I traveled to Pismo Beach with 4 girlfriends to ride our horses on this famous beach and needed a…read moreplace to overnight board. Ocean Breeze was very accommodating and the price was quite reasonable. The facility is cute and rustic, but very clean and the horses were very well taken care of. Heather and her friends gave my group a guided tour of the beach on our first outing there. Everyone at the stable was marvelously helpful and friendly! I would highly recommend this facility to anyone looking for a short-term stay. Our group had so much fun riding in this area that we will definitely be planning another trip in the near future!

When it comes to boarding, Heather treats every horse like her own. As a trainer and instructor…read moreHeather is patient, kind and incredibly knowledgeable. My daughter and her horse grew leaps and bounds with her guidance. If you are looking for summer camps, lessons or to board I highly recommend!

When one has been in the equine industry long enough - in my case all of my life - one has come…read moreacross many types of vets with varying degrees of expertise. It has been my extreme joy to have met Dr. Bardo at The Equine Center. Dr. Bardo pulled my 35 year old, half-Arab gelding through an advanced 'choke' with the greatest of care and utmost professionlism. Dr. Bardo's professional expertise was clear, concise, and expeditious. All the while comforting Indy and relaxing my anxiety. Indy and his pasture mate are now on the boarding side of The Equine Center. Where they will remain for as long as I live in the SLO area. Thank you, to Dr. Bardo and the staff at TEC.

Dr Yordanov did an amazing job with my horse who had inflicted himself a terrible 12 inch deep 20…read moreinch wide laceration at the junction of his leg and body. Dr Yordanov cared for him for over five weeks. He is patient, has excellent communication skills and showed great compassion. I highly recommend this facility and their doctors.

Love having my horses out at Varian Equestrian Center! You truly can choose what you need and they…read morehave it on site! I have a mare recovering from surgery and they have a spacious outdoor stall for her while she recovers and if she needs to move indoors they have that option as well! My younger mare is living her best life in a pasture with other mares enjoying friends and freedom. The arena and facilities are well maintained and if you ever need help with your horses they have multiple training options on site for both horse and human. I have been lucky enough to have my younger mare do ground training with Mike in 2024 and learn everything she needed to be successful when she was started under saddle. Mike is also her favorite human, he is kind, fair, and incredibly knowledgeable! When it came time for her to start under saddle I knew Jaime would continue that work and he has giving my young one a solid foundation to grow from! She is confident on the trails (which they have onsite!!) and in the arena and is sensitive but not reactive, more than I could have ever dreamed about in a green broke horse. I fell in love with the facility and people while my younger mare was there for training and moved both of mine out full time. Kristy and the barn staff are so friendly and attentive to the horses, I can truly rest easy knowing they are both in good hands. So happy to have VEC as my new home barn!

This is heaven on earth for equestrian enthusiasts! Gorgeous grounds, professional incredible staff…read moreand happy horses. Home to legendary horses. Visit Varian Equestrian Center... your horses will thank you! I'd give 100 stars if I could!

VARIAN RANCH This…read morereview is written in honor and memory of a legendary cowgirl, Sheila Varian - August 8, 1937 to March 6, 2016. Inducted into the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame 2003. Sheila Varian, a phenomenal woman, pioneered the Arabian horse breed in America and around the world. For 60+ years she lived a joy filled life doing what she loved most, being a real working cowgirl, a Arabian horse breeder, trainer and owner. Before her passing, Sheila Varian partnered with California Rangeland Trust to permanently conserve and protect the character and beauty of Varian Ranch. She stated, "I could not bear the thought of this place being broken up. All the animals that live here will be safe, and people will still be safe to visit here." Absolutely true! Varian Ranch is 230 acres. It is a very special place nestled in the hills, and in the heart, of Arroyo Grande's wine region. It's a very beautiful, majestic, fascinating and spiritual place. It was my pleasure to visit, walk amongst beautiful and majestic stallions, mares and their babes. What an honor! Varian Ranch is open to the public on Monday's. It's a ranch one must visit to experience its beauty and spirituality.

I have been going to Varian Arabian for over ten years. I Try to go the the events they hold at…read morelease once a year and it is fabulous. The owner Sheila Varian is an amazing woman and has so much knowledge of the arabian horse. She has been breeding the arabian horse for generations and has some of the finest horses in the industry. If you want an education about the arabian horse or are looking to purchase a horse you can not go wrong. I love this place it is always such a great feeling to be at the farm and always leave looking forward to my next visit.

Very kind family. Beautiful horses. Well organized. Bring carrots to feed the horses.read more

Had an absolute blast riding there. Wish I could go back more. The ride to the dunes was so much…read morefuns and the beach pictures were stunning.

Drake Farms - Bienvenue Arabians is a first class facility. We have been showing, training and…read moreboarding with them for over six years. We could not be happier. They take excellent care of the horses. Not only in the barn, but when we are on the road, and at shows. Susie and Tony have set up a great team of people around them over the last thirty plus years. Their knowledge and expertise in the industry really shows. Our three daughters and horses have all traveled with them to different events and have made amazing life long memories.

I wouldn't board my horses at Drake Farms for free. Drake Farms consists of a transportation,…read moreArabian show barn, breeding and boarding business - all located on one plot of land near the airport and managed by matriarch Susan. With reference to horse boarding, surprises included but weren't limited to - bait and switch board pricing as in $350 board ballooned by $200 citing the stalls quoted not available, no boarding agreement - a big advantage for the manager, notice given a short time before a 27 hour non-stop haul that everyone, except the stall cleaner, would be at a horse show. For those not familiar with long haul horse transport, plans are made many weeks in advance, carefully planned and locked-in due to high demand. For those not familiar with the stress horses endure on trailer hauls, essentially, horses must balance constantly; so, a 27 hour haul equates to a 27 hours of trotting. Very worrisome considering the haul occurred in mid-summer heat. Texas heat withering. While Susan called the Spanish-speaking only helper to check on the horses when they arrived, it shows a lack of empathy, respect for my stressed horses and my anxiety, as in nightmares and migraines ensued. Signs of colic and dehydration from a long haul require an onsite inspection by a horse savvy someone - gut sounds must be checked in addition to a check of gums and neck for problems. By the way, horse show participation requires dealing with entry deadlines, stall reservations and fees paid weeks in advance, very rarely a successful impromptu action. Finally, when I decided to leave, I asked again about the boarding agreement to exit easily. When I heard once again that no agreement was in place, I told her that I'd like to leave early and receive a check for the unused board. She agreed, but later told me she decided otherwise and wanted 30 days notice. Irresponsible? In my opinion, yes! Unprofessional? In my opinion, yes! Unethical? In my opinion, yes! Hard-hearted? In my opinion, yes! As someone who managed a horse boarding facility for a decade, as someone who has owned and has shown horses for over 30 years, I couldn't leave fast enough. In my opinion, steer clear.