can and does train all skill levels. Judi gives good feedback and keeps lessons interesting. Judi also helped my husband make a surprise marriage proposal at the barn, and that is something I will never forget ! She's the boss, and takes her responsibilities very seriously. Horses are unpredictable and can obviously be dangerous. She will harshly and quickly point out something if it's unsafe (as will Lisa). I expect this and we all deserve it for our own safety and the safety of the horses. The schooling portion of skyline is thriving and sometimes we feel a little short on lesson horses (especially since we all have our favorites). A couple new ponies just came to the barn so that may help. If you're trying to ride more than once a week things get a little tricky and I'd certainly rather be sponsoring or leasing a horse at this point. -The arena isn't covered but drains well and is very rarely rained out. The arena was re-sanded recently and the footing is the best it's ever been. I'd love to find a way to get the city of Oakland to pay for a covering but we all know why that's highly unlikely. -I haven't ever had a problem turning out a horse in the indoor area. I've never seen anyone leave their horse in there unattended. There's a list you put your name on if there's multiple people waiting to turnout, and I've never had more than 2 horses ahead of me. Basically if you're looking for something posh go to a privately owned barn. If you want somewhere to get dirty and really learn to ride then come to skyline. read more

What the heck are the people writing negative reviews talking about? I've been at Skyline for 14 years and the care of the horses and the upkeep of the facility has always been 100%. As some have pointed out this facility is owned by the park system which limits what can be done to upgrade some of the limitations but that is matched by a very economical board rate. The so called indoor arena is never billed as that. It is simply a dry place to turn your horse out on a rainy day and is okay for low level lessons but no one in their right mind would look at it and think it was an indoor arena. Again, barns with large indoor facilities charge much more for board. The outdoor arena is large and the footing is fine. It does not flood in the winter and in fact unless it is raining hard is seldom closed due to weather. It is dragged at least once a day and watered several times a day. All the stalls have rubber mats, the horses are fed high quality hay three times a day, and in good weather get turned out daily at no extra cost. The arena is well lit and you can ride at night until 9:00. There is a waiting list for the lesson program, the barn is full and it has one of the largest most active Pony Club programs in the state. Once a month one of the leading dressage instructors in the area comes to do a clinic and the barn goes to hunter/jumper shows on a regular basis. No horse at Skyline has ever been abused, neglected or mistreated by anyone on the staff at any level. To imply otherwise is just wrong. Every horse at Skyline gets the best care possible! Do not confuse reviews from people with a bone to pick with the fact that Skyline provides first class care for your horse, great instructions, decent school horses and casual family friendly attitude. read more

I've had my horse at Skyline for 15 years, and consider the place to be a second home. Are there fancier barns out there? Of course. And as others have said, they cost more -- at Skyline there is no cover on the outdoor arena, and the turnout pen in the barn is too small for anything other than light riding, so the board is quite affordable. But that's not actually why I've kept my horse here for so long. More important to me is the quality of care -- the barn manager, Judi, really takes care of the horses and the property, in ways that might not be immediately visible to a lesson-taker but that seriously matter for the horses' welfare. This may help explain why the boarders -- the people who trust their horses' lives and health to the barn manager -- are speaking up with good reviews. Let me count just a few of the relevant factors: Judi goes to great lengths to buy high-quality hay, even when it is both expensive and scarce, and sees that the horses are fed 3x/day, every day. She makes sure the stalls are cleaned daily, waterers are cleaned regularly, paddocks are picked out, the arena is dragged daily and kept watered, school horses are exercised regularly, and most importantly--all horses have expert eyes on them every day, watching their weight and their general health. The school horses are happy and healthy -- many of them are horses that Judi has kept sound and in regular work for many years. When they get too old for lessons, she finds them decent retirements; she doesn't neglect her obligations to them. There are a variety of kinds of horses in the school string, for different skill sets. If you want beginner lessons, this is a place to get a solid foundation, but there are horses for intermediate riders as well. Judi takes dressage lessons herself, and gets out there and competes -- she doesn't just teach, she does. She provides excellent instruction to her students. She really focuses on building basic skills, and on teaching riders how to be independent and capable. Take lessons from her and you'll be able to go get on a lot of different kinds of horses and get around the ring safely. Most importantly to a boarder, she has her eye on all of the horses and is quick to act to preserve their welfare. Example: this summer my horse suddenly got sick while I was out of the country. Judi noticed immediately that he wasn't feeling right; she called in an emergency vet; she worked with that vet to provide initial treatment; when follow-up treatment was needed, she took my horse up to Davis for me for a work-up and brought him safely back home; and all the while she talked me through the process, helped calm my fears, and made sure I knew that whatever happened with my horse, she was going to help us through it. You can't buy that kind of care. People who would speak ill of such a person and such a business don't know what they're talking about. Being a barn manager is a tough job -- there are a LOT of personalities to deal with, people make constant demands, and some people will insist on making unsafe or irresponsible choices. Of course it's not possible to make every single person happy all of the time--in some cases the interests of basic safety mean that you have to not even try. In my experience Judi does a great job of balancing all of those individual interests against her need to take care of ALL of the horses (and people!) in her care. But most important to me is that she takes great care of my horse and his environment, and that I can trust her absolutely in a crisis. For a horse owner, that's everything. I wouldn't have my horse anywhere else. read more

This is a great place to take riding lessons. The atmosphere around the barn is relaxed and friendly, and there is a huge variety of school horses suitable for all ranges of experience. Group lessons are held in the afternoons on several days of the week, or private lessons can be arranged to suit one's schedule. The prices are very reasonable. read more

Not worth the $40 for dull group lessons on lame school horses. Safety is questionable and the place is so dark and dirty inside the barn.

I am so happy that my horse Maverick and I board at this barn! We love Judi the barn manager she is just fantastic! I moved in about 5 months ago and can't imagine leaving. I researched a lot of the barns in the area but this one really met everything I could want out of a barn. The staff is wonderful and everyone is super friendly. The horses are all fed very good quality and amounts of hay. Having an OTTB who maintains a nice weight at this barn is a true testament to their care. The stalls are always bedded very generously and are clean and cozy. The barn is kept in very nice condition and has an indoor round pen which is great for rainy days to turn out and a good size out door arena. The arena drains suuuper quickly and Judi and the staff do a great job at keeping it very well maintained. There are tons of jumps and you are free to set them up whenever you like which is great for someone like me who is always training my horse new things. The horses are also turned out every day into little paddocks which are all individual and electric so no one fights or gets injured and they get to be outside and be a horse half of the day. The barn has a good amount of adults and kids, and you can take great lessons from a number of people up there. Across the street is also access to Tons of trails and another arena! My vet Dr. Raina Petrov also stables her horse there and it is comforting to know that she is around and I have an awesome farrier Ryan Felix who helps my TB with his typical bad TB feet :D All in all this is a great barn and i love coming here from the city to escape from it all. read more

I didn't like skyline at all. I called in advance to set up a trial lesson and I spoke with someone who sounded nice and was very accommodating. Then I got there and waited for maybe 45 minutes wandering around the barns and trying to find the owner. No one knew where she was or had any ideas about anything other than their own horses. We finally found the owner, and she immediately gave me a random helmet, and chose a horse. She barely even spoke to me, just told me to get on. The horse I had was probably the oldest most swaybacked horse I've ever ridden. He also refused to move, I can appreciate a challenge but it was ridiculous. read more

Love the staff (we are partial to Ruth). Love the horses. Love the place. If you want your kid to learn to ride (English), care for animals, learn calmness and learn some discipline, this is the place to go. read more

My family has been a part of Skyline ranch since Judi became the manager and the barn was brought back to life. It is a great place to take lessons and board as horses are always well taken care of and watched after. After taking the leap into horse ownership late in life, I chose to board my horse at Skyline because 1) I know that she will get the best care and be watched after when I'm not there and 2) because Judi is a fabulous person who is not only an accomplished dressage rider herself, but also a great teacher. Her skill as a teacher and her patience have allowed me to become a better and happier rider. Skyline is a friendly, family-oriented barn where everyone is treated fairly. My daughter grew up riding school horses at Skyline and was in the first group of Pony Clubbers at the barn, so I have personally been a part of lots of barn activities. Everyone has always been treated with great respect; no one has ever been allowed to be disrespectful towards any other person at the barn; lessons in safety, good sportsmanship and maturity come with being around horses at Skyline. read more

I LOVE Skyline Ranch! It is a beautiful oasis in a fairly urban area. Judi Martin, the manager and head trainer, is wonderful. I have ridden with her my whole life. She deeply cares about all of her students and horses (who are worth twice their weight in gold) and pushes everyone to succeed and reach their goals. Judi helped me find my first horse, and I could not hope for a better place to keep him. The barns are well maintained with quality hay fed three times a day as well as staff that keep stalls and aisles cleaned, and we are very lucky that our horses can go out in paddocks during the day. Lessons are very fun, and there are many capable riders to help with horses when owners are away or they need a tune-up. Judi does everything she can to keep costs low, much lower than most barns in the bay area, while still supplying the best care for the horses. This barn and its lesson program are centered not just on the development of the rider, but the development of the horse person. Every student is taught to properly care for horses, their tack, and living areas. The love for this barn is shown through our high school and college graduates who continue to return on breaks and after school ends to continue to train with Judi and ride her school horses. I strongly recommend Skyline Ranch if you are looking for a friendly, affordable, multi-generational place to learn and grow on your own or with your own horse. read more