I cannot say enough wonderful things about this horseback riding school. My grandson is autistic and intellectually disabled, and he does not learn quickly. From the very beginning, the owners Ellen and the instructors Bri, Lorraine, and Charlotte have shown incredible patience, kindness, and understanding. They truly take the time to work with him at his own pace, never rushing him and always encouraging him. Because of their dedication, he has gained confidence, skills, and joy through horseback riding that we never thought possible. It is rare to find people who are not only skilled instructors but also genuinely caring and compassionate. We are beyond grateful for everything they have done for my grandson. I highly recommend this school to any family, especially those with children who need extra patience and support. read more

Topiary Farms - My grandson riding 3 - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

We did not have a good experience here. we selected them from the vendor list at my daughters home school. At almost $100 a lesson it's quite expensive but since the school covers it we wanted to let my daughter try it. it took a few days and a few phone calls to get someone to call us back. Once we spoke with the owner the rest went smooth until starting. On our first and second lesson the instructor was rude and harsh to my daughter. She basically called her stupid and had little patience. We missed her next 2 lessons because my daughter refused to go with out me there to say something if the instructor was rude to her again. This week we messaged the instructor that we would be there and we had been taken off the schedule with error communication. We will not be going back to this facility. read more

My 10 year old daughter has been riding at Topiary for over a year and has made so much progress in her riding. She had never rides before and is now in horse shows thanks to the instructors. We also love the beautiful farm and how well the animals are treated. read more

Topiary Farms - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

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My daughter absolutely loved the horseback riding camp. In 5 days she looked like she'd been training for months. read more

Topiary Farms - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

An incredible experience!!!! The farm itself is very well kept and peaceful. I'm telling you I have never been more at peace than being on that farm shoveling shit at 5 am. Not only did it put me in great shape, but I got to get more adjusted with my fear of horses. These animals though terrifying are very majestic. The stalls and animals themselves are taken care of and each horse is treated as a person with their own quirks!! Ms Ellen and Mr Dan are phenomenal people and I'm so grateful for meeting them. 10/10 would recommend if looking to build up strength, get some moments of peace in this crazy ass world and if you love sunrises! read more

Ellen Is afraid of horses, she terminated my lease agreement 3 months into it and made me move my horse that same week ( kicked us out ) because my horse " doesn't listen to me" , she was afraid the horse was going to hurt her while she put the horse in pasture WITHOUT my permission because he would pull her to the grass to eat it.... Lol. THE HORSE LOVES GRASS WHAT CAN I SAY. I became absolutely devastated by this because my horse is a angel, and she made it seem like he was a terrible devil horse. maybe she just had a thing against me? Who knows. And her trainer at that time was not a trainer at all but a child who watched heartland once or twice. This place is filled with drama, the owner thrives off it. read more

Unfortunately they have not been the most professional is to say it nicely. As far as events to show what they are learning in lessons I was advised by the owner that I need to question when the shows are and that my daughter better do her best or she is not welcome to show. She has been attending this farm for over a year and has had about 3-4 different trainers as well has rode 4-5 different horses because the horse ends up hurt somehow or has been rode earlier that day knowing she is scheduled to ride. When questioned why my daughter was told she's not invited to show this weekend she was told because she's already gone to two shows and can't hold the reins right so I need to back them up on that. I'm a Single mom paying $240-480 a month for this place to teach my daughter to ride! "NOT horse hobby" "NOT just pony rides". My daughter is a good rider in fact showed and placed 2nd in jump with others that have done this for years(trainer didn't even realize he could jump) I have videos and pictures of All lessons and Shows. When I questioned, I was given a snippy answer from Ellen, the owner,all in text she stated she emailed me the dates of show and that I still owe her money which I have proof was paid except some charges she threw on there not in the plan or contract. Her billing is her hand writing on piece of paper days of lesson and payments made,in which the screen shot she sent me showed me Paid in full. She also went to FB when I put a not so good review, she came back stating I don't pay my bills or were late with payments unprofessional lies not anything to address her abilities as owner of a business and what we are to expect from my $240 payments . I have had multiple issues with this business and have given it out last shot. read more

Absolutely horrible customer service! I contacted this farm for rides for my daughter. We were never informed we "must" do weekly rides when we signed up and paid the 4 rides package. Then Ciera kept pushing this on us and finally when she realized we can't do weekly she then gave our 6 pm spot to another rider that could do weekly. Then she was only able to offer us times that we could not make. Then my son got very sick and her boss Ellen even reached out and said it was ok for us to miss our session..... Especially during covid times and said we could reschedule. I've done my best to keep communication with Ciera the trainer but she clearly only cares about the money and not the riders/ customers. She then texted me and told me my last ride was forfeited because we did not cancel within 24 hours but her boss was aware of the situation. I would like my money back for this as this is unacceptable service. Ellen and Ciera should have better communication. Also, my daughter rode a different horse every time we came due to one being hurt or rode before she came. I think is is also unacceptable and they should know when riders are coming on the schedule to have an appropriate horse for the age and size. Also last time we came Ciera was training another girl to be a trainer and this was very distracting for my daughter and we were not aware of this before the session. They were chatting the whole time and not helping my daughter. I was concerned for her safety. Also when my daughter is getting off a horse I expect a stand or something for her to get off due to her being so small but Ciera advised her to jump off where she scrapped her whole stomach and had a scrap for a few days which did hurt her. This whole situation is unacceptable and if you are looking for a trainer or riding lessons I wouldn't come here! 11/12 I would like to add that Ellen did provided my refund and was nice about my complains and said she would look into it. read more

I LOVE THIS PLACE. I really enjoy the energy here. It's kept really well. Super clean .The horse trainers are super knowledgeable and fun. My daughter receives horse riding lessons here and the owner is so awesome about fitting her in with her busy schedule. It's always a good time and they truly care about the horses , owners and riders. Cost for lessons is fair and I encourage you to try it out. I like to give back locally , they make it easy. They also have boarding available. read more

Had my daughter there for almost a year and was happy in the beginning. Unfortunately poor management has driven us away. My daughter is heartbroken as she had bonded with a horse there. They had to juggle us with trainers and after my daughters favorite quit and they raised their rates it's no longer a place we can reccomend. read more

My girls have been taking riding lessons here and we love the facility. Nicki is great with my daughters one being more of a beginner and one more intermediate rider. The focus on horse care is great. More than just riding lessons but horsemanship as well. The facility is very well kept. Its is always clean and feels very safe. The extra farm animals are a treat to visit as well. read more

Topiary Farms - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

Topiary Farms is an amazing facility with the right staff and horses for every skill level that supports our children's riding level. Every horse has been the most patient with our 6 year old, From the babysitter to more advanced Arab horses. The instructors and horses are well engaged with the rider and facilitate a wonderful learning environment. read more

This place is great, they take great care of their horses- good trainers and good potential. They're whole place is great, and super friendly read more

1/16/19 update: Ellen, not once did ever I say you needed to provide me the new owner information. The fact that you are trying to create some false narrative that makes you the victim of blackmail is even more concerning. Instead of providing proof he's alive, WHICH WAS ALL I ASKED FOR, you continued to make excuses to why you never communicated with me. First, it was because I got a new number, even though I had initially contacted you on the matter through Facebook, and you responded. Now, your excuse is that you're SUCH A PROFESSIONAL that you want to reserve the privacy of the new owner, yet you both are replying to me on Yelp. Now that you realize you were harassing me by blowing me up on Facebook, you tried to deface me on here by claiming that I'm harassing you. Again, I just wanted proof that he is alive. As far as "just buying him back", I couldnt afford the $3.5k you were asking ($2k more than you bought him from me) and had no issue with you selling him. I also did not ask about Bentley or his whereabouts until 1 YEAR AFTER YOU SOLD HIM. I owned the horse for twice as long as you did, and put all of his training on him, $6k and over 5 years worth. I think any true horse person can understand the bond we create with these horses, and can understand why I want to make sure he is still alive. No one was trying to forcibly see him or anything of the sort. I've had boarders reach out to me in regards to their experience at Topiary Farms, and the amount of people experiencing her abuse is incredibly concerning. For a "family-friendly" stable, it sure does sound like a lot of horses are going through there; hence why I stated she is a HORSE DEALER, not a kill buyer, as she continues to claim. I want people to be aware of the owner's attitude and how she likes to handle situations. Unprofressional and full of lies. The fact that she is having current boarders try to come to her aid because of my review is testament to that, especially when there are other negative reviews with no response by her or anyone else. If it's "such a great place," why not address the other obvious concerns pointed out by other boarders? I have removed most of my intial review because Bentley's new owner commented and claims he is alive. read more

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In July 2017 I purchased a horse named Bentley from the co-owner of Topiary Farms, Ellen. In my experience she was kind, caring and professional. The stable seemed very well managed and organized. The clients I met there were helpful, smiling, and friendly. Everyone exhibited professional, yet not uptight, horse management. I boarded Bentley at Topiary Farm until the farm I wanted to board him at in Petaluma had openings for new clients. The boarding experience at Topiary went very well also. I was notified if Bentley needed anything extra and we took care of it in a collaborative manner. I agreed and encouraged Bentley to participate in the camps, and lessons, as he has such a giving, pleasing personality. Now Bentley is at H bar D Stables near Petaluma where is our family therapy horse. read more

BOARD YOUR HORSE AT YOUR OWN RISK! This is an absolute atrocious facility. Sure it's great when you first begin boarding your horse due to the location and close proximity to trails. Please read the following. Please note that my horse was boarded there for about two years. PLEASE NOTE that if you have want to ride in the indoor or outdoor arenas, just know that lessons take priority and you WILL NOT be able to ride. In the winter, there's only one arena and it's small to say the least especially when there's more than one rider. IF YOU HAPPEN TO BOARD YOUR HORSE IN A STALL, get ready to pay a crap load of fees. Stalls with small run costs between $300 - $315 per month plus the cost of shavings. Of course you don't know how many bags your horse is really using since they don't put up a board and use a check off sheet. If you choose to purchase your own shavings, they'll charge you a haul out fee. And yet there's no haul out fee when you're using their shavings. Hmmm....a bit of price gauging right? Yes! Speaking of fees...If you have a friend come ride your horse, there's an arena fee for that person to pay. They have cameras with voice recording which is not mentioned in the boarding contract and is against the law if it's not in the contract. I never said anything to get myself in trouble, however, Ellen would mention something someone else had said due to a conversation that was only in ear shot to the cameras...That's a big No No! My original boarding contract stated that my horse would be in a paddock with a shelter. After they moved him to the front of the entrance way, they (owners, Ellen and Dan) kept switching our horses to live with him. My horse like most like consistency. He began to lose weight due to the stress. They moved him into the expensive side of the barn without speaking to me or without my permission. Plus it was against my boarding contract. As soon as I brought up my concerns, that's when everything went to hell in a hand basket, literally. I had heard rumors about their bullying tactics and didn't put too much thought into it. That is until I had to deal with it on a personal level. I later found out via Solano County that they are not a licensed nor do they have the appropriate permits to run a boarding facility. They have approximately 2.4 acres and can only have 4 personal horses (2 horses per acre)on the property. They literally have close to 25 horses boarding on their property. Also, the open field located directly next to their property that they use as a turnout is owned by pg&e. They have told many including myself that they have a verbal agreement with pg&e that they can use the field. That's actual bull crap. They are not authorized to use that field under any circumstances. Obviously my horse and I moved on to a better location and he and I are in an excellent licensed boarding facility! Please beware and call the county with any questions and concerns! read more

Topiary Farms - Horses near pesticides! Safe? Definitely not! - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

Well because my previous review has been reported for being inappropriate I'll update my review still to this day topiary Farms has not changed any of their actions shavings aren't used properly per contract. Salls are not cleaned on a daily basis they charge you fees out the yin yang. Thay move your horses without your permission to other stalls and then attempt to charge you at higher prices. abuse to horses which I've personally witnessed the owner hitting horses in the face while feeding. there are security cameras and audio recording devices placed throughout the facility and you are not notified in your contract that they are even there which is against the law this is not a licensed facility. read more

My daughter has been taking lessons here for over 6 months now and has done really well. I like the trainers and the owner is a sweetheart. I really like this place and look forward to seeing my daughter improve and learn here read more

I had a few lessons here and it was amazing!! The owner was so kind and involved with everything and the animals were so loving and behaved so well!!! I will definitely be going back !!!! read more

I was working for them as a student (riding horses and helping with lessons occasionally) in exchange for free lessons. After a month of working I still hadn't received any lessons (except for the original that I paid for) and the trainer wasn't responding to my texts after a week so I emailed the owner of the barn. She said I had to work for 16 hours in exchange for one 65$ lesson. This is equivalent to working for 4$ an hour and is ILLEGAL (minimum wage in ca is 12$/hour). This also isn't the original deal that I made with the trainer where I would receive one lesson a week in exchange for one day worth of work. I have two horses of my own and have been riding for over 10 years, and I've worked with other trainers before and never been burned so bad in a working student position. In addition they had a pony named Cindy, that they were going to sell but after seeing a video of me jumping and riding her, they thought she had potential and decided to keep her and use her as a lesson horse. They are making a profit off the time and energy I put into that horse and I have nothing to show for it. It's a shame because this barn had a good vibe and the people there were very nice and if this didn't happen I would absolutely continue riding there. After all this, I've still never gotten any of the lessons I worked for (which is equivalent to 240$ worth according to our original deal) or been paid in any way. read more

I highly recommend Topiary Farms for horseback riding lessons or celebrating a dpecual birthday. My daughter wanted to learn how to ride a horse for her 9th birthday. I called and emailed a variety a places, but Nicky from Topiary Farms was by far the most prompt and most pleasant to respond to my inquiry. My daughter invited her very nervous friend to join her, Topiary Farms did not disappoint. Not only did they ride, but the got to meet the other farm animals as well. Both girls learned how to clean and tack their horses before riding. This made them more comfortable and helped them get to know their horses first. Nicky was their instructor, and she went above an beyond. She even dressed the horses up for my daughter's birthday, which she didn't have to do. She made a group lesson into a party, including games with the horses! And the prices are the best around. read more

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Where do I start? I love their setup, the care and passion that goes into the horses and animals on the property speaks for itself when you see the place. I love everything about it there. Such a great place! read more

This is a wonderful place for lessons! My daughter loves it here! I love the fact that they are down to earth and so friendly! Makes for a comfortable and safe place for young ones to learn to ride and care for horses! read more

Topiary Farms - Horse Boarding Near Me - Vacaville, California

I don't review businesses on yelp, UNLESS I experience a truly negative and painful service. The owner's of Topiary are unprofessional and should have legal action taken against them. I have witnessed abuse, inappropriate conversations attempted by the owners, and felt violated, harassed, aggression, and intimidation. I wholeheartedly DO NOT recommend this business for anyone who cares for their horses and wants a professional, honest boarding experience. read more

If your looking for horse riding lessons this is the place to go. My family has been taking lessons at Topia Farms for 6 months now and It has been a wonderful experience. I was looking for something for my daughters to do that would teach then hard work, discipline and build their confidence. Nikki has been an amazing trainer, they've learned so much in such a short time and enjoy every minute at the Farm riding horses. I don't think this would have been possible without the patience and support Nikki provides. She doesn't let the kids give up or quit, she really knows how to connect with the kids to help them overcome any challenges. If this is something your interested I defiantly recommend giving Nikki a call, you won't be disappointed. read more

I am VERY pleased with Topiary Farms. I have been boarding my horse there for nearly a year. My horse is happy, safe and well cared for. A+++ read more

I've only been at Topiary Farms for about three months. I have three horses there. I have only experienced a very loving and kind atmosphere. I have been in the horse world for awhile. I'm in my fifties. No place is perfect. But a kill buyer, please. I have looked for an old horse of mine in the past. There was a trainer who knew where he was but out of respect for the current owner would not disclose her information. She shared mine to her. It took awhile and now I have him back. I will never be afraid to tell the truth. But from what I have experienced, I think if you really want to know what kind of place it is, come and experience the farm for yourself read more

We love this place! Been here 9 months and besides the few weeks of drama (obviously by the "4 different" previous reviews that were all posted on the same day with the same issues) it has been a very pleasant, wonderful experience. (The drama has moved to a different barn now) The stalls are cleaned daily with shavings. Nice indoor and outdoor arena, beautiful property with chickens and ducks. The trainer goes above and beyond any trainer my daughter has had and is totally trustworthy of small children. I recommend this place to all my friends! read more

My 9 year old daughter has attended horse camp and been taking lessons here for the last year and she loves it. She has progressed well and always has a few horses to choose from. Thanks Topiary. read more

I've been boarding at Topiary Farms for over 6 months now and have had a wonderful experience. My horse has some health concerns and the owners have been very supportive and helpful with trying to get her healthy again. The stalls are cleaned everyday and the facility always looks clean and well kept. read more

I am very pleased with my experience at Topiary Farms as a boarder. My horse is very happy there. The owners are actual horse people. They don't run it just as a business. The stalls are cleaned daily, 7 days a week, not 6 days like other barns, and the horses are fed quality hay twice a day. When weather permits, the horses get turned out in pasture a couple times a week to help out the horse owners whose busy lives don't allow daily visits to see their horses. The property is beautiful with a real farm feel. Improvements and new additions are always in the works. I would recommend this facility to everybody who wants their horse to have a wonderful, safe and caring place to live. The negative comments about this facility are very confusing. I have been boarding at Topiary for over a year and have never experienced any of those things. Trainer is very competent and is very good with children and beginner riders. FYI, trainers/instructors are not required in the state of CA to be certified, just know what they are doing and be good at it. Top notch boarding facility, 2 thumbs up!!! read more

Great Family Oriented People have given my Daughter 5 Lessons Already. She has Grown Incredibly Due to these Lessons and We will be continuing our next 5 Lessons next Week to Month. Can't Wait! Ellen Dan, all the instructors teaching the Love it takes properly care for a horse...100Million percent recommend Topiary Farms read more

I had my horse here for 2 years. Most people that board here are actually not happy. I finally moved my horse out and I have noticed a big change in her behavior. The pasture has holes, deep holes that are very dangerous to the horses. There are rats and mice everywhere. Cock roaches are everywhere. I have video of them coming in from the grass outside the stalls into the horses stall. Ellen is always yelling and she is so miserable. Everyone that has worked there has told me how she is verbally abusive to them. They are constantly yelled at. She is always screaming at her husband. The poor guy is miserable being married to her. She also claims that this isn't a boarding facility. That it is just a lesson place. Lies, constant lies. She seems nice one day and the next, she goes into a whole different direction...not a good one. Its weird and uncomfortable to be around. She is like a rusty, old roller coaster ride that is going to break one day. The stalls do get cleaned but there are hardly any shavings. You pay for it so why not make your horse comfortable. The outer part of the stalls are not taken care of. They are pitted with deep holes. The place was always flooded when it rained. Some of the stalls flood and the horses are standing in mud and waste. Then they act like its your fault if you complain about it. The horses dont get to go out to pasture the way they claim. My horse was clearly unhappy and became unhealthy here. I have heard other boarders tell me they are leaving because she is abusive to her horses. I never saw this but I wasnt there every day. Any little thing that has to be repaired, they blame you for. This isnt a good place to board. The drama alone is enough to make anyone not want to come here. read more

I have been boarding my horse with Dan and Ellen for almost two years now. I read some of the other negative reviews on this site and know it's from 1 girl that I am grateful is gone from this barn. Very sad to me that someone would go out of there way to try to harm the business of these people. They have done an excellent job taking care of my horse and I totally appreciate the time Ellen has taken to help me train my young horse. Ellen is up front about her expectations of how you conduct yourself on her property. The vibe is relaxed and low key and there has not been drama except from the one girl that wrote those bad reviews and tried to pretend she was multiple people. Thank goodness she's gone!!! I was offended for Dan and Ellen, who are some of the coolest people I've ever met and my horse couldn't be happier or more spoiled. So, if you are not a high maintenance mean biotch, get your horse and come on out. ....:) read more