I have been attending lessons in western with Andrea for a few months now. My riding has improved a…read morelot. Andrea is very patient and kind in her teaching style. I am an adult rider who had no childhood riding experience, never to late to learn.

I started taking lessons from Andrea in late 2021. I came in with a few years riding experience,…read moreafter having taken a long hiatus from riding. She put me on an extremely lazy and stubborn mare which I didn't complain about at all, until an incident a couple months later. The mare she put me on was blind in one eye.... we were walking along when a child outside the arena made a sound in the dirt on the side of the blind eye and the mare freaked out and suddenly bolted, galloped across the arena and started bucking until I flew off. A very unfortunate incident, especially because I landed on my ankle and sprained it badly. The incident was definitely not because of a mistake I made - I had the mare walking slowly - we were cooling down after the lesson, and the mare went from walking calmly to going nuts in a split second because of a sound. I messaged Andrea a couple days later and politely requested to be switched to a different lesson horse, citing the horse's extreme stubbornness and laziness, and saying that I didn't feel comfortable on the horse after the incident. She didn't respond for 2 weeks until I followed up again, a couple days before what was supposed to be my first lesson back. She literally responded by kicking me out of her program, saying "Unfortunately, I feel that my program is not a good fit for you at this time." It left a really bad taste in my mouth. She put me on a horse that clearly had an issue with being extremely reactive, and then when the horse bucked me off and injured me, she let me hang for 2 weeks and then kicked me out of her program. To be clear, I understand that falls and accidents happen in the horse world. It's not my first time falling off a horse. But the fact that she ignored me for 2 weeks and then kicked me out of her lessons like I had done something wrong is honestly so upsetting and unprofessional. ---EDIT: IN RESPONSE TO HER REPLY--- I understand you claimed that you didn't have another horse for me. But if you had any interest at all in keeping me as a student you could have: 1) Switched me to the other horse you had me riding in the 1st two weeks I took lessons 2) At least tried me out on another lesson horse before cutting me out 3) Asked if I would be willing to give that same horse another try 4) Attempted to find another solution with me, such as suggesting I lease another horse at the barn and continue taking lessons with you 5) Asked me about rescheduling my lessons to another day since in your Yelp response, you cited my "scheduling needs" as a reason you just couldn't continue with me 6) Tried literally anything else to try to work it out with me, instead of immediately dropping me But you didn't try any of that - you ignored me for 2 weeks, then sent me that text, making it clear I had been dropped from your lessons. It's pretty clear you had no interest in working with me further and got rid of me at the first possible opportunity. I was nothing but kind and respectful in all our interactions, so I genuinely don't know what I did to deserve that kind of treatment.

What a relaxing place to ride and get away from it all! Since moving my business here, it has been…read morea real pleasure to come to work. Cindy has been SO accommodating and the horses are happy with the excellent care they have received by the staff. Abel and Tony have taken the time to see that the horses get what they need. There is new footing in the round pen and the arena thanks to Leanne andTeri. I look forward to riding and training here for many years to come! Plus, it's great having an indoor arena to ride in during the winter! I highly recommend this facility after having ridden at several others.

Has this placed closed? I tried calling them thrice each time leaving a detailed message and they…read morenever called back! It is frustrating and if they have closed, maybe they should report it as such on their yelp page.

Amazing with children to adults of all ages! Beginner-friendly horses to intermediate level riding,…read moreboth Western and English. Great place to learn!

From the owner: At Chaparral Ranch, our Youth Camps and riding lessons give kids an unforgettable way to learn,…read moregrow, and connect with horses. Our camps blend hands-on horsemanship, ranch activities, and outdoor fun, while our lessons—offered seven days a week—help riders build skills and confidence long after camp ends. Whether your child is a beginner or ready to advance, we offer both Western and English riding so they can explore different styles in a safe, supportive environment. Families love us for our patient instructors, friendly horses, and the lasting memories kids take home.

We boarded our horse with Nola for 6 years - the entire time we were in California…read more From the second we met Nola she has been an answered prayer. The size of my horse didn't phase her one bit (17.2 hh, he's a big boy!). He had a stressful arrival (bad horse transport company) and she helped us nurse him back to health. A few other health problems happened during our 6 years, and she has ALWAYS gone above and beyond. She taught me so much about caring for normal and not-so-normal health problems! She is warm, friendly and has a passion for her business. You always feel like family at Nola's! As many people with horses know, horse people can be quite shady. My horse has been boarded in 4 states and 8 different barns, constantly changing barns because people got weird or our horse wasn't treated well. This is NOT the case with Nola! The only reason we have left is we moved out of state. Even then, my horse stayed an extra year with Nola until we could find a satisfactory barn and the weather was good for coming across the Rockies. She has kept me updated, made sure he was ready for all his appointments (ferrier, vet, etc) and kept a close eye on him while I was away. Don't look any further than this barn... you've officially found your horse's new home!

I am looking for a perfect barn for my horses. I came here to visit the place and I fall in love…read morewith the owner. She's very sweet, honest and nice. Her price is fair and she's willing to feed whatever you choice to your horses. She's building a very nice and safe turn out for horses with NO BARBWIRE. There's a beautiful trail connected to the barn but there's gate that is connected to the neighbor and you might be able to pass the gate and if not the park is only 1 mile from the barn and it's beautiful and mostly flat. She has 2 round pens and one of them is very big and nice and I also like the smaller one as well. I was happy with arena's size. I heard in spring this place will turn to heaven and they have the most beautiful flowers. They have an amazing view. The horses looked healthy and the stalls were cleaned.

What more can be said about Garrod Farms that hasn't already been felt by so many? For countless…read moreriders, this is the place where we first sat on a horse, felt the excitement of riding, and created memories that will last a lifetime. Garrod Farms is more than a barn--it is a place filled with joy, friendship, and an unmistakable sense of community. From the moment you arrive, you can feel the positive energy that surrounds the property. It truly feels like a place from a dream. One of my greatest fears is the thought of this special place ever disappearing, because it has become home to so many families, riders, and horse lovers. The Garrod family deserves tremendous recognition for everything they do. This is a true family-owned and operated business, built through hard work, dedication, and genuine passion. There is always someone on the property working on improvements, maintaining the grounds, or finding ways to make the experience even better for everyone. The amount of effort required to care for such a large facility is extraordinary, and their commitment never goes unnoticed. The farm offers some of the best arena footing in the area, beautiful indoor and outdoor arenas, and direct access to miles of scenic trails where riders can relax and enjoy time with their horses. It is a safe and welcoming environment that has been serving children, families, and equestrians for generations. Their horseback riding lessons, whether private or group, are exceptional and suitable for riders of all experience levels. They also offer some of the best vaulting lessons in the area, giving students a unique opportunity to develop balance, confidence, athleticism, and horsemanship in a fun and supportive environment. The horse camps are among the best around, and the only complaint anyone seems to have is that they fill up too quickly. The local horse shows provide riders with valuable opportunities and motivation, while the boarding program offers quality care at a reasonable price. Special events for boarders create an even stronger sense of community and make being part of Garrod Farms feel truly special. Beyond the horses, the winery adds another layer of charm. Great music, beautiful scenery, and wonderful people make it a place where memories are created and shared. There is always a sense of warmth and happiness in the air. Garrod Farms is more than a facility--it is home. It is a place where friendships are formed, confidence is built, and dreams begin. God bless Jan, Vicky, Cory, and the entire Garrod family for everything they do. Their dedication has touched the lives of so many people, and their contributions to the community deserve recognition and support every single day.

My friend from Germany wanted to ride a horse while visiting the states, so I very last minute…read morecalled Garrod to see if they had any availability. I was easily able to book a private guided ride with just the two of us and an expert rider. Our guide was so nice and equipped us with everything we needed to have a safe, but fun trip. You can tell the horses are very well taken care of and loved by the staff at the stables. The tour itself had beautiful views overseeing Los Gatos. It was a reasonably priced experience and absolutely worth it!

Chaparral has multiple locations and I believe this is a new location…read more Addison who is the manager and ran the class was great from the get go. Awesome communications leading up to the class and did a great job during the class. Wonderful location in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains.

From the owner: Chaparral Ranch in Sunol now offers full-service horse boarding in the East Bay. Our facility…read moreincludes daily stall cleaning, twice-daily feeding (alfalfa or grass), 24-hour security, a covered arena, a large open arena, four round pens, and multiple turnouts. Riders enjoy direct access to both Sunol Wilderness Regional Park and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park—just minutes away. Conveniently located off Interstate 680 between Fremont and Pleasanton, our Sunol site provides a safe, welcoming, and well-maintained environment for you and your horse

Great location. Friendly staff and boarders. Love the attention Tyler gives to all the horses and…read moretheir owners. Very easy to communicate with. Honest and upfront every step of the way. He even goes above and beyond to help advocate for the safety of those who ride out to the Open Space trails by communicating with both Open Space and Santa Clara County representatives about the relationship between vehicle vs. equestrian transportation along the street leading into the trailhead. Tyler often works from sun up to sun down. Often working to improve the quality and comfort of the facility. You will find it difficult to come across someone who is harder working or more honest than Tyler! To top it off, it's rare to see him without a smile on his face. Heck, it's rare to see any of the horse owners out at CCR without a smile on their faces! One of the few facilities whose boarders welcome new arrivals with invites to join trail rides, dinner outings, and other extracurricular activities! There's plenty other things to say but there's even more to be experienced in person!

Tyler is never at the ranch. He spends his time on vacation or in Utah. He is not a horse person,…read moreand while he's a charming county boy to the ladies don't let that fool you. He will try to tell you he works his ass off while loading up his 4 wheeler in preperation to leave the ranch for another weekend in a row with no one to keep an eye on the horses, and no way to reach him WHEN something goes wrong. The trainer there is barely an intermediate rider, so if you have a difficult horse, or are serious about riding go elsewhere. The arena also has terrible footing. Drama is the same as any other barn. The trail is nice, but has only one loop trail so it gets old very quickly.