Cloverleaf Ranch is a magical place! Our nine-year-old just returned from his second year of…read moresleep-away camp (He attended the day camp when he was younger.) and he has so many positive things to say. The counselors were fun and supportive. The activities were engaging. Thomas loved the food. This year he encouraged a friend from school to join him. That boy had a great time, and they both made new friends too. Thomas came back with greater confidence and displaying more independence too. We can't wait to get back the pictures he took with his disposable camera! What I love best, besides hearing the stories about him getting up early to care for the horses that he once found intimidating, was the call we received from Dawn mid-week. We weren't worried. We've had great experiences at Cloverleaf. We know the ratios of campers to counselors allows for attentive care. Still, the mid-week phone call telling us how his week was going just reinforced how much the staff really cares. For this reason, Cloverleaf will continue to be a Cremidis family tradition for many years to come. Next year, little brother will be old enough for residential camp and he's already making plans for how he'll spend his time.

I feel like parents should know the teen leaders they employ are from some summer study abroad…read more program and are boys sent here from other countries (New Zealand, Australia, etc.) and they aren't allowed to disclose their names (my daughter's camp leader was named "Cobra"). I didn't feel comfortable with this arrangement and am glad I didn't sign my daughter up for sleep-away camp. She enjoyed the day camp but the staff seemed more concerned with protecting themselves rather than allowing parents to protect their children. I was expecting some nice local horse riding girls to mentor her and instead had to leave her with boys who wouldn't tell me their names. She won't be back.

I've been taking lessons here for about 6 months and absolutely love it! Carol is incredibly…read morepatient and has lovely horses that can suit any skill level. I love being able to go ride every week- and the group lessons help you to meet other riders as well. Highly recommend!

Apple Creek is a great place take horse lessons for all ages. Carol has infinite patience and is…read morealways supportive and positive. All levels of riders can find a lesson horse that suits them from beginners to advanced riders. It is also a great place to board a horse, the horses get great care and fed 3x per day and live in a very clean environment.

I'm a lifelong horse-lover. I grew up riding and showing Saddlebred horses in Oklahoma. After…read morecollege and moving to California I found myself 8 years out of the saddle. I never really thought I could find a trainer or facility that compared to where I grew up riding. Then I found Brigitte Scholl and Monarch on the American Saddle Horse Association website in January of 2010. Monarch Stables is the best barn I could ever have imagined. The facility is beautiful, well-equipped, and serene. Most importantly, Brigitte Scholl, the owner and trainer is a true horse whisperer and a gifted riding instructor. She operates every aspect of Monarch Stables with passion and integrity. Every horse is cared for immaculately and in a manner uniquely suited to his/her personality. Every rider has Brigitte's undivided attention. If you're a veteran rider or a novice who's always wanted to give Saddleseat riding a shot, you will be equally welcomed. If your child has been bugging you for horseback riding lessons, go for it! In my opinion there's no better outlet: through horseback riding they can learn the subtleties of communication with both horses and people, the responsibility of caring for an animal, the self-confidence that comes from competing with true sportsmanship.

I grew up in the Midwest riding/showing Arabians and Saddlebreds. I am so fortunate to have found…read moreMonarch Stables, and a trainer like Brigitte Scholl. Brigitte is patient, kind and gives the utmost care to her horses. It is very apparent she has a barn full of happy horses. I have been welcomed to Monarch with open arms by friendly people, and friendly horses. Monarch is definitely a show barn, and aimed at riders who are passionate about riding Saddleseat English and American Saddlebreds. These horses are amazing, beautiful and so much fun to ride. I highly recommend Monarch, and Brigitte if you are a rider looking to advance in to the show ring, or wanting to begin Saddleseat riding !

Emeri Kitchell of Ijula Equestrian has set up an outstanding riding program at Jaz Creek in…read morePetaluma, CA! Emeri is such a knowledgeable instructor who knows horses and how to get the most of your time riding them. She does this with a gifted understanding of how to feel your way through to communicating gently, but clearly, with your horse. She has an extensive set of tools that bring horse and rider enjoying their time together. The skills that Emeri brings to Ijula Equestrian combine with her wonderful eye in her horse and pony selection. Each of them is a good-natured, hard-working, and comfortable ride. The horses seem to really want to work with the rider. I credit this to the environment and training regimen that Emeri has created at Ijula Equestrian. Besides being an articulate instructor who explains recommendations well to her clients, she is so warm and friendly all while being a consummately caring professional with a great sense of humor. In addition to the wonderful combination of Emeri Kitchel and the horses she has selected for us to enjoy, Ijula Equestrian at Jaz Creek offers outstanding facilities. My favorites are these: 1. Enormous indoor arena with exceptional footing 2. Large outdoor arena with a great variety of ground poles and jumps to match all levels with a variety of patterns, routines, and courses that allow Emeri to offer a tremendous variety in our lessons' activities. 3. Tack-up area indoors right next to the tack room with full supplies for grooming your horse or pony. Combining the qualities of this instructor, her horses, and Jaz Creek's facilities all under Emeri Kitchell's leadership, I cannot recommend Ijula Equestrian highly enough. It is for all these reasons that I always leave there feeling happy and energized.

From the owner: Ijula Equestrian is a premier training and lesson program operating out of Jaz Creek Inc. in Sonoma…read moreCounty. Our lessons offer an individualized experience with a focus on community and horsemanship.

I showed up feeling more nervous than I expected. Being around horses made me very aware of my…read moreenergy, and I was definitely a bit tense at first. Christal quickly changed that. Her calm, genuine presence helped me relax and get out of my head before even interacting with the horse. She brings a lot of intention to the experience, focusing on mindset and connection. Once I settled in, everything within me shifted, and being with the horse felt natural and surprisingly grounding instead of intimidating. And then came the riding... which is definitely more of a workout than it looks. I went in thinking I'd float along effortlessly, but "light as a feather" takes some serious effort . It's humbling, a little funny, and you'll discover muscles you didn't know you had. Christal is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and clearly passionate about what she does. She creates a space where you feel supported and connected the entire time. Go in open-minded and give yourself time--it's a unique, meaningful experience that leaves you feeling more grounded and wanting to come back.

After booking a Groupon kind of haphazardly for our 8 year old horse-loving daughter, I had low (or…read moreno) expectations for this experience. I was quickly blown away by Christal's approach and thoughtful / thought-provoking program. My daughter and I had an amazing time! Christal spent *so* much time with us and truly wanted to create a meaningful experience. If you really want to learn about horses, create connection, dig a little deeper in yourself, I highly recommend checking this program out. Don't get frustrated if you don't get a response or reply right away - Christal is probably out with another client taking great care and may just need a minute!

Love the facilities. I have brought my horse here for their monthly schooling shows!Another great…read morething to check out at the Santa Rosa Equestrian Center is their European Pony School!

Lauren A. I wish I could help you out but I know almost nothing about equines. The only thing I…read moreknow is that they need lots of love and patience. They are intelligent creatures and can pick up on negative people.

Alyssa and the rest of the girls helping us on 9/26 for the 3pm ride were so personable and really…read moremade an extra effort to make us feel comfortable on our horses! Their customer service was truly unparalleled and their friendliness completely made the experience! :) Thanks for making my birthday trip that much better!!

Katie and Kiera were awesome! Beautiful experience and lovely setting. Highly recommendread more

I'm getting so much out of my lessons with Amy and learning it all from the ground up. She is a…read morekind, patient and reassuring teacher who emphasizes understanding horses behavior as well. She is truly helping me achieve my goals and dreams!

My 7-year-old daughter recently started lessons at Amiable Sporthorses, and we couldn't be happier!…read moreAfter just one lesson, she learned more than she had in six weeks at another riding school. The instruction is kind, supportive, and really focused on helping the kids grow in confidence and good horsemanship. My daughter looks forward to her lesson every single week. Gem the pony so sweet and well cared for, and the overall vibe is friendly and welcoming. We feel really lucky to have found this place -- it's been such a great experience so far!

Many arenas including 2 indoor ones for rainy days. For those w issues calling, try their website…read moreto contact TRAINERS not the property owner, as that's who you set up riding with. The place is almost always full of boarded horses, but you can haul in horses and ride there for a small fee.

I took horseback riding lessons from Monica Lukes, and I absolutely loved it. She is a patient…read moreteacher and always finds a way to make her feedback positive. Her lessons were about an hour and a half long, which is very generous. I learned how to groom and prepare horses for being ridden, which is something I've never been able to do. I really enjoyed getting to bond with the horse I rode, named George. She is a great trainer and George always listened to her, even when he'd just come in from being ridden and was getting prepped for my lesson. Great facility with numerous arenas. Monica is the best!