I recently moved my horse to BHE from a barn in SoCal and I have been so very happy I did! Kate and the trainers hear TRULY CARE and I can tell how much time they've spent with my horse. My horse has had a chronic problem with white line disease in his hoof and BHE has not only brought in an excellent farrier (shout out to James McCracken!!) but the team has treated his hoof TWICE A DAY! and he's finally on his way to recovery. Like most owners, I just don't have the time to be at the barn every day and I rely upon the team to take care of my horse. I am so grateful to have found a barn that makes a point of giving each horse what it needs (and without upcharging me for every added thing) rather than just tossing some hay in their stalls and leaving the owner to figure out the rest. BHE has an extensive staff of experienced people who work beautifully together and go out of their way to provide the kind of personalized care I would do on my own if I could. I will also ratify what others have said about the atmosphere at BHE. I am relatively new to the horse world but I have definitely experienced the snooty, catty, gossipy behavior that gives it such a bad rap and BHE IS NOT that. Any time I have spent there has been such a pleasure. If you're looking for a barn that will be the "happy place" for both you and your horse, I think you'll enjoy being part of the BHE family. read more

I've been riding at Blackhound Equestrian for 11 years, and there's truly no place like it. From the very beginning, me, who was someone who knew nothing about horses, was welcomed into a professional yet incredibly supportive environment where both horses and riders are treated with respect, patience, and care. The trainers here are phenomenal, experienced, detail-oriented, and passionate about helping every rider grow, no matter their skill level. Over the years, they've helped me build confidence, develop strong fundamentals, and continually challenge myself to improve, all while maintaining a healthy relationship with all the horses I ride. The facility itself is beautiful and well maintained. The horses are clearly happy, healthy, and well cared for, and the emphasis on horsemanship and responsibility has shaped me not just as a rider, but as a person. Whether you're looking to ride casually, compete, or build a lifelong passion for horses, Blackhound is a good place to do so. After more than a decade here, I can honestly say this barn has been one of the most consistent and positive parts of my life. read more

Took my daughter here for a couple years. They were fine for beginning lessons. As my daughter advanced they pressured us multiple times to lease a horse which is extremely overpriced. They put my daughter on the same horse every week and my daughter until she became attached to the horse. At this point we were going once a week and my daughter had been doing jumps for months with just 1 lesson a week. Summer comes up and the horse she is riding comes up for "lease." Except it was not a lease at all it was a reservation and 2 extra lessons a week for $2,000 a month. We ended up just doing it because we figure it would keep our daughter busy for the summer. What we didn't like was when we were thinking about this major decision they tried to guilt trip us into it by saying how much our daughter was attached to the horse and she may not be in the horse anymore unless we did the lease. I was annoyed, but we decided to go ahead with the lease anyway. She was not allowed to do any with this horse except lessons. During the lease they started talking to us about doing shows and competing. We told them very clearly we were not interested as it would be way too expensive. Then they had like 4 different trainers trying to get my daughter excited about competing so she would pressure us into it. 4 different people tried to talk my wife into it. It was ridiculous. Finally, the straw that broke the camels back was at the end of the lease. We said we wanted to go back to 1 time a week because my daughter was in school. They said in order for Audrey to continue doing jumps she needs 2 lessons a week for "safety" reasons. We asked why she was able to jump with 1 lesson a week for months before and they could not give us a straight answer. I would highly recommend staying away from this money grubbing business. Super unprofessional. read more

Blackhound Equestrian is truly my safe space. The assistant trainers, head trainers, and all staff are incredibly friendly, kind, and supportive. The care they provide for the horses is exceptional, with regular grooming and medical checkups to ensure every horse is in top condition. The barns and arenas are always clean and well-maintained, making every visit enjoyable. I've seen remarkable progress in my riding within the past 5 months and I owe it all to the amazing trainers and the patient, wonderful horses at BHE. I couldn't ask for a better place to grow as a rider. read more

Started my journey with BHE about 4 months ago to help with stability in the saddle and to work on my riding muscles for polo. In that time, I've come a really long way in terms of my coordination, my aids, my steering, and my horsemanship in general! When I first started out I did private lessons with one of the lead trainers, Andrea who basically held my hand through everything. I honestly had never tacked up a horse on my own before! I had trained at other places that were more of a white glove service: you showed up and your horse was ready to go. In a way, thats to your detriment because now I'm an adult and I couldn't do it on my own! But Andrea was super patient- she helped me along every step of my way, not just doing it herself and having me watch her, but explaining what each piece of tack does, why we do things the way we do them, safety tips, etc. That horsemanship piece is really what sets BHE apart from other places Ive trained at- they want to make sure you know how to take care of the horse from beginning to end- which grows your confidence and helps you bond with each lesson horse. They all have their own personality and cute little quirks and you'll see all those as you groom and care for them. As much as I absolutely love the horses and the trainers at Blackhound I HAVE to give a GIANT shout to Dana, who is the program manager for the training and lessons. I will be real with you- historically horse people are... not really tech people. For example, websites are usually outdated (think the stick figure holding the construction sign lol constantly "under construction") and theres usually a phone number listed but its the owners personal cell phone and they never answer it because they're out at the barn. OR they have some ancient hotmail email account and never check it so when you inquire about lessons sometimes you just never hear back. That is NOT the case with BHE!!! The website is very sleek and informative and UP TO DATE! Dana emailed me back SUPER fast, very detailed, very communicative, super thorough policies and procedures, everything is on lock at Blackhound! I went on vacation and had to move all my lessons around and she was understanding and helpful and changed all my days and updated the calendar. YES there is a calendar so you know exactly when youre riding!!!! If you are an adult rider looking to come back to the horse world, do not fret there are plenty of adult riders also taking lessons here. One of my concerns was I would be in a class with little 5 year olds because Im just getting back into it, but the classes are structured appropriately and Ive made a lot of new friends! Also- horse people will know: a lot of show stables are seen as snooty, competitive, gossipy, or elitist focusing on winning show ribbons and being the best of the best. That couldn't be farther from the truth here! Dont get me wrong there are some VERY successful people that train here consistently winning huge events and tens of thousands of dollars, I see these champion horses in the main barn and get starstruck but everyone is incredibly humble and helpful! Always willing to offer a helping hand and give advice like when I put my horses boots on backwards lol They have a stellar group of working students that are little encyclopedias of everything horse related, I learn so much just walking and talking with them, they also thankfully jump in and help you tack up and untack until you are 100% confident doing it solo. Theyre also.... really NICE, every single one tells me to have a great ride, or asks me how my ride was after I leave the arena. Everyone at BHE is so welcoming and its such a great community. I cant say enough good things about Blackhound. They do not crowd lessons or overwork their lesson horses so they might be full on clients depending on when you reach out, please be patient and jump on their wait list because a spot will open up and you don't want to miss it! You'll never get my spot though because I'm never leaving sorry! I'll leave you with some photos of the precious lovebugs in the lesson program! read more

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Sadly this barn has evolved into a place where bullying and gossip is valued over horsemanship and opportunities.

This is a barn that knows how to take great care of its horses and riders. An incomplete list of things that are amazing about this barn: 1) detail-oriented and customized feeding program 2) structured lessons with a weekly theme 3) great community and events to meet other riders 4) lots of stalls with attached paddocks 5) a wonderful team of trainers and assistant trainers who will help you reach your goals read more

My kids ride here and we board two horses here. Kate and the training staff are supportive and helpful. The supporting staff is amazing, particularly the Vet that they use to care for the horses. It always seems that decisions are made for what the horse needs. Kate makes sure the girls know how to take care of the horses. This is helping them grow up confident and caring. Sometimes in the wet season it gets muddy, but this is more the barn's issue than blackhound's issue. As the non-riding parent, I feel welcome to hang out during lessons and free rides. Kate is always willing and able to answer my questions. The horse shows are fun to attend. read more

I have continuously been impressed with Blackhounds,' facilities, and attention to rider and horse health. I have witnessed my sister's skills benefit greatly as a result of Morgan and Kate's approach to training and commitment to quality horsemanship. read more

I am a new rider who started learning the sport in my 40s. I was a neophyte on anything related to horses. I came to Blackhound for a good introduction, guidance, mentorship, and investment in my learning and growth. The people who work and are members at Blackhound are wonderful people--both the clients and trainers were very kind, warm and welcoming. This is probably why I chose to stay as long as I did. It is the owner Kate that I would like to warn people about who may be considering this facility. Her unscrupulous practices is the reason myself and others left the facility, taking our horses with us. Kate runs a confidence game. She sets up beginner students (especially those without any knowledge of the sport) by playing the role of mentor dedicated to investing her time and knowledge. It became apparent after awhile she was exploiting my ignorance and entirely focused on the ways to financially benefit. She misled me to purchase things that were costly and participate in events that I was not ready to handle or were appropriate for the stage I was at in my training. Her tactics, subtle at first, became more and more aggressive as she "guided" me to close the deal by purchasing a show horse after 6 months of riding. The forceful up-sale she claimed would make me a better rider faster. I was unsure, but she was as she always presented herself as "expert" and absolute authority on the sport. I absolutely love my horse and don't regret the time I have spent with him, but it was clear I was not experienced enough to ride him. I was being bucked off every month and went to the emergency room at one point. The relationship with Kate revealed itself to be purely financial, tainted by a lack of transparency and contradictory information: 1) My learning totally stalled by being paired with a horse that was not a good match, for him or me. 2) I did not receive any radiology info after his pre-purchase exam (that I payed for) 3) I was discouraged to go out and learn horsemanship on my own. Advice from other experienced riders were immediately discredited as "she doesn't know whats she's talking about" 4) Mysterious and vague explanation of a head injury my horse incurred while in her care (needing a Dr. visit with stitches) 5) Not disclosing show costs in advance or even what it entails just that I should do it (which consequently ended up costing 3K). Knowing very well showing is what you build up to after extensive training, Kate groomed me to believe I could pick up the sport quickly, and needed a show horse to do it. She recruited me to spend more and more money, all the while I just trusted she had my best interest at heart and what she said to be true. In the end, I asked Kate to sell my horse for me and she insisted that I pay for training for another 3 months before she was even able to begin to sell him because it was "show season." Kate is not sincere in her effort nurture new riders. I felt completely exploited, condescended to, under-served, and frankly lied to. I am appalled that innocent people who just want to learn are being treated like a human ATM cards. I expected more out of animal lovers but nothing is sacred. If you are a novice, I suggest you inform yourself as much as possible before dealing with Blackhound. Ask for EVERYTHING in writing. If you feel like you're being gaslighted by Kate at any point, YOU ARE. She has no problem lying right to your face. I am completely saddened and feel totally violated after being a loyal client who gave them the benefit of the doubt multiple times. NEW RIDERS BEWARE! read more

Phenominal! Did I spell that correctly? Does it matter? No. Why? Becuase the people at BHE are the best about everything. Seriously, I can mispell and they would laugh with me. There is no pretensiousness (sp?). They are down to earth and still professional. I trust them to train my kid on their ginormous horses soley because BHE cares. Their knowledge of horses, riding, training, and mentoring goes beyond anything I expected when we enrolled our kids with them. My kid lives for her riding days. She'll even volunteer to clean up. Unheard of, I know. If you want your kid to learn equestrian, this is the place. Need I say more? read more

Blackhound Equestrian - Riding Galatea (I think). - Horseback Riding Near Me - Castro Valley, California

My son, Paul, has been riding with Blackhound for over 5 years, and I re-started riding a year ago. Over the years that we've been with Blackhound, the program has changed to be more oriented towards showing in the hunter/jumpers. Paul is developmentally disabled and is not at all a typical rider, but he has always been welcomed by Kate (the owner) and her staff. He would not be welcome at many other barns. Kate accepts students and horses with all kinds of goals; it is not just a showing program. Goals can change over time, and the trainers are always open to discussion. The trainers are there to help clients meet self-set goals, not to push clients into one thing or another. I've never been pushed by them to spend more money. Blackhound has a very friendly, warm environment that encourages everyone. They will help you grow in whichever direction you want. I rode for years when I was much younger, and am good at reading equine expressions. The horses at Blackhound are content and well-cared for. There is as much emphasis on horse welfare as there is on riding and showing. When horse owners have a horse with an injury, the owner is often given lessons on a school horse. Questions are always welcomed, and I have learned a lot about horse care and health from both Kate and Jenn P, one of the assistant trainers. One of Kate's actions that impressed me the most was how she treated an incurably lame horse. Many trainers would have sold him on, or even sent him to auction to recoup some money. Kate chose to have him humanely euthanized. He was treated with dignity and care and given the release from pain that is the last gift humans can give to their pets. Kate and Trish (the main scheduler) are very cognizant of safety. Horse riding is considered a dangerous sport, and there is risk involved in any sport involving animals. Horses are often agitated by sudden weather changes or very windy conditions. Blackhound chooses to cancel lessons at those time and re-schedule for the safety of horses and people. This plays havoc with scheduling, but shows that safety comes first. Blackhound Equestrian wouldn't have grown to 40+ horses if they weren't keeping horses and clients happy! read more

I first met Dez 10 years ago when she had her program on the Peninsula, I met Kate shortly after when she and Dez joined forces. Now in the East Bay, she and Kate have been running a fantastic program. Their focus is on developing confidence in beginner riders, strong horsemanship skills at all levels and emphasizing the wellbeing of both horse and rider in order to maintain a well-rounded, holistic program that addresses the needs of just about any rider/horse, whether competing or riding recreationally. Their Castro Valley location is a fully-equipped equestrian facility where any rider would be lucky to train. Dez is an accomplished trainer, certainly a well-respected coach inside and out of the show ring, and she provides top-notch training and care for all of the horses in their training program. Kate is also a very talented rider and trainer. She has a strong intuitive understanding of each student. With a huge emphasis on horsemanship, foundation and safety. Both ladies run a organized and professional program. I am always very impressed with their program being so organized, detail oriented, and hands on. Both of these special ladies have my respect both as colleagues and friends for many years. The faith and trust in these two are unmeasurable, extending to all areas; lessons, training, sales, business etc. In addition to their training program, Blackhound has an exceptional riding school with quality lesson horses. Students in the riding school receive the same high quality instruction from Dez, Kate and their well rounded assistants. They have an amazing team building strong partnerships between horse and rider and in setting future goals within the equestrian world. Whether your goal is to improve your overall horsemanship skills or to one day show competitively, this team can provide you with a plan tailored specifically to your personal needs. I highly recommend Blackhound Equestrian to anyone looking for a quality equestrian program that takes a holistic view of both horse and rider in order to support whatever your goals may be! Dez, Kate, team Blackhound you rock! read more

I am a 12 year old girl. I rode at this barn for 5 years. For the first 4 years I rode there I had a great time. I learned a lot and became a good rider. In the beginning, I really enjoyed being there. But then BHE moved to a different property that was way more fancy. They got a very high level trainer who brought in a lot of new clients which brought the prices up and created a whole different kind of "vibe" that made it all about competing. Since I was just there for the joy of riding and wasn't a competitor I didn't expect to be treated differently but I was. I felt excluded and not treated as well. I also feel that most of the lesson horses started behaving very poorly. Almost every time I rode, the horse would bolt and buck. This happened so often that I completely lost my confidence and my love for riding. I stayed there for about 8months after that, just to see if it would improve. (Which it did not) the horses there did not seem safe at all. And I felt like it happened very often that someone would fall off. When I decided to leave I was expecting a good goodbye since I did ride there for 5 years! But nope nothing at all! Saying all of that I DO NOT recommend BHE. I now ride at a WONDERFUL barn, And Ride with a awesome trainer! read more

I reviewed BHE a couple years ago in Google, pretty much have the same view today -- great community, great horse care, and strong horsemanship. I have done QH, jumpers, eventing, cutting and trail riding over 40 years, been at a dozen boarding barns and worked with 4 excellent trainers over those years in 4 disciplines and have seen dozens of others. I avoided hunters (til my daughter got into it) because many barns rip customers off and treat horses badly. So, I am glad we found BHE for my wanna-do-hunters daughter to go from learning to post to jumping 3". I think BHE is the only place I've seen in the Bay Area where horses get out every single day, for instance. The horses don't need sedative injections to go quietly (its pretty common, sadly, in this business) Horses *never* are jumped without going on the flat the day before -- that is what I mean by horsemanship. Several of the adult riders have gone from not riding to showing over fences 5 years later, which is testament to the quality of instruction. Lessons are cancelled when there is crazy high wind or hail, when the temp hits 105 -- that is all annoying to us riders, but, to me, it shows that safety is the priority. I teach for a living (finance) so I appreciate the structure and goal setting. Kate is an excellent teacher and has a good teaching team in place. I have had Kate's help (she is the owner and does some of the lessons and horse training) purchasing 3 horses over the years and agent fees were transparent (this is a big game in some hunter barns). All three have turned out as better athletes than even our high hopes. One is jumping sound at 18+, thanks to great care and daily exercise. They helped me to lease another mare and then helped me return it cost-free when it turned out to have an undisclosed issue jumping oxers. The other thing is that Kate will re-purchase your horse at cost if you buy it from her and it isn't a good fit, or you just change your mind. Not typical. Lastly, Kate has drawn on her past of being the kid who worked in the barn to afford lessons to create an environment where all are welcome. Try to figure out which kid owns a horse and which one works for her lessons or lease -- you can't. read more

Hello, Rarely do I take the time to give a review! But because Blackhound is such a wonderful place...I thought I should share my experiences with other... BlackHound Equestrian is a very special place to learn and love everything horses! The trainers there are extremely passionate about what they do there. I know because I see it every time I take my nine year old daughter for lessons. She has been learning to ride at BlackHound for about a year now, and she LOVES everything about it! So much so...that she has decided she want to compete in jumping events one day. She has also mentioned that she wants to become a trainer at BlackHound some day. What a wonderful experiencw that would be for her. The trainers really take the time to nurture each riders dream, whatever that may be. They help each rider to understand what it takes to care for a horse, how a horse thinks and feels, and so much more. Its not just about getting on a horse and riding. They are so good at matching each rider to horse based on their riding ability. It keep them safe and gives the rider, horse, and trainer the best experience every time. The owners, trainers, veterinarians, furriers, stable hands at BlackHound are just like family...you see it! They embrace us and our children as part of their family which is very rare indeed...and so wonderful. Anyone would be so lucky to be part of BlackHound Equestrian! I whole heartedly highly recommend them to anyone without reservation! Most Sincerely, Paul Fessa Castro Valley, CA read more

My daughter continues at Blackhound - now five years in. I am NOT a horse-person (what's a girth again?) but my daughter has the bug. I have relied on the trainers, staff, and other families at BHE to help me orient myself to this strange and wonderful world. I cannot imagine a better place to learn and watch my daughter grow. We have not had the easiest of introductions - after finally biting the bullet and buying a horse, we saw our sweet Annie injured during a jump shortly after. This sweet mare kept Phoebe in saddle and safe, but has been paying the price as she recovers for the past year (a year!). Kate talked me off the ledge, helped me understand the injury, and put a plan in place for Phoebe. During this time, Kate and the trainers (and Pioneer Equine) have taken amazing care of Annie AND my daughter, keeping her training and moving forward with her passion. It has not been easy, but Phoebe has continued to grow and learn, riding many different horses and being coached by wonderful trainers. Kate is the engine behind this organization and I am grateful. As my daughter nears her teens, BHE is her haven, her happy place, her community. And it has become mine, too. read more

Blackhound Equestrian - BHE Pre-Summer Barn Meeting: gearing up for a good time! - Horseback Riding Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Eight years ago, when I was in my 40's, while watching my son learn to ride horses, I decided that I wanted to try this also.  I loved the thought of investing in a new hobby that seemed fun AND offered the benefits of exercise. I'd never sat on a horse before, let alone even pet one.  Fast forward to today at the age of 51 and I can honestly say that I am an accomplished amateur (with goals and aspirations to do even more in good time!) that confidently shows horses over fences and does consistently decent in my placings at shows.  Thank you Kate and Blackhound for sharing this life challenge and journey with me!! I say "challenge" because horseback riding is definitely that...which is exactly what makes it fun and interesting for me. The fascinating part is that it's very much a mental challenge, not unlike working on a puzzle.  The mental aspect is a huge part of this; not just the physical aspect. Kate and the other Blackhound trainers enjoy explaining that mental aspect to me when I ask questions about the small details of riding that, as I have moved up in riding, really start to make a difference. Let me reiterate that: the trainers REALLY enjoy explaining the nuances of their answers to the questions that I ask.  I've come to learn that in horseback riding there is no stupid question because when it comes to horses, there is SO much to learn. Blackhound has taught me everything I know and, honestly, I feel I have a pretty sizable pool of horse knowledge because of the trainers and their desire to explain and teach. Aside from what I personally have gained, I have to give 5 stars to Blackhound and, in particular, Kate, for her commitment to not only my goals but also to my horses.  As I said, I've been riding for 8 years with Blackhound and during that time I have owned 5 horses between my 15 year old son and I. We currently have 3 horses between us.  Cumulatively, Blackhound has provided 16 years of horse care among our 5 horses...I smile when I think we are close to 2 DECADES worth of horse care with Blackhound. The reason for that is that I gratefully remember the time in the winter of 2012 when our first horse was sick from an infection.  When I called Kate from the boarding facility at 1:00 in the MORNING, she got out of bed and was there within the hour to assess, care for and consult with the vet and myself on our plan of action and then arranged for the transport of our horse to UC Davis for hospital care. She spent the rest of the day with me hauling him to Davis and meeting the vets up there.  Let me be clear: this was a very intense situation and I could not have saved our horse's life without her help. I've seen it many times from Blackhound as well.  There was the time that I was the last to leave the barn after Kate and the other trainers had left for the evening and I was finishing up grooming my horse and I noticed one of the other horses not looking quite right in his stall to my "novice eye."  I called Kate who had just gotten home and she and another trainer immediately turned around and were back at the barn in less than 30 minutes. They quickly looked at him, assessed his condition and then called his owner to inform them of what they found, which thankfully wasn't anything serious.  I remember thinking at the time, "How many times have they done this exact thing behind the scenes that I was never aware of because my horses haven't had any issues other than that first time in 2012?" It was very reassuring and I thanked them for responding so quickly. So, between the lesson training side and the horse care side and the horse training side (which I didn't even get into with this review), I can't give Blackhound high enough remarks.  It's why I've been with them for getting close to a decade because I have firsthand knowledge having seen it for myself that the level of care and desire to help me and guide me with my life journey is nothing short of amazing.  I urge anyone that's interested to come out to Blackhound for yourself and see what makes this so special to me. I'd be MORE than happy to introduce you to my horses and I'm SURE they wouldn't mind AT ALL if you gave them a carrot! read more

Blackhound Equestrian - Horseback Riding Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I've been riding with BlackHound Equestrian for two years. This is not the first barn I've ridden at so I have experience with other trainers. I have found Kate and everyone else at BHE to be completely honest and professional. They are also knowledgable, kind, encouraging and helpful. My horse and I recently went through a rough patch but with Kate's guidance we're getting back on track. She also let me ride one of her lovely lesson horses just to get my confidence back up. Riding is not as easy as people think it is. It's filled with ups and downs. Some people are more natural at it than others. But with Kate's calm presence in a lesson everything goes as soothly as possible. Kate's goal for me and each of her students is that we do the best we can at the our level. With her help I rode in my first rated show and loved it. But she didn't force me to go, she gave me the the opportunity. Like any good trainer, she challenges and encourages but never pushes. I never worry about the care my horse receives. I know the BHE team takes excellent care of every horse on the property. All the horses are healthy, shiny and fit. There's so much more I could say about BHE but I think you get the idea. I would not hesitate to recommend BHE to anyone. read more

My wife has been in training with Blackhound for many years. Everyone is extremely nice when i stop by to say hi or watch my wife ride. She loves Kate and has even followed her from other barns to stay with her training program. All of our horses are happy and well cared for. I highly recommend! read more

BlackHound provides a professional, safe, and well-rounded education in horsemanship. Lessons include saddle time, and also grooming, saddling and correct handling of horses from the ground. The program is geared to both beginning and more advanced riders, particularly those interested in hunter/jumpers and showing. The environment is family friendly, with lots of children in addition to the adults, and the schooling horses and horses in BlackHound's training program all receive excellent care. I board at the same facility and have referred many people to BlackHound over the years because I am confident in BlackHound's high level of horsemanship instruction combined with a safe, supportive and fun learning program. Plus, they are just a great group of people to be around. read more

I had been looking for a place to take horseback riding lessons for several years when I found myself living in Castro Valley and discovered BlackHound Equestrian. Now, I'm totally hooked! The staff are absolute pros, emphasizing safety, correct form, and proper care. At the same time they are extremely patient, encouraging, and fun. Having taken a few disasterous lessons at Miwok, I know how lucky I am to have found Black Hound. I highly, highly recommend this place!! read more

Riding horses can be intimidating. There is a lot of knowledge and skills to learn. Blackhound goes out of their way to make sure that you are comfortable and that you don't feel akward asking questions. I went to a lot of different lesson programs and always felt "dumb" for asking too many questions or not knowing enough. Blackhound encourages me to keep learning about horses and riding. You can't find a more DOWN TO EARTH riding group. If you are looking for lessons or training this is the right group. They treat you like family! The trainers are patient and kind as well as flexible with the learning programs. I enjoyed and learned so much that I ended up buying my own horse! read more

I decided to retire my wonderful thoroughbred hunter when I discovered that he was developing vision problems, then anguished over where to board him to ensure that he would continue to get the best of care. I chose Blackhound Equestrian. Kate and her experienced team got to work on him and, despite his reduced vision, he's back to doing low jumps with gusto and is as happy and calm as he can be. They have even trained him to ride on the trails -- something I never thought possible -- and he loves it! My riding has continued to improve since I have been with Blackhound, especially the trust between me and my mount. Their communication is great, and the team is dedicated to both horse and rider. Best of all, I can relax knowing that my horse is in such good hands. Note: Blackhound is now at 8018 Crow Canyon, Castro Valley! read more

This is by far one of the safest and most fantastic training programs I have ever seen. The owner, Kate, is such a sweet person and always ready to help, and the staff she employs are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable as well. In a sport as demanding as horseback riding it's so important to have a team to back you up and help push you forward and everyone at Blackhound works hard to help you (and your horse if you have one) reach your personal goals, while keeping the environment fun and safe. I recently had to move away from California and I'm still searching for a training program as safe, friendly, and fun as this one. I wish I could just bring them to Washington with me!! I just cannot recommend Blackhound highly enough, definitely check them out! read more

I have been with Blackhound Equestrian for about 2 and a half years. I went to Kate with a 4 year old pony. I had ridden at a barn where I learned basic riding skills. Kate immediately sat my parents and I down to have a goal meeting so we could go over my goals and so she would know how to guide me through the process of achieving those goals. My goal was always to be in the show ring, and while being very professional about it, she told me that that goal wasn't achievable with the pony that I had. They then found me this amazing Oldenburg gelding who I later named Cantaloupe. He was a perfect fit right from the start and I really liked him when I tried him. After I was blindsided at how amazing this horse was, I soon came to realize that this meant that I had to sell my pony who was my first "horse". Kate helped us create a contract and really guided us through the process of getting her sold. My parents and I would've been totally lost without her there helping us through each and every step. Kate is one of the most amazing human beings you will ever meet. When you meet her, she is just so sweet and welcomes everyone with open arms. Her enthusiasm about the sport just makes you feel a sense of safety knowing that she knows what she is talking about and has so much experience riding not only in California but also Florida. She always puts herself in front of everybody and would give the shirt off her back to anyone. My riding has vastly improved since I have been at this facility. I wasn't very confident when I first started out but being at Blackhound has really helped my personality develop and break me out of my shell. Everyone there is so amazing from the kids that ride to all the awesome assistant trainers. When you are there, you really do feel as if you are part of one big happy family. The horses are so well cared for and loved by all the staff members. There is truly no other barn I would want to be at than this one. I can't say enough good things about this barn, there are so many. I would definitely recommend Blackhound whether you are a seasoned competitor or just want to learn the ropes of riding. read more

I am writing to update my review. While I moved from California to Texas recently and was sad to leave my Blackhound Family, I still visit California often and ride with Kate when I can. The Blackhound team sets the bar for client service, horse care, and kindness. On top of that they create a fun showing environment and consistently come home with blue ribbons. I have always valued Blackhound's commitment to transparency and am impressed by the integrity of Kate and her program. read more

They are the best people I have ever come across!! Not only are they amazing horse woman, but they are just amazing human beings! If you want to be educated in a helpful and fun environment while being safe and having your horse receive the best care, then look no further! read more

My name is Kelley, 50 years old and I'm following a childhood dream!!! I started taking lessons with Jenn and the "Blackhound Equestrian" team and it has truly been the most "Fabulous" experience ever! I work full time and needed some kind of outside activity to take some of the stress out of my life. I was a bit nervous to start as I am on the older side, but I'm so glad a took the leap. It's NOT HARD or intimidating I promise. They teach you how to work with the horses from start to finish. I'm having a ball !!!! I recommend all us ELDERS jump on the band wagon and learn something new. It's great exercise too - Go Figure! Please join me in this new life experience - you're never to old!!! Kelley read more

I have found this to be a rare gem of a facility combining both a show quality sophistication and service, with the laid back family feel of a horse community I wish more were able to experience. I wish we had mare facilities like Kate's in the Bay Area. read more

Initially, I wrote a 1-star review of BlackHound Equestrian, primarily due to what I perceived as a lack of response to honor the gift certificate that I purchased at our school's fundraising auction. However, I was contacted by the staff and owner after the review was completed and it appears, that the wrong number was printed on the certificate. They were incredibly gracious and very apologetic over the misinformation on the certificate (an old number was printed on it). I look forward to trying their services in person, but am a newly reformed fan. read more

My daughter has been taking lessons for two years and has had an incredible experience at Black Hound. She has learned so much from knowledgeable trainers about horse riding, horse care and love of horses. She gets help from a group of supportive, kind older girls who cheer her on. She also learns responsibility and the value of hard work. It has really changed her life! read more

I inquired to this facility and met with Kate J. both times. First experience I was shown the facilities and talked to about a potential exchange for the use of my warmblood to be used in her program for lessons. It sounded great but I wasn't interested and felt the situation was not right for me at that time. A year later I inquired because I had a new prospect I was searching for a training program for. This time I was told a full evaluation would need to be done and I had not even moved into the barn. Kate was not only about an hour late for our meeting, claiming she was picking up registration papers for a quarter horse mare she bought where the owners didn't want to release papers (sounded messy) but then decided to show me around and mention who was for sale in the barn and who might potentially be for sale. I'm not sure if Kate is using a training program as a cover for a sale barn or if she's attempting to use volunteers and a rotation of "assistant" trainers to claim horses have experience and training when the foundation is missing? This is my own experience. I also felt the barn was very small, low roof's that were unsafe for a typical A circuit horse. Clearly used to be a cattle barn that was converted into a "horse" barn. Horses were well fed and turned out, groomed, and an organization board posted, but again SMALL which I felt was unsafe. read more

We LOVE this school! My daughter rode with Blackhound in 2011 and we had to stop lessons, she would not stop asking to return to lessons, we just came back to Blackhound and for our daughter it was like coming home! Thank you for being so wonderful, and allowing us to trust you with our daughter and showing our daughter how to love and care for horses! read more

Love Blackhound my daughter has been riding for 7 months and attended the week long camp. The whole staff is kind and extremely patience.They teach how to groom and tack as part of the lesson. They make sure each skill is mastered before they teach the next one the confidence they build between rider and horse is amazing. All the horses are well taken care of . If you want to ride this is the place to go. denise read more

My horse, Timmy, and I have been in the hands of Blackhound Equestrian for over a year now and I swear I couldn't have hoped for more. It has been an indescribably wonderful experience. Kate, the owner, and her staff are extremely experienced and skillful horse people and so darned all-around gentle and kind. Finally I've found a group of amazing folks who love steeds (most importantly mine :))) every bit as much as I do and who believe these magnificent beings deserve all of the adoration, respect and gratitude we can muster. Currently, I am learning to ride while Timmy is being brought back to work after an injury. I couldn't rave more about Blackhound's rehab program as well as their training program. Timmy is thriving for the first time in a very long while and watching him move so happily and with such ease has been one of the high points of my life. I am also so grateful for the fact that every one of the trainers makes sure to keep their students and horses safe and sound. Students are never encouraged to move onto the next step until they have mastered what they are currently working on. I could go on for pages here but will contain for the moment :) Suffice it to say I think Blackhound Equestrian is the cat's meow, the bee's knees, all of that. I cannot recommend them highly enough. read more