Steve was friendly & talkative, his horses are cared for & they were well trained. We asked to do…read morea beach trail but instead we met at Manzanita County Park. It was a hard trail with no shade & lots of ups & downs & steep hills. It was hot & instead of a 2hr tour it lasted almost 3hrs. There wasn't enough padding under the saddle so our butts were hurting, especially the last hour. We've been on 10+ horseback riding tours. This was the first time we didn't have to sign waivers or wear helmets & Steve was encouraging first time riders to stand on top of the horse. The horses liked to gallop & trot, I had to keep slowly down my horse. If you're on a schedule & prefer a more structured tour & don't want to trot or gallop, this is NOT the tour for you. He doesn't take pictures unless you ask him to & he said he'd send us pictures but never did. So make sure you stay & have him send the pictures before you leave.

Steve is top notch in all ways imaginable. I can't tell you how many trail/beach rides I've been on…read more(too many to count) and In all honestly, NONE of them compare to what Steve offers. Real talk, he goes above and beyond to make sure you're really enjoying your time with these amazing horses and creating unforgettable memories which are honestly priceless. He has so many stories, jokes and wisdom to share. His passion for horses and ability to make people feel as ease is a true gift. Thank you, we'll for sure be back again! ;)

Garland Ranch Regional Park -- Where Nature Went to College and Got a Degree in Enchantment"…read moreOh, you think you've been on a hike before? No. You've merely walked on ground. Garland Ranch Regional Park is where the Earth decided to get fancy -- rolling hills, whispering trees, and trails that seem designed by a benevolent chaos god who wanted you to get lost just enough to find yourself. The Vibe: This place doesn't just have nature -- it radiates personality. The air smells like enlightenment and expensive essential oils. Every oak tree looks like it has witnessed ancient wisdom and is judging you for not bringing reusable water bottles. The wind flirts. The grass gossips. The clouds... perform interpretive dance. The Trails: Sky Trail: Don't let the name fool you -- it's 80% up, 20% existential crisis. But at the top? A view so stunning, I briefly ascended into my third chakra and forgot my email password. Waterfall Trail: There's water. There's falling. There's also a high chance of spotting a woodland creature that may or may not be a druid in disguise. Saddle Trail: Not for the faint of calf. You'll meet at least one hiker who swears they saw Bigfoot running a mindfulness retreat. Wildlife Report: The deer here are too confident. They'll make eye contact like they know you left your stove on. Lizards do push-ups just to assert dominance. A hawk once circled above me for 20 minutes; I think I passed its vibe check. Local myth says the coyotes form an a cappella group at dusk. Their debut album, Howl to the Moonlight, drops every full moon. Random Fun Facts (Questionable Accuracy Edition): The park's elevation shifts based on how hydrated you are. 47% of the trees are rumored to be undercover dryads doing field research. If you say "Garland Ranch" three times at the visitor center, a ranger appears and hands you a perfectly ripe trail mix. Final Thoughts: Garland Ranch isn't just a park. It's an experience. It's Narnia with better signage. It's where fitness apps go to prove themselves. I came here seeking a light jog; I left spiritually rearranged, emotionally hydrated, and slightly sunburned.

Wonderful park to explore and hike if you are ever in the Carmel Valley area. Plenty of parking…read moreboth on the street as well as in a designated parking lot. Much of the area in the lower section is flat and easy to walk around, however, there are also some trails with steeper elevation climbs for those who want to get more of a scenic view of the area. Cool historic barn is easy to get to and on hotter days you will definitely want to take some water as some of the trails are exposed to the sun. There is a public bathroom area by the visitor center.

I went to the Ferrari Challenge dinner at Stonepine a few weeks ago. The famous house and…read moreequestrian property is now a "Private Function" retreat only. No more hotel though rooms are available if part of the function. Think Weddings, Corp Events. If you ever read the Great Gatsby or saw the movie you'd feel like you were back in time. An elegance that felt more European than US.

Wow! Our wedding was at Stonepine Estate and it was an incredible weekend. The venue is so unique…read morefor California and it truly feels like you are transported to Italy. Each space is so well thought out, detailed, and beautiful. We loved the charming Italian feel of the Chateau and the Western contrast of the Double H Ranch. We incorporated both into our wedding day and our guests were continuously wow-d as they moved through the spaces. The venue also needs very minimal decorations for a wedding since it is so grand. We stayed on-site in the Chateau which was so amazing. The grounds are beautiful and it was fun to use the pool and enjoy the many available spaces over our three days there (and the incredible breakfasts!). Stonepine has an amazing team. Oceanne and Ari helped us navigate every detail and gave so much care into the planning of our day. Nathan and Julie were excellent hosts in the Chateau and went above and beyond to make our stay wonderful. The wedding truly could not have been a more beautiful or special day.

Charlie was such a down to earth tour guide. He was calm, relaxed and made our entire experience…read morethe best. I found this place thru Chat GPT when looking for horse back riding on the beach. This place is a hidden gem. $175 to ride for 1 hour and 15 minutes was totally worth it. Ocean front. Will def book again!

DANGEROUS! STAY AWAY. They put my wife on a horse with behavioral issues. The horse was very…read moreerratic and my wife (luckily) insisted on asking for a helmet. After an erratic ride, they had her dismount on the CONCRETE of the parking lot. The owner did not have control of the horse and my wife fell onto the concrete after the horse took off during dismount. My wife has ridden horses for 30 years so it wasn't inexperience that caused the accident. She spent 5 hours in the ER and was told by the Hospital she was "very lucky". However we are waiting for a MRI to determine why her shoulder still hurts almost a month later. When I called this organization the day after the accident I told them the LEAST they could do was refund the rides ($350 - my wife and son) and pay our $550.00 deductible from ER. After being told they would take care of it, they aren't answering my calls or returning my messages. Shameful. Stay away or risk what happened to my wife happening to one of your loved ones.

They seem like nice people but...they offered to reschedule me after my flights were cancelled to a…read morelater date. Then they weren't able to reschedule because they didn't have the right permits yet. So, I asked for a refund. It's been a month and I still haven't been refunded.

We took our young daughter here for a pony ride, she had the best time. Doug and crew are very…read morewelcoming, professional and friendly. We enjoyed our time and can't wait to return!

Mike and crew were great guides. Horses healthy and well taken care of. Beach ride is a trail…read moreride, nose to tail, but was still enjoyable.

Ten years ago exactly, I met Steve and his horses while on my travels (from England). It was a…read morelife-changer. I'll never forget his kindness, respect and map drawing in the sand while I rode Bailey - forwards and backwards; a far cry from the suburban nose-to-tails in Richmond Park, Surrey. Such fond memories and much missed, all of it. Highly recommended.

Toni is the best! I rode with her my whole childhood and now my girls get to experience her love…read moreand care too. We are so thankful for her and her wonderful stables. I highly recommend her for students of all ages and abilities.

From the owner: Toni Venza Training (TVT) offers the wonderful opportunity for all levels of riders from beginners…read morethru advance to define and achieve their personal riding skills. TVT focuses on safety and having a great time riding and learning about the true love of horses!! Our all-weather riding facility includes a Covered Riding arena which allows us to ride, rain or shine.

Nice facility with excellent opportunities to learn at all levels. Great trainer, Kyle, works with…read morekids and adults. He works with patience and enthusiasm to bring along horse and rider. Kyle's crew often participates in local play day events, and several riders have gone on to compete at top levels in Western events.

Cecilia's years of experience are hard to beat in a barn manager. She's resourceful, practical and…read moreapproachable. The barn has a family vibe vs a just a place where your horse lives. Cecilia teaches lessons but also brings in other trainers for clinics and other professionals for informational sessions.

An amazing resource for natural horsemanship, retreats, community connections and healing with…read morehorses. Lori and Ella are amazing teachers, women leaders and grounded community change makers who help all who visit and attend events lessons and retreats there meaningful and full of growth and wisdom.

My daughter first attended this camp in the summer of 2010. It was amazing! The property sits on a…read morehill over looking all of Monterey bay. The price was very reasonable plus they have scholarships available. My daughter learned to take care of and ride horses. She had fun dancing and learning aerial. she made beautiful art and got to perform in a play at the end of camp for all the parents. Horse and Heart is terrific! I highly recommend it.